The Joy of Christmas Model Essay – ‘ACC’ Grade 9

How does Dickens present the importance/joy of Christmas?

Within Dickens’ festive, allegorical novella, Christmas is presented as the
driving force behind an altruistic and benevolent society. Dickens may be doing
this to draw his audience back to the moral foundations of religion and
festivity, in order to facilitate a sense of collectivism.

Firstly, Christmas is presented as being tainted by Malthusian views. This is
evident when Scrooge questions “what reason do you have to be merry?
You’re poor enough”. The business-centric capitalist ideas of Industrial Britain
have polluted the virtues associated with Christmas. Scrooge sees it as a
distraction from his profit making. Dickens is emphasising that the focus of
Christmas has strayed too far away from the core foundations it was built on:
empathy, joy and community. Scrooge, as a caricature of greed, serves to
represent the prevalent view of Christmas as a profit-making opportunity. The
fact that Scrooge believes money correlated to happiness is ironic as despite
being fortunate, “the cold within him froze his old features”. Scrooge is
portrayed as the complete antithesis to the happiness imbued in Christmas.
Dickens is attempting to educate his audience in the futility of the pursuit of
greed. At a time where poverty is most visible, the Cratchits are significantly
more joyful than the miserly Scrooge.

However, Christmas is also portrayed as being a universal source of joy which
when embraces brings fulfilment and a warming sense of community. This is
evident when “such a bustle ensued” in the Cratchits home for the “feathered
phenomenon”. The use of the noun “bustle” connotes atmosphere and
community. Dickens is highlighting that Christmas has the power to unite and
is reinforcing the ubiquitous joy that the Cratchits hold for it. However, theirs is
a subtle juxtaposition between nods to their joy and nods to their ever-present
poverty. The fact that it is a “phenomenon” emphasises rarity and significance.
Although this could be portrayed as emphasising their overwhelming gratitude,
it could also be see as a clear show of their lack. However, no matter how little
they have, they have the capability to embrace Christmas and its happiness.
Dickens is emphasising that the dual power of Christmas and family is
indomitable. This is further reinforced, when despite their possessions being
“threadbare” they are still “as good as gold”. They place value on family and
love, not material gain. They see Christmas as a time for festivity, not as a show
of material wealth. Dickens may be doing this to reinforce the value of
Christmas as religious. “A Christmas Carol” is a Christian morality tale. The

Cratchits embrace the true value and disregard anything that could dampen
their spirit. Furthermore, Christmas is presented as catalysing the transformation of a
seemingly intransigent Scrooge. By the close of the novella, Scrooge has gone
to “church” and is “happy as an angel”. The use of the positive simile here is in
direct antithesis to the “sharp as flint” simile utilised in Stave 1. Dickens may
be doing this to parallel the misanthropic Scrooge with the moral and
reformed Scrooge. This emphasises how Christmas and therefore Christianity
has the power to provide salvation for anyone who embraces its values.
Furthermore, the repeated use of the religious noun “angel” suggests a sense
of purity, as if Scrooge has been reborn. The Christmas Spirit has been
revitalised within Scrooge and his childish innocence has been restored where
he can enjoy Christmas untainted, Dickens may be doing this to highlight to his
audience that wider change starts with simple foundations such as embracing
the Christmas spirit. Christmas acts as an outlet for Scrooge to express the
repressed emotion from his childhood. This is further reinforced when Scrooge
was “as merry as a schoolboy”. Again, the reference to this innocence
reinforces the power of Christmas as a relief from the horror of the world.
However, subtly, Christmas is used to expose the depth of change that is
required. Scrooge is an archetypal miser of Industrial Britain and although
thinks “I’ll send it to Bob Cratchits” this does not remedy the resounding
remained of suffering still rife throughout Britain, just because Scrooge has
made an outstanding transformation, this does not account for the rest of
society. Christmas allows Scrooge to try and remedy his behaviour, but does
not guarantee universal change.

In conclusion, the Christmas spirit epitomises what it means to be both
altruistic and moral in a world of overwhelming ignorance and provides a
ubiquitous joy which all can embrace.

With many thanks to CRC year 11 2023-2024

The significance of female characters within ‘An Inspector Calls’

Another wonderful guest post by one of my year 10s!

