20-minute plan (Quiz Prep)
- Jot down each identified murderer and their specific killing(s) in 5 minutes.
- Match each murderer to one theme (ambition, guilt, paranoia) in 10 minutes.
- Write two 1-sentence quiz answers using your notes in 5 minutes.
Keyword Guide · study-guide-general
Who Are the Murderers in Macbeth? A Student Study Guide
Shakespeare's Macbeth centers on violent ambition and its ripple effects. Identifying the play's murderers is key to understanding blame, guilt, and moral decay. This guide gives you concrete notes, study plans, and actionable tools for class, quizzes, and essays.
The core murderers in Macbeth are Macbeth himself, Lady Macbeth, and two unnamed hired men (often called the Murderers) whom Macbeth pays to kill Banquo. Macbeth also orchestrates the death of Macduff's family, using additional hired agents. Some interpretations frame the Witches as indirect murderers for planting ambitious ideas in Macbeth's mind.
Next Step
Simplify Your Macbeth Studies
Stop scrambling for disjointed notes. Get instant, structured analysis of Macbeth’s murderers, themes, and characters to ace your next quiz or essay.
- AI-powered breakdowns of key characters and themes
- Custom study plans tailored to your timeline
- Essay templates and discussion prompts ready to use
Answer Block
Murderers in Macbeth include direct perpetrators and those who manipulate or order killings. Macbeth commits multiple murders directly or through proxies. Lady Macbeth pushes Macbeth to commit his first murder and covers up evidence, making her an accomplice.
Next step: List each murderer’s specific actions and write one sentence linking their actions to the theme of ambition.
Key Takeaways
- Macbeth is the direct or indirect perpetrator of every major killing in the play.
- Lady Macbeth acts as an accomplice by enabling Macbeth's first murder and covering up evidence.
- Hired Murderers carry out killings at Macbeth's command, highlighting his descent into paranoia.
- The Witches can be interpreted as indirect murderers for fueling Macbeth's violent ambition.
20-Minute Plan and 60-Minute Plan
60-minute plan (Essay & Discussion Prep)
- Create a 2-column chart of murderers and their motivations in 15 minutes.
- Brainstorm 3 discussion questions that connect murderers to theme in 20 minutes.
- Draft a 3-sentence thesis and mini-outline for an essay on blame in 20 minutes.
- Review and refine your notes for gaps in 5 minutes.
3-Step Study Plan
Action: List every major killing in the play and assign direct or indirect blame to a character.
Output: A 1-page chart of killings, perpetrators, and roles (direct killer, accomplice, manipulator).
Action: For each murderer, write one sentence connecting their actions to a core theme (ambition, guilt, fate).
Output: A set of theme-matching notes ready for discussion or essay use.
Action: Write a 3-sentence response to the prompt: Who bears the most blame for the play’s violence?
Output: A polished analytical snippet for quizzes or in-class writing.
Discussion Kit
- Which murderer’s actions stem from personal ambition, and which stem from manipulation?
- How does Macbeth’s use of hired Murderers reveal his changing character?
- Is Lady Macbeth more responsible for the first murder or Macbeth himself?
- Can the Witches be considered murderers, or are they just messengers of fate?
- How do the play’s murderers illustrate the difference between guilt and blame?
- Why does Macbeth target innocent people like Macduff’s family later in the play?
- How does Shakespeare distinguish between direct killers and those who order killings?
- Would the play’s events have unfolded the same way without Lady Macbeth’s influence?
Essay Kit
Thesis Templates
- While Macbeth commits the play’s most violent acts, Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and the Witches’ temptation make them equally responsible for the cycle of murder in Macbeth.
- Macbeth’s shift from direct murderer to using hired proxies reveals his growing paranoia and loss of moral compass, driving the play’s tragic conclusion.
Outline Skeletons
- I. Introduction with thesis on shared blame; II. Macbeth’s direct killings; III. Lady Macbeth’s accomplice role; IV. The Witches’ indirect influence; V. Conclusion on moral decay
- I. Introduction with thesis on character change; II. Macbeth’s first direct murder; III. Use of hired Murderers as a turning point; IV. Killing of Macduff’s family as final descent; V. Conclusion on ambition’s cost
Sentence Starters
- One often overlooked accomplice in Macbeth’s murders is
- Macbeth’s decision to use hired Murderers alongside acting himself shows that
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Exam Kit
Checklist
- I can name all direct and indirect murderers in Macbeth
- I can link each murderer’s actions to a core theme
- I can explain the difference between direct killers and accomplices
- I can outline an essay on blame and murder in the play
- I can answer short-answer questions about specific killings
- I can identify Macbeth’s shift from direct to indirect murder
- I can discuss the Witches’ role in the play’s violence
- I can write a clear thesis statement for a murder-themed essay
- I can avoid the common mistake of ignoring Lady Macbeth’s accomplice role
- I can connect murder to the play’s tragic structure
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to label Lady Macbeth as an accomplice, not just a manipulator
- Ignoring the hired Murderers’ role in showing Macbeth’s paranoia
- Claiming the Witches directly committed murders, alongside influencing Macbeth
- Failing to link murder actions to core themes like ambition or guilt
- Treating all murderers as equally responsible without nuanced analysis
Self-Test
- Name three murderers (direct or indirect) in Macbeth and their key actions.
