Questions for Macbeth

  1. How did you feel after killing Duncan? Did you have a lot of regrets about your decision or were you happy you “did the deed”?
  2. Was having Banquo killed always a part of your plan? If not, would you have ever seen yourself doing that?
  3. Do you have any regrets about your actions?
  4. What wouldn’t you do to stay in power? What is your limit?
  5. If you could go back in time, would you still kill Duncan?
  6. What did you think the dagger meant? A warning, or encouragement?
  7. Do you feel bad about having Banquo killed?
  8. Do you blame the weird sisters for telling you their prophecy and convincing you to kill Duncan? Why or why not?
  9. What changed you most from being so humane and nice, to greedy and uncaring?
  10. How did you feel while Lady Macbeth was persuading you to not be scared and kind?
  11. If you could, would you change back to how you used to be with all your murders cleared from your history?
  12. At what moment did you feel your character start to change?
  13. How have your thoughts changed about murder after you killed Duncan?
  14. Did you think the apparitions were real?
  15. How did you feel when you saw each apparition?
  16. Why did you keep killing people, even after seeing and hearing each apparition?
  17. In order for you to kill Duncan, what really motivated you to follow through?
  18. Why were you so hesitant to murder Duncan when he was staying at your castle?
  19. Why did you eventually decide that Macduff must die? What was his main threat to you?
  20. Prior to your inheritance of the throne, what was you overall goal?
  21. What kind of moral transformation did you go through?
  22. What would you consider to be the highlight of your life?
  23. Do you feel like your wife has control over your life?
  24. Do you think if she was not your wife you still would have killed Duncan?
  25. What is your greatest fear when you go to sleep at night?
  26. How have these events (witches, murders) changed you?
  27. Which of the three apparitions did you find most important? Why?
  28. What is your view on the weird sisters?
  29. Are you afraid of the English army or Malcolm?
  30. Suppose your wife was to reveal to everyone that you are responsible for killing Duncan and the others. If necessary, would you go as far as having your own wife killed, if it meant you could remain in power and keep the title of king?
  31. What made you want to kill Macduff’s family?
  32. What was your response to seeing each of the three apparitions?
  33. After killing Duncan, why were you incapable of smearing some of his blood onto the guards to make it look like they had done it? You had already killed him, so why was it such a big deal for you to smear some blood on some people? Explain.
  34. What do you fear as king?
  35. How did you feel when the forest began to move?
  36. What was your thought process before and after you killed the guards?
  37. How do you feel about your wife going crazy and sleepwalking?
  38. How did you feel lying to those men to inspire them to kill your best friend (Banquo)?
  39. What happened when you saw Banquo’s ghost? How did you feel?

Questions for Lady Macbeth

  1. Why were you so sure you wouldn’t get caught after killing Duncan?
  2. Are you insane?
  3. Do you think your husband would have followed through with the murder if you had not pushed him? Why or why not?
  4. What did you say to show you though that killing Duncan was no big deal?
  5. How did you get Macbeth to change his mind about killing Duncan?
  6. Are you mad at your husband for killing Banquo without you?
  7. When Macbeth started seeing things at the banquet, what was going through your head?
  8. Do you still think that killing Duncan was worth it?
  9. Do you think you played a big part in influencing Macbeth to kill Duncan?
  10. What was your reaction to the letter your husband sent you regarding what the witches had told him?
  11. How did you feel when you first read Macbeth’s letter, talking about the weird sisters’ prophecy?
  12. Why did you want your husband to become king so bad?
  13. Why did you feel you had to kill Duncan immediately?
  14. What was your plan to kill Duncan and why didn’t you do it yourself instead of Macbeth?
  15. Why would you think you needed to act upon the witches prophecy? Why did you think it necessary to kill Duncan and not let Macbeth become king naturally?
  16. What was running through your mind when you wanted Macbeth to kill the king?
  17. When you heard the news of Duncan’s death, do you think you over reacted compared to everyone else?
  18. Have you seen any changes in Macbeth? How do you feel about them?
  19. How do you think of yourself? Why?
  20. How did you feel after helping kill Banquo?
  21. Why didn’t you kill Duncan yourself if you wanted him to be dead so bad?
  22. Why did you wish to “unsex” yourself?
  23. After your “unsex me” speech, we were well aware that you became more masculine, but why weren’t you able to kill Duncan yourself? We know he looked like your father, and you say that’s the only reason, but do you think you put on a show/act to seem tougher or emotionally stronger than you actually are? Explain.
  24. Why did you kill yourself?
  25. Why did you start to feel guilty about the murders, when you were so eager to murder in the beginning?
  26. How have you changed?
  27. Did you really wish you could be a man, or do you feel more powerful as a woman?
  28. If you could change one thing about Macbeth, what would it be? Why?
  29. You say a lot of powerful things in the beginning, but later you have a breakdown. Why?