Macbeth

Summary

We see the end of three witch's meeting and see them plan to gather again soon.

Purpose of the scene

This scene is short in order to intrigue the audience.

Key Quotations

'Fair is foul and foul is fair'A juxtaposition is used to introduce the theme of appearance vs                                                reality which is prevelant within Macbeth.

Pathetic Fallacy

The scene is set in thunder and lightning which is significant as witches were believed to be able to inflict bad weather. Shakespeare wanted to impress the newly crowned King James who was very interested in the supernatural and even wrote a book 'Daemonologie' in which he wrote his beliefs about the supernatural.

Summary

We are informed of a tough battle Macbeth and Banquo win.King Duncan discovers the thane of cawdor is a traitor and plans to give 'brave Macbeth' his role.

Key Quotations

'Disdaining Fortune' - Macbeth has faced adversity and overcome it proving him to be a worthy warrior

'Which ne'er shook hands' - Macbeth never betrayed his king demonstarting his patriotism.

Paradox

Macbeth and the Thane of Cawdor currently contrast but later Macbeth betrays the king too.Shakespeare purposefully chose to contrast them at the start then give Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor's old role in order to foreshadow Macbeth's downfall.

Summary

The three witches meet again and discuss the pain they have inflicted. Macbeth and Banquo enter and are told their prophecies.Macbeth is told he will be Thane of Cawdor and King. Banquo is told a riddle- like prophecy which doesn't possess a paticulary clear meaning.Though Macbeth says he will leave it to chance, the seed of ambition within him has been planted.

Key Quotations

'Why do you dress me in borrow'd robes?' - Borrowed implies this isn't Macbeth's role to                                                                             take and that potentially suggest the witches                                                                                 have caused chaos in fate.

Banquo's Prophecys

Banquo's cryptic and riddle-like prophecys suggest his future is not as clear or certain as Macbeth's which may be foreshadowing his future will end soon.

Summary

Duncan names his successor as his son Malcom.Duncan gives Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor which makes Macbeth consider the prophecys may be true. Macbeth acknowledges that he must gte past Malcom in order to become King.

Key Quotations

'Stars,hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires' Macbeth doesn't want to                                                                                          shine light on his inner desire to be king

'There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face' The theme of appearnace vs                                                                                                              reality is emphasised again 

The seed of ambition

The seed of ambition is key in the character of Macbeth. It is planted in Act 1 Scene 3 and develops throughout act 1 until Macbethe eventually commits regicide (Murder of the monarch)

Summary

Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth which tells her of his new title. This allows the audience to catch up with the action.Lady Macbeth understands her husband's ambition but also knows he is'too full o'th'milk of human kindness'.She takes full control of the situation which laves Macbeth relieved.

Key Quotations

'Unsex me here' Lady Macbeth demands to be stripped of all that makes her feminine and                                 weak in order to allow her to be strong to take the role of King for Macbeth

'look like th'innocent flower but be the serpent under't' Macbeth must hide his true self and                                                                            appear innocent if he wants to achieve his goal.

Lady Macbeth's Power

Throughout this scene, Lady Macbeth uses possesive pronouns to emphasise despite being a woman she is strong 'under my battlements'

Summary

Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan to the castle. Lady Macbeth gives him an overflow of compliments, digsuising herself as dedicated to the King ,despite her plans to overthrow him

Purpose

Allows the audience to take in previous action and to build tension for Duncan's murder.

Summary

In Macbeth's soliloquy, he debates with his conscience on whether to kill Duncan or not. After thinking through the consequences of the crime, he tells Lady Macbeth 'we will proceed no further in this business'. In response to this, LAdy MAcbeth questions his manliness and persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan.

Key Quotations

'Vaulting ambition' Macbeth realises his ambition has grew tremendously and the use of                                      'vaulting' implies that Macbeth has gone far too high so must take a fall                                    foreshadowing what is yet to come.

Macbeth's Spur

At the end of his soliloquy, Macbeth declares he has no spur.Directly afterwards, Lady Macbeth enters the scene. This plot device is used to demonstarte that Lady Macbeth will become Macbeth's spur and persuade him to claim the crown for himself.