Macbeth Key themes? Interesting language? Atmosphere? Questions raised?

Macbeth act 1 scene 1

- a prologue of evil: the three witches arrange to meet Macbeth when the fighting is over
• Ominous and foreboding atmosphere; “thunder, lighting and in rain.” Symbol of the storm
in Macbeth’s soul.
• “Set of sun”- witches were known to be able to predict the future.
• Apocalyptic imagery; “Hurly burly” -theme of violence, suggesting winners or losers?
• Mysterious atmosphere
• Theme of winning and losing- “battle lost and won”
• “Fair is foul, foul is fair”-PARADOX- what seems beautiful is corrupt and what seems
corrupt is beautiful, not everything is at seems- appearance and reality in Macbeth universe
often contradict each other, theme of good and evil, begin with same letter makes them
seem as if they are dissolving, making it harder to differentiate, creating moral chaos,
chiastic (an exact reflection/mirror image)
• Opens in media-res ( goes straight in to it).
• Trochaic pentameter- showing they are not human- don't speak like typical Shakespeare
human character, iambic pentameter- shows something not quite right, backwards
universe?
• The audience knows why the witches want to meet with Macbeth- they know he is weak
and they can win his soul for the devil easily

Belief about witches in 1606- their purpose was to win souls for the devil, to enlarge the
kingdom of hell

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 2

• Lines 16 and 17 “brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name, Disdaining fortune”- show
by nature that Macbeth is reckless and he's seen as a hero by others due to way he helped
to win battle for King Duncan, “Disdaining fortune” shows he is careless about his own
fate

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3

• Purpose of opening shows that witches are spiteful and that they hate humans
• Macbeth’s first line in whole play—(lines 36-37)” So foul and fair a day I have not seen”-
shows that there is unconscious link with him and the witches
• “How far is’t called to Forres?”- Banquo’s first line of play- shows he straightforward,
plain and rational
• The witches use equivocation- to say something that is true but misleading “all hail
Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter”- use it to trap him in to selling his soul to the devil;
misleading because 3rd witch has left out important point that he will have to murder
Duncan to become king
• Macbeth’s reaction- frightened- witches have read his mind, he wants to become king,
brought his wish to the surface
• “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater”- not as happy as him but much happier as Banquo will
be murdered and Macbeth will become king but Banquo will go to heaven and Macbeth
would go to hell and will be haunted by Banquo’s ghost until death- EQUIVOCATION-
as Banquo’s children will become kings even though he will not- Line 65
• Line 85 Macbeth says “Your children shall be kings”- taking witches prophecies foe
granted as he wants to be king so wants to think everything they are saying is true, not
paying attention to Banquo
• First reference to clothes- Macbeth’s title’s and honour’s are like clothes that don't fit/ suit
him - Lines 106-107 “Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?”
• Warning from Banquo- Lines 122-125 “to win us to harm the instruments of darkness tell
us truths; Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence” Macbeth cannot
say he can’t be warned as Banqou even says that witches are messengers of the devil-
themes of secrecy and un trust
• Lines 122-125 also juxtapose Macbeth’s view of witches and their prophecies “As happy
prologues…supernatural soliciting”
• Macbeth’s reply to warning is “Two truths are told”- more example of inattention-
RECKLESS
• Macbeth is ‘Aside’- soliloquy- Macbeth is harbouring secret thoughts even though appears
to be open and honest - Theme of secrecy and truths untold. LINE 116
• Line 128 “Imperial theme”- him becoming king
• Macbeth is wrestling with his conscious line 130-137
• “Happy prologue’s to the swelling act”- prophecies seem happy but he doesn't know that
bad things will have to happen in order for them to come true- kill Duncan to become
king-.
• Lines 138 “whose murder yet is but fantastical”- reference to death, foreshadowing, theme
of violence
• Banquo skeptical as witches going against balance of nature- belief about witches in 1606-
contemporary moral panic
Macbeth’s actions after being appointed Thane of Cawdor and witches prophecy reflects the
saying by Sir John Dalberg-Acton —“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely”
Macbeth Act 1 Scene 4

• “Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it” - Lines 7 and 8- the way the Thane of
Cawdor redeemed his treachery from earlier on (betrayal to the king)
• Duncan is very trusting “on whom I built an absolute trust”- dramatic irony
• Way in which Macbeth talks- insincere and way banquet speaks is natural and from within

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5

• Macbeth cant wait to write and tell Lady Macbeth about the prophecy as he loves her so
much
• She fears that Macbeth is “too full oath milk of human kindness” (to murder Duncan)- he
has too much family feeling for Duncan to commit the murder ti be king
• Lady macbeth accuses Macbeth of being morally weak and too cowardly to commit a sin,
but his ambition is strong enough to allow him to benefit him from it- Lines 18-22
• When Lady Macbeth speaks about her castle, she describes it like hell, and so does
Macbeth
• When Duncan and Banquo arrive at the castle (Macbeth’s) but Duncan and Banquo
describe the castle like it’s a paradise- the world is what you make of it- hell to LM and M
because they love in a mental hell, but paradise to D and B because they have pure, holy
minds
• Lady Macbeth prays for ‘direst of cruelty’- prays for what she HASN’T got (cruelty),
“unsex me”- scared she will be too soft and feminine to commit the murder
• Lines 49-51; Lady Macbeth doesn't want to think she is doing the murder herself and
doesn't want her good conscience to get in the way
• Lines 64-66; issues stream of orders -unnatural-
• Doesn't use Duncan’s ahem, uses ‘he’ -line 65- doesn't want to think she is killing him

Act 1 Scene 6

• Lady Macbeth’s insincerity towards Duncan comes out in her strained language - shows
she can't act naturally

