Macbeth Notes Acts I-IV

Macbeth Summary of Act I

Scene 1

• Setting - Scotland. • 3 witches

– Indicate that the battle will be over by sunset– plan to meet with Macbeth on the barren

battlefield or “heath”

• There is an approaching thunderstorm.• Foreshadowing of evil: “Fair is foul, and

foul is fair,” what is good will be bad and what is bad will be good.

Scene 2

• Duncan• The king of Scotland

• orders the immediate execution of the Thane of Cawdor• names Macbeth as the new Thane of Cawdor.• sends Ross to announce this to Macbeth

• Malcolm• Son of Duncan

• Captain• informs Duncan that Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald,

the Norwegian army, and the Thane of Cawdor. • states the conflict was resolved by Macbeth.

Scene 3

• Witches– Prophesize that Macbeth will be Scotland’s next

ruler.

• Macbeth – mimics witches’ famous words spoken earlier in the

drama: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen"

• Banquo (Macbeth’s friend)– will be "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater" and "Not

so happy, yet much happier"

• Ross and Angus – inform Macbeth that Duncan has appointed him

Thane of Cawdor.

Scene 4• Macbeth

– Expresses ambitious thoughts in his asides• Aside= a remark that the character makes to the audience or

another character

• Duncan – praises Macbeth for his loyalty– Thanks Banquo for his courage – Announces visiting Macbeth's castle at Inverness– has chosen Malcolm (son) to be the next king of Scotland –

now he will be Prince of Cumberland

• Light and Dark Symbolism– "Stars, hide your fires/Let not light see my black and deep

desires"

Act 1, Scene 5

Macbeth’s positive thoughts

Lady Macbeth’s negative thoughts

alliteration

Images/ symbols of death

I thought good to deliver thee

…greatness is promised thee

farewell

… I fear thy nature

… the illness should attend it

…wouldst not play false

…wouldst wrongly win

Raven, thick blood, smoke of hell, keen knife, blanket of the dark

Act 1, Scene 7

Indications of confusion

Religious allusions

similes

Lady Macbeth’s criticisms

“we have judgment, but we teach bloody instruction (terrible deeds)

In the beginning, he contemplates murder, but then has second thoughts

Chalice, angels, cherubim

Duncan will “plead like angels”

Pity, like a naked new-born babe

Refers to Macbeth as a “coward” and “poor cat”

Act 1, Scene 7

Lady Macbeth’s Plan

Get the two guards (chamberlain’s) drunk with wine

Act 2, Scene 1

“husbandry in heaven”

Illusion/reality

dagger

3 indications of death

The gods are economical with their starlight

The Dagger

Illusion = “dagger of the mind… false creation”

Reality= “ I see thee in form as palpable”

Interacts with the dagger and indicates that “it is the bloody business”

“nature seems dead” “withered murder” “bloody business”

2 allusions Tarquin and Hecate

Act 2, Scene 2

alcohol

Unnatural events

dagger

Macbeth’s confession

The gods are economical with their starlight

The Dagger

Illusion = “dagger of the mind… false creation”

Reality= “ I see thee in form as palpable”

Interacts with the dagger and indicates that “it is the bloody business”

“nature seems dead” “withered murder” “bloody business”

Lady Macbeth’s reaction

Tarquin and Hecate

Act 2, Scene 3

Equivocate/ equivocator

Comic relief

lie

to use ambiguous or unclear expressions

The porter presents himself as the porter of hell and jokes about the sinners

has a double meaning - can mean “untruth” or “to rest”

alcohol“Stimulates lust,” “persuades him,”

“Makes the lover a failure”

Act 2, Scene 3

Unnatural Events

“chimney’s were blown down”

“strange screams of death” in the air

Shaking of the earthMacbeth’s confession Admits to killing the guardsmen

Lady Macbeth’s reaction

faints

Wants to leave for IrelandMalcolm’s reaction

Act 3, Scene 1

Witches’ prediction for Banquo

“that myself should be the root and father of all kings”

Macbeth’s attitude Indicates that he fears him three times

alliteration “heavy hand hath”

Macbeth manipulates the murderers

Indicates that they and their families will be beggars

Tells them that Banquo will treat them as animals

Act 3, Scene 2

Lady Macbeth’s state of mind

Afraid

Alliteration Than by destruction dwell in doubtful

Four “black agents”

scorpions, bat,

beetle, crow

Act 3, Scene 4

alliteration Cabined, cribbed, confined Ghost of Banquo

Sits in Macbeth’s place

Dares him to be tough and approach him like a “rugged russian bear,” and “armed rhinoceros” (lines 100-103)

Macbeth challenges the apparition

Ghost of Banquo

Macbeth sees the ghost three times

Macbeth’s vow

To see the wicthes

Act 3, Scene 5

Macbeth is powerless

“As by the strength of their illusion shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate, scorn death…”

allusion The pit of Acheron (river in hell)

Ghost DescriptionMessage to Macbeth Macbeth’s

Response

1st      

2nd      

3rd      

Armed head of a warrior

warns Macbeth of a bloody revenge at the hands of Duncan’s son Macduff

“Thou hast harped my fear aright” (line 74)

Blood covered child

Tells Macbeth that he cannot be killed by any man “of woman born.”

Indicates that Macduff will not live

a child wearing a crown

Macbeth cannot lose in battle until Birnam Wood physically moves toward his castle at Dunsinane.

Macbeth believes he will never be troubled by the ghosts

The Apparitions

Bird Metaphor(Write down the passage)

Your Explanation. How do you explain or interpret the metaphor?

1.

2.

3.

“…the poor wren (the most diminutive of birds) will fight, her young ones in her nest…” (lines 9-11

Even if a mother is small, poor, and weak, she will still fight for her young