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.

16/03/17

 

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