Act 1 Scene 7

• Macbeth’s soliloquy takes place against a background of a feast- reminder of what a

terrible host he is- broken the sacred bond between a host a guest just like he does between
a king and his subject and bond between two relatives (him and Duncan)— theme of
ORDER AND CHAOS
• Macbeth’s soliloquy begins with word ‘if’ - hasn’t made up his mind yet- but then
recognises if he does it will go to hell and knows it is an evil thing to do so wishes he could
do it and get away with it ‘Could trammel up the consequence’
• Soliloquy Lines 10-12 foreshadows the retribution he’ll face later on- never sleeps
peacefully after the murder
• He is still debating whether to murder Duncan because he is ambitious and then Lady
Macbeth tells him Duncan has been asking for him, makes up his mind to not do it-
reminder of how close he is with Duncan- Lines 29-31
• Lady Macbeth’s shocking words about smashing out her baby’s brains rather than breaking
a promise like this, shows that her baby is the most precious thing in her life, values her
child and not evil at the core- Lines 54-55
“I dare do all that may become a man”- Macbeth- he thinks being a ‘man’ is murdering a
close friend in their sleep- his and Lady Macbeth’s perception of what a man is shows they
are both morally twisted
Act 2 Scene 1
• Macbeth’s soliloquy reference to dagger- dagger symbolises his conscience
• Macbeth’s mind is being tortured with his guilt- guilt causes him to blame the dagger for
his wrongdoing as he doesn't want to admit to his actions

Act 2 Scene 2
• Lines 11-13; Lady Macbeth is not evil, shows she is also a loing daughter and is doing the
murder for her husband’s sake- “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t”
• Line 13- LB says “My husband”- first and only time in whole play she refers to Macbeth
like this- IRONY- murder was thought to bring them closer together, rather than draw
them further apart
• When speaking about the murder Lady Macbeth will not say Duncan’s name, rather she
refers to him as “he” as she does not want to face reality/ what she has done
• Macbeth will not say that he has done the murder, wont even admit it to himself and will
not speak properly about it, he says “I have done the deed”- wont admit it to himself as he
is horrified by what he has done
• Lines 36-37; Lady Macbeth is already sensing that their guilt from the murder will drive
her and Macbeth mad -“These deeds must not be thought after these ays; so, it will make
us mad”
• Lines 38-39; Macbeth says how his murder punishment will fit the crime (the way in
which he murdered)- he murdered Duncan in his sleep so now he will have sleepless
nights- “Methought I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no more: Macbeth does murder sleep,”
• Lines 62- 64; MB questions himself as to whether he will ever recover form the guilt he is
feeling, the blood on his hand symbolises his guilt- “What hands are here?…Will all great
Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”

Act 2 Scene 3
• Porter scene- comic contrast- drunk porter- to break the high tension
• Within Porter’s speech he uses all kinds of references to hell, the devil and equivocation
(belief in 1606/the time that if one committed murder, they would go straight to hell)
• Lines 49-56; Lennox says “The night has been unruly”- RELIGIOUS REFERENCE-
Storm on the night of the murder is g-d’s way of saying he angry about the murder/signal
from g-d
• Macduff’s use of language- Lines 62-64;“Confusion…sacrilegious murder… The Lord’s
anointed temple,”- suggests that Macbeth’s murder of Duncan, it’s as if it was an attack
against g-d himself
• Macbeth is putting in on act about his upset of the murder but his words are actually true

Act 2 Scene 4
• “ By th’clock ’tis day and yet dark night strangles the troubling lamp.”- Macbeth’s evil
deed has thrown Scotland in to unnatural chaos, even before his coronation
Bring’s out personality different between Macduff and Ross
Act 3 scene 1

• Macbeth’s soliloquy- shows that he hates Banquo and is jealous of him, Banquo is wise
and Macbeth is reckless
• “Upon my head they placed a fruitless a crown and put a barren sceptre in my gripe;”-
shows that Macbeth is suspicious about the witches that jumped to conclusions about
Banquo and thinks Banquo would behave the way he'd behave

Act 3 Scene 4

• “You know your own degrees.”- Macbeth —> illusion of order as Scotland is already
corrupt but they don't know yet
• “play the humble host”- Shows he is hypocritical
• Banquo’s ghost is a sign of Macbeth’s guilt
• “Which of you have done this?”- Macbeth is paranoid that someone is already out to get
him for the murder so tries to cover it up straight away
• Lady Macbeth says he is “unmann’d” because he's scared of the ghost which she cant see
she says “Are you a man?”
• “What a man dare, I dare;”- Macbeth perceives a man as someone who is brave and will
risk his life to fight
• “most admired disorder”- parallel between chaos at banquet and chaos in Scotland- both
created by the same thing
• “Almost at odds with morning.”- in Macbeth’s Scotland even night and day are confused,
everything is disorder and chaos, confusion relates to equivocation
• “Did you send to him, sir?”- murder has driven them apart, rather than closer together as
“sir” is formal, especially in private
• “There’s not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant feed.”- shows he's paranoid
again because he's trying to spy on all, even the innocent
• “I am in blood stepped so far that should I wade no more,”- gone too far to turn back from
evil so needs to kill Macduff now
• Condign punishment- Macbeth’s loss of sleep is condign punishment as Duncan was killed
in his sleep

Act 3 Scene 6
• Macbeth always referred to as a “tyrant” after committing murder of Duncan- means he has
no right to be king, someone who has ceased power unlawfully
When Malcolm returns and Macbeth isn't king anymore order will be restored- Lord says that
the army will rid of Macbeth they will be able to “sleep to our nights.”
Act 4 Scene 1

• “How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! What is’t you do .“- shows the he has
become so evil himself he is no longer afraid in the presence of evil
• “Though you untie the winds and let them fight against the churches,”- shows that Macbeth
is unreligious and the spirit of chaos, disorder and evil as will corrupt anything to get what
he want
• First apparition is armed head which symbolises Macduff as Macduff is going to come kill
him
• Second is bloody child- symbolises Macduff as he is caesarian and witch says “none of
women born shall harm born shall harm macbeth”- equivocation as he doesn't know that
Macduff is caesarian
• Third apparition is a child crowned with a tree in his hand but witches say “Macbeth will
never be defeated until Birnam wood comes to Dunsinane.’- When malcom’s soldiers fight
Macbeth
• Last of the eight kings is holding up a mirror- symbolises future and Banquo comes a end
of procession of eight kings as he is descendant of royalty and his descendants will become
king, ancestor of King James 6th of Scotland who became king James 1st of England
• “some I see That two fold balls and treble sceptres carry.”- in the future England and
Scotland will be united with Ireland, connecting Banquo to his descendant King James
• “That this great king may kindly say, Our duties did his welcome pay.”- mocking him
because they know he is actually a tyrant

