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Year 11
AQA

Exploring the supernatural as a symbol of guilt in 'Macbeth'

I can explore how the supernatural has been used to symbolise Macbeth's guilt and divine retribution in 'Macbeth'.

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Year 11
AQA

Exploring the supernatural as a symbol of guilt in 'Macbeth'

I can explore how the supernatural has been used to symbolise Macbeth's guilt and divine retribution in 'Macbeth'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are haunted by supernatural phenomena after committing crimes.
  2. Perhaps Lady Macbeth and Macbeth suffer such supernatural punishment due to the extent of their \"unnatural deeds\".
  3. A common Renaissance belief was there were no limits to God's vengeance.
  4. In the Renaissance, people believed that the conscience was a tool imposed by God to inflict punishment.
  5. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's hallucinations can be read as a symbol of their guilt as well as divine retribution.

Keywords

  • Conjure - make something appear from nowhere

  • Vengeance - action against someone to punish that person

  • Retribution - punishment imposed for purposes of repayment for the wrong committed

  • Impervious - unable to be affected by

Common misconception

Students may have only perceived the hallucinations in the play as summoned by the witches.

We can read the same elements of the play through many different lenses. All interpretations are valid.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Exploring the supernatural as a symbol of guilt in 'Macbeth', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Reed's 'Crime and God's Judgement in Shakespeare' offers more detail on the topic of divine retribution in 'Macbeth' if you wish to read more about this topic.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' for this lesson. An extract and model answer used in the lesson are also available in the additional materials.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is not an example of the supernatural in 'Macbeth'?
the witches
hallucinations
Correct answer: Macbeth's death
apparitions
Q2.
How does Macbeth suffer before killing Duncan in 'Macbeth'?
He is unable to sleep.
Correct answer: He is haunted by hallucinations.
Banquo threatens his life.
Q3.
What does Lady Macbeth suffer from in Act 5, Scene 1 of 'Macbeth'?
Correct answer: hallucinations
Correct answer: inability to sleep
death penalty
dethronement
Q4.
What did Jacobeans believe about regicide?
It was a minor sin.
Correct answer: It was the worst possible sin.
It was acceptable if one was a relation of the king.
Q5.
What was the general belief in the Jacobean/Renaissance period?
God did not exist.
Witches worked for God.
Correct answer: God was all powerful.
Q6.
How does Macbeth react to Banquo's ghost in 'Macbeth'?
He is happy to see his friend again.
He tries to turn his guests against Banquo.
Correct answer: To Macbeth, there is nothing more terrifying than Banquo's ghost.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What was the Rennaisance belief about punishment?
Only the courts could punish citizens.
Correct answer: God could punish people through a wide range of instruments and tools.
God only invoked judgement by sending people to heaven or hell.
Q2.
What could Macbeth's fear of Banquo's ghost reflect in 'Macbeth'?
Correct answer: Macbeth may be terrified of acknowledging his sin and guilt.
Macbeth believes Banquo could still usurp his place on the throne.
Macbeth is scared of the witches.
Q3.
In the quote: "a false creation proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain" from Act 2, Scene 1 of 'Macbeth', how does Shakespeare present guilt?
Correct answer: as a disease
as easy to deal with
as a sign of inner strength
Q4.
What did people in the Renaissance believe about the conscience as guided by biblical beliefs?
Not everyone had a conscience.
Correct answer: God gave everyone a conscience.
Correct answer: The conscience may be God's instrument to inflict divine retribution.
The conscience could easily be ignored.
Q5.
In 'Macbeth', the consequences Macbeth and Lady Macbeth face following their crimes could reflect what?
Their sins were minor.
God has chosen to ignore their evil deeds.
Correct answer: They are being severely punished for unnatural deeds.
Q6.
Which word beginning with 'v' means 'action against someone to punish that person'?
Correct Answer: vengenance

Additional material

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