Macbeth
Shakespeare wasn't only a literary genius who wanted to impress the new king, but he was also a shrewd businessman with his eye on the box office as well. Macbeth supplied the audience with a shocking view of witches, supernatural ghosts, and bloody battles. It seems entirely possible that in writing Macbeth, Shakespeare focused on ticket sales based on the new interests of theater goers brought about by James's kingship. However, what he created is a play that has fascinated generations of readers and audiences that care little about Scottish history.
The "real" Macbeth was actually the king of Scotland for ten years. He did kill King Duncan who was his cousin.
The play Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies.
Actors are usually a very superstitious bunch, and those who act in Macbeth are well aware of the "Curse of the Scottish Play." Throughout its performance history, many people believe that the evil within Macbeth has gone beyond the story to curse the play. This fact has produced a very interesting sidelight to the production of the play wherever it goes. In fact, there is a fear that even uttering its name in the theatre will bring about bad luck. Thus, Macbeth is often referred to as "The Scottish Play."
Legend has it that if the word "Macbeth" is even spoken inside the theatre, the offender must exit the theatre, turn around three times, and spit or curse before reentering the theater.
Literary Devices
The characters in Macbeth speak in blank verse or unrhymed iambic pentameter. However, the witches speak in rhymed couplets. They often chant in a sing-song fashion that sounds like a nursery rhyme. The technical term is called trochaic tetrameter.
"DOUble, DOUble, TOIL and TROUble.
Fire BURN and CAULdron BUbble."
A few terms that you should be able to recognize as you read the play are the following:
Alliteration
Allusions
Dramatic irony
Foreshadowing
Figurative Language
Metaphor
Personification
Simile
Symbol
Theme.
Plot is the framework of how a story is put together. You have studied Freytag's plot all throughout school. The plot in a Shakespearean tragedy is similar.
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
The Catastrophe
Macbeth, Act I
The setting of Macbeth is in Scotland. The play begins with the three "weird" sisters or the witches. King James just had read a book about witches, so Shakespeare wanted to make sure he included them in his play for the King.
Words to know
Chastise
Dwindle
Lavish
Prophetic
Surmise
Trifle
Read Macbeth Act I and complete your 4.02 Plot Guide as you read. If you would like to print out your play, you may open the PDF copy of Macbeth.
Scene i: The scene opens on a barren and deserted place. Amidst thunder, lightning, and fog we are introduced to three supernatural creatures. The witches plan to meet Macbeth when the "hurlyburly's done," but their purpose remains unspoken, creating a sense of mystery and suspense. The last two lines of the scene introduce the principal theme of the play: the discrepancy between appearance and reality.
The witches have an important role to the theme of the play as well as to the plot.
What are some possible themes just with the first scene?
How do you think the witches' equivocation affects the tone?
Scene ii: We learn through reports of two different battles that Macbeth is a brave and bold general who is valued by his king and country. This scene also shows us Duncan, a king who has proven himself to be a poor judge of character. He trusted the Thane of Cawdor and was betrayed by him. However, Duncan is also a gracious king who gives Cawdor's forfeited title to Macbeth as a reward for his efforts during the war.
Scene iii: The Weird Sisters open this scene by recounting what they have been doing since we met them last. It is obvious from their activities that they are evil and not to be trusted. Macbeth's very first line in the play recalls the witches' closing lines in scene i. He receives fair prophecies from them, but responds with fear rather than joy. This might suggest that he had been plotting the assassination of Duncan before he met the witches. Macbeth puts aside the thought of murder. He hopes to become king without having to kill Duncan. Banquo is also given some very confusing prophecies by the witches.
Compare Macbeth and Banquo in this scene. How do they react similarly and differently to the predictions the witches make? What does this say about their characters?
Suggested Answer:
Scene iv: (This is the first of many scenes that depends on dramatic irony for effect.) Upon hearing of the way the Thane of Cawdor faced his death, Duncan mentions that you can't tell what a man is thinking by looking at his face (another reference to the theme).
What does the dramatic irony used in this scene reveal about Duncan?
Suggested Answer:
Duncan rewards Macbeth and Banquo for their loyalty and names his son, Malcolm, heir to the throne. Now, Macbeth must once again consider murder as the only way of reaching the throne.
Scene v: We meet Lady Macbeth as she reads a letter from her husband about the prophecies of the witches. She fears that he may not be able to take the quickest route to the throne. Lady Macbeth takes it upon herself to persuade Macbeth to go through with the assassination of Duncan. Macbeth arrives and his wife assures him that the night will result in his attaining "sovereign sway and masterdom." The scene also contains at least two pieces of evidence that she intends to kill Duncan herself.
What do Lady Macbeth's actions tell you about her character?
Scene vi: We see the dramatic irony in this scene as Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle and the gracious hostess Lady Macbeth welcomes him with warm words as she plans
his death.
Scene vii: In Macbeth's first true soliloquy, Macbeth talks himself out of killing Duncan. When he tells his wife, she shames him into renewing his resolve to kill Duncan. She also reveals the details of her plot.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are quite the complex characters. Are they alike or foils of each other?
Macbeth
ambitious
determined
troubled conscience
fearful
Lady Macbeth
manipulative
calculating
scheming
strong
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