190117

LM assumes the masculine role in her relationship with M – this is courageous, she subverts the expectations of a Jacobean women.

“ignorant present” Word choice of ignorant has negative connotations , this shows her utter disgust of the current situation. Her current situation would be envied by most of Jacobean society – she is in the upper echelons of society, so this shows her insatiable ambition.

What is interesting is if we look at the first words uttered by LM and M on seeing each after a long time apart.

LM says: “Great Glamis, Worthy Cawdor”. It is interesting to note that she refers to his titles and status. Clearly this is how she look son him – as a status, and from him she gains status. This shows the reader that the thing uppermost in her mind is status and hence her ambition, and shows her obsession with power. She sees her husband as a role, not as her love. In contrast, Macbeth’s first utterance to his wife is: “Dearest love”. This is juxtaposed to his wife’s welcome and shows the reader that he, in contrast, sees his wife for exactly that: his wife, his love.

 

LM commands her husband: “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it”. LM is encouraging her husband to be deceitful. Just as a snake is poisonous, deadly but also often unnoticed  suggesting that he have these qualities when dealing with Duncan. She is here corrupting him, however Shakespeare (through the use of the supernatural) has already informed the reader that Macbeth is easily persuaded. Macbeth is gullible and malleable, but perhaps not the driving force or as strong and determined as LM.  He is vulnerable to her persuasion as his first words to her show his utter love and dedication to her. He is a devoted husband.

 

Act 1 Scene 6

Where Lady Macbeth in the same property saw a “raven”, Banquo (in the company of Duncan) saw a “martlet”. A martlet live in churches and so is associated with religion, purity and innocence thus linking Duncan and his party with purity. Shakespeare uses bird imagery to juxtapose the two groups.

170117

In the Jacobean time, a crime considered to be heinous was that of regicide. (AO3) (Macbeth)

“Our duties are to the throne and state, children and servants”. This is important as this quote shows part of Macbeth’s character and standards at the start of the play. As the play progresses we watch Macbeth break every aspect of this quote, and with it we see a man’s inner destruction.  This quote is a statement of Macbeth’s supposed personal integrity.

In the same scene Macbeth acknowledges: “let not light see my black and deep desires”. This shows his duplicity and the audience is aware even more so of Macbeth’s contrasting character and we see his ambition growing. However this also shows Macbeth’s conscience.

This play is a play about inner turmoil.

Key Scene Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth: “I fear thy nature [Macbeth] it is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness”.

LM is suggesting that M is too nice a person to act on the Witches’ prophecy. This is an insight/ introduction into LM’s brutal and ruthless character. Furthermore her strong character with strong views is the first hint that she is an atypical Jacobean woman, and in being so strong and opinionated is an atypical hero.

Milk is an important symbol of motherhood/ kindness/ goodness

From the very moment LM reads the letter and learn of the prophecy she is set to action and determined that M become King (and in doing so LM become Queen).

“the raven himself is hoarse” Shakespeare uses animal imagery, often bird imagery, to associate specific characters with specific qualities.  Lady Macbeth sees a raven and so Shakespeare associates her to a raven. Just as a raven is associated with death, evil and is an uninviting and feared bird so Lady Macbeth is being associated with evil and death. Lm is evoking the supernatural (Come you spirits)

“unsex me here” LM is pleading with the supernatural element to remove her femininity from her. She wishes to be removed from her feminine qualities (nurturing, caring, life giving) in order to kill Duncan.

110117

·        “most disloyal traitor, Thane of Cawdor” – foreshadows the actions of Macbeth, continues the idea of the supernatural – is the title cursed?

·        Duncan’s use of the word “noble” when describing Macbeth firstly suggest, through the word choice, that Macbeth is honourable, moralistic and to be admired. However it also highlight’s Duncan’s naivety with regards to Macbeth – for the reader this naivety is beginning to create a fondness and admiration for Duncan as he seems fair and lack arrogance. In the Jacobean era, the King (or monarch) was prime ruler and the most important person in society for all, this admiration crafted by Shakespeare between the reader and Duncan mirrors the Jacobeans view of their monarch.

·        Macbeth’s first utterance: “so foul and fair a day” – paradox. Is this also perhaps suggesting Macbeth’s paradoxical nature? It is significant that it is the first time we hear directly from him and hints to the inner turmoil of Macbeth.Act 1 Scene 3 – “to be King stands not within the prospect of belief” (Macbeth’s malleability)

Macbeth Blog Notes

Act 1 Scene 1

·        “The battlefield. Thunder and Lightning. Enter three witches”

Pathetic Fallacy is used in order to introduce the idea that this is a tragedy from the beginning, furthermore the initial location of the battlefield is significant because it instantly introduces the theme (idea) of conflict into the play as battlefields are synonymous with conflict. Furthermore battlefields are also associated with death and destruction and so Shakespeare’s choice to open his play on a “battlefield” suggests the play will contain death and destruction. This then creates a negative tone, and the fact that this occurs at the very beginning, is even more significant as it forms initial audience expectation. We anticipate that Macbeth will be a play of death, violence, destruction and in which there are clear winners and losers.

·        The first people we meet in the text are the witches, instantly bringing the element of the supernatural into the play. In the Jacobean era the supernatural and those associated would not be viewed kindly at all by society and were greatly feared.

·        It is interesting that the first time Macbeth is referred to in the play is by one of the witches, this begins the link between Macbeth and the supernatural. There is a clear connection between Macbeth and the witches (what we can we infer from that?)

·        “brave Macbeth”  -Interestingly although these are positive words about Macbeth , and even more so because so because they are uttered by a Captain, this is not the first reference to Macbeth in the play and so the reader has already connected him to the Supernatural as the Witches mentioned him and their meeting. Although he is being seen in a good light, we cannot help but begin to consider the contrast developing in the presentation of Macbeth’s character.

·        We are told Macbeth’s sword “smok’d with bloody execution”. The word choice of smok’d shows that the sword is has been put to great use by Macbeth and suggests that he has murdered many people. In this situation (fighting for King and country) in the Jacobean era this is a typically heroic act/ deed and therefore Macbeth’s killing qualities and murderous nature are admirable.  He is a successful soldier.

·        “bloody” this word is repeated consistently throughout the play, furthering the theme of death and destruction that pervades Macbeth. This also makes clear that Macbeth  is a tragedy.

·        The description of Macbeth’s actions in battle is admirable (in these times) but also grotesque.

·        Duncan says of Macbeth: “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman”. This is the first real knowledge the reader gains of Duncan’s great respect for Macbeth and of his admiration. The word choice of “gentleman”.... Also the word choice of “valiant” suggest being honourable, admired and of a higher quality than most. Through Duncan’s opinion we are beginning to see a hero in Macbeth. Furthermore we see that Duncan is a decent and gracious king who acknowledges loyalty.

·        Shakespeare employs animal imagery to help guide and inform the reader’s understanding of the true nature of the characters of the plays. The comparison of Macbeth and Banquo t: “sparrows, eagles or the hare, the lion” is significant as just as these animals are predatory, strong, sly (“hares”) and feared by many others so too are Macbeth and Banquo. These animals sit at the top end of the animal kingdom’s hierarchies.