William Shakespeare

MACBETH

GROUP WORK

• Each group will be given a different article on William Shakespeare. After reading the article, each group will answer the attached questions. Each group will present their findings on the whiteboard for the rest of the class to copy down.

1. What is the purpose of the article?

2. What does the article say about Shakespeare?

3. What does the article say about Macbeth?

4. What were some interesting facts you learned?

• This is thy doing. I wish thy heart was mine.

• This apple is now thine. All I have is thine.

• Thou art = you are

• Are you…? = Art thou…?

• Thou hast = you have

• Have you…? = Hast thou…?

• Thou dost = you do

• Do you…? = Dost thou…?

SHAKESPEARE’S GRAMMAR-WHAT ART THOU ON ABOUT?

Thou means you Thy means your

WITCHCRAFT• During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) the public were increasingly

preoccupied with witchcraft. In 1564 a law came into force making murder by witchcraft punishable by death, thus acknowledging witches and their supernatural powers. Between 1564 and 1603 there were 8000 witches burned to death. In 1604 a law was passed in Scotland, which declared anyone found guilty of practising witchcraft should be executed.

Divine order

Jacobeans believed that the whole universe had an order to it which was decided by God. Anything unnatural was against this divine order. Kings were God’s agents, so action against a king was a crime against God. Satan had rebelled against God directly, and he was responsible, through witches and evil spirits, for all attacks on the divine order.

FOCUSSING QUESTIONS1. What ideas were prevalent during Shakespearean times and how have they changed or

remained the same?

2. What parallels between events in Macbeth and events in the world today are there?

Read the following readings and take notes on anything you think is relevant to the focus questions.

• Shakespeare’s theatre

• Going to the theatre

• Background to the play

• Ptolemaic systems

SHORT WRITING TASK• Do you think that Shakespeare’s Macbeth is relevant to modern society? (HINTS: think

about global events and politics – is it any less messy? Is there less conflict? Do people's beliefs always impact on the way they choose or respect their leaders?)

• Write just one paragraph with just one main point.

• Remember to follow S.E.E.D.Y or S.E.X.Y++

THE PTOLEMAIC SYSTEM• The earth was the centre of the universe.

• Kings were semi-divine.

• The earth consists of four elements: air, earth, fire, water. These elements exist in harmony on earth.

• When there is an unbalanced universe, chaos is created. This is manifested through horrific weather and disorder on earth.

• Any break in the Great Chain of Being (such as killing a king) created chaos.

THE PTOLEMAIC SYSTEM

ABOUT THE PLAYAlthough it is set in Scotland in1040, Macbeth deals with issues which are relevant to any society in any age. It explores the far reaching effects of one man’s ambition, from the total transformation of that man’s character to the nation-wide terror which he provokes. At the beginning of the play Macbeth is the co-leader of the Scottish army and a national hero. He increases his reputation with further victories, but a prophecy that he is to become king changes his life, and the lives of his fellow Scots, as he embarks on a course of evil.

The means by which this transformation is achieved would have fascinated Shakespeare’s contemporary audience, who were intrigued by, and fearful of, the supernatural. Today’s audience takes less literally the witches, the ghost and ‘air-drawn’ dagger, but we appreciate the notion of the supernatural and the reality of the driving force of ambition.

INTRODUCTION• Macbeth is not an historic account of actual events, but rather a creative use of facts to

illuminate certain aspects of human nature. The play tells us more about life than history, while a recitation of facts about Macbeth’s reign teaches us about that period alone, Macbeth tells us what happens to all of us who yield to those forces within ourselves urging us to gain power at any cost.

• It is about a man whose surrender to his ambition leads him to commit foul, treacherous, and cruel acts only to find the fruits of these deeds to be bitter and lead to despair and destruction.