Throughout the entirety of ‘An Inspector Calls’, themes of misogyny and discrimination against women are alive within the presentation of every character: from the audience’s introduction to Sheila in Act 1 to the close of the play in Act 3, she is portrayed as an example of society’s stereotypes of women in 1912. Within the opening stage directions, Sheila’s character is reduced to a ‘pretty girl’, no more than a product of societal stereotypes and expectations. The infantilising noun ‘girl’ directly opposes the description of The Inspector, who instantly creates an ‘impression of massiveness’ upon his entry to the play. This perhaps symbolises the lack of voice women had in 1912; the absence of Eva Smith on the stage further reinforces the idea that women were powerless and their opinions disregarded as inferior and insignificant.

As the play progresses, the audience learn to understand that Mrs Birling is the most vocal in forcing Sheila to subscribe to the negative attitudes towards women. As well as frequently belittling and infantilising Sheila, Mrs Birling dehumanises her daughter into no more than an object who is valued for her physical appearance. This further demonstrates that internalised misogyny is deeply rooted within the infrastructure of society, and continues to be a reminder that many women were victims of the exploitation caused by highly privileged and influential men in the upper class.

Whereas, Priestley utilises the men in the play to represent the embodiment of power and privilege, he uses the female characters to reveal the hardships that women had to face living in a patriarchal society. Eva Smith is considered to have had ‘far too much’ to say, which represents the voicelessness of women in society, and the expectations of women to be silent and submissive in order to appeal to the male gaze.

It soon becomes clear to the modern audience that the above conditions for women were normalised within Edwardian Britain, as Eva Smith is also referred to as ‘pretty’ later on in the play. The repetition of this demeaning adjective further represents the normalisation of societal expectations and double standards all women faced in 1912 (irrespective of social class). Women were expected to be passive and subservient; their purpose was to please men and remain inferior in society. If they failed to meet this status quo, women, particularly the lower class, faced the risks of marginalisation and alienation. 

With thanks to EC year 10 2022.

The Motif of Alcohol in ‘An Inspector Calls’

Alcohol is a widespread motif in ‘An Inspector Calls’, and one that has deep roots in myopia and hypocrisy. Though this may seem obvious, with various descriptions of Eric overindulging in ‘port’ in order to convey his true thoughts and attempt to build up myopia to his family’s wrongdoings, there is also a more subtle hint of this when you look at the various conversations about alcohol and their significance in the rest of story.

The first sentence spoken in the play is: “Giving us the port, Edna? That’s right.( he pushes it towards Eric.) you ought to like this port” and is spoken by Mr Birling. The imperative “ought” suggests forcefulness, that this’ port’ is being forced into Eric’s mouth by Mr Birling in order to impress Gerald so that the Birling family can move up in class, rank and further distance themselves from the lower classes. This highlights Eric’s downfall: he drinks is to forget and the reason he wants to forget is because of the drink (and what it, in part, led to with Eva). It’s an endless cycle which cannot be broken, quite like the structure of this play, and the place the circle started with was with the Birlings, and the place it must end is with the Birlings.

Another way alcohol is used is by Mr Birling, who openly indulges in ‘port’, yet hypocritically calls German officers “Drunk” and thus invalidates their claims about starting wars all because they also engage in drinking. Priestley does this to further criminalise the upper classes by presenting them as having false morals. As a modern audience, we can relate to the hypocrisy of this statement as many rich figures indulge in acts that if they were of the working class, they would be criminalised and hated for. Big companies such as Amazon evade tax yet they haven’t been arrested, many celebrities actively do drugs and are still seen as icons yet if a homeless man does drugs they are seen as a plague to society.

An audience in 1945 would recognise the hypocrisy as well, because of prohibition era America, where alcohol was illegal yet their was a bar in the white house and the American government purposely poisoned moonshine and caused their citizens to die because of it, yet still indulged in it themselves.

Thank you AM! Year 10 2022 – I agree that alcohol is a prominent motif, that is seen front-and-centre on stage. Eric is rarely without a glass in his hand; Birling offers multiple people drinks, imploring his wife to ‘take some’. Alcohol catalyses myopia and leads to greater abuses of the vulnerable working classes.

