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.
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·
“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)
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The idea of death within the
royal circle enters the play quickly (Act 1 Scene 3), and so the Jacobean
audience would be in doubt that they are viewing a tragedy.
Banquo warns Macbeth not to trust
and believe in the prophecy: “tis strange, and oftentimes, to win us to harm,
the instruments of darkness tell us truths” (links to previous info that
witches cannot kill). Banquo – is careful, and not malleable.
Macbeth to Banquo: “let us speak
our free hearts to each other”.
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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)
It could also be argued that it
is symbolic that Lady Macbeth sees the raven first as perhaps this shows that
all she can see is evil.
“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.
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“take my milk for gall” Milk is a
symbol of LM’s femininity, ability to nurture and also a symbol of life. It is
significant that she wishes to be have this removed from her – she wishes to be
deadly. Furthermore she then wishes to be consumed by poison. Not only this, but
replace a nurturing aspect with deadly poison. As much as the reader understands from this
contrast that LM is evil, we cannot help but admire her defiance and utter
rejection of the expectations of women in the Jacobean time. She can be looked
upon as a atypical hero due to her incredible willpower, strength and
determination to subvert the expectations of women.
In this speech she aligns herself
with the supernatural.
LM (like M) earlier does betray
her conscious, however slight when she says that: “nor heaven peep through the
blanket of the dark”. This introduces the idea of religion and consequences, it
humanises Lady Macbeth and shows she does have a conscience and is religious,
however when then she plots the deed of regicide with her husband our opinion
of her is even worse as we know she was aware of the serious consequences, and
religious views, of her reckless act.
POWER AND AMBITION CORRUPTS
CONSEQUENCES (RELIGION)
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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.
On seeing Lady Macbeth Duncan
repeats the word love and references God – showing his good character and
aligns him with religion (again).
Duncan when speaking to LM and M
talks of love.
The Jacobean audience would be
appalled at the plan of regicide but more so the reader sees, due to
Shakespeare’s portrayal, that Duncan is a good king.
KEY SPEECH ACT 1 SCENE 7
“if it were done” - Macbeth uses the conditional tense showing
his doubt that continues to plague him regarding his plan to kill Duncan. Lady
Macbeth on the other hand shows no doubt at any point leading up to the murder.
“we’d jump the life to come” –
this means that Macbeth is aware that if he kills the King he will not go to
heaven and will not have any kind of life after death – this shows that Macbeth
does indeed have a conscience. Either this can show Macbeth to be human and
religious to some extent, or it can be argued that the fact he continues with
plan despite being aware of the after effects in terms of religion and
spirituality shows his utter lack of care and lack of religion as he overrides his
conscience – he knows what he does is wrong.
“that we but teach bloody
instructions, which being taught, return to plague th’ inventor” – here Macbeth
(before the regicide of Duncan takes place) shows the reader he understands the
terrible consequences of murderous actions. He makes it clear that he knows if
he kills, he in turn will likely be killed. This shows Macbeth to be reckless ultimately
as, despite this insight, he does in fact “teach bloody instructions”. The
repetition of bloody, which has pervaded the text from the very beginning,
furthers the theme of tragedy and murder. Also the use of this word in
association with Macbeth highlights his murderous tendencies. Furthermore the
metaphor of plague shows that, just as a plague is near impossible to stop,
affects a large amount of the population and is deadly, the consequences of Macbeth’s
actions will be difficult to stop and will be devastating to many, resulting in
a high number of casualties (not just Macbeth).
There is a lot of symmetry in the
language between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth – perhaps showing their similar vile
natures.
“I have given suck” – perhaps on
realising that LM has given birth and lost her child, the audience can begin to
understand her current barbarity.
Clearly she has experienced trauma, the same level of trauma cannot be
said to have been experienced by Macbeth.
“I would…Have pluck’d my nipple
from his boneless gums and dash’d the brains out”
Lady Macbeth is shown to be
ferocious and unnatural. Firstly the word choice of “pluck’d” has suggestions
of being unnatural, violent and causing significant harm – it is going against
nature to produce something unnatural. It is making something vulnerable. This
shows that she would use unnatural violence to remove her own newborn baby from
her chest. Furthermore the word choice of “dah’s” firstly with the plosive d
suggest an extreme of violence and the word choice has suggestions of violence,
being uncaring and commiting violence with a clear purpose.
