Context – Witchcraft and the King

4. Context – Witchcraft and the King King James 1 was terrified of witches. Passed a law promising death to all witches.

5. Witches Blamed for all “bad” things 1560-1632 Hundreds of thousands of woman tortured and killed In 1589 in the tiny German state of Quedlinburg, 133 women were burned in one day.

6. Gunpowder Plot On November 5, 1605 there was a conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Roman Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, didn't like the anti-Catholic laws that James I (as a Protestant) was passing.

7. When Christianity became established, the works of the devil became associated with witches.  People believed that witches were the Devil's helpers.

8. Who was he? When did he live? - How did he become king? –What was his reign like? He was a seemingly fair and just king that promoted Christianity and imposed law and order. How does this differ from how Shakespeare portrayed him? – Corrupted by ambition – Murderous and desperate tyrant who was feared and hated as king. King of the Scots (1005 -1057) Killed King Duncan in a battle in 1040

9. Act 1 Scene 1 The play opens with the end of a conversation between the three witches on the moor where they arrange their next meeting. Macbeth

10. Watch the following depictions of the witches and note any similarities in your jotter.

11. The Witches – From our discussion of the video and from reading Act 1 Scene 1,what do we learn about the witches. Think about: • Where they meet? • What they do? • How they speak? • What they say?

12. Find a rhyming couplet which shows that the witches can control the weather. • “When shall we three meet again? In lightning, thunder or in rain” • Find a quotation to show that they fully intend to cause mischief to Macbeth– “Upon the heath there to meet with Macbeth” The witches are the embodiment of evil in the play and are entirely malevolent.

13. What does this opening scene tell you about the kind of play that is to follow? (That is, what is going to be one of the main themes of the play?) • Establishes one of the main themes of appearance vs reality “Fair is foul and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air” In Macbeth everything is confused, topsy turvy and nothing is as it seems. Also establishes the mood of the play – dark and sinister.

14. Starter – How many synonyms can you think of for each of the following. Evil Battle Brave Ghost Think

15. We learn about Macbeth and Banquo’s successes in a tough and bloody battle and Macbeth is rewarded with the treacherous Thane of Cawdor’s title. Act 1 Scene 2

16. Act 1 Scene 2 • Why is this scene placed at the start of the play? Establishes the character of Macbeth – “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name ” “ Till he unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chaps and fix’d his head upon our battlements” “Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel which smok’d with bloody execution.” “Like valour’s minion carv’d out his passage.” • Find a quotation that tells us that one of the prophecies that the witches will make in the next scene is true. “Go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth”.

17. The witches display their power and malice by creating a storm for a ship’s captain as they wait for Macbeth and Banquo. When they arrive Macbeth and Banquo are told three prophecies of their future. Act 1 Scene 3

18. Scene 3 • Give evidence that the witches enjoy interfering in the lives of others. • Describe how a) Macbeth and b) Banquo react to the witches’ predictions. (Quote) “Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear that which sounds so fair” “Are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly ye show?” 3What does this tell us about the differences in their character? 4. Read Macbeth’s aside that begins “Two truths are told” Explain Macbeth’s thoughts at this point and identify the idea that horrifies him (Quote) Macbeth is thinking about becoming king and weighing up the consequences of the predictions. The fact that he is entertaining the idea of murdering the king horrifies him. “Whose horrid image…function is smothered in surmise” (p9 line 135)

19. Duncan greets Macbeth and Banquo and gives thanks for their bravery and loyalty. Duncan announces that his son will eventually succeed him as king. Act 1 Scene 4

20. Act 1 Scene 4 - While you are listening to the scene consider appearance vs reality. • Of whom does Duncan say: “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.”? Macbeth is someone on whom Duncan is building an absolute trust. 2. What is the dramatic irony here? The audience know that Macbeth is considering killing Duncan and his Son whereas Duncan expresses how Macbeth is noble and loyal to him. 3.. How does this highlight the theme of appearance vs. reality? To the king Macbeth appears to be loyal and trustworthy but he is harbouring secret darker desires to murder the king.

