The Sociological The Sociological Approach to MacBethApproach to MacBeth

By: Babi Cepero, Amanda By: Babi Cepero, Amanda Lane, and Chris ShayLane, and Chris Shay

What is Sociological Approach?What is Sociological Approach?

Sociological Approach focuses on Sociological Approach focuses on man’s relationship to others in man’s relationship to others in society, politics, religion, and society, politics, religion, and business.business.

What is the relationship What is the relationship between the characters and between the characters and

their society?their society? MacBeth – He did not like the social order that MacBeth – He did not like the social order that

decided who would be the next king. He would decided who would be the next king. He would have preferred to be king instead of the next in have preferred to be king instead of the next in line; this led to the murder of Duncan.line; this led to the murder of Duncan.

Lady MacBeth – She also did not like the social Lady MacBeth – She also did not like the social structure within the government. When she structure within the government. When she found out that the three witches had found out that the three witches had prophesized MacBeth to become the next king, prophesized MacBeth to become the next king, she took matters into her own hands in order to she took matters into her own hands in order to make sure that the prophecy became true.make sure that the prophecy became true.

Duncan – He was happy with the social order Duncan – He was happy with the social order that was going on. Even though he respected that was going on. Even though he respected MacBeth, his son was still the next in line for the MacBeth, his son was still the next in line for the throne.throne.

Does the story address societal Does the story address societal issues such as race, gender, issues such as race, gender,

and class?and class?

Yes – Yes – “ “ Aristocrats were born with their wealth, Aristocrats were born with their wealth,

but the growth of trade and development but the growth of trade and development of skilled professions began to provide of skilled professions began to provide wealth for those not born with it. ”wealth for those not born with it. ”

“ “ The legal status of women did not allow The legal status of women did not allow them much public or private autonomy. ”them much public or private autonomy. ”

“ “ Women did not generally receive an Women did not generally receive an education and could not enter certain education and could not enter certain professions, including acting. ”professions, including acting. ”

How do social forces shape the power How do social forces shape the power of relationships between groups or of relationships between groups or

classes of people in the story?classes of people in the story?

How? – Because people become jealous, How? – Because people become jealous, envious, and become “power hungry”.envious, and become “power hungry”.

Who has the power, and who doesn’t ? – At Who has the power, and who doesn’t ? – At first Duncan and his family had the power, first Duncan and his family had the power, but then Macbeth became King.but then Macbeth became King.

Why? – Because MacBeth found out that he Why? – Because MacBeth found out that he wasn’t next in line he killed Duncan, who’s wasn’t next in line he killed Duncan, who’s sons fled, and MacBeth became King.sons fled, and MacBeth became King.

Does the story address Does the story address issues of economic issues of economic

exploitation?exploitation? Yes, this story address’ issues of Yes, this story address’ issues of

economics because money is one of economics because money is one of the reasons that MacBeth wanted to the reasons that MacBeth wanted to become king. If MacBeth didn’t want become king. If MacBeth didn’t want money and riches then becoming king money and riches then becoming king might not have been as tempting.might not have been as tempting.

How do economic conditions How do economic conditions determine the direction of the determine the direction of the

characters’ lives?characters’ lives?

Economic conditions determined the Economic conditions determined the direction of the characters’ lives in the direction of the characters’ lives in the following ways – following ways – If somebody was wealthy then that meant that If somebody was wealthy then that meant that

they were one of the noble men. The king was they were one of the noble men. The king was the wealthiest man, and that is why MacBeth the wealthiest man, and that is why MacBeth really wanted to become a king.really wanted to become a king.

Can the protagonist' struggle be Can the protagonist' struggle be seen as symbolic of a larger class seen as symbolic of a larger class

struggle?struggle?

The protagonists' struggle is symbolic The protagonists' struggle is symbolic to a larger class struggle because in a to a larger class struggle because in a way, everyone wanted power. They way, everyone wanted power. They wanted to be wealthy, and be able to wanted to be wealthy, and be able to be the one that every one looked up to be the one that every one looked up to and envied. MacBeth just showed how and envied. MacBeth just showed how far a person can go in order to get far a person can go in order to get what they want.what they want.

ThesisThesis

““Macbeth” Macbeth” written by William written by William Shakespeare is a play that shows the Shakespeare is a play that shows the struggles within a royal and non – royal struggles within a royal and non – royal society. This is shown by MacBeth being society. This is shown by MacBeth being liked by everyone for being such a great liked by everyone for being such a great soldier and when he became king soldier and when he became king nobody liked him anymore, because he nobody liked him anymore, because he is sly and malicious for killing people so is sly and malicious for killing people so he can be kept in power.he can be kept in power.