-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 #)
Killing Duncan (pg.43)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain
Irrational because he is doing
it because Lady Macbeth
told him to and talked him
into it without him actually
thinking about how it would
affect everybody.

Decision 2 (page #)
Killing Macduffs family
(pg.132)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain
Irrational, Macbeth killing
Macduffs family causes
Macduff to overthrow
Macbeth.

What does this reveal

about character?
Macbeth is power happy
even though he doesnt have
complete power.

It was a rational decision

because she is gaining his
trust so when the murder will
happen people wont suspect
her.

What this reveals about her

is that she is deceiving and a
liar.

LADY MACBETH
Lady Macbeth convinced
and devised and controlled a
plan for the killing of king
Duncan.

This is very irrational, there

will always be something
going wrong when you do
wrong, you can never fully
get rid of guilt.

When she acted nice when

king Duncan came and acted
respectful and saying they
are the servants for the night.

BANQUO
Decision 1 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

Decision 2 (page #)

Rational or Irrational?
Explain

What does this reveal

about character?

Questioning to see if the

witches are telling the truth.

Rational, because he doesnt

want to think something
good is going to happen, if
its not true.

When Macbeth asked

Banquo if he would be loyal
to him if he had the throne.

It was both because he didnt

want to disobey and be
disloyal to king Duncan but
at the same time, he didnt
think about how Macbeth
would react which is one of
the reasons why Macbeth
killed Banquo.

He doesnt think about other

people at times, when he is
paying attention to
something else.

Irrational because he didnt

think about his family.

Calling battle on Macbeth.

Irrational because he didnt

think what would happen
after it, he just did it because
Macbeth kill his family.

Hes very vengeful.

Rational because I thought

about how attending to this
school will benefit me in the
future.

Procrastinating with most of

my work.

Instead of being lazy I

should just do the work to
keep my grade up because if
I turn it in it will affect my

I can be careless and careful

at some times.

MACDUFF
Leaving his family to go to
England.

Your choice:
Going to HAIS.

grade negatively.