Act 4 Scene 2
• Lady Macduff is designed to be a complete contrast of Lady Macbeth through her role as a
mother, wife and through her innocence —> to highlight how evil Lady Macbeth is
• “I dare not speak much further.”- shows that the terror is so big so he's scared to talk to his
won cousin, Lady Macduff
• “I hope in no place so unsactified where such as thou mayst find him.”- doesn't say ‘I don't
know’ just equivocates? natural which the corruption of Scotland

Act 4 Scene 3
• “Angels are brights still, though the brightest fell.”- Malcolm is comparing him to satan
who was once the brightest and then became devil—> Macbeth is fundamentally evil
• Malcolm lists all the qualities of a good king which reflects all of Banquo’s qualities and all
the ones Macbeth doesn't have
• Malcolm says that if he was king he’d bring total chaos and disorder- doesn't actually mean
it but saying it to test Macduff and shows that the worst type of king is like Macbeth
• “an untitl’d tyrant.”- how macduff describes Macbeth
• Highlights the way a good king should be- like Edward- heels people whereas Macbeth is
the sickness which makes Scotland in such chaos, Edward is holy unlike Macbeth
• ROSS EPAKS ABOUT SCOTLAND BEING A PLACE OF DEATH and Macbeth is the
disease that is killing people
• “He has no children.”- 1.- Macbeth has no children so he can’t understand how he feels and
would never of done it, 2.- I’m gonna get his children, 3. He’s not actually talking about
Macbeth but Malcolm, he does’t understand that the loss of a child is immeasurable to any
kind of revenge
• “O, I could play the woman with mine eyes.”- men fight and women cry and they are
powerless and weak
Macduff and Malcolm both pray to g-d for support in what they will do whereas Macbeth
goes to the withes
Act 5 scene 1
• Lady Macbeth speaks in prose as opposed to verse because her mind disintegrates and her
guilt is coming out to others
• Her sleep walking is form of poetic justice due to how they killed Duncan
• “A great perturbation in nature”- chaos let loose by Macbeth is reflected in her sleep
walking-“Fair is foul, foul is fair.”- shows that she is not asleep nor wake- equivocation
• “she has light by her continually, tis her command.”- Lady Macbeth the dark because thats
when all the bad things have taken place - Duncan and Banquo murder- and also afraid of
darkness in hell which she is afraid of being sent to
• “The Thane of Fithe had a wife…No more o’that, my lord, no more o’that.You mar all with
this starting.”- chaos in her mind about Lady Macduff’s murder and she's reliving the
banquo ghost scene where macbeth is confused about Banquo’s murder
• Lines 58-60; reliving the death of Duncan along with confusion of Banquo’s death
• “Give me your hand”- Lady Macbeth is reaching out to Macbeth but he’s not there for her
as she was for him and one thing she still has left is her love for him- she is still humane
whereas Macbeth is desensitised, her love for Macbeth has still survived through the tragic
failure of their plan
• “what’s done cannot be undone.”- she recognises the uselessness of doing evil
• Doctor mentions “unnatural deeds” and “unnatural troubles”- chaos in Scotland
• “Remove from her all her weapons” doctor tells to gentlewoman this so she doesn't kill
herself but LMB does end up doing this showing the gentlewomen’s failure and how she
must’ve been desperate to kill herself- POWER OF DEVIL AS HER SOUL HAS BEEN
ONE FOR HIM BY WITCHES and that she’s reply depressed

Act 5 Scene 2
• The Scottish forces describe Macbeth as a “tyrant” who's title doesn’t fit him, he’s like a
dwarf trying to wear a giant’s robe “hang loose about him like a giant’s robe upon a
dwarfish thief.”
• “We march on to give obedience where ‘tis truly ow’d; Meet we the medicine of the sickly
weal.”- Macbeth is an anointed king, allegedly the worst sin, and so only way they can
justify their want to kill him and Malcolm king is because there saying it’s G-d wants as
will restore justice and order- as Macbeth himself killed the original anointed king

Act 5 Scene 3
• Macbeth in castle and knows he is safe as long as he stays inside
• Macbeth’s servant is called seyton- irony
• “old ages,… honour, love, obedience, troops of his friends”- shows everything he has lost
which is why his life has become meaningless, why he’s deeply depressed
Scene 5
• Character of Seyton reflects the real satan and shows Macbeth’s castle has become a type
of hell
• “I’ll fight til my bones my flesh be hack’d give me my armour.”- Macbeth is redeemed by
his physical courage
• “I’ll put it on.”- doesn’t need the armour but still puts it on as he is reckless
• “Canst thou not minister to a mind deseas’d, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow.”-
talking about healing himself from his depression instead of Lady Macbeth from being ill
• Lines 51-55; Macbeth pleads with the doctor to find out whats making Scotland sick when
he himself is the cause of the sickness
• “I hope the days are near at hand that chambers will be safe.”- once Macbeth is gone and
order is restored people will be able to sleep peacefully again
• Lines 17-27; Controversial as could mean 1. how sad it is that she died so young 2. she was
gonna die at some point so may aswell die, why should he care 3. why did she have to die
at such an inconsiderate time, just as he is about to go into battle. Rest of speech is about
the pointlessness of life
• “have lighted fools” Macbeth is talking about his wife who has just died as if she is a fool,
he is insensitive to his wife’s death
• Compares life to a “candle” by the time it burns out showing he's deep depressed
• Audienece in this ear wouldn't see him as depressed but would see him in despair/
blasphemy which is a sin, shows he is ungrateful to G-d so will go to hell
• “Arm, arm and out.”- almost a death wish from macbeth as he knows and has been told that
he is safe as long as he stays in his castle
• “I ‘gin to be aweary of the sun” sick of life and wishes it was over

scene 7
• “bear like I must fight the course.”- in the time people would watching cruel sport of bear
baiting where they were chained to a steak and dogs were set on them to attack and then
they couldn’t fight back- Macbeth feels just like that- a tormented animal

