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Macbeth Act I Key Quotes and Notes Slide 2 Macbeth is a tragedy play. What does this mean? The protagonist (pivotal character/s) experiences their death/demise/downfall This occurs (at least partly) as a result of one or more of their own character flaws The play often evokes sadness and sympathy for the protagonist, whose character flaw we as the audience can possibly also relate to in some degree Tragedy plays usually have a moral message for the audience Slide 3 Macbeth is a tragedy play. What is Macbeths fatal character flaw? AMBITION As a result, over the course of the play we see the progressive corruption/decay of his moral character. This has catastrophic results for Macbeth and his wife, as well as the rest of Scotland. Does Macbeth have any other character flaws? Slide 4 Act 1, Scenes 1-3 Key Focus Sets the scene/setting Establishes mood of the whole play and the key theme of fair and foul Introduces Macbeth as a great man, noble character, etc. Introduces the witches as manipulative, petty characters Introduces the theme of the supernatural/fate/prophecy Presents Banquo as a foil for Macbeth Slide 5 Scene 1: The witches This quote introduced a key theme/motif in the play that appearances can be deceiving and also that things can be perceived differently depending on how you look at them. Fair = good, pleasant. Foul = unpleasant, evil, bad. Slide 6 Scene 2: Macbeths character, early on What impression do we get of Macbeth? Slide 7 Scene 3: The witches character The witches are presented here as malicious, petty, manipulative and nasty creatures. Slide 8 Scene 3: Macbeth foul and fair quote Macbeth reflects on the weather being foul, but its a good day because they won the battle. This shows that the same circumstances can be perceived very differently depending on perception. It links back to the witches quote from scene 1, a major theme of the play. Slide 9 Scene 3: Macbeths prophecies Slide 10 Scene 3: Banquos prophecies These prophecies appear to be paradoxes, or to not make sense. Can you find a way to interpret each one that does make sense? Slide 11 Scene 3: Banquo and Macbeths responses to his prophecy Shows how Banquo and Macbeth react different: Macbeth starts and seems to fear things that do sound so fair Banquo says he neither beg nor fear your favours nor your hate. What do beg and fear mean here? Favours and hate? Slide 12 Banquo as a foil for Macbeth A foil is a metalanguage term used for a character who is very similar in many ways to another, but with several key differences also e.g. Banquo is a foil for Macbeth, used by Shakespeare to highlight the contrasts in each and how they react to the witches prophecies MacbethBanquo Skilful soldier and swordsman Loyal to the king Brave and courageous Lavished with praises by the king Receives three prophecies Get excited, believes them, becomes fixated on them as a result Is more suspicious and cautious of witches intent; not too fussed with the prophecies Slide 13 Scene 3: Surprise and amazement as the second prophecy comes true Shakespeare uses an off-hand remark by Banquo to associate the witches with the devil to encourage the audience to perceive them as evil. Slide 14 Scene 3: Banquos warning Banquo cautions Macbeth that sometimes evil creatures/beings may lure us in with truths about trivial things (honest trifles) to the point where we give them our entire trust; then they will betray us in deepest consequence. Slide 15 Scene 3: Macbeths first soliloquy A soliloquy is a monologue which is intended to reveal a characters inner thoughts and feelings. It is not part of dialogue with another character, but is simply a character expressing to the audience their motivations, etc. Always pay special attention to a soliloquy, because it is where you learn most about characters! Slide 16 Scene 3: Macbeths first soliloquy The witches prophecy, and the first two being now true, cause Macbeth to enter into a temporary stupor where all he can do is imagine the murder of Duncan and himself as king the real world fades into insignificance as he imagines these images. However he is completely unnerved by these ideas and no doubt feels guilty about imaging them. Is he imagining himself murdering Duncan here, or does that come later? Slide 17 Scene 3: Macbeths second thought on the prophecies Macbeth concludes that if its a real prophecy then surely it will all happen without any action on his part. He wont have to murder his king (e.g. maybe Duncan will fall off his horse tomorrow). Macbeth is comforted by the idea that he wont have to do anything, or even imagine anything, horrible and terrible like his previous thoughts. Slide 18 Scenes 4-7 Key Focus