Our Year 9 English learners recently experienced a unique blend of psychology and literature. We were honoured to host Graham from Chelsea Psychology Clinic for a masterclass providing a dual benefit: insights into a psychology career and a novel perspective on Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Graham's vocational journey has seen him use his skills to change lives. His many experiences, such as pivoting from chemistry to psychology in his studies or working with refugees and asylum seekers brought a real-world context to our discussion, highlighting the relevance of psychology in diverse settings. Equipped with such an exciting and fulfilling career, Graham shared invaluable advice on A-level selections and their influence on future careers.
The focus of the masterclass was an exploration of Macbeth from psychological perspective. Graham's psychological analysis of the titular character's inner conflict offered a fresh lens for understanding literature. Learners engaged enthusiastically, using Padlet to ask questions and share ideas, delving into the intricacies of Macbeth's psyche.
This masterclass not only expanded our learners' understanding of psychology but also deepened their appreciation of literature. By viewing Macbeth through a psychological framework, learners gained a more comprehensive understanding of character motivations and complexities.
Following this session, learners were tasked to write an analytical essay paragraph on Macbeth. Here is year 10 learner Sean’s astute response:
Shakespeare's portrayal of the titular character in the play "Macbeth" aligns very well, surprisingly so, with our contemporary understanding of psychosis. Some symptoms that we associate with the condition today, that we see in Macbeth, include hallucinations, visual, tactile, and acoustic, and an incredibly heightened sense of paranoia. The triggers that we see in Macbeth also align with our understanding of what can cause psychosis in the modern world, with extreme stress and a traumatic experience both causing Macbeth's intense symptoms. This manifests itself in the play with Macbeth committing regicide, sacrificing everything he valued in the world, including his loyalty to his king and his nobility as a soldier. This loss of nobility contributes to his hallucinations of a dagger before committing the regicidal act, his mind mocking him for his transformation from a soldier of the light to an assassin of the darkness. Another psychological parallel within Shakespeare's Macbeth which lines up with today's psychological hypotheses is that humans are susceptible to manipulation by another in which they have unwavering trust. We can see this in the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth; the former demonstrates his trust in the latter by telling her about his encounter with the witches and his belief in their prophecies, something he didn't tell anyone else, for fear of betrayal. He even refers to her as his "dearest partner of greatness" and she, in her soliloquy, reveals her determination to "pour my spirits in thine ear", conveying her appreciation of her ability to manipulate him into committing heinous acts of treachery and treason. Furthermore, the link between insomnia and the symptoms exhibited by Macbeth adds another layer of psychological realism, highlighting the impact of sleep deprivation on mental health. In essence, Shakespeare's portrayal of Macbeth's behaviour not only echoes contemporary understanding of psychosis, peer pressure and insomnia, but also underscores the enduring relevance of his insights into the complexities of the human psyche.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Graham for this multifaceted learning experience. His masterclass reinforced the value of interdisciplinary approaches in education by providing our learners with invaluable insight into their curriculum text Macbeth from a psychological perspective.
