The Tragedy of Macbeth

1. The Tragedy of Macbeth A play by William Shakespeare

2. The Tragedy of MacbethWhat is the play about? The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play that examines the consequences of uncontrolled ambition and power. The play opens with three witches making a spell foreshadowing the concept of evil and disloyalty. The witches will make a prophesy that Macbeth will become King and the idea becomes his focus leading to dire consequences. Shakespeare uses this play to suggest that ambition and the lust for power can destroy the individual. Macbeth, a nobleman, murders his cousin King Duncan and his best friend and Lieutenant, Banquo, which leads to him becoming King - as the witches prophesy. The guilt associated with the murders sends Macbeth insane,; his wife, Lady Macbeth, also goes insane due to her guilt about her involvement and manipulation. Macbeth is eventually overcome by another nobleman, MacDuff and the kingship is returned to the rightful heir, Malcolm, the eldest of Duncan’s sons.

3. The CharactersThe Witches The witches: There are three witches – names are inconsequential, Graymalkin is the name of one witch. The role of the witches is to prophesy the events that will take place. They open the play, they then met with Macbeth and Banquo as they leave a battle and tell Macbeth, who as a nobleman is called the Thane of Glamis ( Glamis was probably the county he ruled over) that he will become the Thane of Cawdor ( a traitorous nobleman who they have just defeated in battle) and that he will become King. The witches tell Banquo that he will be the father of kings – cryptic, but sets up the plot whereby Macbeth will murder anyone who gets in his way to becoming King including his friend. Read here about witches in Shakespeare’s day.

4. CharactersMacbeth: Thane of Glamis Macbeth cannot resist the temptation and idea of the prophesy and in asides ( direct statements only the audience is supposed to hear) he reveals his ambitious desire to be King – whilst he is always confirming his loyalty to Duncan. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, which happens almost immediately after the prophesy happens so Macbeth believes the rest of the prophesy as well – that he will become King. Macbeth is King Duncan’s cousin so the prophesy causes him some disquiet but, with the manipulation of his wife, Macbeth overcomes his fears. Macbeth is married to Lady Macbeth – a very ambitious and somewhat manipulative woman.

5. Characters: Banquo Banquo is Macbeth’s Lieutenant and friend. Banquo is with Macbeth when the witches make their prophesy. The witches have told Banquo that he will not be king but that his sons will be kings. Banquo notices an immediate change in his friend but still supports him until after the murder. Banquo has a son: Fleance. Macbeth’s ambition to be king extends the disloyalty to his own family to his friend. Macbeth orders Banquo’s death, along with that of his family, in an attempt to rid himself of any threats to his becoming king. Banquo comes back as a ghost which sends Macbeth insane.

6. Characters: King Duncan Duncan is King. He has two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain. He is Macbeth’s cousin. After the opening scenes (where Macbeth has been instrumental in defeating traitorous armies who were fighting against Duncan) Duncan names his son Malcolm as his successor. Duncan is murdered at Macbeth’s castle. In fear for their lives, Malcolm and Donalbain run away leaving Macbeth to become king.

7. Characters: Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth is married to Macbeth. Shakespeare very quickly establishes her as a manipulative and ambitious woman. She has no compunction about insulting Macbeth, or calling him a coward. Lady Macbeth has some of the best lines in the play, suggesting her significant role in the text. Shakespeare is perhaps commenting on the power women have over men in society. Lady Macbeth constructs the events around the murder of King Duncan. Her guilt eventually overcomes her and she goes insane. Popular analysis of the text suggests that she commits suicide as she cannot live with her guilt. Her character is a damning account of the need for women to be accountable for their manipulative ambitions for their husbands ( or perhaps for their own social benefits)

8. Characters: MacDuff Macduff is a nobleman loyal to Duncan. He is the character that finds Duncan murdered in his bed. MacDuff becomes suspicious of Macbeth after the murder. Macbeth, realising MacDuff’s suspicions orders the murder of his entire family. The witches prophecy implied that MacDuff could not be killed by a man born of a woman. Macduff, however, has been born by Caesarean section so not naturally born and eventually kills Macbeth.