scene 8
• Mcabeth refuses to commit suicide as he is a reckless soldier who will fight till the end
• “my soul is too much charg’d with blood of thine already”- macbeth is telling macduff that
he doesn't want to kill him as he is already guilty of murdering his wife and children, only
time in the whole play when macbeth expresses sorrow in the play even though he doesn’t
mean it and just excuse to not fight macduff?
• Lines 19-22; shows that witches are equivocal which macbeth was told at beginning by
Banquo and he didn't listen to him and is only now realising it

scene 9
• “Hail king … th’usurper’s”- Macduff distinguishes between malcolm (legitimate king) and
macbeth (tyrant) he is the ‘usurper’
• Malcolm’s last speech line 40 is important “we will perform in measure, time and place.”-
malcolm is restoring order
• Malcolm insists from start of speech that England and Scotland will be closely united
Act one scene one “fair is foul and foul is fair”
Interpretation: from the beginning of the play the audience see what is right in the wrong
what is wrong can be right boundaries between good and evil of blood and confused
Techniques: alliteration repetition
Analysis:
 The alliteration of the F sound create a sinister uneasy tone
 The repetition affair and father suggested to ideas interchangeable emphasise further
by the definite is foul is more dominant and intimidating fair fair is caring unpleasant
the evil element overpowers goodness
 The king at the time King James wrote a book stating that the magic was evil this
chance sounds almost like a magical spell the audience would fear it
Act two scene 2 Sgt “as cannons over charged with double cracks”
Interpretation: the sergeant giving his report on the battle that has just occurred and Banquo
and Macbeth’s role in the audience first impression of Macbeth is is a great warrior relic
character who is facing valiant on the battlefield
Techniques: simily, alliteration
Analysis vocabulary such as Canon and charge to give the audience a sense of Macbeth’s
explosive violent power as if he himself was a powerful weapon who is highly capable of
killing the alliteration of the strong see soundmen
Dynamic movement of Macbeth through the battlefield use of over and double highlights
Macbeth as formal value than a typical soldier he stands above the rest

Act one scene five

Lady Macbeth”too full of the milk of human kindness”
Interpretation Lady Macbeth believes Macbeth does not have the ruthless nature required to
become king through the statement the audience come to believe she is the driving force
behind the events of the play
Techniques imagery language analysis the suggestion that Macbeth is truthful and plies his
not only good-natured but is to fall. In achieving the crown the image of milk has
associations with the comforting and soon soothing nature not the qualities Lady Macbeth
thinks are required to become King in Shakespearean context will be it is significant that she
uses the freak phrase human kindness she implies Macbeth needs to be inhumane perhaps
even supernatural like the witches if he is to succed

Act one scene five lady Macbeth, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts on sex me here and
fill me the crown to turn top full of direst cruelty interpretation Lady Macbeth believes she
must reject a womanly nature if she is to help Macbeth she also suggest that any way to gain
power is through a commitment to evil rather than positive action
Techniques language analysis the fact that Lady Macbeth invites the spirits with the phrase
can you spirit shows
Advancing five look like the innocent flower will be the serpent under it lady Macbeth
Interpretation Lady Macbeth shows them that that manipulation and deceit on the most
effective methods of gaining power
Techniques imagery juxtaposition religious allusions
Analysis the imagery of the innocent flower highlights the goodness bottles of the
vulnerability of honest human behaviour juxtaposition of the serpent under it is a clear
biblical reference to the serpent in the garden of Eden who have to bring you up to bring
original sin in the world the audience would certainly link this with the devil this is just lady
Macbeth would rather act like the devil than a moral human being like the witches she sees
affairs founding Fathers that the words under it implies evil is underneath of all our behaviour
Act one scene seven Lady Macbeth I would wallet was his smiling face have plucked my
nipple from his bonus down– my brains out
interpretation producing and caring for children was mean of women leading arrested she
would call you reject even destroy the child in pursuit of power
Techniques imagery language
Analysis Lady Macbeth ability to fill my guilt is highlighted by the fact she believes she
could kill her in child if and if it were smiling at her face also showing a willingness to
destroy something innocent how is this nature is extenuated by the speed at which she is
willing to act lights plucked – both for your swift clinical movements
Act two scene one Macbeth
Is this a dagger I see before me
Interpretation McGregor solution eating gender deterioration of using state of mind in the
influences the witches and lady Macbeth had on him
Techniques questioning
Analysis the question is this is representative of Macbeth seat of mind he is full of uncertainty
and doubt the fact that it is a dagger before him suggested mind has become corrupted by
violence the handle of the targets pointing towards his hand almost inviting him to use it in a
patriarchal society male leaders are not meant to have doubt they are meant to be powerful
certain and strong Macbeth has become a week warrior since the war found battlefield in act
one
Act two two scene to Macbeth but wherefore could I not pronounce on main I had most need
of blessing and army stuck in my throats
Interpretation doubt confusion and Galton now overcome back the fact that he cannot say on
mangers audience Macbeth’s actions have separated him from religion something that
abstract fit into a Shakespearean audience with a strong Christian belief techniques
questioning repetition
Analysis much like is this a dagger which I see before me the question is representative of
Macbeth state of mind his full of uncertainty and doubt his hesitancy contrasts greatly with
the act to the behaviour of leading Beth the repetition of, brings religion to the audiences
attention the fact it stuck in his throat implies Macbeth has acted so easily that religion has
turned against him evil can coexist with religion
Interpretation lady Macbeth has to become ruthless as Macbeth’s courage begins to fade
she believes she can simply wash away any sense of guilt for the murder
Techniques language pronoun analysis News of the world little highlights just how
insignificant matters to lady Macbeth is only a little water is needed to wash it away the fact
that she believes washing their hands clears of the states suggest she would not she would
only regret it if they’ll court clears implies she got away with murder she refers to us in a big
shock society she sees herself as equal to her husband and much like the witches audience see
a powerful woman controlling Macbeth action
Act two scene four old man Falcon towering in her pride of Paris was by using our hawked
out and kilt
Interpretation the natural order of things has become separated from Wells and I’m killing
Falcons it suggest the behaviour of Macbeth is become so unnatural it has caused the natural
world fall apart and the natural order of things to go wrong
Techniques imagery symbolism
Analysis just like kings should never be killed by the subject powerful Falklands should not
be killed by we can ask hierarchy was vital to the country stability the divine right of kings
the belief that the kings were gods voice on earth hierarchy should not be challenged the idea
of an mousing with associations of the small size and lack of strength getting a towering
falcon suggest the power and immense size links with the natural all idea Macbeth killing the
king

