Macbeth Act 1 Scenes 1 7 Act 1

Macbeth Act 1, Scenes 1 - 7

Act 1, Scenes 1 - 3 LEARNING GOALS: • The student will read and understand Act 1, Scenes 1 – 3 • This lesson will introduce the student to the character, themes, and foreshadow future events • The student will examine the power of the supernatural

Act 1, Scene 1

Act 1, Scene 1 Setting: • Thunder and lightning on an empty field Who: • Three witches What: • The witches are making plans to meet in the fields after the battle to confront Macbeth.

Act 1, Scene 1 “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. ” • Paradox • Remember double think? • The ideas of wrong and right will be turned upside down • Macbeth will be a play about morality and what happens when clear lines of ethics are crossed • Appearances will be deceiving

Act 1, Scene 1 What mood is conveyed with the first scene? What do the witches plan to do?

Act 1, Scene 2

Act 1, Scene 2 Setting: • Military camp near King Duncan’s castle near Forres, a town in Scotland Who: • King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Sergeant, Ross What: • A wounded sergeant informs King Duncan about the war • We hear about Macbeth and Banquo’s bravery and heroics • The Thane of Cawdor will be executed for treason and Macbeth will be given Cawdor’s title

Act 1, Scene 3

Act 1, Scene 3 Setting: • Empty field. Thunder Who: • Witches, Macbeth, Banquo, Ross and Angus What: • The witches’ prophecies: Macbeth will be king and Banquo’s children will be kings • We see inside Macbeth’s mind as he thinks about what he may need to do in order to wear the crown.

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural We are going to explore how Shakespeare uses the supernatural by thinking about supernatural elements that appear in the play and considering how these elements influence the action or affect the reader’s perception of the characters.

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural Some background information… • Shakespeare’s audience believed witches were real. Most of them would know stories of people they knew who were believed to be witches. • An audience who believed the witches were real might think that the witches have total control over Macbeth. • The witches might seem more fearsome, and the audience might be more likely to anticipate a bad outcome for Macbeth. • They might also feel that Macbeth’s interest in what the witches say and his desire to hear more suggests that he is already corrupted in some way.

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural Lets compare the witches in Macbeth to modern -day ideas about the supernatural. Lets make a list of different beliefs in the supernatural that we have heard about or encountered.

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural Do you think that a supernatural phenomenon has to be real to affect our lives? How might belief in the supernatural phenomena influence a person’s behavior or decisions? If a person really believed in astrology (horoscopes), how would that impact his or her daily life?

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural Who is in this scene again? ? ? • Three witches: These are eerie characters that are viewed as being allied with dark forces. They might sound like crones, and the students who read them will want to pay attention to Shakespeare’s use of long and short lines and rhyme when they read. • Macbeth: Macbeth is a very decisive soldier. In this scene, he is learning things he didn’t expect, and he is disturbed by what he learns from the witches. • Banquo: Banquo is a soldier and close friend of Macbeth’s. He is honest and upright, and is as amazed by the witches as Macbeth.

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural How does Shakespeare indicate that the witches are different from the other characters in the play? What sorts of things suggest the witches are supernatural? Open your play back to Act 1, Scene 3. In a different color I want you to underline the words that suggest that the witches are not part of the natural world.

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural We should refresh our memories of what happens in this scene: • The witches are discussing their different evil activities, and they cast an evil charm. • They encounter Banquo and Macbeth, who are returning from defeating the Thane of Cawdor, who has rebelled against the King of Scotland, Duncan. • The witches greet Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis and Cawdor and the King of Scotland. • Banquo asks Macbeth why he is so startled, and asks the witches to tell them more. • The witches tell Banquo his sons will be kings. • The witches vanish.