• The play opens with a restoration of order- the defeat of the rebel Thane of Cawdor, along with his Scandinavian and Irish allies, by King Duncan’s forces. Macbeth has been the bravest soldier fighting. Yet it will be he who plunges Scotland again into disorder by Duncan’s murder, and his tyrannical rule. Finally order is restored when Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm, the rightful king, comes to rule.

2.8 INFORMATION• Draw conclusions about the portrayal of the themes and give your own response at the

end of each paragraph.

• Always acknowledge the author’s/director’s intentions.

• Look for links between the portrayal of your theme in your chosen texts.

• Use the exemplar booklet to structure your report.

• Essay principles apply: comment on effectives of any techniques, acknowledge the author’s intentions and draw some conclusions that go beyond the text.

• Bring your 2.8 to class tomorrow and we will spend the first half of the period giving peer feedback.

• Final reports due this Friday.

THEMES IN MACBETH• Now that you know a brief plot summary of the play and some historical context, think

about how some of these themes may be portrayed in the play:

• Appearance versus reality

• Ambition/the desire for power

• Supernatural forces

• Evil

• Conflict – internal, within a character

-- external, between characters or outside forces.

1. Which characters will display the theme?

2. Why is the theme important?

3. Why do you think it would have appealed to the audience?

ACT ONE• Three witches immediately establish the influence of the supernatural. They are to meet Macbeth

when a battle is over.

• Duncan, King of Scotland, meets a wounded captain. The wounded captain reports that Macbeth has defeated the rebellion of Highlanders and Islanders, led by Macdonwald.

• Macbeth and Banquo led their men with renewed vigour. At this point the captain collapses from his wounds and is taken for treatment. Ross completes the tale of the victory against the Norwegians. Duncan pronounces the death sentence of the treacherous Thane of Cawdor, and says that Macbeth shall now have that title.

• Whilst awaiting the arrival of Macbeth, the witches discuss their spiteful treatment of a sea-captain. Macbeth and Banquo enter on their way to report to Duncan and Forres. Each witch greets Macbeth differently: Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and ‘that shalt be King hereafter’. They tell Banquo that his descendants will be kings. The witches disappear. Ross and Angus enter and Macbeth learns that he is the Thane of Cawdor.

• Banquo and Macbeth are shocked. Banquo warns that evil is at work, and that despite appearing favourable at the moment, there is something sinister in the predictions. Macbeth considers what the future may hold.

ACT ONE• Macbeth decides to let the future take care of itself, and he and Banquo agree to discuss matters at

a more convenient time.

Keeping track

• Who do the witches intend to meet? Where and when?

Macbeth, when the fighting is done, upon the heath.

• Which enemies have Macbeth and Banquo defeated?

The Norwegians

• How is he rewarded?

He is made the Thane of Cawdor

• Which prophecy becomes true immediately?

• Which prophecy to Macbeth still have to be fulfilled?

• What was the prophecy concerning Banquo?

QUESTIONS• Why do you think Macbeth is first introduced to us through the witches?

• What do you think is meant by the paradox: Fair is foul, foul is fair.

• Scene 2 provides us with a description of the battle and the part played by Macbeth in securing victory. What impressions do we gain of Macbeth from this description?

• Given that Macbeth was first mentioned by the witches, the idea of fair is foul, foul is fair was introduced in scene one and that Duncan was deceived by Cawdor, to what extent are you prepared to accept at face value the assessment of Macbeth as brave and noble?

• The first part of scene three sees a return of the witches. What does their discussion of their attempt to take revenge on the sailor’s wife reveal about the extent and limits of their powers?

• Macbeth’s first words echo those of the witches in scene one: So foul and fair a day I have not seen. What might this mean in a literal sense? What effect does it have on our initial response to Macbeth?

• Ross and Angus bring the news that we, as the audience already know regarding the Thane ship of Cawdor (dramatic irony). Why does Banquo warn Macbeth about his reaction to the prophecies? What does this warning suggest about Macbeth’s ambition and character? (17)

• Paraphrase Macbeth’s soliloquy on page 19. what does the solilioquy suggest about Macbeth’s state of mind?