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LM: “memory..a fume” Just as a
fume is momentary, does not have long-lasting affects and is absorbed by others
situations so LM is telling M that the memory of committing regicide will be
temporary. Firstly she is clearly proven wrong in this by the end of the play
as her guilt and memory of what they have done consumes her and she commits
suicide and Macbeth is likewise permanently affected. Also this quote and by
comparing this to later events shows the clear demise of Lady Macbeth.
The speed at which Macbeth is
again convinced to proceed shows his weakness and his propensity for evil as
shown by the short turnaround in his decision. (Lady Macbeth is the petrol to
Macbeth’s fire).
“false face doth hide what the
false heart doth know”. The repetition of false highlights the idea of
falseness in humans and our fallability. The repetition of false highlights
also Macbeth’s true character as being deceitful. This is also significant
because it also links to the idea that we cannot escape form ourselves, form
our “false hearts”. The same language device (alliteration of the f) links to
the supernatural and evil in the witches as they proclaimed: “fair is foul and
foul is fair”. This linking also hints to the idea of the witches/ and
therefore evil’s authority and presence throughout the entirety of the play.
: fallible
1. capable of making
mistakes or being wrong
the metaphor of life being a
candle is used twice in the play. Just as a candle is…. So life is…
this play is a play showing us
how not to live life – bad deeds lead to destruction – either self destruction
or you are destructed.
Act 2 Scene 2 – Macbeth regrets
what he has done. The repetition of “Amen” is linked to religion and shows
Macbeth is preoccupied with religion and his guilt.
Initially after the murder
Macbeth understands and feels shame: “I am afraid to think of what I have
done”.
LM tell M to wash his hands –
Shakespeare uses the hands as a metaphor for guilt. Straight away they are
trying to get rid of their guilt – they never succeed.
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(LM is a manipulator of Macbeth, Macbeth
is manipulated).
Macbeth: “they pluck out mine
eyes” – symmetry in language used to LM
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean
was this blood clean from my hand?”
Repetition of blood (bloody
business, LM and M are bloodthirsty)
Juxtaposition of Neptune and the
guilt – Neptune is a powerful Roman God, Macbeth’s reference to Neptune even
when discussing his guilt shows his preoccupation with power. Also the
reference to the Romans hints at Macbeth’s view of himself. This quote does
also show that Macbeth does feel guilt, however the juxtaposition shows his
duplicitous nature.
LM: I shame to wear a heart so
white” – she is unashamed.
LM: “ a little water clears us of
this deed” This is crucial as we later see that she is wrong as she never gets
her hands ‘clean’. This shows human fallability and error. Also the idea that
guilt cannot ever be assuaged.
M: “twere best not to know
myself” – this shows Macbeth has lost his previous self. But this is the whole
point Shakespeare makes, in taking a new identity, Macbeth has lost the “golden
opinions” he bought and even had of himself. From this point we begin to see a
ruthless, murderous Macbeth emerge and the symmetry between M and LM begins to
fade away.
“the night has been unruly”
pathetic fallacy shows nature’s disgust at the events. Shakespeare often is at
pains to show the audience how unnatural the actions of LM and M are. Also
“unruly” is a pun as the night has been wild but the word choice of rule in the
negative (“unruly”) is associated with royalty and the throne.
“the earth was feverous and did
shake” – again Shakespeare making it obvious that the deeds that have been
performed are wrong. Also the metaphor of a fever is significant as just as a
fever is a sign of the start of a serious illness, is symptomatic of disease
and ill health and is an unnatural state so the world (the world in which
Macbeth and the characters inhabit)
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The natural world is rebelling
against the act of regicide. ”sacrilegious murder” – the word choice of
sacrilegious suggests the significance and holiness of Duncan.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s
outward public response shows no remorse.
This can be seen when Macbeth declares: “There’s nothing serious in
mortality. All is but toys”.
Macbeth: “violent love” this
juxtaposition highlights Macbeth’s duplicitous nature and inner turmoil.
Interestingly the negative aspect is placed first, perhaps showing that evil is
overtaking the goodness in Macbeth.
Very quickly after the murder of
Duncan we see
Macbeth’s ‘prophecy’ (“that we but teach bloody instructions, which being
taught, return to plague th’ inventor”0 come true as already more victims of
the murder are being identified: those of Duncan’s chamber.
