Macbeth Study Guide

Background● Renaissance tragedy● Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and

Ireland (1577)

Holinshed's Chronicles vs. Shakespeare's play● legit. Claim to Duncan's throne only real supporter is wife

nobles dissatisfied w/ Duncanhelped Macbeth become king

● Banquo helps Macbeth Macbeth murders Banquo● successful reign reign brings violence & disaster

● Other reasons for differences: -Shakespeare wanted to explore-from a safe distance-the events and attitudes of his time. -Gunpowder Plot of 1605 -Shakespeare was much more interested in psychological truth than in historical fact.

Setting: 12th century Scotland

Major CharactersMacbeth- Thane of Glamis Lady Macbeth- Macbeth’s wifeBanquo- Macbeth’s friend Macduff- ThaneDuncan- King of Scotland Captain- gives 1st report on the battleMalcolm & Donalbain- Sons of Duncan Ross- gives 2nd report on the battleThree Witches

Thane (Lord)- governs over a section of the country for the king - usually awarded for military deeds

ACT IBattle is taking place against Norway and Scotland. We learn that Macdonwald (starts the rebellion) & Lord of Cawdor (traitor to Duncan & Scotland) have joined forces with the Norwegian king.

Scene One- Setting: Opens up in stormy Scotland- wide open spaceThunder & Lightning *Elizabethan idea that nature reflects man’s behavior*

Three witches- They decide to meet again* after the hurly-burly is done (noise & confusion of battle)* at the setting of the sun (evening)* to wait for Macbeth* meet upon the heath (shrubbery that thrives in open, barren wastelands)

**Quote: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.” PARADOX-Statement that seems contradictory but holds some truth.Effect on the setting?_____________________________________________

Scene Two- Setting: Military Camp near Forres, Scotland- King Duncan’s army campMood: Glorious due to the victory over Norway

(the defeat of Macdonwald & the traitor, Lord of Cawdor)

The Captain enters to give King Duncan & his son, Malcolm, the first report from the battle. 1st report- Defeat of MacdonwaldRoss enters with the second report–> Macbeth has led the men to victoryDuncan then tells Ross to find Macbeth. Norway to give Scotland $10,000 before they can bury their menDuncan orders Cawdor’s death (due to treachery)Macbeth will now inherit the title “Thane of Cawdor”

Scene Three- Setting: A heath near Forres----> The witches are waiting1st witch talks about getting revenge on sailor– his wife would not give her any chestnuts. -She is going to drain him dry of life/ He won’t be able to sleep

Quote: “The charm’s wound up”- *FORESHADOWINGParallels to Macbeth’s future

1-2-

Enter Macbeth & BanquoBanquo describes witches-chapped fingers, skinny lips, beards like menWitches foretell the future- Macbeth-1) Thane of Glamis- inherits from

2) Thane of Cawdor- inherits from 3) King of Scotland- ???

Banquo- He won’t be king, but his children will be.

Quotes: “Lesser but greater than Macbeth”- PARADOX**“Not so happy, yet much happier:” - may seem less important than Macbeth, butultimately he will be a better person (better life)*Will not be king-your descendants will beMacbeth questions the witches, and witches vanish into thin air.Banquo believes they must have gone insane- possibly something they ate- Also warns that witches are evil

Enter Ross & AngusRoss tells Macbeth that he is now Thane of Cawdor !! (Part of prophecy has come true)Banquo questions the intent of the prophecy.- could be the devil’s workSomething BAD is probably going to come out of this good news- FORESHADOWINGWhat do you think will happen next???____________________________________Macbeth questions the prophecy again- Banquo’s children as kings

-the thought of being king himselfHe shudders at the thought of killing Duncan to become king.Macbeth decides that if it is meant for him to be king, he will be so without any effort on his part. (He decides to let FATE unfold)Macbeth tells Banquo that he wants to talk freely with him later about the witches’ prophecy.

Scene FourKing Duncan asks if the traitor (Lord of Cawdor) has been executed; Malcolm tells him “yes.” Cawdor, upon his death, admitted his guilt and asked for the king’s pardon.

Enters Macbeth & BanquoThey rejoice over victory. King Duncan announces that Malcolm will be heir to the throne. *ASIDE*- Macbeth now thinks about having to kill Malcolm.