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural Now lets think about the relationship between the witches and Macbeth, and how they affect his decisions and character. We are going to watch A Force of Evil: The Witches and Macbeth. http: //www. pbslearningmedia. org/asset/shak 13_vid_wit chmac/

Act 1, Scene 3: Lets talk about the Supernatural What did you learn from the video? So… • Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ prophecies will drive action for the rest of the play. But had Macbeth always desired the crown? Or have the witches planted that idea? • Why do you think the witches made their predictions? Do they foresee the future or cause it? Are they tempting Macbeth or corrupting him? • Who will become the source of evil in this play – the witches or Macbeth?

Review of Act 1, Scenes 1 - 3

Review of Act 1, Scenes 1 – 3 • Establishes the dark mood that permeates the entire play • Play begins with a storm, and evil supernatural forces immediately appear in the form of three witches. The next scene shifts to a battlefield full of gruesomeness and cruelty of war. The descriptions of Macbeth slaying Macdonwald and the victory the Scots win over the enemies foreshadow the blood murders that fill the play. • We learn that Macbeth is a noble and courageous warrior, but is controlled by his desire for power and prestige • Macbeth realizes that the fulfillment of the prophecy may require conspiracy and murder. He allows himself to consider taking such actions; he has not declared any plans to take action yet.

Review of Act 1, Scenes 1 – 3 • The witches cast the mood for the entire play. Whenever they spear, the stage directions deliberately link them to unease and lurking chaos in the natural world by insisting on “thunder” or “thunder and lightning. ” • “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” • Shakespeare has the witches speak in contradictions • Such speech adds to the play’s sense of moral confusion by implying that nothing is quite what it seems.

Act 1, Scenes 4 - 7 Learning Goals: • Read and discuss Act 1, Scenes 4 – 7 • This lesson will focus on the role of Lady Macbeth, gender roles, and ambition • The student will work on first three writing prompts

Things to think about… • What is the impact of Lady Macbeth’s influence on Macbeth? • How does she influence him? • Why does she “fear” Macbeth’s nature? • What reason does he give for not killing Duncan? • What does Lady Macbeth say to convince Macbeth to go ahead with their plan? • What evidence is there that Lady Macbeth is in control of Macbeth?

Act 1, Scene 4

Act 1, Scene 4 Setting: • King Duncan’s palace in Forres Who: • King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Attendants, Macbeth, Banquo, Ross and Angus What: • Macbeth and Banquo go to see King Duncan who declares Macbeth as the Thane of Cawdor • King Duncan announces that Malcolm, his eldest son, will be heir to his throne and is now titled Prince of Cumberland • Macbeth realizes that Malcolm stands in between him and the crown • King Duncan makes plans to go to Macbeth’s house for dinner that evening

Lady Macbeth • In the following scenes, we will see Lady Macbeth emerge and drive the hesitant Macbeth to act; she is the will propelling his achievement. • Once Lady Macbeth hears of the witches’ prophecy, King Duncan’s life is doomed.

Act 1, Scene 5

Act 1, Scene 5 Setting: • Macbeth’s castle at Inverness Who: • Lady Macbeth, Messenger, Macbeth What: • Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth about his promotion and his meeting with the witches • Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth is too weak to act in his self-interests. She fears his goodness will prevent him from seizing the opportunity to gain power • She plans on convincing her husband to do whatever it takes to seize the crown • Lady Macbeth takes the plans into her own hands as she replies to Macbeth that King Duncan will never see tomorrow

Act 1, Scene 6

Act 1, Scene 6 Setting: • Macbeth’s castle Who: • King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Banquo, Macduff, Ross and Angus, Servants What: • They arrive outside of Macbeth’s castle, which King Duncan praises as a pleasant environment. • Lady Macbeth puts on the performance of a kind hostess.

