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With all the killing and craziness that goes on in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it’s hard to believe that this tragedy was anything other than a 17th-century slasher play. Not so, says Jenny! Up next, she’ll tell you why Macbeth's main theme actually has something to teach its audience. That’s right. Shakespeare wanted his viewers to think about consequences.

Video Transcription:

Macbeth isn’t really about right and wrong. What the character, Macbeth, does is wrong, period. And we know that from the beginning. But Macbeth is about what happens when we give in to wrong. One word: Consequences!

OK, so there’s a LOT of bad that happens before Macbeth faces any consequences for his actions, right? He gets away with the murder of King Duncan, and becomes King. He gets away with the murder of Banquo—and protects his throne. And Macduff’s family dies, too, before Macbeth is finally killed by Macduff.

But zero consequences ‘til the end? Not so fast. One of the major themes of Macbeth is that evil isn’t rewarded.

Macbeth may become king after Duncan’s death, but notice how the other characters treat him. Throughout the rest of the play they call him “tyrant,” not “king.” And instead of revering him, they plot to kill him.

Here’s another example of the consequences of evil. After Macbeth commits murder, the laws of nature seem to be turned upside-down. Day becomes night. And even death isn’t what it should be. Remember that after Banquo’s murder, Banquo’s ghost comes to haunt Macbeth in Act 3, scene 4. So much for getting rid of the guy!

In sum, throughout Macbeth, evil results in more evil—not just in Macbeth’s actions, but in the consequences for those actions, too.