*Quote: “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires”(Don’t let anyone know my true thoughts or plans to do away with Malcolm)

Scene FiveSetting: Inverness- Macbeth’s castleLady Macbeth is reading a letter which tells about the witches’ prophecy.

Immediately- she decides the prophecy will come true, even if she has to help it come true. She plans to persuade Macbeth to fulfill his destiny of becoming king.Messenger enters to tell Lady that Duncan will be visiting the Macbeth castle.Lady Macbeth invokes spirits to assist her in making sure Macbeth becomes king.

Quote: “Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear.” ( To show a disturbed face will arouse suspicion. Lady is advising Macbeth to seem innocent.)

Scene SixSetting: King Duncan arrives at InvernessLady Macbeth welcomes Duncan and his men to the castle.Lady leads Duncan to the host, Macbeth.

Scene Seven- Setting: A room in Macbeth’s castleMacbeth debates whether to kill Duncan or not. He decides he cannot kill him.Enters Lady MacbethMacbeth tells his wife that he cannot go through with his plans.

With a series of appeals, Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to go through with the murder.At last, he agrees to carry through with Duncan’s murder.

Journal Entry: What is fate? Do we control our destinies, or does fate intervene?Answer the “Quickwrite” on pg. 4 of your Macbeth texts.Using a Venn Diagram, compare and contrast Macbeth and Banquo.( personalities & their reactions to the witches’ prophecy)How far will Macbeth go to fulfill his ambition to be king of Scotland?Discuss your opinion of Macbeth so far.

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act I

The Criminal MindWhen Shakespeare first shows us Macbeth, we see a hero, a man who would fight to the death for the king. Throughout Act I, Shakespeare gradually introduces the moral struggle developing in Macbeth’s mind. The evil side is threatening to overwhelm the good side by the end of the act. In each of the columns below, write events, dialogue, or thoughts that reflect these changes in Macbeth in Act I.

The Good Macbeth Neutral/Ambiguous The Evil Macbeth

1. Do you think Macbeth would have changed if the witches had not appeared? Explain.

2. Do you think most people are as susceptible to temptation as Macbeth? Explain why or why not.

Macbeth ACT IIScene One- Setting: Inverness, Macbeth’s Castle- Past Midnight

Banquo and Fleance (Banquo’s son) are talking in the courtyard.Banquo confesses he cannot sleep due to his thoughts of the witches’ prophecies.Macbeth joins them.Banquo admits his troubles to Macbeth; Macbeth shrugs them off.By not thinking about them)

Banquo and Fleance leave Macbeth alone.Macbeth imagines he see a vision of a bloody dagger—> **SOLILOQUY**Withdraws his intentions of murdering Duncan (He shrinks at the thoughts of murder). Then he comes back to reality by remembering his purpose and present opportunity to kill the king.

The bell ringing breaks his thoughts. He starts for Duncan’s chambers.

Scene Two-Setting: Inverness, Macbeth’s Castle- Duncan’s Chambers

Lady Macbeth prepares the plan to murder Duncan.She admits she cannot kill him- he looks like her father sleeping.She drugs the guards and gets them drunk.Macbeth kills Duncan by stabbing him with the guards’ daggers.Lady then joins Macbeth after the deed is done.Both are nervous and jumpy.

Macbeth freaks out about the blood on his hands- Lady tells him that he can wash his guilt (Duncan’s blood) away. This also helps destroy evidence that Duncan was murdered by Macbeth’s hands.

Macbeth says he heard the king’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, laugh and cry “murder” in their sleep. When they say their prayers, “God Bless Us”, Macbeth mentions he wants to say “Amen”, but cannot make the words come out of his mouth..—> shows his guilt

He also imagined that a voice cried, “Macbeth does murder sleep...Macbeth shall sleep no more!” ***Parallel to ACT One- the witches are toying with the sailor (cursed w/out sleep)

Lady tells Macbeth to return the daggers to Duncan’s room and smear blood on the guards. Macbeth refuses, so Lady finishes the task.

The KNOCKING sound heard in the castle is about to drive Macbeth insane. His nerves are shot with torment of murder.

SCENE ThreeThe knocking grows louder- the drunken porter gets up to open the castle gate.He imagines that he is at “hell’s-gate” and that various sinners are knocking for admission.

