MacbethMacbeth

Act IAct I

Macbeth meets the witches in Act I and is Macbeth meets the witches in Act I and is immediately tempted by their prophecies.immediately tempted by their prophecies.

Both speak in contradiction:Both speak in contradiction: Witches with the prophecy “Fair is foul and foul is Witches with the prophecy “Fair is foul and foul is

fair.”fair.” Macbeth in Scene three when speaking with Macbeth in Scene three when speaking with

Banquo about the battle “So foul and fair a day I Banquo about the battle “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”have not seen.”

These contradictions link themThese contradictions link them

By the end of Act I Macbeth is not a By the end of Act I Macbeth is not a good man, but he is not a evil either. He good man, but he is not a evil either. He is TEMPTED by the prophecies, however is TEMPTED by the prophecies, however he does have doubts. He is inability to he does have doubts. He is inability to stand up to his wife’s ability to manipulate stand up to his wife’s ability to manipulate him brings on his down fall.him brings on his down fall.

Lady MacbethLady Macbeth

Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a very powerful character. This is an a very powerful character. This is an unusual characterization for female unusual characterization for female characters of this time period.characters of this time period.

Through her, and her behavior, we Through her, and her behavior, we explore the theme of Masculinity and explore the theme of Masculinity and cruelty. Shakespeare, and his audience cruelty. Shakespeare, and his audience at the Globe would associate cruelty with at the Globe would associate cruelty with men.men.

This is evidenced by several of Lady This is evidenced by several of Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s statements Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s statements throughout the play.throughout the play. ““Come, you spirits That tend on mortal Come, you spirits That tend on mortal

thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.”the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.”

““Bring forth men-children only, For they Bring forth men-children only, For they undaunted mettle should compose Nothing undaunted mettle should compose Nothing but males.”but males.”

ACT IIACT II

The appearance of Fleance (Banquo’s The appearance of Fleance (Banquo’s son) is a reminder of the witches’ son) is a reminder of the witches’ prophecy.prophecy.

Banquo’s knowledge of the witches’ Banquo’s knowledge of the witches’ prophecy makes him a potential friend prophecy makes him a potential friend and a potential enemy.and a potential enemy.

If Macbeth succeeds in killing Duncan, If Macbeth succeeds in killing Duncan, Fleance will be in danger.Fleance will be in danger.

Duncan’s ChamberDuncan’s Chamber

This is a hidden area where the murder This is a hidden area where the murder of Duncan, the guards and a future death of Duncan, the guards and a future death will take place.will take place.

The audience at the Globe would not The audience at the Globe would not actually see these killings, however, all actually see these killings, however, all who enter this chamber emerge who enter this chamber emerge powerfully changed.powerfully changed.

IronyIrony

After the murder of Duncan, Lady After the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth “A little water Macbeth tells Macbeth “A little water clears us of the deed. How easy it is clears us of the deed. How easy it is then.”then.”

Ironically, they are both unable to wash Ironically, they are both unable to wash away the guilt of the murder.away the guilt of the murder.

After Macbeth murders Duncan, strange things After Macbeth murders Duncan, strange things happen in the atmosphere and in nature. happen in the atmosphere and in nature. Duncan’s horses eat one another and an owl Duncan’s horses eat one another and an owl kills a falcon.kills a falcon.

These strange occurrences cast a menacing These strange occurrences cast a menacing shadow over Macbeth’s coronation. By killing shadow over Macbeth’s coronation. By killing Duncan, Macbeth releases chaos among Duncan, Macbeth releases chaos among Scotland—The good, benevolent king is Scotland—The good, benevolent king is replaced by a tyrant.replaced by a tyrant.

ACT IIIACT III

During this act, Macbeth sinks even During this act, Macbeth sinks even lower into madness. He arranges the lower into madness. He arranges the murder of his best friend, and his son in murder of his best friend, and his son in order to insure that no one will find out order to insure that no one will find out that he and his wife have killed the king.that he and his wife have killed the king.

The BanquetThe Banquet

This is simultaneously the high point of This is simultaneously the high point of Macbeth’s reign and the beginning of his Macbeth’s reign and the beginning of his downfall.downfall.

High point: all are celebrating his High point: all are celebrating his coronationcoronation

Downfall: he is haunted by Banquo’s Downfall: he is haunted by Banquo’s ghost and appears to be insane in front ghost and appears to be insane in front of his subjects.of his subjects.

It is appropriate that Banquo’s ghost and It is appropriate that Banquo’s ghost and not Duncan’s haunts Macbeth. He also not Duncan’s haunts Macbeth. He also heard the prophecies but took no action heard the prophecies but took no action to further his own interests.to further his own interests.