- Explain one way Macbeth’s use of hired Murderers reflects his character change.
- Is Lady Macbeth a direct murderer, an accomplice, or both? Defend your answer.
How-To Block
Action: Go through the play’s major violent events and note who carried out the act, who ordered it, and who encouraged it.
Output: A clear list linking each killing to specific characters.
Action: For each character linked to a murder, write one sentence explaining their motive (ambition, fear, manipulation).
Output: A set of motivation notes for discussion or essay use.
Action: Link each murderer’s motivation to one of the play’s core themes (ambition, guilt, fate).
Output: A polished set of theme-matching analysis ready for exams or essays.
Rubric Block
Accuracy of Murderer Identification
Teacher looks for: Correct listing of all direct and indirect murderers, with clear links to specific killings.
How to meet it: Cross-reference your list with play events to ensure no murderers or killings are missing, and label each character’s role (direct killer, accomplice, manipulator).
Thematic Analysis
Teacher looks for: Clear connections between murderers’ actions and the play’s core themes (ambition, guilt, fate).
How to meet it: Write one sentence per murderer linking their actions to a specific theme, using concrete examples from the play.
Nuance of Blame
Teacher looks for: Recognition that blame is not equal, with justification for differing levels of responsibility.
How to meet it: Rank murderers by level of responsibility and write a 1-sentence justification for each ranking.
Direct Murderers
Direct murderers in Macbeth include Macbeth himself and the hired men he commands. Macbeth commits his first major killing early in the play, then relies on proxies as his paranoia grows. List each direct killer’s specific actions and note when Macbeth stops acting personally. Use this before class to contribute to character analysis discussions.
Indirect Murderers & Accomplices
Indirect murderers include Lady Macbeth and the Witches. Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into committing his first murder and covers up evidence. The Witches plant ambitious ideas that fuel Macbeth’s violent actions. Write one sentence explaining each character’s indirect role in the play’s killings. Use this before essay drafts to build your thesis on shared blame.
Thematic Links to Murder
Each murderer’s actions tie to a core theme: Macbeth’s ambition, Lady Macbeth’s desire for power, the Witches’ challenge to fate, and hired Murderers’ reflection of Macbeth’s paranoia. Match each murderer to one theme and write a short explanation. Add these links to your exam notes to strengthen short-answer responses.
Common Student Mistakes
A common mistake is ignoring Lady Macbeth’s role as an accomplice, framing her only as a manipulator. Another mistake is claiming the Witches directly committed murders, alongside influencing Macbeth. Circle these mistakes in your own notes and revise your analysis to fix them. Use this before quizzes to avoid easy point deductions.
Writing Tips for Essays
When writing about murderers in Macbeth, focus on responsibility rather than just listing actions. Use the sentence starters in the essay kit to frame your analysis. Compare two murderers’ levels of blame to add nuance to your thesis. Draft a 3-sentence practice thesis using one of the templates provided.
Quiz & Exam Prep
For quizzes, focus on memorizing each murderer’s key actions and thematic links. Use the 20-minute timeboxed plan to review quickly before exams. Test yourself using the self-test questions in the exam kit and check your answers against your notes. Write down any gaps in your knowledge and fill them in immediately.
Are the hired men in Macbeth named?
No, the hired men Macbeth commands to kill Banquo are referred to only as the Murderers. Shakespeare does not give them individual names.
Is Banquo’s son killed by the Murderers?
Banquo’s son escapes the Murderers’ attack, which fuels Macbeth’s further paranoia and violence later in the play.
Does Lady Macbeth commit any murders directly?
Lady Macbeth does not commit any murders directly. She acts as an accomplice by manipulating Macbeth and covering up evidence after his first killing.
Why does Macbeth hire Murderers alongside killing people himself?
As the play progresses, Macbeth becomes more paranoid and wants to distance himself from his violent actions, so he uses hired proxies to avoid direct guilt.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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