SINNERS SYMBOLS- MacbethThe Farmer- hoards all the grain-------------------Hoards 3 titles, power, & life

The Equivocator- tells you one thing, then--------Acts like Banquo’s friend and acts contradicts himself by telling kindly to the king-even though he plansyou another thing to kill him

The English Tailor- Steals French Hose------Steals crown (by murder), power, & life

The two people actually knocking on the gate are Macduff and Lennox, who have come to awaken the king.

Macbeth enters- Macduff enters Duncan’s chambers and finds Duncan dead.

Macbeth acts like he is grieving, and says he has killed the guards in his rage (and revenge of Duncan’s death)–Really just trying to maintain his coverBy killing the guards, they can’t say that they passed out, or describe what they may have remembered from the night before.

Lady faints (What a great actress!)

Malcolm and Donalbain (Duncan’s sons) decide to flee to England and Ireland for safety.1- If the guards didn’t really murder the king, then the murderer is still out there.2- Being heirs to the throne–> makes them targets.3- Can’t trust anyone there b/c someone has blood on their hands (& it isn’t the

guards!)

4- They separate b/c it would be harder to go after both of them- if they weren’t together

Banquo appears- tells everyone to get dressed and meet againThinks there is need to investigate matters further- and there is!!

Scene Four- Setting: Outside the castleRoss and an old man talk about the unnatural events that have accompanied the murder.

The animals are going crazy!

Macduff joins them. He expresses what seems to be the popular rumor (Guards have slain their king; Malcolm and Donalbain may have paid the guards to kill b/c of their disappearance after the murder)

Ross refuses to accept this theory, stating that such an act by the sons would be unnatural and senseless- it would deprive them of the father upon whom they depended. Macduff tells them that Macbeth is on his way to being named king at Scone.

Macbeth Act III Scene One: Forres- The palace Banquo reflects on the fact that Macbeth has acquired all three titles (Cawdor, Glamis, & King of Scotland)- The same 3 titles that the witches hailed him

-Banquo suspects his old comrade of foul play! -He is suspicious that Macbeth has helped the prophecies along; yet, he is hopeful about the prediction concerning him and his descendants.(That he will be greater and happier than Macbeth-1; His descendants will be heirs to the throne-2)

Enter Macbeth and Lady–> Now the King and Queen of Scotland

-Macbeth invites Banquo, as guest of honor, to the feast he is having. -Macbeth asks Banquo a series of questions about his trip that he has planned with his son, Fleance. -Macbeth learns that they will be gone all day.-Banquo promises to attend the feast before he leaves.

**SOLILOQUY**- Macbeth reveals his fears of Banquo- He sells his soul to the devil

1st part- Macbeth expresses his fear of Banquo and his knowledge of the prophecy. (Other than Macbeth and Lady, Banquo is the only other person who knows about the witches’ prophecy)He determines that Banquo is the only one who could stand in his way( reigning Scotland)

2nd part- Macbeth hates Banquo–> The witches have declared his children heirs to the throne.–> Reveals his resentment of Banquo’s future and the witches’ prophesy.-He is determined to get rid of Banquo and his son. -By killing Banquo and Fleance, Macbeth insures that Banquo’s descendants will not inherit the throne.

-Macbeth hires two men to murder Banquo and Fleance.-Macbeth poisons their minds against Banquo by telling them that he is to blame for their miserable lives. -He insists that they kill both men in such a way as to keep him (Macbeth) free from blame.

**Internally, he may not have wanted to feel the guilt from another murder, OR he may not have wanted to risk being caught.**

** IRONY** - Macbeth says, “Who wear our health but sickly in his life, which in his death were perfect.”* Macbeth thinks he will be restored to perfect health through the murder of his friend.*Tragic Elements: In what way has Macbeth’s view of murder changes since he killed Duncan?

What does this suggest about his downfall as the tragic hero?

Scene Two: Another room in the palace-Lady Macbeth is aware of her husband’s growing fears and guilty conscience. She attempts to renew his courage and ego by pepping him up for the feast. She tells him to act like a brave new ruler, instead of stressing of Duncan’s murder.

-Macbeth admits he fears Banquo and Fleance. -He expresses that a “deed of dreadful note” will be soon accomplished, but he does not tell Lady what he is planning. -He tells her to be patient; she will soon see what he is up to. “Patience, grasshopper”

Scene Three: In the woods- Near the palaceThe three murderers are waiting for Banquo and Fleance to ride by on their horses.-Murderers attack Banquo and Fleance. Banquo dies, but Fleance escapes. -They have not completed their duty.