The role of femininity and masculinity in ‘An Inspector Calls’

A wonderful guest post from VC: year 10 2022

In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley depicts society in 1912 as misogynistic, capitalism-ruled and segregated. The role of femininity and masculinity play a huge role in this depiction and is illuminated especially in Gerald’s characterisation. When recalling his meeting with Daisy Renton he remembers how he ‘told the girl … she’d better let me take her out of there.’ In act 2, Gerald constantly makes remarks about how empowered he felt in his rescue of Daisy ( ‘I went across’). This is a direct contrast of Sheila’s repetition of the personal pronoun ‘I’. Instead, she uses it in a way of expressing remorse, guilt and acceptance of her mistakes. Further on page 35, Birling seems shocked at the idea that Sheila had at some point slipped through his protective grasp outside of the domestic sphere and has been exposed to the stories of ‘Alderman Meggarty‘. She remarks that her friend ‘only escaped with a torn blouse’ which blatantly suggests that Meggarty is known for being a womanizer (he is afterall, an embodiment of the very worst of The Establishment’s hypocrisy).

Gerald, in my opinion. also represents the worst that Edwardian society had to offer and purposefully stays silent for a large amount of the interrogations, perhaps because he knows what is to come and how he’ll have to be in the spotlight, and admit to his affair with Daisy Renton. He may well have been fabricating a story that makes it appear more like he ‘rescues’ Daisy and not offers her a glimpse of a lifestyle she may have enjoyed permanently had she had been the lucky one. This of course relates back to Sheila being the ‘luckier of two Eva Smiths’. Gerald embodies the ills of the patriarchy and could be viewed as a traitor to the higher classes when he villainises Alderman Meggarty for being a sexual predator. The ironic fact is that Gerald is guilty of the same crime only he had been more subtle and sly about how he went about it.

The Birlings’ are of course shocked at this revelation and rare criminalisation of the higher classes which inevitably completely botches their sense of morality at Alderman Meggarty’s mercenary, exploitative act. Finally, Gerald embodies a younger generation’s version of Alderman Meggarty when he makes the statement,‘young and fresh’, when recalling his first impressions of Daisy. These dismissive, derogatory adjectives are a pure microcosm of his desire for his women to be ‘untainted’ and virginal. There’s a huge possibly that the only reason Daisy Renton held any value for him is because she is ‘unspoiled’ by other men and her virginity was intact.

‘Hot Ideas’ for ‘An Inspector Calls’ Take 2!

When my wonderful year 10s read Sheila’s interrogation today, they had something to say about Mr and Mrs Birling’s very TELLING absence from stage. For the first time (probably), Sheila finds her voice. She admits her shortcomings, is accountable for the sins of jealousy and wrath, and most importantly, accepts responsibility for her part in Eva’s demise. The face that her parents are not there to witness this moral growth, to applaud her evolution, implies that they want her to remain stagnant too. Change for them equates to forfeiting their power. Their time off stage also reminds audiences of the gulf between the older and the younger generations.

A student mentioned this and I ADORED the level of analysis here! Although the suggestion that it is an acronym for ‘Gentlemen only; ladies forbidden; is not historically accurate, the idea that the world of competitive sport was historical a man’s world, has some validity. The Inspector does not subscribe to exclusive clubs, nor will he be distracted from his ‘duty’.

Eva’s absence on stage: a purposeful sense of lack. Eva’s story and voice can only be communicated through the Inspector who acts as her interpreter, her advocate. Without The Inspector, her story would be lost like so many other ‘Eva Smiths and John Smiths’. Eva’s LACK of stage presence is the point!

I had never thought of this before when considering the tricolon given to The Inspector in his introductory stage directions. The ‘Hot Idea’ card speaks for itself here. Socialism is intrinsic in everything about the Inspector, right down to the connotations of the words (as above).

Thank you year 10. Keep thinking up fresh ideas and I will keep posting them!

-Miss Huttlestone

A super handy ‘Macbeth’ 5:1 Analysis – Lady Macbeth focus

Drop into Macbeth 5.1

Macbeth by act 5…

There is no doubt that Macbeth is numbed by his many ‘bloody’ experiences. Famously, his response to the news of his ‘dearest’ wife’s death is that she ‘should have died hereafter’. Although such a response is ambiguous, I think it captures the undeniable reality that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are now living in two separate worlds:

Macbeth’s is a hellish present, eternal day, where he must see through his fall from grace, despite knowing that it is ultimately futile.

Lady Macbeth (before her suicide), is trapped in an eternal night, haunted by the past.

