Macbeth Written 1606 Date of First Publication First

Macbeth

• Written · 1606 • Date of First Publication · First Folio edition, 1623 • Setting · The Middle Ages, specifically the eleventh century, various locations in Scotland; also England, briefly • Major Conflicts · The struggle within Macbeth between his ambition and his sense of right and wrong; the struggle between the murderous evil represented by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the best interests of the nation, represented by Malcolm and Macduff

• Rising Action · Macbeth and Banquo’s encounter with the witches initiates both conflicts; Lady Macbeth’s speeches goad Macbeth into murdering Duncan and seizing the crown. • Climax · Macbeth’s murder of Duncan in Act 2 represents the point of no return, after which Macbeth is forced to continue butchering his subjects to avoid the consequences of his crime. • Falling Action · Macbeth’s increasingly brutal murders (of Duncan’s servants, Banquo, Lady Macduff and her son); Macbeth’s second meeting with the witches; Macbeth’s final confrontation with Macduff and the opposing armies

• Themes · The corrupting nature of unchecked ambition; the relationship between cruelty and masculinity; the difference between kingship and tyranny • Motifs · The supernatural, hallucinations, violence, prophecy • Symbols · Blood; the dagger that Macbeth sees just before he kills Duncan in Act 2; the weather • Foreshadowing · The bloody battle in Act 1 foreshadows the bloody murders later on; when Macbeth thinks he hears a voice while killing Duncan, it foreshadows the insomnia that plagues Macbeth and his wife; Macduff’s suspicions of Macbeth after Duncan’s murder foreshadow his later opposition to Macbeth; all of the witches’ prophecies foreshadow later events.

Plot • The play opens as three witches plan a meeting with the Scottish nobleman Macbeth, who at that moment is fighting in a great battle. • When the battle is over, Macbeth and his friend Banquo come across the witches who offer them three predictions, Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland, and Banquo’s descendants will become kings. • Banquo laughs at the prophecies but Macbeth is excited, especially as soon after their meeting with the witches Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan, in return for his bravery in the battle. He writes to his wife, Lady Macbeth, who is as excited as he is. • A messenger tells Lady Macbeth that King Duncan is on his way to their castle and she invokes evil spirits to help her slay him. Macbeth is talked into killing Duncan by his wife and stabs him to death. No one is quite sure who committed this murder, and no one feels safe, but Macbeth is crowned king.

• Now that Macbeth is king he knows the second prediction from the witches has come true, but he starts to fear the third prediction (Banquo’s descendants will also be kings). Macbeth therefore decides to kill Banquo and his son Fleance, but the plan goes wrong – Banquo is killed but his son escapes. • Macbeth then thinks he is going mad because he sees Banquo’s ghost and receives more predictions from the witches. He starts to become ruthless and kills the family of Macduff, an important lord. • Macbeth still thinks he is safe but one by one the witches’ prophecies come true, Lady Macbeth cannot stop thinking about Duncan, she becomes deranged and dies. A large army marches on Macbeth’s castle and Macbeth is killed by Macduff.

Themes • The Corrupting Power of Unchecked Ambition • Macbeth kills Duncan against his better judgment and afterward stews in guilt and paranoia, descending into a kind of frantic, boastful madness. • Lady Macbeth spurs her husband mercilessly to kill Duncan and urges him to be strong in the murder’s aftermath, but she is eventually driven to distraction by the effect of Macbeth’s repeated bloodshed on her conscience. • Ambition is what drives the couple to ever more terrible atrocities. The problem is that once one decides to use violence to further one’s quest for power, it is difficult to stop. It is always tempting to use violent means to dispose of potential threats.

The Relationship between Cruelty and Masculinity • Lady Macbeth goads her husband on to murder, Macbeth provokes the murderers he hires to kill Banquo by questioning their manhood, equating masculinity with naked aggression. • To Malcolm’s suggestion, “Dispute it like a man, ” Macduff replies, “I shall do so. But I must also feel it as a man” (4. 3. 221– 223), giving him a lesson on the emotional nature of true masculinity. • Masculinity is an ideology, not a true virtue.

The Difference between Kingship and Tyranny • Duncan is always referred to as a “king, ” while Macbeth soon becomes known as the “tyrant. ” • tyrant : a thirst for personal power and a violent temperament • The king-becoming graces : ‘justice, verity, temp’rance, stableness, / Bounty, perseverance, mercy, [and] lowliness” (4. 3. 92 – 93). • Model king: an embodiment of order and justice, comfort and affection to subjects

Ambition • Macbeth’s true downfall is his own ambition. • Lady Macbeth is as ambitious as her husband, encouraging him to commit murder to achieve their goals. • The results: paranoia(fear), obsession with maintaining the power • At the end of the play, Macbeth has achieved all he wanted, but has nothing. With his wife gone and no hope of producing a prince, Macbeth sees what his unchecked ambition has cost him: the loss of all he holds dear.

