MACBETH

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  • Created by: sana.aaa
  • Created on: 30-12-17 14:39

What are the first impressions of Macbeth?

  • Shakespeare introduces the audience to Macbeth in Act 1 scene 2 through other characters.
  • He is a good, courageous soldier, with adjective and verbs depicting his strength and determination- "bloody excecution... carv'd out his passage"
  • He is described by the Captain of Scotland as "brave Macbeth"- this shows that he is highly thought of and he is a noble soldier, playing a huge role in the Scottish army.
  • Personification is used by the Captain to describe how, even though the odds were against him, Macbeth fought bravely, "Disdaining fortune".
  • When the King is making Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor, he uses the adjective "noble" to show Macbeth is an honourable man.
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How is Macbeth affected by the witches?

  • Macbeth is fascinated by the witches' prophecies but does not take them seriously until he hears that the King has named him Thane of Cawdor.
  • Shakespeare then uses Macbeth's soliloquies to reveal Macbeth's deepest thought, and show that he is hiding things from his friend- Banquo.
  • Adjectives show that he is excited by the possibility of becoming King.
  • However, metaphors make it clear that the idea of killing the King shocks and terrifies him, "horrid image doth unfix my hair, And make my seated heart knock at my ribs".
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Does Macbeth have a conscience?

  • Lady Macbeth expresses her fear of Macbeth's kindness is shown by using a metaphor- "yet I do fear thy nature, it is too full of the milk of human kindness".
  • Shakespeare shows the battle Macbeth faces with his emotions of right and wrongdoings, this is shown by Shakespeare by Macbeth's soliloquies and his dialogue with Lady Macbeth throughout Act 1.
  • Lady Macbeth convinces him to go ahead with these sinful plans, his weaknesses are shown to the audience when Lady Macbeth manipulates and attacks his pride and masculinity. 
  • Before and after killing the King, Macbeth is plagued by fears, visions, and paranoia. This emphasises how he isn't a simple villain but a good man turned bad by ambition and "black and deep desires". He also believes he will never rest again, and will always have the King's blood on his hands - this is an emphasis on the guilt he has. 
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How is Macbeth different as the King?

  • Shakespeare shows that Macbeth's style of speech alters as he gains more power.
  • After the coronation, he speaks more grandly, using regal plural pronouns (our/we) instead of normal singular pronouns (my/I).
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What worries Macbeth?

  • Macbeth fears Banquo and Fleance (Banquo's son) because of the witches' prophecies.
  • He also feels he will have sacrificed his own soul for nothing if the throne doesn't remain in his family. 
  • When he plots to kill Banquo and Fleance, the betrayal of his friend is another sign of moral corruption due to his "black and deep desires".
  • Shakespeare uses Banquo's ghost to allow the audience to interpret whether the ghost is real, or if the ghost is a creation of Macbeth's tortured conscience. This can show that Macbeth is still trying to battle the good and bad sides of his nature.
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What is Macbeth like at the end?

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What is Lady Macbeth's relationship with Macbeth l

  • Macbeth loves his wife, using a superlative adjective when he calls her, "my dearest love".
  • However, when she addresses Macbeth, Lady Macbeth's adjectives focus more on her respect for him, "Great Glamis! worth Cawdor!"
  • It could be interpreted that she is more interested in Macbeth as a tool to fulfill her ambitions. As a woman in the 11th century, she would need a man to achieve power.
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How ambitious is Lady Macbeth?

  • Once she hears of the witches' prophecies, she is desperate to become Queen, referring the crown as the "golden round".
  • In her soliloquy in Act 1 scene 5, she criticises Macbeth for being ambitious but not having the courage to pursue his own desires.
  • Lady Macbeth is clearly willing to do anything for power- she calls on evil spirits to help her achieve her aims, using the metaphor "fill me... of direst cruelty!" She wants to be strong and murderous instead of weak and feminine and wants to feel no guilt or Christian morality. 
  • She plans ************* King Duncan and frame the guards for his death.
  • Lady Macbeth shares a disturbing image of her with child, as she feeds it, whilst it smiles on her face, she would have dashed its brains out. This makes the Jacobean audience feel very angered that a woman of this time, that was meant to be at home, was speaking in such vicious ways about her child.
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How does Lady Macbeth manipulate Macbeth?

