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How to Get Grade 7
This is the first in a series using ChatGPT. This AI takes the most obvious ideas from the internet and combines them to come up with an essay of its own.
And obvious ideas can get you grades 6 and 7.
Each week you will get a new essay - every topic that could possibly come up in the exam.
Starting with this speech, explore how Shakespeare presents ambition in Macbeth.
A Typical Extract
LADY MACBETH
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised; yet do I fear thy nature,
It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou’dst have, great Glamis,
That which cries, ‘Thus thou must do’ if thou have it;
And that which rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crowned withal.
(Remember that even if the question doesn’t ask about ambition, ambition will fit every question. You will see that ambition appears in the answer to all 10 essay questions later).
How Does Shakespeare Present Ambition in Macbeth?
Macbeth delves into the theme of ambition and its destructive consequences. Shakespeare presents ambition as a corrupting influence that leads to guilt, death, and corruption.
One of the most notable examples of Shakespeare's portrayal of ambition can be seen in Lady Macbeth's speech revealing her own ambition to be queen. In this speech, Lady Macbeth is encouraging her husband Macbeth to embrace his ambition and be more ruthless in order to achieve greatness. In her words, his nature "is too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way" (I.v.15-16). She implies that Macbeth's kindness is hindering him from reaching greatness. Lady Macbeth's speech shows the audience the corrupting influence of ambition and how it can lead individuals to urge others towards harmful actions.
Throughout the play, Shakespeare presents ambition as a destructive force that leads to guilt, corruption, and death. Macbeth's ambition leads him to kill King Duncan and eventually causes his own downfall. The prophecy that he will become king becomes an obsession for Macbeth, causing him to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. This leads to a downward spiral of guilt and paranoia as Macbeth becomes increasingly desperate to maintain his power.
In Macbeth's own words, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other" (I.vii.25-28). He recognises the destructive power of his ambition which will cause him to ‘overleap’, by attempting to have too much. This will lead to his ‘fall’, which implies both that he will fail to live up to Christian moral values, and he will also fail.
Shakespeare uses several literary techniques to emphasise the destructive power of ambition in the play. For example, the use of soliloquies and asides allows the audience to see Macbeth's inner thoughts and motives, further illustrating the corrupting influence of ambition on his character.
In Lady Macbeth's famous soliloquy, she says "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!" (I.v.38-41), revealing her ruthless ambition and willingness to do anything to achieve greatness. She doesn’t just want to become masculine, she has totally rejected the Jacobean view of what it means to be a woman. It causes her to seek power and challenge patriarchal values.
Additionally, Shakespeare uses imagery and symbolism, such as the “blood” on Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth’s hands, to further drive home the destructive consequences of ambition. Not even a god, like “Neptune” can clean the symbolic blood from Macbeth’s murderous hands. And Lady Macbeth is driven to madness by the “smell of blood still” on her hands after her ambition urged Macbeth to commit regicide.
There are several other examples in the play that demonstrate the dangerous consequences of ambition. For instance, Macbeth's killing of Banquo and Lady Macduff's family, his constant fear and guilt, and his eventual downfall in battle, all illustrate the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition. Another example is the Three Witches, who prophesise Macbeth's fate and seem to manipulate him towards his destruction.
This Satanic influence links ambition to evil. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth's gradual decline into madness highlights the psychological toll of ambition and guilt. In Lady Macbeth's words, "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One; two: why, then 'tis time to do't" (V.i.35-36). She is tormented by guilt, her actions driven by ambition. This is why she keeps revisiting the “time” she signalled with the bell for Macbeth to kill Duncan.
In conclusion, Shakespeare presents ambition as a dangerous and destructive force in Macbeth. Through Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth's speech and other examples in the play, Shakespeare uses literary techniques to emphasise the corrupting influence and destructive consequences of ambition. The play serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and how it can lead individuals down a path of guilt, corruption, and death.
651 words
At the bottom of the level, a candidate will have Level 3 and be starting to demonstrate elements of understanding and/or explanation of writer’s methods and/or contexts.
So, this is an answer worth 21 marks, a grade 7.
What the Marks Mean
Grade 7 = 70%. 21 marks out of 30.
Grade 6 = 60%. 18 marks out of 30
Grade 5 = 53%. 16 marks out of 30
Level 5 in the Mark Scheme
Grade 7 starts in Level 5 = Thoughtful, developed consideration = 21–25 marks
At the bottom of the level, the essay will have all Level 4 and start to:
1. Be thoughtful
2. Consider the writer’s methods
3. Consider the context.
To be thoughtful, the essay can
4. Consider more than one interpretation.
5. use words like ‘may, might, could, perhaps’.
6. Simply be a longer essay: more ideas means it is more thoughtful.Level 4 in the Mark Scheme
Level 4 = Clear understanding = 16–20 marks
At the top of the level, the essay:
1. Is likely to be clear, detailed, and all the points will be relevant to the question.
2. Will show good understanding and include a range of examples from the whole play.
3. Each paragraph will focus on explaining how these examples prove the student’s point of view about the topic in the essay title.
4. The answer will write about a range of methods, which will be named (anything named is a method – so ‘as a cautionary tale’ or ‘attack patriarchal values’ or ‘portray the damaging effect of ambition’. Yes, simile, metaphor, alliteration and so on are also methods. But anything you say Shakespeare is doing is a method!).
5. Will include Shakespeare’s viewpoint, or what he wants his Jacobean audience to think or do.
At the bottom of the level, the essay will:
· Show understanding of why characters behave in particular ways
· Or why/how Shakespeare wants to influence his audience.
· Have a smaller range of methods without always explaining their purpose.
Great stuff!