Macbeth’s haunting, rhythmic line: ‘tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow’, with its polysyndeton, illustrates how weighed down he is by the burden of regicide. He sees only meaningless succession in the days that might follow, each one stretching into eternity, never punctuated by happiness. The futility of exitance replaces his former excitement for the future.

Time is slow as treacle too, with Macbeth wishing the ‘candle’ of life to be ‘out’. In many senses this is Macbeth’s final ‘proper’ speech – a culmination of his thoughts before his inevitable death (the flawed tragic hero must fall).

A critic, David Garrick, said in 1744 that his death is not nearly as dramatic or as elegant as it should be for a tragic hero. But what is your reaction to his death?

Personally, I see it as tragic but inevitable. In subverting the Great Chain of Being and thus God/nature he MUST go punished (James I would not have allowed otherwise!). Macbeth too allowed space for female power – something Shakespeare’s audience deeply feared. In subverting gender norms and sometimes being feminised, he has gone accept society’s expectations. Aligned with the witches, he must be ‘trialed’ and ‘executed’.

There isn’t much cheer therefore at his death – we have followed him throughout after all.

A Model Top Band Essay on ‘ACC’ and Family

Throughout Dickens’ allegorical novella, the importance of family is carefully highlighted in each stave as Scrooge starts to realise that profit and gain is not the true way of maintaining happiness.

Primarily in Stave 1, Scrooge’s last-living family member, Fred, invites him round for Christmas dinner, (every year, after continuously getting declined) expressing just how ‘merry’ and morally-inclined Fred is over his Uncle, who is supposedly the influence upon Fred, making it ironic that the younger, less-economically inclined protagonist exhibits a higher moral compass than his own Uncle, this suggests past events that have molded Scrooge into the parsimonious old man he is now. Dickens uses Fred as a mouthpiece to the contemporary audience (as he embodies the Christmas Spirit and the upper-middle class) to communicate money doesn’t buy morals and family and love, so be grateful for what and who you have around you, and help those who need it the most. Scrooge’s lack of love and simple acts of kindness is shown through the way he treats and speaks to his own family, asking them, “what right have you to be merry? You’re poor enough” The dehumanizing interrogative belittles Fred, stripping him of his human “right” to be “merry” which portrays just how stagnant and immoral he is at the beginning of the novella, clearly family means nothing to Scrooge. Here the modern audience finds it comical, how ignorant and narcissistic Scrooge is towards his own family member.

Primarily, within the selected extract, Dickens starts off by using an excessive amount of derogatory language and an abundance of negations to communicate the true, ‘dirty’ ramifications that the lower working class were forced to live in. This is the moment where Scrooge is “appalled” and “starts aback” at the unhealthy living conditions his employee, Bob, lives under and starts to notice just how horrific the living conditions really were, all because he refused to pay Bob anything ‘more nor less than the minimum wage’. This is also where the audience is told that Peter, Bob’s eldest son, also works in order to gain some more income for the family’s welfare. Peter’s loss of youth clearly reminds Scrooge of his lonely childhood as we (as readers) can see a glimmer of hope within Scrooge’s future transformation. Here, Scrooge can see that no matter how poor this family is, nothing will ever change the love they possess for one another as they are described as “happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time…” This communicates and foreshadows Scrooge’s possible want for change in the lower working class’ treatment and wages etc, as in Victorian England, anyone born into the lower working class was instantly assumed to be lazy as according to the upper and middle class, it was their fault for being in that situation and it was “punishment” for not working hard enough – although they probably worked just as much as the other working classes, if not more. Dickens went into such detail with The Cratchits living conditions as he wanted to raise awareness to the contemporary audience that societal norms needed to change in order to progress as a country.

Moreover, the importance of family is also shown through Belle’s happiness with her new family and husband. This is where we see slight guilt in Scrooge’s past actions as he “yells, ‘get me out of this place’”. The use of verb “yells” explains how there could be a glimmer of jealousy within Belle’s find for a new love for others and the loss of love she once maintained with Scrooge. In the Victorian Era, it was almost a necessity and classed as a life’s purpose to have a family to carry on future working development and to pass on the family name and so Scrooge has failed at learning to love and care about other people since he “replaced” everyone with a “golden” material. Dickens clearly wanted to make the society of the Victorian Era understand the sheer importance of having a family and not remaining lonely like Scrooge as happiness is spawned within family and laughter. The reader would realise just how much their family should mean to them as the average age of the Victorian Era was 29 years old which- to this day- is very young and they should appreciate who they have around them.