Lady Macbeth act three scene two seat over your market looks been writing jovial manual
guests tonight
Interpretation Macbeth is beginning to loose is Miley Macbeth understands that as long as she
is he is in control Powell remain in their hands fit the hierarchical system in which they live
techniques juxtaposition
Analysis the juxtaposition of ranting jovial link to hypocrisy sea and the two faced nature of
Macbeth’s behaviour sleepover creates an image of taking something ugly and unpleasant
and giving it to the parents of positivity to be king Beth must look the part the fact that his
actions are rugged suggesting violent butt’s current behaviour is jovial with associations are
friendship and togetherness remind the audience of his deceitful nature

Act three scene four Macbeth who hole as the Marble founded as the rock but now I am
cabined crypt confined
Interpretation this point links back to the very beginning of the play Macbeth was a true road
warrior but no Newsweek available man
Techniques imagery alliteration try-colon
Analysis the first part of the quotation shows Macbeth is used to be the word Hall suggests
you was the complete soldier and the associations with marble and rock of strong
unbreakable natural substances all the things Macbeth used to be traditionally strong male the
dry: of cabin crew to confine suggest a feeling of cross referral Bien restriction as it Macbeth
has nowhere to hide and is now vulnerable oversights by the alliteration

Act three scene four Macbeth there has grown serpent lies the one that flat has nature that in
time will breed
Interpretation Macbeth realises in failing to Cuffley and she has allowed evil and poisonous
through to grow thoughts to grow against his rain is King Macbeth also understands that
within human nature is the threat of evil corrupting someone soul
Techniques imagery religious allusions
Analysis Macbeth initially describes fiancé as a one suggesting something that is small and
helpless however he suggests all growing to the serpent linking back to the original sin of
Adam and eve breed poison emphasising to the audience that the anger and violence in the
play will grand developed even further will confirms that the events are inevitable evil is on
stop it on stoppable and well leads to poisonous consequences
Act three scene for the best pressie see there behold look low how can see you what why
what I
Interpretation breast muscle control of his surroundings he is now confused and frightened
unsure of what is going around him
Techniques sentence structure pros
Analysis most of Shakespeare’s characters and definitely his powerful characters, speaking
iambic pentamidine and certainly inverse however Macbeth sentences become more
stuttering fractured and broken his now speaking in basic usually monosyllabic words and
Imprezas language only usually spoken by Shakespeare’s and educated characters see the
porter for an example in act two scene three his mind has become destroyed and his language
is now an intelligent and unfocused
Act three scene five packets this night I’ll spend on to a dismal and fatal and
Interpretation of the most powerful witches of all headache is intent on making sure that the
outcome of the action is both painful and deadly will be truly tragic and the audience may
well have a strong belief in fate they would fear their own life is not necessarily in their
control
Techniques language sentence structure
Analysis the idea of heck eighteen she will spend a night on Macbeth Street suggestion is in
control of what happens to them it has associations with careful planning is an scheming to
enjoy is fatal and the use of dismal and fatal scheduling better it is going to result in death but
dismal also implies and I’m proud and for a once great soldier the fact that her gait states she
wants a dismal and the fiddle and rather than a dismal fatal and length and is the sentence and
extends them pain Macbeth will feel
Act four seen one which finger of the strangled babe ditch delivery by a drab
Interpretation this is just one of many horrific ingredients that go into the witches cauldron
the idea of including body parts from a dead baby show just how evil which is truly up and
then Beth was always going to be defeated by their horrific magic
Techniques language imagery alliteration
A Analysis the list of ingredients around the door cauldron is at its most evil when the finger
of the Babe is added a symbol of pure innocence been destroyed linking to the destruction of
the previously good Macbeth the imagery being birth strangled highlights extreme cruelty of
the witches alliteration of B and D sounds creates a childlike tone to the list of ingredients
extenuating the supernatural feel

Act four seen one Macbeth though you I’m tidies wins and let them fight against the charges
Interpretation are completely natural behaviours which is so powerful that it is even has
turned the natural world against religion causing conflict throughout the land
Techniques personification pathetic fallacy
Analysis here the churches are personified symbol of mortality and goodness it would be
distressing for the religious audience dizzy Christianity attacked in this way in which isn’t
deliberately turned the wind against it the words fight linking to the violent conflicts
throughout the play the fact that untidy wins has associations with the great power being
unleashed against the moral goodness of the church because the wind is attacking against the
churches its uses of the church is passive and vulnerable to evils power
Act four seen one Macbeth then live Macduff what
Theory but yet I make double assurance sure Dow shall not live
Interpretation Macbeth is trying to maintain control over his own life he believes that by
killing stuff he is guiding his own fate
Techniques sentence structure language
Analysis of breaths nervousness and fragility is evidence here rather than the brave warrior
from the beginning of the Plano he is desperate to be sure and needs assurance it also shows
the conflict and is mine is thus my suggesting that Macduff can live but follows with this
with aggression and complete contradiction so now shall not live we also see the best that I
shall power as he needs to undertake relying on feet assisting him

Act 14 three Ross your wife invades savagely slaughtered interpretation image of violence
flows through the statement with the length of Macbeth is now willing to go in his quest for
power evident to the audience there is a clear difference between the mother is Ali in the play
and the death of Macduff’s only
Techniques similar juxtaposition
The juxtaposition of wife and babes images image images of innocence love and curbing
savagery slaughtered the words savage suggesting an almost inhumane behaviour indicates to
the audience level of iron is an evil Macbeth longer using
This evidence of savagely slaughtered as a swiftness to the sentence a clear development
from the hesitancy you should avoid kill Duncan

