Macbeth! (Woo hooo!!!)Take notes and complete the quiz at

the end to the best of your ability. Turn this stuff in to the teacher at the end of AT today. If I think you’ve put forth acceptable effort, I’ll give you a freebie question on the CFA re-take Monday.

Isn’t extra credit always good?1

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Macbeth IntroductionWritten by William Shakespeare in 1605-

1606Macbeth is a man who overthrows the

rightful King of ScotlandShakespeare wrote Macbeth at the

beginning of King James I’s reignBefore James succeeded Elizabeth I, he was

king of ScotlandPlacing the play in James’ homeland probably

pleased him

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Will the real Macbeth please stand up?

Macbeth was a real king of ScotlandHe did kill King DuncanReigned from 1040-1057Unlike the Macbeth in Shakespeare’s play

The real Macbeth had a legitimate claim to the throne

The real Macbeth was a strong leader The real Macbeth’s reign was successfulThe real Macbeth was killed at Lumphanan

as opposed to Dunsinane

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Connections for British Society “Remember, remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.I see no reason why gunpowder, treasonShould ever be forgot...”

In November 1605 the Gunpowder Plot was discoveredGuy Fawkes and his followers (Roman Catholics)

planned to blow up Parliament while James and Parliament were inside

They wanted to bring down the British government and put a Catholic ruler on the throne

The plot was discovered and the men involved were tried and killed as traitors

Shakespeare sided with the king and seemed to think that a play about treason and death would find an audience at this time

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So this is a comedy… right?Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most

famous tragedies (it is also his shortest)Aside from the violent nature of the plot,

Shakespeare uses several literary devices to enhance the feeling of evilHe creates a serious and sinister mood by

having most of the play take place at nightThere is a heavy emphasis on the

supernatural (witches, dreams, spells, and ghosts)

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MotifsMotifs are conspicuous elements

(such as types of incidents, devices, or references) which occur frequently in works of literature.

Motifs in Macbeth include hallucinations, violence, and prophecy—look for these as we read.

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SymbolsSymbols are signs, words, phrases,

images, or other objects that stand for or represent something else.

Symbols in Macbeth include darkness, images of blood, and crappy weather.

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It’s Sooooo Tragic!tragedy—a play in which the main

character (tragic hero) begins at a high station in life, but is led to his/her downfall by a tragic flaw (a fault in his/her personality which brings about the downfall)

Macbeth’s tragic flaw is AMBITION!

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Evidence that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth to please King

JamesIt’s his shortest play (James had a

short attention span).One of the good guys (Banquo) really

was King James’s ancestor.Shakespeare includes mean ol’ nasty

witches. James was kind of obsessed with the occult. He even thought a witch tried to kill him and his wife once.

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Quiz1. What do you receive if you put

forth acceptable effort today (as evidenced by your notes and the answers to this quiz?

2. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth at the ___________ of James I’s reign?

3. True or False: Macbeth was an ancestor of King James I.

4. The _________ ________ Plot intended to kill James I. 10

Quiz, continued5. What elements does Shakespeare

include to create an evil atmosphere?6. What’s a motif? What is one of

the motifs in Macbeth?7. What’s a symbol? What is one of

the symbols in Macbeth?8. What’s a tragedy? 9. What’s a tragic hero? Who’s the

tragic hero in this play? 11

Quiz, continued10. What is a tragic flaw? What is

the tragic hero’s tragic flaw in this play?

11. True or False: There is ample evidence that Shakespeare wrote this play to please King James I.

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Macbeth Act 1 - Scene 1Witches - Supernatural influences“Fair being Foul” - ParadoxKing Duncan - ScotlandDuncan’s sons- Malcolm and

DonaldbainGenerals - Macbeth and BanquoThunder , lightning , and rain - sense

of doom

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Macbeth Act 1 - Scene 2Macdonaldwald’s rebellionRoss tells Duncan of Norway’s

rebellion - King of Norway - SwenoThane of Cawdor rebels against

DuncanScotland wins - Macbeth gets title -

Thane of Cawdor - “ THE SPOILS OF WAR”

Macbeth and Banquo - “Two spent swimmers”