Shakespeare’s message is that ambition Shakespeare’s message is that ambition does not require bloodshed.does not require bloodshed.

ACT IVACT IV

In this scene Macbeth descends into In this scene Macbeth descends into complete madness. When he murders complete madness. When he murders Macduff’s family this act of violence is Macduff’s family this act of violence is seen as the worst. It is not done for seen as the worst. It is not done for political gain or to silence an enemy, it is political gain or to silence an enemy, it is strictly done out of malice.strictly done out of malice.

Cruelty and MasculinityCruelty and Masculinity

Once again in this act this theme is Once again in this act this theme is explored. When Macduff is told that explored. When Macduff is told that Macbeth has killed his family his reaction Macbeth has killed his family his reaction is to weep. Malcolm states to “Dispute it is to weep. Malcolm states to “Dispute it like a man.” Macduff’s reply is “But I like a man.” Macduff’s reply is “But I must also feel it like a man.”must also feel it like a man.”

Shakespeare’s commentary on Shakespeare’s commentary on masculinity here is that Macduff is truly a masculinity here is that Macduff is truly a man and a human being. It is man and a human being. It is appropriate for Macduff to weep and it in appropriate for Macduff to weep and it in no way effects his masculinity.no way effects his masculinity.

ACT VACT V

The resolution of the play takes place in The resolution of the play takes place in 8 short scenes.8 short scenes.

Lady Macbeth falls into madness and Lady Macbeth falls into madness and Macbeth’s downfall is complete.Macbeth’s downfall is complete.

SleepwalkingSleepwalking

Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth sleepwalk during the play. Sleep is sleepwalk during the play. Sleep is associated with innocence and inability to associated with innocence and inability to sleep is associated with guilt.sleep is associated with guilt.

Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are unable to sleep after the murder of unable to sleep after the murder of Duncan. “Macbeth doth murder sleep.”Duncan. “Macbeth doth murder sleep.”

IronyIrony

Ironically, Lady Macbeth believes that Ironically, Lady Macbeth believes that she has a spot of blood of on her hands. she has a spot of blood of on her hands. During Act V she cannot wash away the During Act V she cannot wash away the imagined spot of blood “Out , damned imagined spot of blood “Out , damned spot, out, I say!” She cannot wash away spot, out, I say!” She cannot wash away the guilt of her crimes.the guilt of her crimes.

WitchesWitches

The witches have much power over the The witches have much power over the events in the play.events in the play.

Duncan’s murderDuncan’s murder Banquo’s murderBanquo’s murder

Their prophecies truly come to fruition Their prophecies truly come to fruition

Birnum Wood marches on DunsinaneBirnum Wood marches on Dunsinane (Malcolm’s men camouflage themselves (Malcolm’s men camouflage themselves

with a bough from a tree in the woods)with a bough from a tree in the woods)

No man of woman born can harm No man of woman born can harm Macbeth. (Macduff is actually born of a Macbeth. (Macduff is actually born of a C-section. “Macduff was from his C-section. “Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”mother’s womb untimely ripped.”

Tomorrow and tomorrow Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…and tomorrow…

This speech, given by Macbeth This speech, given by Macbeth immediately after his knowledge that his immediately after his knowledge that his wife has killed herself, is a reflection of wife has killed herself, is a reflection of his hopelessness. Life has no meaning.his hopelessness. Life has no meaning.

However, if we are to take them at face-However, if we are to take them at face-value, then his actions truly “signify value, then his actions truly “signify nothing” and they are meaningless rather nothing” and they are meaningless rather than evil.than evil.

Or…. It could be a commentary by Or…. It could be a commentary by Shakespeare about his theater and how Shakespeare about his theater and how the events on stage have signified the events on stage have signified nothing. Remember the Gunpowder plot nothing. Remember the Gunpowder plot and his father’s involvement. This could and his father’s involvement. This could be Shakespeare’s way of covering be Shakespeare’s way of covering himself.himself.

Macbeth’s DeathMacbeth’s Death

Macbeth’s death comes as somewhat of a Macbeth’s death comes as somewhat of a relief. He is not a sympathetic hero—more so relief. He is not a sympathetic hero—more so a tyrant. He is truly a tragic hero. His ambition a tyrant. He is truly a tragic hero. His ambition causes him to take action that ultimately brings causes him to take action that ultimately brings on his downfall.on his downfall.

When he kills Duncan his virtue is gone.When he kills Duncan his virtue is gone. Theme: Ambition must be checked to maintain Theme: Ambition must be checked to maintain

order.order.