Act 1, Scene 7

Act 1, Scene 7 Setting: • Macbeth’s castle Who: • Macbeth, Lady Macbeth What: • Macbeth ponders his idea of assassinating King Duncan • Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by denying his manhood and taking charge • She tells Macbeth the plan to murder Duncan while he is asleep and to frame the chamberlains for the crime • Macbeth is astonished by the brilliance and daring of Lady Macbeth’s plan

Review of Act 1, Scenes 4 – 7

Review of Act 1, Scenes 4 – 7 • Lady Macbeth’s soliloquies in Scenes 5 and 7 testify to her strength of will, which completely overshadows Macbeth • She manipulates her husband to act on the witches’ prophecy • Her soliloquy in scene 5 begins the play’s exploration of gender roles, particularly of the value and nature of masculinity. She rejects her feminine characteristics, crying out “unsex me here” and wishes that the milk in her breasts would be exchanged for “gall” so that she could murder Duncan herself. Lady Macbeth believes manhood is defined by murder.

Review of Act 1, Scenes 4 – 7 • In Scene 7 Macbeth hesitates to murder Duncan and Lady Macbeth questions his manhood and compares his willingness to carry through on his intention to killing Duncan with his ability to carry out a sexual act • Whenever Macbeth shows signs of uncertainty, Lady Macbeth implies that he is less than a man • By exclaiming to Lady Macbeth that she should “bring forth menchildren only” Macbeth is affirming her belief that courage and brilliance are masculine traits, and that Macbeth is thinking about his legacy • Macbeth sees Lady Macbeth’s boldness and masculinity as heroic and warrior like, even though her masculine virtues are used for dark, cruel purpose

Review of Act 1, Scenes 4 – 7 • The plot of the play hinges on Macbeth’s betrayal of King Duncan, and ultimately, of Scotland • Lady Macbeth will prove to be the opposite of an ideal wife, and Macbeth will prove to be a completely disloyal subject • Macbeth is not a good man at this point of the play, but he is not yet an evil one. He is temped and trying to resist temptation; his resistance is not strong enough to stand up to his wife’s ability to manipulate him

Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts • You will have the rest of class to complete three writing prompts. • They must be submitted by the beginning of the next class. • All work should be written in full sentences and paragraph format. I will be checking content, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. • Remember when citing the play to do… (Act, Scene, Line #) “. . ” (I. iii. 1 -20).

Writing Prompts (1) Masking Murder • • Act 1, Scene 7 Why do you think Macbeth avoids using the words “murder, ” “kill, ” etc. ? What does this tell you about Macbeth’s state of mind at this stage of the play? (2) Power of Persuasion • • Act 1, Scene 7 How does Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill Duncan? How do you ask for what you want? Does it differ from Lady Macbeth’s tactic? (3) Soliloquies • Focus on Lady Macbeth’s quote at the beginning of Scene 5 and Macbeth’s quote at the beginning of Scene 7. Take notes on the personality and characteristics of each character. Draw a symbol that represents each character and write a paragraph explanation for each.

Review of Act 1 Three witches meet Macbeth and Banquo on the heath as the men return from battle. They predict that Macbeth will be named Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland that Banquo will be the father of kings. The witches vanish; Ross enters to greet Macbeth with the title of Cawdor, the traitor whom King Duncan has determined must be executed and whose title and lands will be given to Macbeth. This immediate "earnest of success commencing in a truth" causes Macbeth to consider the extent of his ambition and Banquo to warn that predictions are often harmful as well as beneficial (iii). Announcing that his eldest son, Malcolm, is to be his heir, Duncan states his intention to visit Macbeth's castle, Glamis (iv). When Lady Macbeth reads the letter Macbeth has sent ahead, she determines her husband must take advantage of the opportunity Duncan's forthcoming visit offers as a way of fulfilling the prophecy. However, she fears that though Macbeth is "not without ambition, " he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way" (v). Macbeth is not as determined as his lady about the need for murder. He considers reasons he should defend rather than threaten the life of his king. Lady Macbeth remains adamant and pressures him with attacks on his manhood as well as reminders of their feelings for each other. She convinces Macbeth to proceed by presenting her plan to drug Duncan's guards and leave evidence that will implicate them in the crime (vii).