ACT I: SCENES V, VI AND VII.1. What does the tone of Macbeth’s letter suggest about his relationship with her? (29)

2. How does she see her role? (31)

3. Carefully read her soliloquy (31). What is she attempting to do?

4. Carefully read Macbeth’s soliloquy in scene 7 (37). What does he mean by:

If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well

It were done quickly. If th’ assassination

Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,

With his surcease, success; that but this blow

Might be the be-all and end-all-here,

But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,

We’d jump the life to come. ?

MACBETH’S SOLILOQUY• What arguments does he provide against the assassination?

• What motive does he provide for the murder?

• Analyse Lady Macbeth’s response to his declaration that he will proceed no further

1. What tactics does she use to persuade him?

2. What does the tone of her attack upon him suggest about her psychological state?

3. What is it that finally persuades him?

4. How is the theme of appearance verse reality developed in this scene (43)?

APPEARANCE VERSE REALITY• Appearance verse reality is a recurring theme through the play.

1. Which characters have developed this theme so far in the play?

2. Find three quotes that support this theme.

“why do you start, and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?” (B, I iii 51)

“And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths” (B, I iii 123)

“and nothing is but what is not” (M, I iii 142)

“There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face” (D, I iv 11)

“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (LM, I v 66)

AMBITION-DESIRE FOR POWER Humans’ unyielding ambition and desire for power is a prominent theme in Macbeth. Write a paragraph discussing how Lady Macbeth and/or Macbeth illustrate this theme in the play.

• State how the character illustrates the theme (argument).

• Explain your argument in more detail.

• Use an example (quote/specific detail from the play) to reinforce your point.

• Develop your paragraph. You could comment on why Shakespeare has chosen to explore this theme, draw some conclusions that go beyond the text (what do these characters reveal about human nature?), or discuss the relevance of this theme to you or society today.

HINTS

• Acknowledge the author’s intentions

• Try and weave the example into your writing, don’t leave any quotes ‘hanging’

• Use your statement to set up the rest of your paragraph

• Use additionally or moreover as connectives to develop your paragraph

CHARACTER• What sort of man is Duncan? What sort of king is he? Remember it was usual for an

eleventh century king to lead his army himself.

• What do you think of his responses in scene 2 (especially lines 24, 33-34 and 58) and the fact that peace terms have been decided without consulting him (lines 63-65)?

• What do we learn about Malcolm from scene 2? Are your feelings favourable or not towards him?

• What qualities of Macbeth are we told about in scene 2? Are your feelings favourable or not towards him?

• Do Macbeth’s thoughts at the end of Scene 3 tell us more about him? Is he still making a favourable impression?

• Start character logs for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

CHARACTER LOGSAct/scene Key points Reasons Key lines Short quote

1/2 Heroic fighter

Heroic attitude

Defeats Macdonwald and his army.

Fearlessly faces the fresh Norwegian army.

16-23

33-38

Brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name.

They doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.

ACT TWO• How would you describe Macbeth’s state of mind?

• In what ways is he different to the man we saw at the end of Act One?

• Read the “Is this a dagger…” soliloquy carefully.

1. Note the imagery of light and darkness?

2. In what way does this soliloquy represent an apparent change in Macbeth?

Scene two begins with Lady Macbeth. In these speeches she admits to having consumed alcohol in order to be able to fulfil her role in the murder.

3. What does this suggest about her strength of character?

4. How does Shakespeare build tension throughout the scene? (55)

5. What does Macbeth mean when he says he murdered sleep?(57)

6. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth’s comment: “These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad?”