21. Lady Macbeth reads the letter from her husband detailing the Witches’ prophecies and news of his new title of “Thane of Cawdor” and they speak of their plans. Act 1 Scene 5

22. Scene 5 • What does the letter and its content tell the audience about the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth? • What does Lady Macbeth fear will hinder her husbands progress and limit his ambition? (Quote) • What do we learn about Lady Macbeth when she says: “Hie thee hither that I may pour my spirits in thine ear” • The lines beginning “The raven himself is hoarse” in Act 1 Sc 5 are often used to condemn Lady Macbeth. Referring closely to the text, describe the image created of her here.

23. “Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty” Lady Macbeth is summoning evil spirits to take everything from her that makes her a woman (qualities such as compassion, kindness and gentleness) to be able to carry out the murder without remorse. • “Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall you murdering ministers” – she wants them to replace her breast milk (symbol of nurture/life giving) with gall (bitter an utterly repulsive substance.

24. Starter • Reduce the scene we have just read (Act 1 Scene 5) to only 5 words. (You will have to skim read this again)

25. Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle and is greeted warmly by Lady Macbeth. Act 1 Scene 6

26. Macbeth thinks about the possibility of murdering the king and decides against it. Lady Macbeth is horrified by this; she insults him and he changes his mind. Act 1 Scene 7

27. Act 1 Scene 7 • Look at Macbeth’s soliloquy at the beginning of the scene. • Act 1 Scene 7 – workshop to kill the king • Write down all of the reasons why he should NOT kill Duncan. 2. Quote the lines which tell us Macbeth’s sole reason for murdering Duncan. (answers on the next slide) “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other” • After his soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth decides “We will proceed no further in this business.” Watch the workshop Act 1 Scene 7 – persuading Macbeth • Act 1 Scene 7 3. Reread the scene and write a paragraph quoting from the text, describing how Lady Macbeth changes his mind.

28. Duncan trusts Macbeth as both a friend and a loyal subject. Macbeth is also the host and Duncan a guest at his castle where he feels comfortable. • Duncan is a good, just and fair king; therefore the people of Scotland would be devastated and there would be an overall • He fears there would be consequences in this life (He fears someone will repeat the act towards him) although willing to face punishment in the afterlife. • He doesn’t think that it would end with the murder of Duncan. (Foreshadowing events to come) • Duncan would be peacefully sleeping and it would be an act of cowardice.

30. Lady Macbeth says that Macbeth has the desire to be king and to murder Duncan but that he lack the conviction and courage necessary to carry out the act; questioning his courage. “Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire?” • Lady Macbeth mocks/questions his manhood “When you dur’st do it then you were a man. And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man” Lady Macbeth is implying that if he doesn’t murder Duncan then he isn’t a real man. She also says that she will think he is much more of a man if he does kill Duncan to become king. • Lady Macbeth expresses how angry she is and how much of a sin she thinks Macbeth is committing by reneging on his promise by citing their dead baby and saying that if she had promised to kill the baby she would do so in an extremely brutal manner while he was feeding from her breast. “I would while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.”

31. Macbeth Act One, Scene Seven – Gender Roles

41. By the end of the lesson… • You will understand more about: • The character of Lady Macbeth • The character of Macbeth • The relationship between the two characters. • The extent to which each character fulfils traditional views of men and women.

42. Success Criteria. • You will be able to answer the following exit question, providing evidence for your answer. (Quotations/paraphrasing) To what extent do you think that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth could be described as fulfilling conventional gender roles?

43. Activity One • With your partner, write down as many traditional female or male qualities as you can. • Your teacher will tell you which to do. • You have 2 minutes.

44. Activity Two • With your partner, join with another pair. • Tell each other your ideas, then agree on the most important of these female qualities.

46. Firstly, watch this. • BBC - Learning Zone Class Clips - Macbeth: Act 1 Scene 7 (pt 1/2) - English Video BBC - Learning Zone Class Clips - Macbeth: Act 1 Scene 7 (pt 2/2) - English Video

47. Consider the scene we have just watched and the whole of Act 1. work with your group and take notes on how each of the two characters fulfil/do not fulfil conventional gender roles. (You could use a Mind Map if you wish)

48. Mini Critical Essay - Answer the following question in detail giving evidence to support your ideas.To be handed in on Wednesday 5th (No more than 2 A4 sides) To what extent do you think that Macbeth or Lady Macbeth could be described as fulfilling conventional gender roles? Your essay should be structured in this way: • Brief Introduction • How the character conforms to conventional gender roles • How the character doesn’t conform to conventional gender roles • Brief Conclusion – (you should include your opinion here)