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Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3The witches first prophesy has come

true - Thane of CawdorMacbeth - “So foul and fair a day , I

have not seen - recalls witches first scene

Banquo - “The instrument of darkness tell us truths - only to betray us”

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Macbeth Act 1 Scene 4Execution of Cawdor“You can’t tell what is in a person’s

heart by looking at his face”“Nothing in his life became him like

the leaving of it”Duncan- Malcolm to be KingMacbeth- “Let not light see my black

and deep desires”16

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Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5Macbeth’s home - Castle of InvernessLady Macbeth comes up with plan to

kill Duncan - Husband weak“The milk of human kindness”Lady Macbeth - Must pour spirits in

their ear. (Hamlet killed that way)

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Macbeth Act 1 Scene 6Lady Macbeth - chameleon - perfect

hostessDuncan’s speech full of dramatic

irony - “castle pleasant” - “air is sweeter” sees a martlet (a summer bird)

to Duncan the castle appears to be a paradise

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Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7LadyMacbeth - convinces Macbeth to

do the “horrid deed”Macbeth’s Soliloquy - marked by

confusionDuncan - Kinsman and his subject , a good King and virtuous man , a popular King , and death would bring sorrow to Scotland

Lady Macbeth Argument- “What could have been when he can be King” - “ Would kill her own baby to do this”

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Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1Past midnight - Moon has set and the

“Candles” of heaven cannot be seen - dark brooding

Banquo draws sword - irony doesn’t know Macbeth is going to kill Duncan

Dagger Speech - Mental disturbance“Is this a dagger which I see before

me,The handle toward my hand?” —Macbeth, 2.1.42–3

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Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2Lady Macbeth - “That which have

made them drunk, hath made me bold, What hath quenched them have given me fire”

Drunk with boldness and on fire with passion

Lady Macbeth -would have murdered Duncan had he not looked like her father

Macbeth has two concerns - he has murdered sleep , bloodiness of deed

Lady Macbeth - blood is only like paint wash it off

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Scene 2 Knocking - knocking of their

consciences actual knock“With all great Neptune’s ocean

wash this blood Clean from my hand?”—Macbeth, 2.2.78–9

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Macbeth Act 2 Scene 3Porter - light comedyfarmer and equivocator have specific

religious and historical connotationsA few months before Macbeth

performed - Gunpowder plot - King James Guy Fawkes and John Garnett (nickname the farmer)

Lennox - extraordinary weather -unnatural events - The universe and events related 23

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Scene 3 Equivocation - The practice of lying

in court about one’s religionLady Macbeth faints when Macbeth

proclaims he has killed the guards - avenge the act of treasonous malice - not in the plan

Malcolm - EnglandDonalbain - Ireland

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Scene 3Macbeth says he has killed servants -

Lady Macbeth faintsMacbeth and other Thanes swear to

meet “in manly rediness” to avenge this act of “treasonous malice”

“ There’s daggers in men’s smiles”Donaldbain - IrelandMalcolm - England

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Macbeth Act 2 Scene 4Macbeth has become KingDonaldbain and Malcolm have fledOld Man - Traditional figure in lit

represents what “has been”owl kills falcon - daylight has been

replaced by night - horses of the King’s stable have eaten each other

The world he has known has been turned on its head 26

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Macbeth Act 3 Scene 1Banquo suspects Macbeth - gains

comfort from 2nd prediction - his own children will be Kings

Even with new title Macbeth does not feel at ease

calls murderers dogs but he shows his inhumanity and imperfections -also wants to kill Fleance

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Act 3 Scene 2Macbeth plans murder not Lady

MacbethMacbeth and Lady Macbeth’s world

not at peaceMacbeth wants to get rid of his bond

with humanity“We have scorched the snake, not

killed it.”—Macbeth, 3.2.15“Duncan is in his grave; After lifeʼs

fitful fever he sleeps well.”—Macbeth, 3.2.24–5

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Act 3 Scene 3Banquo killed - Murderers lantern

extinguished - Fleance escapesForces of darkness are at odds with

lightMurderers capable of poetry Escape of Fleance turning point -

Peripeteia - sudden reversal of fortune

Banquo’s dying words “to revenge”29

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Act 3 Scene 4Macbeth has Thanes of Scotland over

- Macduff not thereMurderers tell Macbeth what

happened - Macbeth losses itMacbeth sees ghost - goes into a fitMacbeth has lost controlMacbeth will kill Macduff and visit

three sisters“It will have blood, they say: blood

will have blood.” —Macbeth, 3.4.152–53 30

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Act 3 Scene 5Hecate joins three sistersSome say this scene was not in the

orginal play

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Act 3 Scene 6Lennox reveals doubts about

Macbeth - Did he kill the guards hastily?