Act four scene three marking language can that anger blood Lockhart in Reichert
interpretation of the audience can see here that the combination of the play will be violent and
bloody marking and sister Macduff not feel sorrow but instead uses pain to exact revenge
techniques language personification
Analysis use of emotive language is audience emotionally charged the final acts will be
abstract nouns grief and anger are dangerous mix of sorrow and fury Malcolm can browse
and stuff to make sure his heart with its associations of goodness of bravery becomes enraged
suggesting behaviour that feels no remorse he needs that acting stereotypically masculine
way Malcolm personified is Macduff’s heart demanding he rated as if it was soldier in the
battlefield against Macbeth
Act five scene one lady Macbeth outstand sports interpretation Lady Macbeth has lost all of
her composure and rational thoughts from earlier in the play life Macbeth in act to her mind
has begun to loosening techniques structure sentence religious illusion irony
Analysis in act two Lady Macbeth claims that after killing Duncan a little water gives us of
this deed now she’s losing eating desperately please for the blood to be washed away it is
ironic and will when Macbeth desperately need some things hands and lean not to get it is not
balancing effect on her behaviour that she describes the spot is downed has associations with
Hal and guilt has quarter and she says she’s been punished the religious audience could see
this as a divine punishment from god

Act five scene three Macbeth this is the mind as we buy and the whole time there shall never
sight with doubts not shake with fear interpretation Macbeth has comes. Call and has returned
to his former ones self is displaying typical characteristics of the powerful leader wants more
although he is now full of evil intentions spirit is as strong as ever
Ever techniques language
Analysis in previous accident birth was riddled with doubt and fear another one another is
position before it challenges finally regained control at present behaviour he agreed he is
getting control as shown by the reference to both mind suggesting this thoughts and heart
emphasising week body movements something Macbeth explicitly rejects

Act five five scene 5 Macbeth life started walking shadow interpretation Macbeth has had an
epiphany and suggest that life has never substance to it it is simply a shadow techniques
metaphor sentence structure
Analysis use of metaphor depicting opposition to see his life is okay also associations with
the following our shadows follow surround as if we are simply following someone else’s plan
The use of walking and Lazarus is only but not a dynamic energetic one walking is not the
powerful physical action scene earlier text more dynamic action expected it became essential
structure focuses on what that meaning only just Macbeth is arguing that life is worthless it is
only shadow
Act five scene five Macbeth a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage
Interpretation Macbeth understands he is under the control of someone or something else is
simply an actor a player who has his life controlled by the witches and they will be forgotten
techniques for the duration
Analysis imaging Macbeth is a poor black contrast the previous image of him as a powerful
cannon that one hear the electrician at stupid formation starter that struts and frets of the week
in the size of actions they suggest lack of control and power the fact that we haven’t our
onstage emphasises how fleeting insignificant each person is foreshadowing the death that is
to come

Act five five scene 5 Macduff I have no words my voices in my sword interpretation Macduff
realises that justice can only be achieved through fighting up two words you must meet that
that’s fine indeed sweet violence of his own to avenge the death of his family

Techniques personification
Analysis Macduff cannot put into words the pain feels better actions and your ex and we need
Macbeth suggested men should I do not play with actions not words disorders becomes voice
including asbestos has everything he needs to us to deliver justice and revenge the idea is
always being in his sort suggest the sword is more than just a physical weapon contains one
of the anger and hatred of a better victims adding direct strength
Strength
Macbeth Changes

Throughout the course of the play, Macbeth’s character changes from good to evil. As the
audience we are given ample opportunities to look at the way in which he changes and the
influences that help bring about the shift in character. Shakespeare also uses dramatic devices
to highlight Macbeths change. In this essay the influences that Macbeth was exposed to and
the effect that Shakespeare’s use of dramatic devices has on the audience’s understanding
will be explored.

A soliloquy is a classical literary technique it is the act of speaking while alone, especially
when used as a theatrical device that allows a character’s thoughts and ideas to be conveyed
to the audience. In a play, soliloquies are important because these are the thoughts of the
character and he/she will always be telling the truth. The soliloquies let the audience keep up
with how the main characters are thinking so that the writer can create the image that there
are many sides to every character. Shakespeare uses soliloquies to give us an insight as to
what Macbeth is thinking, they are un-edited thoughts and opinion that he is not saying to
anyone else. As Shakespeare does not use a narrator who can explain what Macbeth really
thinks, it is important for Macbeth that he uses soliloquies; as he is a complex character, his
entire personality changes throughout the course of the play. Soliloquies are a window
directly into his thoughts and emotions. Without them, we would only know, as much as the
other characters and by knowing more there is sometimes some dramatic irony which
therefore gives the audience power.

Macbeth has a few fatal flaws which allow him to receive the title of a traditional tragic hero.
The first is his “…vaulting ambition,” and arrogance. This is a result of his hubris, tragic
greed and pride. It is these excessive qualities which usually lead to the downfall and
ultimately the death of a tragic hero in classical tragedy. After temptation from his wife and
witches to perform murder Macbeth, makes this fall from a brave and noble general. This
hubris is seen in many of Shakespeare’s other tragic plays where there is always a tragic hero
who realises the error of their ways when it too late. This is seen in plays such as ‘Anthony
and Cleopatra’, ‘Othello’ and ‘Hamlet’.

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play ‘Macbeth’, the state of mind of Macbeth deteriorates
throughout the play as we see the transformation of Macbeth, from hero to villain. At the
beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo are told to have been fighting in the battle.
Macbeth is then hailed as brave Macbeth, as a hero because he has killed the rebel McDonald
and is continuing to face the Norwegian troops successfully. Then we are told that Macbeth
has triumphed again capturing the traitor Cawdor, obtaining ransom and a favourable peace
treaty from the King of Norway. ‘For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name -‘ is used
by a Sergeant to describe his actions in battle.

‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’ are used by the King. This shows that Macbeth really
was a hero; as such, a compliment from the King was considered a great honour. The King,
Duncan sentences Cawdor to death and rewards Macbeth with his title.

