Macbeth Notes Acts I-IV
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Transcript of Macbeth Notes Acts I-IV
Macbeth Notes Acts I-IV
Macbeth Summary of Act I
Scene 1• Setting - Scotland. • 3 witches
– Indicate that the battle will be over by sunset– plan to meet with Macbeth on the barren
battlefield or “heath” • There is an approaching thunderstorm.• Foreshadowing of evil: “Fair is foul, and
foul is fair,” what is good will be bad and what is bad will be good.
Scene 2
• Duncan• The king of Scotland
• orders the immediate execution of the Thane of Cawdor• names Macbeth as the new Thane of Cawdor.• sends Ross to announce this to Macbeth
• Malcolm• Son of Duncan
• Captain• informs Duncan that Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald,
the Norwegian army, and the Thane of Cawdor. • states the conflict was resolved by Macbeth.
Scene 3• Witches
– Prophesize that Macbeth will be Scotland’s next ruler.
• Macbeth – mimics witches’ famous words spoken earlier in the
drama: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" • Banquo (Macbeth’s friend)
– will be "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater" and "Not so happy, yet much happier"
• Ross and Angus – inform Macbeth that Duncan has appointed him
Thane of Cawdor.
Scene 4• Macbeth
– Expresses ambitious thoughts in his asides• Aside= a remark that the character makes to the audience or another
character
• Duncan – praises Macbeth for his loyalty– Thanks Banquo for his courage – Announces visiting Macbeth's castle at Inverness– has chosen Malcolm (son) to be the next king of Scotland –
now he will be Prince of Cumberland• Light and Dark Symbolism
– "Stars, hide your fires/Let not light see my black and deep desires"
Act 1, Scene 5
Macbeth’s positive thoughts
Lady Macbeth’s negative thoughts
alliteration
Images/ symbols of death
I thought good to deliver thee
…greatness is promised thee
farewell
… I fear thy nature
… the illness should attend it
…wouldst not play false
…wouldst wrongly win
Raven, thick blood, smoke of hell, keen knife, blanket of the dark
Act 1, Scene 7
Indications of confusion
Religious allusions
similes
Lady Macbeth’s criticisms
“we have judgment, but we teach bloody instruction (terrible deeds)
In the beginning, he contemplates murder, but then has second thoughts
Chalice, angels, cherubim
Duncan will “plead like angels”
Pity, like a naked new-born babe
Refers to Macbeth as a “coward” and “poor cat”
Act 1, Scene 7
Lady Macbeth’s Plan
Get the two guards (chamberlain’s) drunk with wine
Act 2, Scene 1
“husbandry in heaven”
Illusion/reality
dagger
3 indications of death
The gods are economical with their starlight
The Dagger
Illusion = “dagger of the mind… false creation”
Reality= “ I see thee in form as palpable”
Interacts with the dagger and indicates that “it is the bloody business”
“nature seems dead” “withered murder” “bloody business”
2 allusions Tarquin and Hecate
Act 2, Scene 2
alcohol
Unnatural events
dagger
Macbeth’s confession
The gods are economical with their starlight
The Dagger
Illusion = “dagger of the mind… false creation”
Reality= “ I see thee in form as palpable”
Interacts with the dagger and indicates that “it is the bloody business”
“nature seems dead” “withered murder” “bloody business”
Lady Macbeth’s reaction
Tarquin and Hecate
Act 2, Scene 3
Equivocate/ equivocator
Comic relief
lie
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions
The porter presents himself as the porter of hell and jokes about the sinners
has a double meaning - can mean “untruth” or “to rest”
alcohol“Stimulates lust,” “persuades him,”
“Makes the lover a failure”
Act 2, Scene 3
Unnatural Events
“chimney’s were blown down”
“strange screams of death” in the air
Shaking of the earthMacbeth’s confession Admits to killing the guardsmenLady Macbeth’s reaction faints
Wants to leave for IrelandMalcolm’s reaction
Act 3, Scene 1
Witches’ prediction for Banquo
“that myself should be the root and father of all kings”
Macbeth’s attitude Indicates that he fears him three times
alliteration “heavy hand hath”Macbeth manipulates the murderers
Indicates that they and their families will be beggars
Tells them that Banquo will treat them as animals
Act 3, Scene 2
Lady Macbeth’s state of mind
Afraid
Alliteration Than by destruction dwell in doubtful
Four “black agents”
scorpions, bat,
beetle, crow
Act 3, Scene 4
alliteration Cabined, cribbed, confined Ghost of Banquo
Sits in Macbeth’s place
Dares him to be tough and approach him like a “rugged russian bear,” and “armed rhinoceros” (lines 100-103)
Macbeth challenges the apparitionGhost of Banquo
Macbeth sees the ghost three times
Macbeth’s vow
To see the wicthes
Act 3, Scene 5
Macbeth is powerless
“As by the strength of their illusion shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate, scorn death…”
allusion The pit of Acheron (river in hell)
Ghost DescriptionMessage to Macbeth Macbeth’s
Response
1st
2nd
3rd
Armed head of a warrior
warns Macbeth of a bloody revenge at the hands of Duncan’s son Macduff
“Thou hast harped my fear aright” (line 74)
Blood covered child
Tells Macbeth that he cannot be killed by any man “of woman born.”
Indicates that Macduff will not live
a child wearing a crown
Macbeth cannot lose in battle until Birnam Wood physically moves toward his castle at Dunsinane.
Macbeth believes he will never be troubled by the ghosts
The Apparitions
Bird Metaphor(Write down the passage)
Your Explanation. How do you explain or interpret the metaphor?
1.
2.
3.
“…the poor wren (the most diminutive of birds) will fight, her young ones in her nest…” (lines 9-11
Even if a mother is small, poor, and weak, she will still fight for her young