macbeth
B2Literary, cultural, academic
Definition
Meaning
The title character of William Shakespeare's tragedy (c. 1606) about a Scottish general whose murderous ambition for the throne leads to his downfall.
A byword for a person driven by unchecked ambition and moral corruption to commit treacherous acts, especially to gain power. Also used to refer to the play itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun. Capitalized. While referring to a historical Scottish king (Macbethad mac Findlaích), its primary modern usage is literary, symbolic, and allusive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The play and story are equally canonical in both cultures. US usage might involve more casual reference due to 'Macbeth' being a common high school text.
Connotations
Both carry strong associations with ambition, guilt, and tragedy. In British theatrical circles, referring to the play as 'the Scottish play' due to superstition is a well-known quirk.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in academic/literary contexts. Slightly higher in UK general discourse due to cultural proximity and curriculum emphasis.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Macbeth (as subject) + verb (e.g., murders, descends into, is haunted by)to be/play like Macbeththe tragedy/story of MacbethVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Lady Macbeth”
- “Out, damned spot! (from the play)”
- “Is this a dagger which I see before me? (from the play)”
- “To have a Macbeth-like ambition”
- “The Scottish play (theatrical euphemism for 'Macbeth')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically for ruthless corporate ambition: 'His Macbeth-like climb to CEO left a trail of resentment.'
Academic
Central text in Shakespeare studies, literature courses, and analyses of tragedy, ambition, and power.
Everyday
Used in general reference to the play or to describe someone's overreaching ambition: 'Don't go all Macbeth on the project.'
Technical
Used in theatre (directing, acting, stagecraft), literary criticism, and historical analysis of Early Modern drama.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The general was accused of trying to Macbeth his way to the leadership.
American English
- He totally Macbethed the competition to get that promotion.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We read a story about Macbeth in class.
- Macbeth is a famous play.
- Macbeth wants to become king, so he does bad things.
- The character of Macbeth is very ambitious.
- Macbeth's tragic flaw is his overwhelming ambition, which is manipulated by his wife.
- The production of Macbeth at the Globe Theatre received excellent reviews.
- Her ruthless consolidation of power within the boardroom had a distinctly Macbethian quality to it.
- The director's interpretation focused on the psychological disintegration of Macbeth rather than the supernatural elements.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Mac-BETH: Think 'Mac' as in Scottish, 'BETH' as in 'betrayeth' or 'beheaded'—a Scottish lord who betrays and is beheaded.
Conceptual Metaphor
AMBITION IS A DESTRUCTIVE PATH / POWER IS A CORRUPTING FORCE / GUILT IS A STAIN
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'Макбет' in an English text; it is a proper name and remains 'Macbeth'.
- Avoid associating the common Russian name 'Максим' or prefix 'мак-' (poppy) with the name.
- The 'th' sound /θ/ should be articulated, not replaced with /s/ or /f/.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'MacBeth' (incorrect capitalization), 'McBeth'.
- Pronunciation: /ˈmækbɛθ/ with a hard 'c' (incorrect).
- Using 'Macbeth' as a common noun without article: 'He is Macbeth' (correct for the character), versus 'He is a Macbeth' (metaphorical use).
Practice
Quiz
What is a common theatrical superstition regarding 'Macbeth'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but loosely. Shakespeare based the play on the historical figure Macbethad mac Findlaích, an 11th-century King of Scots, but heavily dramatised and altered the facts for theatrical effect.
It's a theatrical superstition that saying 'Macbeth' inside a theatre (except during the actual performance) brings bad luck. The euphemism 'the Scottish play' is used instead to avert the curse.
A 'Lady Macbeth' is an allusive term for a woman who is ambitious, ruthless, and pushes a partner (often a spouse) to commit immoral acts to achieve a goal, often showing remorse later.
This famous line is spoken by Lady Macbeth while sleepwalking, trying to wash imaginary blood (a symbol of her guilt) from her hands after convincing Macbeth to murder King Duncan.