He becomes a tyrant due to his ruthless ambition to be King, spurred on by some interfering
witches putting ideas into his head by predicting that he will be King and Lady Macbeth, his
bossy wife. Macbeth feels less and less guilty about the murders he has committed but Lady
Macbeth’s mind deteriorates throughout the play, and slowly the locked up guilt drives her
mad.
In Act 1 Scene 3 the three witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, Glamis and finally
King. The belief in the existence and power of witches was widely believed in Shakespeare’s
day, as confirmed by the witch hunt craze. The practice of witchcraft was seen to undermine
and threaten the established order of religion and society, and so was not tolerated. The belief
of the majority during the seventeenth century suggests that the witches are powerful figures
who can exercise great power over Macbeth. Also King James the First took a great interest
in witches, having many killed, however most importantly he believed in witchcraft and its
power. The three witch characters in ‘Macbeth’ are seen as evil. It could be concluded that
they were responsible for creating Macbeth’s evil desire for the throne, therefore the audience
may be influenced by Shakespeare’s portrayal of the witches and believe his representation of
them.

Macbeth’s character begins to develop in the way he reacts to the witches prophecies. The
witches planted seeds of ambition in his mind and he lets them fester until he begins to
believe them. Later in the scene Macbeth is actually announced Thane of Cawdor. In a
soliloquy Macbeth ponders upon what the witches have predicted

‘This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill cannot be good. If ill why hath it given me earnest
of success commencing in a truth?’

At this point Macbeth is trying to convince himself that there is nothing wrong with what has
happened and that if it were evil then something good would not have come from it. The fact
that repetition is used emphasises the main theme of the play, the balance between good and
evil. When evil prevails everything takes a turn for the worst reminding us to choose good
over evil. He then goes on to say: ‘My Thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical’. This
quotation shows that Macbeth’s idea to murder Duncan is still only a fantasy and is not
reality, indicating he is unsure and may need persuasion either way. At this point in the play
he is in doubt or sitting on the fence. Banquo then interrupts Macbeth during his speech
saying ‘Look how our partner’s rapt.’ This could symbolise how there is a direct contrast as
now Banquo is the symbol of good and Macbeth’s integrity is in question. Macbeth then says:
‘If chance will have me king then chance will crown me without my stir’. From this quote we
can see that Macbeth is willing to let fate take its course, and accepts that what will be, will
be. The witches’ prophecies make him believe he will be crowned without having the act
noble. However this is not what happens, Macbeth feels the need to direct his destiny to
ensure his place on the throne.

The next soliloquy is short and it deals with Macbeth’s views on who was the currant heir to
the throne – the Prince of Cumberland.

“-The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, for in
my Way it lies.”

At this point Macbeth is filled with anger and jealousy. Macbeth is stating that the Prince of
Cumberland is in the way of him and the throne. Macbeth knows he must deal with the prince
somehow, or else he will be beaten by him. At the end of the speech his tone is more calm
and controlled as he maintains his decency and morality by masking what lies beneath. “Let
not light see my black and deep desires”. It is apparent that he is surer than in the previous
speech as no questions are asked, showing his state of mind is less doubtful. Although he is
angry, especially at the beginning of the speech, Macbeth seems clearer in his mind about his
plans concerning gaining the throne. However he is still aware that it is wrong to think such
‘black’ thoughts. The main change in Macbeth’s character from the previous speech is that he
is more certain in his mind and in his actions. He is more decisive and in addition he is
becoming increasingly deceptive.

In the next soliloquy, in Act I Scene 7, Macbeth finds himself struggling with his conscience,
over the possibility of regicide. He is troubled that the consequences he would face were
enormous, and that there are many reasons why he should not murder Duncan. At the
beginning of the soliloquy he has made no decision as to whether “the deed” will be carried
out and at the end of the soliloquy he is still undecided.

Macbeth is speaking as his servants are preparing for Duncan’s arrival at Macbeth’s castle.
This is also a time when Macbeth realises that what the witches predicted is coming true. The
soliloquy opens with a euphemism of the word murder “If it were done.” Macbeth uses this,
and other, euphemisms because murderous thoughts are alien to him. Macbeth is depicted by
the language to be a very moral and conscientious man. The euphemisms show that the
“horrid deed” disgusts him, because he knows that regicide is a serious sin punishable by
eternal damnation. There is also an example of alliteration in this speech:

“If th’ Assassination

Could trammel up the Consequence, and catch,

With his Surcease, Success”

The sibilance used in this quotation draws attention to ‘surcease’ and ‘success’. The use of
these words is ironic because, it is very rare that death and success are related to each over.
Macbeth is willing to sacrifice the afterlife for greatness, now, in this life. At this point
Macbeth is clearly giving the idea considerable serious thought. He goes on to list all the
decisions why he shouldn’t kill Duncan. This shows he is still logical in his decisions and he
is aware of how traitorous it is for a ‘host’ and ‘kinsman’ to kill the king. He should be the
one person who should risk his own life to stop such a thing happening to the king whilst he
is in his house ‘Not bear the knife myself’ .In this soliloquy Macbeth reveals to the audience
his lose morals, because the theme of this speech is that he regards murder as worthwhile and
thinks there is nothing wrong with it if you benefit. However Macbeth recognises that it is his
ambition to become King that will lead to his downfall.

“But in these cases

We still have Judgement here, that we but teach

Bloody Instructions, which, being taught, return

To plague th’ Inventor.”

Macbeth is now aware that his bad deeds will come back and “plague” him; this is a factor
which occurs in most of Shakespeare’s tragedies – where the main character contributes to
his own downfall. At this point in the play the audience may start to really dislike his
character. He is showing no signs of doubt. It shows he can not differentiate between good
and evil because he is so ambitious he is focused only on becoming King and it does not
matter to him how he achieves his goal.
During the next soliloquy the murder is immanent; Macbeth is waiting for the bell which is
the signal for him to go a kill Duncan. This is a very edgy and tense time for Macbeth his
mind is tormented and so he begins to hallucinate, and he sees a dagger.

“Is this a Dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my Hand?”