Macbeths psychological angst, confusion and internal conflict: He wants to be king, but doesnt want to be a bad person or do anything bad to achieve it. He wavers between going ahead with Duncans murder and calling it off. Introduces Lady Macbeth and we learn about her character. Relationship between Macbeth and his wife. Duncan continues to be presented as a good, generous king (to contrast with Macbeth later, and make his murder even more horrible) The theme of deceit/equivocation is continued, as is the theme of the supernatural Slide 19 Scene 4: Duncans character Duncan reflects on how he was deceived by the former Thane of Cawdor, who became a traitor. This leads Duncan to conclude that it is impossible to determine a persons inner thoughts from reading their face. What do the last two lines suggest about Duncans character? Slide 20 Scene 4: Praise and promises for Macbeth and Banquo What is the meaning of Duncans metaphorical words to Macbeth? Duncans words establish Macbeth and Banquo as equals (furthering the presentation of Banquo as a foil for Macbeth) Slide 21 Scene 4: An extra hurdle to Macbeths ambitions Duncan bestows the title of Prince of Cumberland on his son, Malcolm. While the next king will be selected by all the thanes, whoever has the title Prince of Cumberland carries with it the kings vote of who he wishes to be the next king. It is very likely, though not certain, that Malcolm would become the next king as a result. Slide 22 Scene 4: Macbeths response How does Macbeth react to news of Malcolms new title? What does this show about him? How has this development changed Macbeths perspective since the end of the last scene? Do you think Macbeth will still wait and see if fate will unfold by itself? Slide 23 Scene 4: Further praise of Macbeth Duncan describes Macbeth as a peerless kinsman, or in other words he praises him as a man without equal. Slide 24 Scene 5: Lady Macbeths soliloquy Lady Macbeth is determined to help her husband become king. Yet she fears he is too good and kind, and his nature wont enable him to commit the immoral act necessary. Macbeth wants to be king, but he wants to also keep his soul/character clean from sin or wrongdoing. Lady Macbeth awaits Macbeths presence so she can persuade and encourage him in the murder of Duncan. Slide 25 Scene 5: Lady Macbeth calls for aid from evil spirits Lady Macbeth calls on spirits to unsex her (ie. Take away all her womanly frailty and gentleness) and instead fill her top-full of direst cruelty. She asks the spirits to silence her conscience or any sort of hesitation and to make her cruel and hard. Does Shakespeare intend the audience to think spirits answered her? Slide 26 Scene 5: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth reveals more about Macbeths character he is easy to read by his facial expression. She counsels him to try harder to act innocent and be the perfect guest to Duncan, while secretly plotting his death. Slide 27 Scene 6: Duncan is greeted by Lady Macbeth Duncan reinforces his appreciation of Macbeth and his intention to continue to be generous to him. This makes the murder of Duncan even worse, because Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are already doing very well as it is, and Duncan has been so generous to them. Slide 28 Scene 7: Macbeths second soliloquy he has second thoughts about the murder What are his reasons for not killing Duncan? Slide 29 Scene 7: Macbeth announces that the murder is off. Slide 30 Scene 7: Lady Macbeth persuades him to go ahead with it Lady Macbeth shames her husband, but questioning his manhood, his courage and his honour. She says he should not have said anything about the prophecies and his ambitions if he had on intention of acting on them. She shames him by saying she would always stay true to her word and her promises, even if it hurt her to do so. What impression do we get of Lady Macbeth here? Slide 31 Scene 7: Macbeths main concern? Despite all his previously mentioned reasons, Macbeth seems to be easily convinced to go head with the murder once he is assured they will succeed and realizes Lady Macbeth has a plan. What does this suggest about his other reasons? Macbeth comments on Lady Macbeths masculine and cold- blooded approach to the murder. Has her prayer to evil spirits been answered or is this just her usual character? Slide 32 Scene 7: Macbeth is fully convinced The scene, and the Act, ends with both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth agreed and intent on murdering Duncan. The line False face must hide what the false heart doth know continues the theme of appearances being deceiving and reveals Macbeths awareness that he has already crossed a moral line his heart is now false.