Finally, within the selected extract, The Cratchits are presented as economically disinclined but “happy, grateful, pleased…” and that is all they need to survive. Scrooge decides to have “his eye upon… Tiny Tim until the last” and this could be he doesn’t want to accept the fact that he declined Bob with a higher wage to help his ‘youngest son’ (Tiny Tim) gain the medication he needs in order to cure his illness. The use of lexical choice ‘upon’ shows how Scrooge is aware that this family needs and wants help economically but refuses to realise that its HIS fault for keeping him paid on the lowest wage. This could mirror a possible future where Tiny Tim was the ‘last’ one born, but the first to die, as in the Victorian Era, contraception didn’t exist and so families (usually of the lower class) had up to 7 kids, also because 1/6 of the born children would die before the age of 1 and 1/5 would die before the age of 5 due to the lack of health care and unsanitary living conditions. Scrooge clearly realised that he would have to live with the fact that he was the reason why Tiny Tim dies (when The Ghost of Yet to Come) takes him to the scene of his death. Here the reader can see that The Cratchits truly love and appreciate each other, and they possess something Scrooge becomes envious of- which is love and Dickens did this in the hope of more appreciation and acceptance of everyone, no matter what social class etc and that if things didn’t change in their societal norms, then regression would certainly take place.

Ultimately, through the ideals of family, Dickens seeks to illuminate its great value, encouraging greater benevolence and sense of community for readers of all contexts.

Model Grade 9 ‘ACC’ essay: Christmas as a Joyful Time

Starting with this extract, explore how far Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time. (30 marks)

Throughout Dickens’ allegorical novella, his aim is to passionately highlight how such a joyful season can create positive role models for Scrooge. The constant succession of images relating to joy around Christmas may well have been utilised to demonstrate how readers too can learn and improve from the inspirational characters during the novella.

Primarily, within stave 1 of the novella, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fred as the embodiment of the Christmas spirit with all the positive virtues associated with Christmas. This is evidenced when Fred is described as coming in ‘all in a glow’ with ‘his face ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled.’ Here the use of the noun ‘glow’ connotes light and warmth which is strongly linked to hope and purity. This highlights the contrast between Fred and his uncle Scrooge, who was described as ‘hard and sharp as flint.’ Structurally, introducing Fred immediately after Scrooge focuses the reader’s attention on the clear variation between the two and all of the positive qualities that Scrooge lacks. Furthermore, Fred highlights the belief that Christmas is a time for unity within the social hierarchy although it ‘never puts a scrap of gold or silver’ in his pocket and he frowns upon his uncle, completely consumed in the greed for money. Dickens may have done this to foreshadow Scrooge’s transformation into a better man as a result of the inspirational role models around him during the novella. Alternatively, Dickens may have used Fred and Scrooge together to challenge the situation in Victorian Britain during the Industrial Revolution. Scrooge highlights all of the negative traits of upper class men during this time and Fred is a caring and benevolent character, who cares for people lower down on the social hierarchy.

Secondly, within the extract, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fezziwig to suggest a clear contrast in the two employers. This is evidenced when Fezziwig ‘laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence.’ The use of the abstract noun ‘benevolence’ suggests the joy and love Fezziwig has for Christmas time. Fezziwig’s kind, caring personality is another role model and catalyst for Scrooge’s transformation. Furthermore, Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time through Fezziwig’s Christmas party. ‘Fuel was heaped upon the fire’ and the warehouse was transformed into a ‘snug, and warm’ ballroom filled with light. The use of the adjective ‘warm’ connotes kindness and comfort. The detail here in Fezziwig’s scene overwhelms the senses; his generosity is physical, emotional and palpable. As an employer he is the foil of Scrooge and presents all of the positive virtues that Scrooge lacks. Dickens may have done this to highlight a different side to capitalism. Alternatively, presenting Fezziwig as the embodiment of Christmas suggests the importance of Christmas and all of its positive qualities on everyone in society.