Having this speech just before the murder creates an air of apprehension. There is a sense that
there is no going back. The bell which Lady Macbeth rings is a sign for the act of murder to
begin; this adds to the intensity of the speech and creates suspense.

Macbeth is now more recognisable as evil. The bell signals the beginning of the end for
Macbeth, his character can never return after this night, and his deeds become more and more
gruesome and evil as the play progresses. It now seems that he is eager to murder Duncan;
“Come let me clutch thee.” This shows that Macbeth is anticipating how the murder will be
carried out. Instead of contemplating whether he will murder Duncan, he is now deciding
how to murder Duncan. Macbeth is no longer using the reasoning, which separated him from
animals, and has reduced himself to the level of an animal. The animal, which is mentioned,
is the wolf, which in Macbeth’s age, was a symbol of witchcraft and evil, again showing that
Macbeth is now predominantly evil.

His lack of reason is shown by the less frequent use of euphemisms. Even though Macbeth
still uses some euphemisms, his conscience is scorched, and during this soliloquy he uses the
word murder for the first time. Macbeth himself seems to have an exceptionally low view of
himself at this point; he compares himself to a rapist, a ghost and a wolf.

“The Wolf, Whose Howl’s his Watch, thus with his stealthy Pace, With Tarquin’s ravishing
Sides, towards his design moves like a ghost.”

Macbeth despises himself for what he is about to do, it shows weakness in his character
because he is willing to sacrifice any sort of morals which he had before to satisfy his greed.

At the end of the speech a rhyming couplet is used to emphasise the murderous deed as
Macbeth hopes the bell does not wake Duncan for with it comes his death.

“- Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a Knell,

That summons thee to Heaven or to Hell”

The next soliloquy in Act 3 Scene 1 is a reflective one as Macbeth is now king, you would
have thought that at this point he would be content having achieved his goal. This soliloquy
contains thoughts of Banquo as Macbeth feels threatened by him, as the witches told him that
Banquo will “get kings not be one” meaning his sons will become kings, this scares Macbeth.
In this speech a lot of Banquo’s qualities are listed like how wise, brave and noble he is.
There are definitely some similarities between Banquo and Macbeth at the beginning of the
play. Macbeth still has a very high view of himself, even though he is now a murdering
tyrant.

“My Genius is rebuk’d, as it is said

Mark Antony’s was by Ceasar.”

This shows how Macbeth sees himself as a genius and also compares himself to previous
great emperors such as Mark Antony. Nevertheless, deep into the story Macbeth still refers
back to what the witches said, it is obvious they were a big influence on the play and on
Macbeth’s actions.

“They hail’d him Father to a Line of Kings.

Upon my Head they plac’d a fruitless Crown,

And put a barren Sceptre in my Gripe”

Here it is said by Macbeth that the witches had told him that Banquo would have sons who
would become Kings, and he would not have children who would become heir to the throne.
Macbeth feels bitter and jealous because he has fought and given up so much to become king
and now he feels it was all pointless, perhaps he is beginning to regret all his evil deeds. “For
them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d”. The fact that Macbeth has referred to King
Duncan as ‘gracious’ shows that he still has respect for him and may be starting to regret his
deeds. This speech is essentially saying Macbeth knows that he has sacrificed a great deal but
is still not a lot better off, and still it is Banquo who is prophesied to be the happy one – with
his children being part of a long line of Kings. Macbeth is beginning to see his own demise
and feels; regret and fear and traces of guilt for the murder of Duncan. However outwardly he
is still confident, happy and able to carry out murders if he feels it can save him.

In the soliloquies found in Act 5, Scene 3 the speech provokes sympathy for a now wrecked
and broken man. As the first words are “I am sick at heart” this is quite a ground breaking
statement as it is Macbeth declaring he is depressed and he is emotionally troubled. Perhaps
his heart is ill due to it being polluted with regret and with all the evil he has committed, and
for what? There is no material gain for Macbeth and definitely no emotional gain. There a
slight hint of suicide about this speech as Macbeth says “I have liv’d long enough”. He uses
colours again to symbolise how he is feeling at the time and also autumnal metaphors,
mentioning “the Yellow Leaf” which implies that he has passed his time and is a wilting leaf
whom is dying and will drop to the ground and be forgotten. This is on the whole a sad
soliloquy as it is shows the audience Macbeth’s absolute regret and his acceptance that what
he has done did have consequences, in that he has lost all his honour, he is not loved, he is
incapable to be obedient and is lonely – without a friend in the world.

“As Honour, Love, Obedience, Troops of Friends,

I must look not to have”

There is a significant alteration in Macbeth’s character now as he now no longer possesses

the desire to do anything with his life, he has lost all ambition and any drive towards
anything, his attitude is extremely pessimistic.

The final soliloquy just reiterates what was said in the previous soliloquy. It talks about the
death of Lady Macbeth, life and the fragility of it. An excellent example of just how
demoralised Macbeth is at this stage of the play is his reaction to the news that his wife has
died. His reaction is not mournful and there are not even any signs of sadness, he merely says
that now is not a good time for her to die and there would have been an appropriate time for
he to pass away.

“She should have di’d hereafter;

There would have been a Time for such a Word”

The final lines of the soliloquy probably reflect his view on life:

“it is a Tale

Told by an Idiot, full of Sound and Fury

Signifying nothing.”

Throughout the play we see a complete and extreme change of Macbeth’s character, with a
few aspects remaining constant. In the beginning, he is a faithful and loyal servant of the
King but this soon changes. Both the witches and Lady Macbeth help his ambition develop
and fester in his mind. In the beginning Macbeth is determined to prove to his wife that he
loves her and his worth as a man. However, from this point onwards Macbeth’s ambition
motivates him and overcomes his conscience, making him increasingly determined that
nobody is going to stand in his way. He no longer needs Lady Macbeth’s persuasion and
involves her less and less in his business. Nothing else appears to matter to him except his
kingship and he is prepared to do anything to keep it, despite the fact he knows it is wrong.
He reached the height of his wickedness when he mercilessly slaughtered Macduff’s family,
women and children. By the end of the play he has turned into a evil, slightly mad, tyrant and
his determination to keep hold of his crown eventually costs him his life.