  • Shakespeare uses a metaphor to show that Lady Macbeth is a bad influence on Macbeth, "that I may pour my spirits in thine ear".
  • In act 1 scene 5, she hatches the plan to kill the King and insists she takes charge, "you shall put this night's great business into my dispatch".
  • When Macbeth has second thoughts about killing King Duncan, in act 1 scene 7, Shakespeare includes a number of devices to show Lady Macbeth manipulating him:
    • rhetorical questions- "was the hope drunk, wherein you dressed yourself?"
    • belittling insults- "so green and pale... coward".
    • mocking his own words- "what beast was't then, that made you break this enterprise to me?"
    • emotional blackmail- "from this time such I account thy love".
    • imperatives- "screw your courage to the sticking-place".
  • In particular, she challenges his masculinity, and Shakespeare also shows her dominance by giving her more lines and having her frequently interrupt Macbeth, "fail?!"
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How does Lady Macbeth respond to the murder in act

  • Lady Macbeth first shows a sign of weakness when she is unable to kill the King because of the deep resemblance to her father, this shows the audience that she does have a conscience.
  • However, she is much more dispassionate than Macbeth after the murder, dismissing his regrets by mocking and repeating his words, "a foolish thing to say a sorry sight". She ignores his fears by interrupting him with the simple imperative, "consider it not so deeply".
  • When Macbeth is too scared to return to finish the job of framing the guards, she is angered and Shakespeare uses short, blunt sentences to show that she is criticising Macbeths weakness. She uses the short, blunt sentences, "infirm of purpose!/ give me the daggers".
  • Importantly, she trivialises the murder. Shakespeare uses the blood on Macbeth's hands to symbolise guilt, but has Lady M say, "a little water clears us of this deed".
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How is Lady Macbeth presented after Macbeth kills

  • In act 3 scene 2, Lady Macbeth worries about her husband's state of mind. She tries and fails to get close to him, showing the effect of their actions on their previously intimate relationship. She asks him, "who do you keep alone", advises him to "be bright and jovial among your guests" and repeatedly tries to stop him thinking about the murder; "what's done is done", you must leave this".
  • The strain of the situation is shown in the banquet scene. She alternates between trying to reassure the Lords and trying to bully her husband into controlling himself. Eventually, she has to give up and ask the Lords to leave.
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what happens to her at the end of the play.

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How is Banquo presented in Act 1?

  • Banquo is introduced through the description of him and Macbeth as being good, brave soldiers. However, he is not praised as much as Macbeth.
  • In scene 3, internal half-rhyme suggests he is initially more excited than Macbeth by the witches' prophecies: "why do you start, and seem to fear/ Things that do sound so fair?"
  • The witches describe Banquo as, "lesser than Macbeth, and greater!" The first comparative adjective reinforces the idea that he is not as highly honoured as Macbeth but Shakespeare's contrasting language suggests he is more honourable. 
  • He is told, "Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none", establishing him as a danger to Macbeth.
  • Shakespeare involves Banquo's differences to Macbeth, making him less ambitious and more virtuous. When the prophecies start to become a reality, he does not show jealousy or use secretive asides but, instead, is clearly disturbed, "What! Can the devil speak true?". The use of the exclamation mark and question mark shows his shock, while "devil" shows he thinks of the witches to be evil.
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How does Shakespeare develop the character of Banq

  • Shakespeare presents Banquo as an honourable soldier, however, it is made clear that he is not as highly honoured as Macbeth.
  • He has dreams about the witches, and pray  not to be corrupted, "merciful powers!/ Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature/ Gives way to in repose!" This is also a contrast to Lady Macbeth's words from act 1 scene 5.
  • Macbeth, who is about to kill the King, makes an ambiguous offer of power to Banquo as long as he keeps supporting him. The audience presumes Banquo doesn't realise Macbeth's true meaning and Shakespeare reinforces his goodness through adjectives that relate to being free from guilt when he says he will, "keep, My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear".
  • After Macbeth is crowned, Banquo is obviously suspicious. However, he also shows signs of corruption in his thoughts on the witches prophecies about Fleance, "may they not be my oracles as well,/ and set me up in hope".
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