Character Motivation in Macbeth:

Why The **** Did They Do That?

Instructions: For each character identify at least two big decisions that he or she has made so far in the play, and then determine whether their decision making
was based on rational or irrational thought. Last, explain what these decisions reveal about the character.

MACBETH
Decision 1 (page #)
After killing Duncan,
Macbeth decided to kill
Banquo so he sends his
people to kill Banquo for
him. In page.93 Macbeth
says We have scorched the
snake, not killed it as in
there is still work to do.

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

Decision 2 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

What does this reveal

about character?

For Macbeth is reasonable

because he needs to kill
Duncan then Banquo in
order to reassure that he is
king. Macbeth has no other
choice but to send someone
to kill Banquo.

In Act 2 scene 2 page.55

Macbeth kills King Duncan.
He killed Duncan because he
wanted to be king.

Irrational because Macbeth

started many things that
caused the kingdom to have
trouble. He also continued
with plans that led to many
other problems. He should
have stopped and took action
in a different way.

This reveals that Macbeth

doesnt know how to make
good decisions and doesnt
think about the
consequences. Also that he
cares about power so he will
kill for that.

Irrational because if she

really felt guilty she could of
stopped with the plan, her
actions could have been
different. She wouldnt of
finished the plan by putting
the blood on the servants.

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth

about how she feels and how
the kill is affecting her.

Rational because she was

hiding at first how she felt
which affected her even
more.

This reveals that Lady

Macbeth can force Macbeth
to kill. It also reveals that at
the end she ends up feeling
guilty and knows that she did
wrong.

LADY MACBETH
Lady Macbeth finishes the
plan of killing Duncan then
she begins to feel unhappy.
In page.91 it says Naughts
had, alls spent means shes
not happy and starts to feel
guilty for what she did.

BANQUO
Decision 1 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

Macbeth asks if Banquo

would do anything to make
the witches prophesize come
true but Banquo in Act 2
says no because he is loyal to
the king. Banquo says his
thought about it but will
never do anything about it.

Rational because Banquo has

the option to do something
about it or to not do
anything. In this case he
doesnt do anything because
he is loyal. Banquo wouldnt
do anything to make one of
his sons Kings because he is
loyal to the King.

Rational because he is trying

to get Malcolm to take his
position as king. They want
to overthrow Macbeth for all
the problems he has caused.

Decision 2 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

What does this reveal

about character?

Macbeth is having a feast

and is inviting people in
order to see if people are
loyal to him. He invites
Banquo to see if he is loyal
to him. Banquo says he is
going. In Act 3 Banquo is
not at the feast because he
was ordered to be killed by
Macbeth.

Rational because Macbeth is

loyal and says he is going to
Macbeths feast. He doesnt
arrive at the feast because he
is killed.

The character Banquo

reveals that he is loyal. His
loyalty is shown because he
wouldnt do anything to
make the witches prophesize
come true. He will let things
go the way they are planned
instead of him taking action.

In act 4 scene 3 Macduff

wants to have war with
Macbeth for all the trouble
he has caused.

Rational because Macduff

wants to get revenge for
killing his family. In my
opinion I think its rational
because anyone would fight
for their family.

The character Macduff

reveals that he is a good man
that takes things serious. He
would fight for what
Macbeth did to his family.
He is one of the brightest
person in the story because
he makes good decisions
such as war with Macbeth.

MACDUFF
In Act 4 scene 2 Macduff
goes to England to seek help
and overthrow Macbeth.

Your choice:
In Act 3 Fleance escapes
from getting killed by the
murderers.

Rational because anyone

would escape from murder.
Banquo, his father was killed
by the murderers so he
decided to run away.

In Act 1 the witches tell

Macbeth that he will be king.
Macbeth acts as if it doesnt
matter and stays quiet.

Irrational because the

witches in a way caused
Macbeth to act in a way so
he can be king. If the witches
didnt tell Macbeth the
prophesize he wouldnt of
killed in order to be king

1.

2.

This reveals that

Fleance did do what
his father told him
to but then he
escaped and didnt
say where to or
anything.
The witches are still
telling Macbeth
what would happen
throughout out the
story. So it shows
that the witches like
to mischief.