7. How does she respond to Macbeth’s weakness?

8. How is water used as an image in this scene?

ACT TWO SCENE THREE• Introduces a brief moment of comic relief. This is a technique used to relieve the tension

that has been built up in the audience so that they are emotionally able to cope with the tension that is to follow. The porter is a drunken peasant who jokes about a range of people well known to a Shakespearian audience who he believes will go to hell for their pretentiousness. He also makes a number of sexual jokes. Following the appearance of the porter, then tension rises with the arrival of Macduff and the discovery of the murder.

• How does Macbeth justify his murder of the grooms?

• Why do you think LM faints at this point?

• How does Banquo respond to the murders?

• Why do Malcolm and Donalbain flee?

SCENE FOUR• Scene four begins with a discussion between Ross and an old man.

1. What is interesting about the events in which they discuss?

2. What do they symbolize?

3. What does Macduff’s decision not to attend the coronation suggest about his attitude toward Macbeth?

ACT THREESCENE ONE• In what ways does Banquo’s soliloquy show that he is a threat to Macbeth?

• Read Macbeth’s soliloquy. “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus-”

1. What assumptions underlie Macbeth’s fears?

2. Given Banquo’s earlier soliloquy, to what extent do you feel his fears are justified?

3. Why do you think it is interesting that Macbeth employs cut-throats to kill Banquo?

SCENE TWO• in what ways do each of M and LM show that the crown has not brought peace of mind?

(95-97)

• In what ways has Macbeth changed since the murder?

• In many ways the roles of M and LM have reversed. Show how their relationship has altered? (97)

Scene four• Macbeth is the only one that can see the ghost. What does this suggest about the ghost?

• How does LM respond to his “fit”?

• Why do you think Macbeth decides to revisit the witches? Unfortunately

SCENE FOUR• Examine the following lines:

For my own good

All causes shall give way. I am in blood

Stepped so far that, should I wade no more,

Returning were as tedious as go o’er.

Strange things I have in head that will to hand

Which must be acted ere they may be scanned.

SCENE FIVERead Hecate’s speech closely. She is the Queen of witches. In many productions of the play, this scene is left out. What does she suggest about the witches’ plans for Macbeth? What effect does leaving the scene out have on our understanding of the role of the witches in determining Macbeth’s actions?

SCENE SIX• Scene six provides us with an insight Macbeth’s reign and the way in which he is viewed

by the Thanes?

ACT FOURScene one

Macbeth returns to the witches, apparently placing his trust in their knowledge. However, as the audience knows through dramatic irony, he will be deceived by them playing upon his own illusions and their creation in him of a state of false security.

• Look carefully at the three prophecies. In what ways does each encourage a sense of false security in Macbeth?

ACT FOURSCENE TWO

• Why do you think Shakespeare includes a scene showing the relationship between L Macduff and her son?

• This is the first murder to be committed on stage. What effect does this have on the audience?

• Why do you think Shakespeare deems it necessary to create this effect at this particular point in the play?

SCENE THREE

Scene three is a comparatively long and complex scene in which Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty, not to him, but to Scotland.

• Why does Malcolm need to do this?

• What do Ross’s comments suggest about the state of Scotland under Macbeth’s rule?

ACT FIVEThis is Lady Macbeth’s sleep walking scene. Read the scene carefully

• List her actions

• In what ways is this scene linked to her unsex me speech in Act One, scene five?

• Look at the images that come out of her subconscious mind. What do they suggest about her state of mind?

• To what extend has the audience been prepared earlier in the play for her inability to cope with her guilt?

SCENE THREE

• Read Macbeth’s speech which begins: I am sick at hear…

• Why is he disillusioned?

• In this scene as a whole, in what ways is he still placing his faith in the witches?

ACT FIVE SCENE FIVE

• Read Macbeth’s speech in response to LM’s death.

1. What is he saying about life?

2. What does his final speech in this scene suggest about his state of mind and his belief in the witches?

SCENE EIGHT

• Macbeth, finally denying his belief in the witches, fights and dies with valiant fury. To what extend do you see his death as heoric?