Guilt • Macbeth’s guilt about murdering his king, Duncan, and ordering the murder of his friend, Banquo, causes him to have guilty hallucinations. • Lady Macbeth also hallucinates and eventually goes insane from guilt over her role in Duncan’s death. • Evidence that they are not entirely cold-blooded. • Their guilt prevents them from fully enjoying the power they craved. • While Macbeth’s guilt causes him to commit further murders in an attempt to cover up his initial crimes, Lady Macbeth’s guilt drives her to insanity, and, finally, suicide.

The loss of children • Children represent the idea of the continuation of a family line. • The Macbeths may have lost a child. • Macduff mourns the children Macbeth ordered killed and uses their memory to spur him on to victory against their killer • Siward laments the loss of his son in the play’s closing battle, but is proud to have fathered such a brave soldier who fought in a noble cause. • Banquo’s son Fleance, an ancestor of James I.

Symbols • Blood • It is described in harrowing terms by the wounded captain in Act 1, scene 2. • Once Macbeth and Lady Macbeth embark upon their murderous journey, blood comes to symbolize their guilt. • a little water will do the job (2. 2. 58– 59) • Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? • Blood symbolizes the guilt that sits like a permanent stain on the consciences of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, one that hounds them to their graves.

The Weather • Macbeth’s grotesque murder spree is accompanied by a number of unnatural occurrences in the natural realm. • From the thunder and lightning that accompany the witches’ appearances to the terrible storms that rage on the night of Duncan’s murder, these violations of the natural order reflect corruption in the moral and political orders.

Macbeth’s ambition • Macbeth’s ambition is driven by a number of factors : • Prophecy: Various prophecies are realized throughout the play. However, it is unclear whether these prophecies are preordained or self fulfilling. • Lady Macbeth: his wife is the driving force that encourages Macbeth to overcome his strong sense of guilt and take action on the prophecies. • Consequences: Macbeth is slain as a tyrant and Lady Macbeth commits suicide. Shakespeare does not give either character the opportunity to enjoy what they have achieved.

Fear and guilt • create a perpetual cycle that causes characters to change their morals, behaviors, and guide their actions. • Macbeth: fearful to kill Duncan and Macbeth doesn't want to go to hell or have a bad reputation. • Macbeth is also afraid that he might fail and get caught while attempting to kill the king. • Lady Macbeth is afraid that people are going to wake up while Macbeth is killing Duncan. • Once Macbeth kills Duncan he is afraid that someone watched him kill Duncan. • Macbeth is afraid that Banquo is still alive and will tell about his recent actions. • Macbeth is afraid that the witches’ prophecies about Banquo's children becoming king would be true.

• ". . . Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood/ clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather/ the multitudinous seas incarnadine, / making the green one red. " (2. 2. 59 -62) • Lady Macbeth is sleep walking and she feels guilty about the past murders. • She is trying to get the guilt off her hands when in the past she said it was easy to hide and a little water will make her clean of this act. • Macbeth is afraid of being laughed at and would rather die.

Good and evil • Macbeth himself is not a totally evil man. There is much about him that is good and he experiences an on-going struggle with his conscience. • Good is shown in many symbols throughout the play : Heroism - Duncan and his men are trying to restore peace to Scotland. • Bravery - Macbeth is described as being a brave man, ‘brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name’ (1. 2. 16) • Symbols of good - Malcolm and Macduff are built up as figures of goodness.

• Evil is also shown in many symbols : • The supernatural - the witches and their spells are linked with the devil. • The evil thoughts some characters have : Lady Macbeth imagines the knocking out of her child's brains and Macbeth imagines the dagger, and tries to prepare himself for the evil deed of murder. • The evil deeds - the murder of Duncan and the murder of Macduff's family.

The supernatural • In Shakespeare's time belief in witchcraft was very strong and many so-called witches were burnt at the stake. • Is Macbeth possessed? • - he is unable to say Amen (2. 2. 26), he has visions, he is disturbed and even thinks no one can kill him

Key Scenes for macbeth • The witches (Act 1, Scene 3) • Macbeth and Banquo hear the same prophecies from the witches - but they react in different ways. Why is Macbeth so moved? • The witches speak dangerous thoughts Macbeth is thinking himself. His reaction is as if someone has read his mind. • Macbeth is excited by the witches' words, but when he receives news he is now Thane of Cawdor, he has proof they know the future and he begins to believe them.