Macduff has fled to England to join forces with Malcolm also asks help from King Edward of England

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Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1“Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire

burn, and cauldron bubble.”—Witches, 4.1.10–1

Macbeth goes to weird sisters and demands to be shown apparitions of the future

1. disembodied head of a warrior who warns Macbeth of revenge

2. blood-covered child who cannot be killed by any man “ of woman born”

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3. a child wearing a crown promises Macbeth cannot lose in battle until Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane

Macbeth asks about Banquo’s sons and sees a procession of Banquo and future kings

Macbethless futureMacduff has fled to England and

Macbeth announces revenge of Macduff’s wife and children

“I’ll make assurance double sure.”—Macbeth, 4.1.93

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Act 4 Scene 2Lady Macduff feels Macduff has

acted dishonestlySon says the world is full of

dishonest men

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Act 4 Scene 3“At one fell swoop.”—Macduff,

4.3.256Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty -

says he would be a great tyrant - reverse psychology

Macduff still hates Macbeth - Malcolm has gotten what he wants Macduff’s loyalty

Ross tells him of the slaughter of wife and child - Macduff vows revenge

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 1“Out, damned spot! out, I say!”—

Lady Macbeth, 5.1.31“All the perfumes of Arabia will not

sweeten this little hand.” —Lady Macbeth, 5.1.46–7

“What’s done cannot be undone.”—Lady Macbeth, 5.1.62–3

Played in dark except one candleLady Macbeth has gone mad -

sleepwalks and tells fragments of events

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overheard by doctor and lady-in-waiting

Lady Macbeth is seen rubbing her hands - (quotes at the beginning)

Lady Macbeth needs a “divine”Spiritual darkness - 1 candle

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 2Four lords of Scotland - Lennox,

Mentith, Angus, and Caithness resolve to join Malcolm and English forces who are at Birnam Wood

Caithness speech - warrior hero - valiant fury - but not righteous - “ Distemper’d Cause”

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 3Macbeth dismisses reports of

invasion ( confident tyrant)Trusts the propheciesServant ( cream faced lilly livered)

announces huge armyDoctor tells of Lady Macbeth“ yellow leaf” - fall of his own

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 4English and Scotish armies under

leadership of Malcolm meet at Birnam Wood

Malcolm orders soldiers to cut a branch and carry it in front of them as camouflage “To shadow the number of our host”

taken from Holinshed’s Chronicles - 1577

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 5Macbeth fully armed - brave rhetoricshriek offstage - The queen is deadBirnam Wood appears to have

uprooted itself advancing towards Dunsinane

Shakespeare - Power-seeking tyrants tend toward self-destruction

“I have supped full with horrors.”—Macbeth, 5.5.14 - Banquo’s ghost

“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.”—Macbeth, 5.5.21

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 6Malcolm and his troops have reached

DunsinaneSiward first to advance - ageMacduff order of troops- discipline -

harbinger or sign of what is to come

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 7Macbeth challenged by son of SiwardMacbeth’s forces have surrendered

Dunsinane Castle“They have tied me to a stake: I

cannot fly”kills young Siward - “Thou wast born

of woman”Macduff - ironic timing- takes place

of Siward 45

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 8Macbeth and Macduff finally face to

facewords are tossedMacbeth ponders suicide but hey I

can’t dieMacduff tells him he entered the

world “Untimely ripp’d” from mothers womb

Macbeth realizes witches are “imperfect speakers”

Macbeth dies46

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Macbeth Act 5 Scene 9Malcolm proclaimed new king of

Scotlandtrue friends “we miss” loyalty he will

rule with graciousness and humilityMacduff enters with Macbeth’s head

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