9. Other characters • Fleance: Banquo’s son • Lady Macduff – murdered by Macbeth’s henchmen • Lennox – another Scottish nobleman • Ross – another Scottish nobleman • Seyton – Macbeth’s servant • Doctor – tries to cure Lady Macbeth • Siward – a soldier loyal to Malcolm who fights against Macbeth • Young Siward – killed by Macbeth

10. ACT ONE: Summary Act I: Scene 1: Setting: deserted heath, stormy weather Play opens with three witches on stage. Strange creatures, the witches plan to meet again, despite the foul weather, on the heath ( barren , isolated land). Significant quote: ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.’ Techniques: alliterative phrase; paradox, metaphor, rhyming couplet Interpretation: Good is evil and evil is good: Hang around and watch the confusion and evil we can cause. Alternately, the witches are evil ( foul), but provide ‘fair’ advice – their advice, given in the fog of the heath ( metaphor for confusion and spiritual barrenness) , foreshadows Macbeth’s madness (fog), Macbeth’s betrayal (filthy air), and ultimate demise.

11. ACT ONE: Summary Scene II: Setting: army camp near King Duncan's castle A sergeant, Ross, from the battle reports to King Duncan telling him that the rebel, McDonwald, was winning till brave Macbeth killed him. He goes on to say that no sooner was this battle won when the lord of Norway attacked with an army. Norway, assisted by the traitor, Thane of Cawdor, was then defeated by Macbeth. King Duncan announces he will kill the traitor Cawdor and give his land and title to Macbeth as a reward for his service. Significant quote: ‘What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won’ Techniques: irony/dark humour, superlative with diminutive evocation creates the irony ( ‘Great Happiness’), verbs ( ‘cling.. .choke… swarm…confronted…curbing…conclude’; verb phrase ‘fell on us’ , repetition ‘Point against point…’arm ‘gainst arm’; contractions to sustain iambic pentameter; antithesis 'Whathe hath lost noble Macbeth hath won’ .

12. ACT ONE: Summary Scene III: a heath near Forres Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches – hags –after the battle. Shakespeare implies the wickedness of the witches through the story of stealing the husband from the lazy wife who would not give her the chestnuts establishing the notion of revenge as an evil trait. The witches recognise ( ‘Hail’) Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, predict he will be Thane of Cawdor and then King. Banquo, a little put out by the lack of encouragement for his future asks, then receives the news, that he will be ‘Lesser than Macbeth, and greater./Not so happy, ye much happier./Thou shalt get kings, though be none;’ Macbeth and Banquo both wonder at the words of the witches and are then surprised by the riding up of Ross who gives Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor – fulfilling part of the prophecy. Shakespeare gives his protagonist stage asides to demonstrate inner thoughts and confusion, false modesty is established as Macbeth says he will not do anything to bring about his becoming of King, yet his thoughts betray his vanity which lead to the consequences of his ambitions. Significant quote: ‘The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/ in deepest consequence’ Techniques: paradox, antithesis, tone, irony

13. ACT ONE: Summary Scene IV: Forres. The palace. The previous Thane of Cawdor is executed for treason. Irony of the dialogue as Duncan’s trust for Cawdor will become increasingly challenged by his trust for Macbeth. Macbeth swears loyalty to King Duncan. Macbeth’s imminent removal to Inverness is established and his wife is introduced into the plot. After Duncan mentions Malcolm, his son, who will be the next king Shakespeare uses the staging strategy of an aside for Macbeth suggesting he has already moved from his loyal position to the King to one of usurpation and murderous intent. Significant quote: ‘Stars, hide your fires;/Let not light see my black and deep desires: ‘ Techniques::complex punctuation; euphemism; superlatives; irony, paradox; metaphor and metonymy; naive tone

14. ACT ONE: Summary Scene V: Inverness. Macbeth’s castle. Audience is introduced to Lady Macbeth. She has received the letter from Macbeth which tells her about the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth implies that both he and Lady Macbeth are ambitious suggesting she ‘mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness…’ is promised to both her and Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is far more ambitious than her husband, she provided as soliloquy that presents Macbeth’s ‘nature’ to the audience – ‘too full o’ the milk of human kindness’. Her manipulative nature is revealed in the invocation ‘That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;/ And chastise with the valour of my tongue/ all that impedes thee from the golden round.’ Macbeth’s arrival home is announced and both he and Lady Macbeth reflect quickly on what the witches prophecies may mean . Lady Macbeth’s controlling nature becomes evident as she assures her husband to leave everything to her. Significant quote: ‘…unsex me here;/ And fill me …top –full of direst cruelty’ Techniques: tone; euphemism; puns; metaphors; invocations; characterisation; gender context; symbolism; foreshadowing;

15. ACT ONE: Summary Scene VI: Inverness. Before Macbeth’s castle. Much flattery takes place in this scene as Duncan arrives at the gates to Macbeth's castle. The initial dialogue between Duncan and Banquo is somewhat fanciful in tone yet sets up the irony of the scene. Upon meeting Lady Macbeth , Duncan turns from his effusive discussion of the castle and nesting birds ( metonymy for Macbeth and his wife) to that of his love for and by its inhabitants – Dramatic Irony. The previous scene allows the audience to recognise the insincerity of Lady Macbeth's responses. Significant quote: ‘All our service/In every point twice done, and then double… Techniques: Insincere tone; superlatives; characterisation, dramatic irony, metonymy

