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Notes on Macbeth

Notes on Macbeth. By William Shakespeare. Act i. SETTING. Takes place in Scotland On the battlefield: witches approach Macbeth to tell him half-truths Inverness Castle: Macbeth’s castle, where Duncan is murdered. PLOT. Scenes 1 and 2

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Notes on Macbeth

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  1. Notes on Macbeth By William Shakespeare

  2. Act i

  3. SETTING • Takes place in Scotland • On the battlefield: witches approach Macbeth to tell him half-truths • Inverness Castle: Macbeth’s castle, where Duncan is murdered

  4. PLOT Scenes 1 and 2 • 3 cackling witches talk about meeting Macbeth on the heath (battlefield) as he returns from battle • Captain reports to Duncan that Macbeth has killed the traitor Macdonwald • Another reports that Macbeth and Banquo forced the Norwegians to surrender • King Duncan condemns to death the present Thane of Cawdor for treason and awards the title to Macbeth

  5. Scene 3 • Macbeth and Banquo meet the 3 witches • Witches 3 predictions: • Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland • Banquo will beget kings • Ross and Angus arrive to tell Macbeth he is Thane of Cawdor • The news causes Macbeth to take the witches’ prophecies seriously and begins to consider killing Duncan

  6. Scene 4 • Duncan proclaims Malcolm heir to the throne by naming him Prince of Cumberland • Macbeth acknowledges that Malcolm is an obstacle in his path to the throne Scene 5 • Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth describing the witches’ prophecies • She believes Macbeth is too soft to do what is necessary to attain the throne • She resolves to use her power over him • She learns that Duncan will visit Inverness, presenting the perfect opportunity to murder him

  7. Scene 6 • King Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle • Lady Macbeth graciously welcomes him while hiding her feelings and thoughts about their plot to kill him

  8. CONFLICT • Primary Conflict is Classical • The main character, Macbeth, is struggling against fate • Physical/elemental conflict • Main characters struggling against other characters both physically and verbally • Internal conflict • Main characters struggling within themselves over certain events or decisions they have to make • Macbeth weighs his aversion to murder against his desire to be king; wonders whether to wait and see what happens or make the prophecies come true; Duncan’s naming him Thane of Cawdor causes Macbeth to consider violence as a solution

  9. Other Literary Techniques Used • Paradox: an apparent contradiction that is actually true • The witches’ famous rhymed couplet • “Fair is foul and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air.” Introduces the theme that appearances are deceiving; good and evil become blurred Suggests a stormy, violent play; supernatural elements and treachery play a part • The witches’ greeting to Banquo • “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” Banquo will prove to be a better person than Macbeth even if he never wins the crown; sons will be kings

  10. Other Literary Techniques • Tragedy • Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter which closely approximates the natural rhythms of English speech

  11. Act iI

  12. SETTING • Macbeth’s castle – Inverness • Scene 1 • Macbeth comes upon Banquo and Fleance • Macbeth and Banquo talk of the witches’ predictions • After Banquo and Fleance leave, Macbeth sees a blood-covered dagger in front of him in a vision • Hearing the bell, he steals off to commit the murder PLOT

  13. PLOT • Scene 2 • Lady Macbeth has drugged Duncan’s guards • She couldn’t murder Duncan herself because he resembled her father • Macbeth murders Duncan offstage and reenters dazed and troubled • Lady Macbeth scolds him and places the bloody daggers beside the sleeping grooms (guards) • She smears them with blood

  14. PLOT • Scene 3 • Drunken Porter responds to Macduff’s and Lennox’s knocking at the gate • Lennox describes the strange happenings on the previous night • Macduff discovers Duncan’s body • Macbeth says that he has killed Duncan’s guards because they murdered Duncan • Lady Macbeth faints • Malcolm goes to England • Donalbain goes to Ireland

  15. PLOT • Scene 4 • Ross and an Old Man talk about the unnatural events that occurred after Duncan’s murder • Macduff reveals that the sons are under suspicion • Macbeth will be installed as king • Macduff skips Macbeth’s coronation and expresses doubts about the new king’s reign • Suggests that Macduff suspects Macbeth, especially because Macbeth killed the guards

  16. OTHER ELEMENTS • Mood: sinister and violent in Act 2 • Images that set this up • the image of the dagger • The image of the dead Duncan • The cannibal horses • Symbolism • Blood and water may symbolize life and death or guilt and repentance • Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have upset the chain in the natural order of things; they should face grave consequences

  17. ACT III

  18. Scene 1 • Banquo reveals that he suspects Macbeth of Duncan’s murder • Tries to maintain normal appearances • Macbeth invites him to a banquet at the court • Macbeth hires assassins to kill Banquo and Fleance • Wants to ensure that Banquo’s descendants cannot inherit the throne

  19. Scene 2 • Lady Macbeth expresses her discontent • Scolds Macbeth for brooding about Duncan’s murder • Macbeth responds that he envies Duncan, who no longer needs to worry about treachery • He admits that he fears Banquo and his children • Also admits that a “deed of dreadful note” will soon be accomplished • Does not specify that the deed will be the murder of Banquo and Fleance