• Before the murder (Act 1, Scene 7) • Did Macbeth really want to kill Duncan? • His excuses show he does still really want the crown. • Lady Macbeth's persuasion quickly works on him. • By the end, he has taken over the planning himself. He temporarily loses his doubt and fear.

• After the murder (Act 2, Scene 3) • Which emotions might Macbeth be feeling four hours after the murder? • Fear and shock: At the start of the scene, Macbeth is tense and nervous. • Guilt and regret : Many of Macbeth's words suggest he is feeling these emotions after the murder. • Threat, menace, power and control : What Macbeth says has a lot of menace in it. By the end of the scene he could be enjoying the shock and distress he has caused. His words have a dark double meaning.

• The banquet (Act 3, Scene 4) • Macbeth is tense and anxious as he enters the banquet, his mind conjuring up the terrible image of the ghost. • Macbeth is sick with worry about Fleance being alive and guilt about Banquo's murder. • Macbeth is acting secretly, not communicating with Lady Macbeth.

• The effect of the ghost on Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 4) • Macbeth's reaction to the ghost occurs in three distinct phases. • He is terrified and cowers from it. • He challenges it. • Macbeth puts his faith in the supernatural, his marriage is no longer the source of his strength. This is a real turning point.

• Lady Macbeth's death (Act 5, Scene 5) • How is Macbeth affected when he learns of his wife's death? • Macbeth seems suddenly weary when Lady Macbeth dies. His reaction is strange - quiet, subdued and thoughtful. • His power and motivation seem to vanish. It's as if Macbeth no longer sees any point trying to hold onto the kingship. He cannot understand why he ever wanted it. • He realizes this is the end and his own death is near. We get the impression he now knows he will die, even though the witches seem to have told him otherwise. The strange thing is, he just seems to accept it.

Key scenes for Lady Macbeth • The effect of the letter (Act 1, Scene 5) • Lady Macbeth's reaction when she reads her husband's letter is powerful and dramatic. • On reading, she has decided she will make sure Macbeth is king. It's as if she and her husband are thinking exactly the same thing. She does not hesitate for a moment. • Lady Macbeth invites the spirits of evil to enter her. She knows she has to steel herself, the murder will need evil power, and evil is not naturally within her. • She knows immediately murdering Duncan is the only way of quickly achieving her goal.

• Before the murder (Act 1, Scene 7) • Lady Macbeth uses different methods to persuade Macbeth to change his mind. Which one really affected Macbeth? • She says it was his idea first. This is her opening line - simply pointing out he raised the idea first. • She taunts Macbeth's masculinity - calling him a coward. This is an important part of her approach. Macbeth's rank and fame depend on his courage and bravery. • She says he cannot love her. This personal taunt really hits home for Macbeth. It is unexpected because their relationship is so intense.

Why does Lady Macbeth say she would kill their child? • Lady Macbeth has lost a child when it was still young. It's really shocking when she says she would have smashed it to the floor rather than go back on a promise. Why is this? • This would be the ultimate sacrifice - she makes the point she knew the joy of being a mother, and would have given it up for Macbeth to be king. • She uses terrible, violent imagery as a shock tactic. She realizes Macbeth's doubt needs to be overcome quickly and this needs extreme measures. If they delay one night, the chance is gone.

Why does Lady Macbeth faint? • After the murder (Act 2, Scene 3) • Without warning during this scene, Lady Macbeth faints. • Does she faint to distract attention, because the others might see through Macbeth's elaborate excuses? • Or is it because she is genuinely shocked and overcome and her strength suddenly leaves her? • She's distracting attention. Well, you could say this depending on how you read the scene. Certainly her line Help me hence, ho!(Act two, Scene three, Line 18) could be said in a theatrical way to distract attention. • Lady Macbeth is shocked by the guards' murders. She was not prepared for more death. This is a good point to make. She thought the killing of Duncan would be the end of the story.

• The banquet (Act 3, Scene 4) • This scene is a turning point in the play because it marks the point where Lady Macbeth loses touch with Macbeth. • Her persuasion no longer works on him. • She cannot understand Macbeth's faith in the supernatural. • She can only really have power through her husband. She has no power of her own.

• The sleepwalking scene (Act 5, Scene 1) • Understanding why Lady Macbeth has begun to sleepwalk will help you to understand her character. • She needs to be cleansed. Lady Macbeth never saw the evil of the murder lasting in this way. The blood of Duncan haunts her. • She re-runs her own part in the murder to come to terms with her guilt. Her words come back to haunt her.