-The job isn’t done until the Father of the heirs and his HEIRS are dead.

If Banquo had survived the attack, what would he have done next? Briefly explain how the entire play would have changed.

Scene Four: Later on that evening- The feast-Macbeth welcomes the guests. One of the murderers reports back to Macbeth. Imagine Macbeth’s expression when he learns that Fleance escaped. Describe his facial expressions and mood.

** IRONY** “But Banquo’s safe?”- Ironic- Sounds like Macbeth is asking if Banquo is well. Actually asking if Banquo was safely murdered.

Who or what is the serpent? Worm?

-When Lennox asks Macbeth to take his seat at the table, Macbeth looks for the empty place. ** HE SEES A GHOST**-Terrified, Macbeth addresses the ghost in words which make him look guilty for playing a part in Banquo’s death.What does he say to the ghost? Line #:

-Lady Macbeth covers for her husband by saying that his imagination has gotten the better of him. -She tells the crowd that he often suffers from such fits. Worrying that he is ruining his reputation (and raising suspicion), she orders everyone to leave.

CLIMAX- Knowledge of Fleance’s escape- Point that Macbeth faces a crisis**PUN** Lady- “The sauce to meat is ceremony; meeting were bare without it.”Means?

Tragic Elements: In what way does this scene mark the beginning of Macbeth’s actual deterioration?

Scene 5- A witches’ haunt- Thunder and lightning

-The three witches are meeting Hecate (Queen Witch)-Hecate scolds the witches for leaving her out of their previous encounters with Macbeth. -She promises to marshal magic forces to ensure Macbeth’s ruin.

Scene 6- The palace-Enter Lennox and another Lord-Lennox is sarcastic and suspicicous of Macbeth- thinks he is responsible-Lord reports this news to Macduff, who refuses to answer Macbeth’s summons. -Macduff has fled to England to obtain the aid of King Edward and Lord Siward. - Remove the tyrant Macbeth. –> Restore Scottish crown to Malcolm

Macbeth Acts IV & V 1. “Something wicked this way comes.” Who or what does this refer to? Explain the significance of the quote.

2. What ingredients go into the witches’ stew? What symbolic purpose does this vile concoction serve?

3. What has Macbeth come to ask the witches, and how do they answer?

4. The witches give Macbeth three warnings. What are they?

5. Who or what are the three apparitions? What do they symbolize?

6. Which nobleman does Macbeth plan to murder after his encounter with the witches?

7. At the end of Scene I, what does Macbeth vow? How is his vow carried out in Scene 2?

8. According to the conversation between Macduff and Malcolm in Scene III, what has happened to Scotland during Macbeth’s reign?

9. What faults does Malcolm claim to have? Why does he say this?

10.How does Macduff react to each of Malcolm’s three “confessions”?

11.How does Lady Macduff feel about her husband? Why does she feel this way?

12. How do Lady Macduff’s words reflect the “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” theme?

13. According to Macduff, there is no fitting revenge for Macbeth because he has no what?

14. What convinces Macduff to join forces with Malcolm and fight Macbeth?

15. In what way is Macbeth “ripe for shaking”?

16. Name two important actions that Lady Macbeth performs while sleepwalking. What is the significance behind these actions?

17. The doctor and the nurse do not want to tell what Lady Macbeth has said because?

18. Can the doctor cure Lady Macbeth? What does he say during this section?

19. What does Lady Macbeth try to do?

20. Is Macbeth sad over his wife’s death?

21. Does Macbeth say whether or not he will commit suicide?

22. What gives Macbeth courage?

23. Macbeth compares people to what? What does he mean by this?

24. Macbeth says life is __________________________________________________ What metaphors does he use?

25. Malcolm orders the troops to do what?

26. Macbeth has been planning to let the English besiege his castle, but after the reportthat Birnam Wood is moving, how do his plans change?

27. When FIRST learning Macduff was not of woman born, Macbeth does what?

28. How are the prophecies proclaimed by the three apparitions in Act IV, Scene I, fulfilled in Act V?

29. What choice does Macduff give Macbeth?

30. What does Macduff carry onstage?

31. Who becomes the new king of Scotland?

32.Malcolm invites everyone to do what?

33.List and describe the symbols in the play.

34.Why does Macbeth reject suicide?

35.What happens to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship after Duncan's murder?

36.What is the theme of this play?