Duncan:
“silver skin” – sibilance of s,
soft sound highlights the beauty of Duncan, the metaphor of “silver skin” Just
as silver is a precious metal, expensive and uncommon so Duncan is being
described as precious, of great value and rare.
The metaphor of his golden blood
shows, just as gold is….so Duncan is ..
Duncan is several times
associated with gold.
“his gash’d stabs
look’d like a breach in nature”.
The word choice of “gash’d” means
a cut however it suggests a large injury, the product of great violence and
suggests severe damage to the body.
This simile highlights the
horrendous impact of Macbeth’s violence on Duncan’s body.
This quote highlights Macbeth’s
propensity for violence, shows the level of his depravity and shows his use of
gratuitous violence. This in turn gives us an insight into Macbeth’s true
character.
The repetition of the word
“breech”.
What is interesting also is the
repetition of “love”. Is this a sign of Macbeth’s inner conflict or does it
suggest that he is thinking of his love for his wife – which is one of the
reasons he has committed this “breech”.
The repeated references to
“blood” throughout the play
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“A falcon towering in her pride
of place was by a mousing owl hawkd at and killed”
Falcon = Duncan (magnificent,
grand, powerful,. Elegant)
Owl – Macbeth (associated with
the night, evil, devious)
“Duncan’s horses..they eat each
other”. This quote shows the absolute rebellion and subversion of nature on the
death of Duncan. The horses cannibalism that has ensued is grotesque, deeply
disturbing and entirely unnatural – highlights the nature of Macbeth’s acts.
Nature’s rebellion also hints at the extreme unnaturalness of Macbeth’s deeds.
It is a significant, grotesque, shocking image. It also highlights the
destruction that has occurred and perhaps could be interpreted as a bad omen of
the destruction that is to ensue.
Macbeth asking Banquo: “Goes
Fleance with you?” shows that Macbeth is being consumed quickly by evil as he
is plotting to ensure that Banquo and Fleance are killed so that he retains the
throne. This question occurs very soon after he has gained the throne. This
also shows that ambition and power corrupts – Macbeth holds the most powerful
title but is still not satisfied.
“fruitless crown and barren
sceptre” – contrast between great things “crown” and “sceptre” which are
symbols of power which are contrasted with “fruitless” and “barren” which both
suggest being powerless and empty. Perhaps this highlights Macbeth’s fate –the
things he saw as being powerful and rich have actually led to an empty life in
which he is vulnerable and weak. His life does not give birth to things. Also
this furthers the idea that Shakespeare introduces regularly that Macbeth is
concerned with the unnatural - both supernatural and unnatural in the sense of
going against what is right and normal.
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“to be wrenched” the word of
wrenched has suggestions of being taken forcefully, unwillingly and highlights
Macbeth’s already deep affinity and protectiveness of the crown. He is being
absorbed, consumed by the power.
“masking the business form the
common eye” – pun of masking, Macbeth certainly has a mask, or has the mask of
“valiant warrior” dropped. What one was the mask? Also the word choice of “common” shows
Macbeth’s feelings of superiority.
The transformation in Macbeth is
exceptionally fast, which leaves us questioning how much is it a transformation
and how much was already a part of him.
“We have scorched the snake, not
killed it”. This shows Macbeth’s perception and shows that Macbeth’s version of
reality is twisted. Also we realise his paranoia and his lack of preparation
and thinking through his acts beforehand.
“and make our faces vizards to
our hearts” (vizards = masks)
In this act the word masks is
repeated showing the falseness of Macbeth and Lady Macbeths.
“full of scorpions is my mind
dear wife” = metaphor
Just as a scorpion is deadly, can
attack at any moment and evokes fear in those around, so Macbeth’s mind not at
ease, his the potential to destroy him and is unpredictable. Shakespeare is
highlighting the consequences and inner turmoil of committing a terrible act.
(Theme- conscience)
Macbeth’s reference to Hecate
shows his links to the supernatural and thus evil.
“be innocent of the knowledge
Dearest Chuck” - idea of duplicity. Is
he protecting his wife or is there a distance building between them?
Macbeth is frequently associated
with the night. The night is itself associated with evil, danger and dark
deeds. Therefore Shakespeare is furthering the idea that Macbeth is evil.