• Lady Macbeth is horrified by Macbeth's continued killing. She was devastated by the slaughter of Lady Macduff and her children. What does the scene tell us about her part in the play? • As a woman, Lady Macbeth never had the power to control things independently. • While Macbeth's conscience strikes in a public banquet, Lady Macbeth's fear shows up in a private setting. This underlines the different roles of men and women in this society. • The isolation has driven her mad as Macbeth no longer seems to exist for her, Lady Macbeth always instinctively saw herself as part of a couple. Macbeth has gradually broken away from her, leaving her totally isolated in her chamber. She desperately wants their former closeness.

The witches • How do the witches introduce the play? • The witches meet in foul weather - they speak of thunder, lightning, fog and filthy air. This introduces Macbeth as a dark, dangerous play, in which theme of evil is central.

• “Fair is foul and foul is fair. “ (1. 1. 11) • These words appear to contradict each other - it's confusing. Is that what this play is about? Is everything as it seems? The words introduce the idea of illusion and reality. • “So foul and fair a day I have not seen. " • (1. 3. 38) • The principle of contradiction(A is A’)

The witches' influence • Why do the witches' prophecies have so much power over Macbeth? • The witches have chosen the right moment to approach Macbeth - when he is full of the triumph of battle, and fresh from killing. • The witches speak Macbeth's innermost thoughts. • The first prophecy has come true. Macbeth has immediate proof the witches know the future. • They've got him - Macbeth is under the witches' spell. From now on, their words will always be in his thoughts. We only see them once more, but the witches are always in Macbeth's mind.

Who's to blame? • • Whose idea is Duncan's murder? Who is the stronger - Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? Whom do we pity? Are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth a team, and if not, when do things change? • • Macbeth He already harbours thoughts of the kingship. He willingly listens to the witches. He writes to his wife to excite her interest. He begins to back off when the plan has been hatched. He takes over the planning from Lady Macbeth. His speech is full of evil, threat and darkness. • • Lady Macbeth She is obsessed with the news sent by Macbeth. She immediately hatches a plan. Her speech is full of evil double meaning. She taunts Macbeth when he tries to back down. She takes the knives back to the servants after the murder. She tries to make everything normal again afterwards. • • The witches They select their target precisely. They speak Macbeth's thoughts. They make him believe his greatest prize is near. They show him they have the power of prophecy. They torment him with riddles.

Techniques : Ambiguities • Fair is foul, and foul is fair (1. 1. 11) • What we think looks attractive or 'fair' is bad or 'foul'. In other words, our ambitions can be our downfall or they could be warning us of things to come in the play. • Macbeth is tempted by their predictions and enters a confused, unnatural world, where he cannot trust what he sees and cannot bear what he is. • Many of the characters say things which are ambiguous. • Ex) When Lady Macbeth says the daggers must lie there (2. 2. 46) - she could mean the daggers must be placed there, but also the daggers will hide the truth and pin the blame on the servants.

Repetition • Repeating a word or phrase draws attention to it. • Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravel'd sleeve of care. (2. 2. 3234) • In fact the word 'sleep' is repeated eight times in just ten lines. • Sleep is like death, but it's also an escape from the worries of the world. • By concentrating on the word 'sleep' we can see how Macbeth has put Duncan to sleep and now will no longer sleep again.

Why is Banquo's ghost important in act 3? • Banquo's ghost is evidence of Macbeth's guilt and the fear that Macbeth feels about not being entirely secure on the throne. • It further shows the nobles around him that he is "losing" it.

How a guilty conscience gives birth to a crime • Having decided to kill Duncan, he makes a choice. • And this choice is more serious than it seems to him initially. It is not just a path to power; it is a path towards the inner feeling of one’s own worthlessness. • And it is easier to follow this path than to step off it. Or, in Macbeth’s own words: • “Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. ” • He does not have the strength to leave the path that he had chosen.

the pangs of conscience • How did the pangs of conscience – the purpose of which is actually to elevate us – lead Macbeth and Claudius downwards? • Paradoxically, Macbeth and Claudius would both have been much happier and more successful if their conscience had not tormented them. For example, if they had been villains to the core. • Neither Claudius nor Macbeth can become such villains who have no remorse whatsoever. • They have already passed that stage of their development, and there is no way back for them. Just like an adult can no longer return to a state of childhood.

• Externally, Macbeth is strong, he is still trying to face fate’s challenges, but inside he is already broken. Fear stands behind the hectic actions of a once brave man. And behind the fear are (repressed) remorse and the feeling of guilt. It is they which direct the movement of energy downward.

Harold Bloom on Macbeth • Richard III, Iago, and Edmund are hero-villains; • to call Macbeth one of that company seems all wrong. • They delight in their wickedness; Macbeth suffers intensely from knowing that he does evil, and that he must go on doing ever worse. • Shakespeare rather dreadfully sees to it that we are Macbeth • We are to journey inward to Macbeth’s heart of darkness, and there we will find ourselves more truly and more strange, murderers in and of the spirit.