Macbeth

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First time we hear about Macbeth

The first time that we hear about Macbeth is at the beginning of the play when the captain and King Duncan talk about him and Banquo in battle. We can clearly see how brave and noble Macbeth is. However, we also him presented as bloodthirsty and violent. He is shown to be the saviour of Scotland but also the portrayed as savage as he is very violent on the battlefield. We can see the two sides to Macbeth emerging here, the noble man who is faithful to his King and Scotland and the bloodthirsty, evil and savage man. 

Unseamed him from the nave to the chops

For brave Macbeth well he deserves that name

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Macbeth meets the witches

The next time that we see Macbeth is when he meets the witches. At first he seems confused but as the witches reveal the prophecies, he becomes 'rapt'. He starts to focus on what the witches are saying whereas Banquo is scared, confused and questions the 'weird sisters'. Macbeth is completely drawn in by what they say, his mind and imagination take off and he starts jumping to thoughts of murder. You can see that there are a number of asides which show that he can't reveal these thoughts to Banquo as they are so wrong. Later on, Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor, this gives him more confidence that what the witches say is true. He also becomes more focused on the thought of murder. He then discovers that Malcolm is in line for the throne. Here we see he is still having murderrous thoughts. However, he points out that these thoughts are his 'black and deep desires' which shows to us that he still has a conscience and knows what he is thinking is wrong. Also, these thoughts are occuring before he has spoken to Lady Macbeth showing he is the first one to think of murder. Furthermore, we see how murder horrifies him which implies he knows that it is wrong. 

Rapt

Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs

The Prince of Cumberland, that is a step on which I must fall down or else o'erleap

Let not light see my black and deep desires

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Macbeth writes a letter to Lady Macbeth

Macbeth writes a letter to Lady Macbeth telling her about the prophecies of the witches. This is the first time that we see her and we can instantly see the close relationship of her and Macbeth. In the letter, you can see his ambition which is equally matched by Lady Macbeth. Also, he mentions 'greatness' twice which is emphasising his ambition and also that he thinks of her greatly. An impression that you get from this letter is that Macbeth is wanting to become King and would be prepared to do it but from Lady Macbeth's soliloquy she clearly thinks differently. She says he is weak and his qualities are too womanly to do what is needed to be done for them to become King and Queen. However she says how she will manipulate him to do what she wants him to do - she will poison his mind and push him towards regicide. This is showing that Lady Macbeth has a powerful influence on Macbeth as she is determined to make him do it. When Macbeth and Lady Macbeth see each other, all they can talk about is the prophecy of Macbeth becoming King. You can see how Macbeth still has a conscience as he knows that the murder is wrong but in the end he gives in to Lady Macbeth's bullying. He also praises her evilness. 

Too full o' the milk of human kindness

Look like the flower but be the serpent under 't

We will proceed no further in this business

Coward

Screw your courage to the sticking place and we shall not fail

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Macbeth's soliloquy - hallucinating

Before Macbeth goes to murder there is a soliloquy in which he talks about murdering the King. At first he is unsure about doing it but to the end of the soliloquy, he is confident and determined to do it. At the beginning of the soliloquy, Macbeth is hallucinating from the pressure of thinking about the murder, it is all he can think about. He sees a dagger in front of him - the weapon that he was going to use to kill King Duncan. Is it there to tempt him? Also, the dagger is leading him to where he was going to go which is persuading and tempting him even more. As the soliloquy you can see how he confident and determined he has become - he is set on murdering the King. 

Is this a dagger which I see before me the handle toward my hand

A false creation proceeding from the heat opressed brain

I go and it is done

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After the murder - fears of Banquo

After the murder, Macbeth is consumed with guilt. He instantly regrets what he has done. So much so, he starts to hear a voice saying he has murdered sleep - he will no longer be able sleep after murdering Duncan in his sleep. When he comes back to Lady Macbeth, he has brought the daggers with him, she tells him to take them back but he says he will not go back. He doesn't want to see Duncan again and look on what he has done. This is emphasising his regret. Lady Macbeth reacts by implying he is overeacting and being stupid - not strong enough to accept what he has done. This is ironic as Lady Macbeth becomes the one who is consumed with remorse and completely regrets being part of the murder. This scene ends with Macbeth wanting Duncan to be able to wake up - the last emphasis on his guilt. Further on in the play, we see how Macbeth is concerned about Banquo and as he was the one who was with Macbeth when the witches told their prophecies then Banquo is the one who would be supspicious of Macbeth. The only way for Macbeth to get rid of the risk of being found out is to kill Banquo. This is also the start of Macbeth turning away from Lady Macbeth and doing things alone. They are no longer have the close relationship that they did at the start.

Macbeth does murder sleep                                                                                             

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hands

Wake Duncan with thy knocking I would thou couldst

Our fears in Banquo stick deep

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Banquo's ghost at the banquet - witches

At the banquet, after Banquo has been murdered, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo at the table which causes him to lash out in front of the guests. He becomes manic, Lady Macbeth puts it down to an illness to settle the guests. Macbeth tells the ghost that he can't be blamed for his murder and that he has no right to be annoyed at Macbeth. Macbeth thinks that because he got murderers to kill Banquo, he is not to blame for his murder. Later on, Macbeth goes to visit the witches again to get more prophecies. You can see how he has become controlling and more powerful as he thinks he has power over the witches and superstition. 

Thou canst not say I did it never shake thy gory locks at me 

I will be satisfied

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Kills Macduff's family and gets murdered by Macduf

Macbeth gets murderers to ambush the Macduff castle resulting in the death of Macduff's wife and children. This enrages and upsets Macduff and he forms an army along with Malcolm to go and kill Macbeth. At this point, Lady Macbeth has committed suicide as she was unable to live with the guilt of killing the King, now there is only Macbeth left. At the end of the play he does regain some of his qualities - confidence, resilience and strength. However, he goes back to being evil as he tells soldiers to murder people who talk of being scared or talk of failure. Right until the end, Macbeth holds on to the prophecy of him having a charmed life and that he will not die because of what the witches predicted - no man born of woman can kill Macbeth. In the end, Macduff kills Macbeth as he had a cesarean section so was not born of woman the natural way. 

Yellow leaf

I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked 

Hang those that talk of fear

A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more

Signifying nothing 

I bear a charmed life

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