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Act 3 Scene 4
List Macbeth’s uses: 2I am
cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in…” The alliterative list firstly highlights
Macbeth’s realisation that due to Fleance’s escape the prophecy in which he
loses the throne to Fleance could still come true. The word choice in the list
of words e.g. “confin’d” suggests having no room, and that he is himself in a
cage and locked up as a prisoner – perhaps this is foreshadowing the trapped
minds of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, while will, certainly for Lady Macbeth, be
the end of her. It also refers to the idea of self destruction and the
impossibility of escaping guilt.
It also of note that Banquo died
with “twenty gashes” – again another grotesque murder with gratuitous violence
(similar to Duncan’s murder)
Macbeth’s reference to Banquo’s
dead body as a “serpent” shows his lack of being in touch with reality, he is
losing control of his senses and of reality. Macbeth is deceitful and also shows no
emotions regarding the death of his best friend. It is interesting to compare
Macbeth’s reaction to Banquo’s death with his reaction straight after Duncan’s
– they occur not long after each other but in between these times Macbeth has
lost all ability to show remorse.
Furthermore Macbeth’s action
(returning to feast) further show his coldness and lack of humanity.
LM: “are you a man?” Again LM
calls into question Macbeth’s masculinity and she uses it a bargaining tool, it
highlights what it meant to be a male in that time. Her questioning of her
husband subverts the stereotypical role of the Jacobean woman.
21/03/17
Pg 55
“Let the earth hide thee”.
Macbeth wishes for Banquo’s ghost to vanish. This shows Macbeth wishing to be
free of guilt, it also hints that he unable to deal with the guilt and the true
mental turmoil caused by his actions.
“I am man again” on Banquo’s
ghost’s exit it shows his guilt is seen by Macbeth as a weakness. We start to
realise his character is crumbling, he is far removed from the “noble” warrior
we met at the start.
“You can behold such sights and
keep the natural ruby of your cheeks when mine is blanched with fear”. The contrasting colours show the contrasting
natures and responses by Macbeth and LM to their murderous deeds. It shows the
divergence of their relationship. Also this shows Macbeth’s persistent
beautiful view of his wife, he describes her cheek as a “ruby”. Just as a ruby
is precious, beautiful, valued and something unique so Macbeth still views his
wife as…
It could be argued thought this
furthers Macbeth’s twisted mind as he considers himself “blanche2 which has
connotations of purity etc, whereas his wife is “ruby” which is a colour
connoted with blood and death. Is Macbeth distancing himself from the guilt and
seeing himself as innocent?
Repetition of blood. A key theme
throughout the text.
M: “I am in blood stepp’d in so
far that should I wade no more”. Macbeth
is aware of the murderous acts he has committed and again knows he should proceed
no further. (but will he?/ will he override his conscience). Every act of
murder y Macbeth is another crushing blow to the character we met at the start
of the play. We are watching the self destruction of a man (and a woman).
Macbeth: “We are yet but young in
deed” – again poor self reflection which is inaccurate by Macbeth perhaps also
hinting at his wish to portray himself more innocently.
Act 3 Scene 6 helps us understand
what people outside of Macbeth think of the situation and the confusion and
lies that have taken hold. It is an outside look at the distorted and deceitful
world that Macbeth has created.
How many scenes begin with
thunder/ witches/ isolation???
Act 4 Scene 1: “Something wicked
this way comes”. This is full confirmation that Macbeth is wicked, and as this
is uttered by the witch there is no reason to doubt her and also she is a good
judge of wickedness, being concerned with that herself.
The play is drenched in “blood”
highlighting the incredible bloodloss and the bloodthirstiness of Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth.
The reign of Macbeth has been
unnatural, hence the child with thee symbolises new life, a fresh start but
also a return to nature.
The soliloquy on page 68
highlights the level of depravity Macbeth has now reached. LIST/ WORD CHOICE/
CLIMAX (of innocence) AMBIGUITY
It doesn’t actually make sense to
kill Macduff and his lineage
The fact the list begins with the
feminine highlights the barbaric violence of Macbeth, it is gratuitous
violence.
23/03/17
The irony that Lady McDuff before
she is murdered is berating her husband’s fleeing highlights the depravity and
wickedness of Macbeth’s actions.
Shakespeare again uses bird
imagery, Lady Macduff is the “poor wren” – emotive language/ metaphor. This is
also foreshadowing what is about to happen.
(remember “martlet” Duncan/ Raven
and owl are M and LM)
Look into owl