  20. Scene 3 • Three murderers show up • They succeed in killing Banquo • Fleance escapes

  21. Scene 4 • The banquet: murderers arrive • Tell Macbeth that Banquo is dead • Fleance escaped • Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to join the dinner • Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost taking his seat • Macbeth speaks to the ghost • Guests think he is unstable • Lady Macbeth says her husband is ill, fearing what he might reveal • She dismisses the guests • Macbeth sends for Macduff

  22. Scene 5 • Hecate, queen of the witches, scolds the weird sisters for leaving her out of their previous encounters with Macbeth • Promises to gather all magical forces to ensure Macbeth’s ruin

  23. Scene 6 • Lennox suspects Macbeth of Duncan’s murder • The lord reports that Macduff has gone to England • Macduff wants to get the aide of King Edward and Lord Siward to remove the tyrant Macbeth and restore the Scottish crown

  24. Plot of a Shakespearean Tragedy • Exposition: introduces Macbeth through the weird sisters; presents the conflict Macbeth is going through with his desire to become king by his own hand; takes up all of Act 1 • Rising Action/Complications: Macbeth is further tormented by his desire; King Duncan’s stay at Inverness presents a golden opportunity; Lady Macbeth convinces him to commit the deed; Macbeth is named king; Malcolm and Donalbain flee; takes up all of Act 2 and Act 3, scenes 1 and 2

  25. Plot of a Shakespearean Tragedy • Turning Point: is an event that moves the action downward to a tragic conclusion; Macbeth’s assassins murder Banquo and Fleance escapes; Act 3, scene 3 • Falling Action: all action following the turning point that leads to the fall of the hero • Catastrophe: Act V, Scene 8 – Macbeth is killed and beheaded by Macduff; Macbeth meets a tragic end

  26. ACT IV

  27. Scene 1 • The 3 witches a concocting a foul brew and chanting over their cauldron • Macbeth enters and demands to know the future • He is shown 3 apparitions • An armed head tells him to “beware Macduff” • A bloody child says that no one born of a woman will hurt him • A child wearing a crown and holding a branch tells him he will not be conquered until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane • Final apparition shows a line of eight kings, including Banquo, with the last figure holding a mirror to indicate the continuation of Banquo’s royal line • The witches vanish • Lennox appears, revealing that Macduff has fled to England • Macbeth resolves to murder Lady Macduff and her children

  28. Scene 2 • At Macduff’s castle, Ross tells Lady Macduff that her husband has gone to England • She cannot understand why her husband left without explanation and accuses him of betraying their marriage • Ross exits • A messenger arrives urging them to flee for their lives • Murderers stab the son and pursue Lady Macduff offstage

  29. Scene 3 • Macduff attempts to secure Malcolm’s aid in fighting Macbeth • Malcolm first tests Macduff’s loyalty to Scotland • Macduff proves his integrity • Malcolm tells him an army is ready to attack Macbeth’s forces • Ross enters to tell Macduff that his wife, children, and servants have been murdered • Macduff prays to meet Macbeth in battle

  30. ACT V

  31. Scene 1 • A lady-in-waiting and a doctor discuss Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking • Lady Macbeth enters as they are talking • She rubs her hands repeatedly to rid them of the blood that she imagines stains on them • Can infer that she and Macbeth murdered Duncan, but the doctor is afraid to speak of his suspidions

  32. Scene 2 • Near Dunsinane • Scottish lords prepare to join forces with an approaching English army • The lords discuss their plans and Macbeth’s reported state of mind

  33. Scene 3 • Macbeth feels confident that he is invincible inside his castle because of the witches’ prophecies • Servant brings news of the approaching army

  34. Scene 4 • Malcolm orders the soldiers gathered near Birnam Wood to camouflage themselves with branches as they advance toward Macbeth’s castle

  35. Scene 5 • Macbeth awaits the approaching army • Seyton tells him that Lady Macbeth is dead • Depressed, he gives his famous “Tomorrow” soliloquy • Declares that “life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury./ Signifying nothing.” • Is brought news that Birnam Wood is approaching the castle • Realizes that the witches have tricked him and he is likely to be defeated

  36. Scene 6 • Malcolm reaches the front of Macbeth’s castle • He orders his troops to throw down their camouflage and attack • Siward and his son lead • Malcolm and Macduff are in reserve

  37. Scene 7 • Macbeth kills Young Siward on the battlefield and exits • Macduff pursues • Macbeth’s castle has fallen

  38. Scene 8 • Macduff confronts Macbeth • Macduff explains that he was not born of a woman, but taken by Caesarean section • Macbeth refuses to fight • They fight offstage • Ross reports that Young Siward has died valiantly • Macduff returns with the head of Macbeth and proclaims Malcolm king of Scotland • Malcolm promises to restore peace and order

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