Thirdly, within the novella, Dickens utilises the Ghost of Christmas Present to personify Christmas itself. When the ghost appears it has set up an impressive feast of lights and food. This is evidenced when Scrooge’s room is filled with ‘the crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there, and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney.’ The scene is hyperbolic and creates a clear contrast with the frugal state of Scrooge’s past Christmases. The use of the light imagery here provides a clear and undeniable tableau of the joyful Christmases Scrooge can afford but chooses to shun. Dickens may have done this to portray Christmas as a bright and familiar celebration which everyone should celebrate in harmony. A modern reader may feel hope that Scrooge will use his wealth to celebrate Christmas with all of the festivities that Christmas should include and celebrate it with the people that care for him, like his nephew Fred.

Finally, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ Dickens reinforces the theme of Christmas spirit through the Cratchit family. Dickens utilises Bob Cratchit to symbolise the true spirit of Christmas and the importance of family. This is evidenced at the Cratchit’s dinner where nobody remarked that it was ‘a small pudding for a large family’. The adjective ‘small’ emphasises the Cratchit’s lack of luxury and yet their enthusiasm in the scene is palpable. This highlights that this ‘small’ pudding was seen as an indulgence to them which is something Scrooge takes for granted. Furthermore, the Cratchit’s ‘four roomed house’ is filled with an overwhelming sense of energy and excitement, which exists as an antithesis of Scrooge’s ‘old…dreary’ abode. This is evidenced as the youngest Cratchit children ‘danced about the table’ this suggests the sense of energy despite their lowly status in society on this festive day. Dickens may have done this to suggest the importance of Christmas to all members of society. Although the Cratchit family are less fortunate than Scrooge or Fred their Christmas is filled with the love they have for each other. A reader may feel delighted to see this family enjoying Christmas day, contented with what they own and hope that Scrooge will see this family as a role model for his transformation.

 

‘Big Ideas’ in your Literature texts

Having pre-planned ‘big ideas’ that can function as top band essay introductions is a productive use of your time ahead of the Literature exams over the next two weeks. I sat down and had a go for ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘An Inspector Calls’. One of my year 11 students also came up with three superbly perceptive ‘big ideas’ for ‘Macbeth’, also displayed below. No matter the focus, knowing your concept, your way in before you enter the exam hall is excellent preparation and a HUGE time saver.

‘A Christmas Carol’ on theme of Scrooge’s transformation/change: 

Within Dickens’ festive allegorical novella he underscores the desperate need for societal change in the Victorian era which upheld a strict classist society that benefited the wealthy but bound the poor to a cyclical state of ‘want’. Through Scrooge’s transformation, from antagonist to protagonist, from miser to man of the community, Dickens teaches us of the potential that exists in all of us to remedy society’s ills.

‘An Inspector Calls’ on a  character focus question :

Within Priestley’s morality play he utilises the Birling’s Edwardian household as a microcosm for the damaging ramifications of the values rampant before the two world wars. His play explores the ills of capitalism, of the failures to assist the ailing poor, but ultimately of encouraging collective responsibility. He achieves this through the characterisation of _______  who embraces/rejects such values by the close of the play.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s Relationship:

Many of Shakespeare’s critics, Bloom among them, have argued that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth may be Shakespeare’s most authentic couple out of all of his plays, this is due to the deep devotion and passion they demonstrate to each other. However, if we observe their marriage at a microscopic level throughout the play, we can see how it fluctuates and slowly decays at the hands of their unchecked ambition and hubris.

Ambition:

In Shakespeare’s eponymous play, ‘Macbeth’, our tragic hero and his wife are both riddled with unchecked ambition and often take radical measures to accomplish their ultimate goal: kingship. While this ruthless thirst for power is seemingly prosperous at first, it hastily crumbles to nothing as guilt plagues their minds full of “scorpions”. Macbeth transforms from a “brave” and noble warrior to a guilt-ridden and despised “butcher”, while Lady Macbeth’s stoic and transgressive persona deteriorates into a pitiful and anxious version of her former self.

Supernatural:

In ‘Macbeth’, the supernatural acts as a catalyst in Macbeth’s tragic fall from grace and is a vital component of the plot. The supernatural appears in many forms: the witches, Banquo ‘s ghost, and the four apparitions and serves as a manifestation of evil temptation that seduces Macbeth in to murdering his comrades. Shakespeare may have chosen to use the supernatural metaphorically to draw an audience to the fatal flaws of humanity: hubris, ignorance, and duplicity.

With a way in, and the dreaded first sentence(s) in the bag you’ll be well on your way to a BAND 5 response. Just ensure the rest of your response links back to this ‘big idea’, running through your essay like a constant thread.