Select one of the following prompts to serve as the basis for a persuasive essay. Take a firm stance on the prompt and write a 5-paragraph, double-spaced essay
supporting your position. Make sure that you have a strong thesis statement at the end of your introduction and clear topic sentences in each body paragraph that
provide arguments in support of your thesis. Be sure to provide textual support to buttress each of your claims.
PROMPTS:
Select a “secondary” character (Banquo, Macduff, Malcolm) and analyze the way in which he or she serves as a foil to a central character and thus help to expand your
understanding by contrast. (A foil is a character who enhances another through contrast). You could also theoretically use Lady Macbeth as a secondary character to
Macbeth.
Does power corrupt automatically? Apply this famous expression to the events and characters in Macbeth. You can focus on a single character or several. You may take
the position that it always corrupts, never corrupts, or sometimes corrupts, but be sure to provide textual support.
Is Macbeth a tragedy of fate or of character? In determining your position on this, consider whether the witches play a central or collateral role in shifting the
ambitions and actions of the play’s characters.
Sample Solution