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 #)
Macbeths decision to kill
Banquo. (Pg. 85)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

Decision 2 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

What does this reveal

about character?

Irrational.
Because of what has
happened so far in the play,
Macbeth should have
realized that killing Banquo
would not have stopped the
prophecy. He was given part
of the prophecy and then
achieved the other part.
Because of this he should
have taken those into
account and realized that no
matter what he did the
prophecy would have been
fulfilled.

Macbeths decision to act on

impulse from now on. (Pg.
131)

Irrational.
At this point in the play,
none of Macbeths decisions
have brought any good. He
regretted killing
Duncan, he suffered from
Banquos spirit, and now he
knows that Banquos heirs
are still to be kings. Frankly,
he should stop trying to
change the course of things,
because all of his choices
have done nothing except for
make him king, which was
supposed to happen anyway.

Macbeth appears very

irrational towards the end of
the book. Surely he was a
rational man, but the
prophecies brought a powerhungry insanity over him
that appears to have inhibited
his sense of rationality,
causing a consistent flow of
bad decisions.

Irrational.
Not even addressing how
Lady Macbeth takes the
news of Macbeths
promotion, Lady Macbeth
decides to kill Duncan
because a prophecy foretells
it. If she had thought it
through, she would have
realized that the prophecy

Lady Macbeths decision to

play the role of a weak
woman after hearing of
Duncans death. (Pg. 71)

Rational.
Given the situation and how
the men were treating her, it
only made sense that Lady
Macbeth pretended to be so
weak when told of Duncans
death. It also appeared to
have thrown off any
suspicion of her role, so it
seems her ploy actually

These decisions allow us to

see that Lady Macbeth is a
masterful tactician, but none
too moral. She makes
decisions that are very rash
but end up working
somehow. So, while she may
not make decisions
rationally, she plans very
things out very rationally.

LADY MACBETH
Lady Macbeths decision to
kill King Duncan. (Pg. 31)

would have just fulfilled

itself, even if Malcolm was
made Prince. However, her
plan does work.

worked.

BANQUO
Decision 1 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

Decision 2 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

What does this reveal

about character?

Banquos decision to leave

before Macbeths party. (Pg.
83)

Irrational.
Banquo knew of Macbeths
state of mind and suspected
him of killing Duncan. He
should have stayed and not
left so as to keep Macbeth
thinking that he was still
loyal to him and not a traitor.

Banquos decision to not tell

the thanes of Macbeths
treachery. (Pg. 81)

Irrational.
While he does not
necessarily decide on
keeping evidence to himself,
Banquo never tells the thanes
that he suspects Macbeth of
killing Duncan. If he had
thought through what he was
thinking well enough, the
most logical thing to do
would be to tell the thanes
and then confront Macbeth.

Banquo appears to be
somewhat rash in his
decisions. While his
intentions may be good or
even neutral, he doesnt
appear to think ahead all that
far.

Rational.
Despite the fact that his
entire household was
murdered, Macduffs
decision to go to Malcolm in
England resulted in Malcolm
taking up arms and invading
Scotland to overthrow
Macbeth and save his
people. From a utilitarian

Macduffs decision to leave

Malcolm. (187)

Rational.
Through this action Macduff
shows that he is loyal to
Scotland, not Macbeth or
Malcolm. Of course Macduff
tried reasoning with
Malcolm first, but that was
expected seeing as how he
was somewhat desperate,
However, through this

Macduff is a very rational

man that loves his country
dearly. Even when he hears
of his entire family being
killed, he accepts the fact
and acknowledges that he
should not have left them so
hurriedly.

MACDUFF
Macduffs decision to go to
England. (Pg. 100)

standpoint, Macduff made a

good, rational decision.

decision, Macduff proves

himself to Malcolm.

Your choice: Malcolm

Decision to leave Scotland.
(Pg. 71)

VERY irrational.
While Malcolm may have
been in danger, he could
have protected himself in
other ways. Not only that,
but he made himself look
guilty by fleeing so quickly.

Decision to test Macduff.

Rational.
This choice, while a bit of a
risk, allowed Malcolm to
better understand Macduff
and what he wanted as well
as ensuring that he was not
being tricked.

Malcolm appears to do well

when he has time to think.
His decision to leave was
quick and irrational whereas
he had more time to think
over testing Macduff or any
who might try to find him,
which allowed him to make
a rational decision.