16. ACT ONE: Summary Scene VII: Setting: Inverness: Macbeth's castle The scene begins with a soliloquy by Macbeth foreshadowing the murderous thoughts he has settled on. The passage reveals his uncertainly, his torn loyalty to a cousin and his King, to himself and his realisation that the act of killing will render him subject to scrutiny by man and God. Macbeth’s ‘vaulting ambition’ is a euphemism for pride going before a fall. As the scene continues, Macbeth tells his wife that the murder will not go head, allowing the audience to develop some empathy with him as his integrity and values come to the fore. Lady Macbeth, however, has ambition enough for them both and becomes ignorantly effusive in her rebuke of Macbeth accusing him of being a ‘coward’ and breaking his ‘enterprise’ a euphemism for a promise, to her that she would become queen. The scene reveals who is the truly ambitious character and the manipulation of Macbeth which ultimately leads to both his and Lady Macbeth's madness and death. Significant quote: ‘…but screw your courage to the sticking place,…’ Techniques: Verb phrases, adjectives, euphemism, metaphor, tone, alliteration, rhetorical questions

17. Act Two: Summary Scene One: Setting: Inverness: The court of Macbeth’s castle The audience is introduced to Fleance, Banquo’s son, foreshadowing that Fleance may also be subject, by association with Banquo’s prophecy from the witches, to the role of king. Macbeth, in this scene, tries to convince Banquo he ha not thought about the witches prophecy which the audience know to be untrue from the arguments with Lady Macbeth and his asides. At the ringing of a bell, the signal from lady Macbeth that all is in place for Macbeth to do his murderous deed, the audience is introduced to the madness that will eventually overcome him . A long soliloquy that ends with Macbeth’s reflection and realisation that the bell ‘ summons thee [Duncan] to heaven or to hell [Macbeth]. Significant quote: ‘Is this a dagger that I see before me…’ Techniques: Allusion, euphemism, metaphor, tone, alliteration, rhetorical questions

18. Act Two: Summary Scene Two: Setting: Inverness: Macbeth’s castle The murder of Duncan takes place. The dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth betrays their nervousness and guilt. Macbeth’s guilt and remorse is instant. Lady Macbeth once more accuses him of cowardice and tells him to accept what he has done and control his ‘brainsickly’ attitude. The concept and metaphor of guilt and blood not being able to be euphemistically washed out of hands is introduced here. Shakespeare allows the audience to gain insight into the immediate consequences of murderous deeds on the mind and the soul. Significant quote: ‘I am afraid to think what I have done; ‘ Techniques: Allusion, euphemism, metaphor, accusatory and regretful tone, alliteration, rhetorical questions

19. Act Two: Summary Scene Three: Setting: Inverness: Macbeth’s castle This scene introduces Macduff and Lennox into the play. Shakespeare constructs a prearranged meeting between Macduff and Duncan that brings Macduff to Macbeth’s castle. Macduff therefore becomes the person who discovers the murder of Duncan. Upon discovery of the murder Macbeth goes to the chamber and compounds his guilt by murdering the grooms who have been accused due to Lady Macbeth’s careful arranging of the scene. The scene ends with Malcolm and Donalbain ( the second son of Duncan – remember he has already named Malcolm as his successor) making the astute comment that there are ‘daggers in men’s smiles; the near in blood/The nearer bloody’ suggesting that with the King’ death there is risk to all those who may assume their purchase to the throne. Significant quotes: ‘Who could refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart / Courage to make’s love known?’ ‘To show an unfelt sorrow is an office /which the false man does easy.’ Techniques: Allusion, euphemism, accumulation of metaphor, ingenuous tone, alliteration, rhetorical questions, irony

20. Act Two: Summary Scene Four: Setting: Inverness: without ( outside) Macbeth’s castle Ross and an old man discuss the strange and unsettling events of the murder of a king. In political terms the killing is akin to the deposing of a modern political leader and destroying any chance of their future succession due to blind ambition of another. The reasoning provided by the old man and inferentially by Macduff is that the murder has been done for nefarious means. Suspicion of Macbeth is raised in the scene as he has gone to Scone to be crowned king. Techniques: Allusion, euphemism, accumulation of metaphor, alliteration, rhetorical questions, irony, repetition, inference

21. Act Three: Summary Scene: Significant quotes: Techniques: