Macbeth - Act Three, Scene Five & Six

Macbeth - Act Three, Scene Five & Six

1. 'And I, the mistress of your charms'

   • Source of all evil.
   • Supernatural theme.

2. 'Thunder, Enter the three witches, meeting with Hecate.'

   • This whole seen was said to be inserted for James 1st ammusment.
   • Function is purely dramatic.
   • Goes from iambi to tetrameter form, which is not the language of the courts but the language of evils deception.
   • Plans to bring about Macbeths downfull.

3. 'And, which is worse, all you have done hath been but for a wayward son'

   • Allowed Macbeth freewill, so it was never the witches prophecy, it was only an excuse to kill.

4. 'And you all know, security is mortal's chiefest enemy.'

   • Plans to get Macbeth a false sense of security, which makes him complacent and unguarded in his actions.

5. 'Hark! I am called. My little spirit, see, sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me'

   • 'My little spirits,' illustrates a pet like nature, that is complacent and mimics Lady Macbeths behaviour.
   • 'Foggy cloud,' Pathetic fallacy.

6. 'As, by the strength of their illusion, shall draw him on to his confusion.'

   • 'Illusion' illustrates that Macbeth will be blind and only see what is wanted and not truth.
   • Blur between appearance and reality.

7. 'Right-valiant Banquo walked too late'

   • Doesn't say Macbeth killed him but insinuates him instead.
   • Choric scene which reflects on previous actions and events, also indicates a passing of time and an insights to how Macbeth runs the country.
     • 'Tyrant's feast,' and 'tyrant holds,' - illustrates how Macbeth rules over Scotland.

8. 'Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives.'

   • 'Meat,' 'sleep' are common motifs throughout the play.
   • Subversion of the natural order, to restore what is missing, his role is corrupt.

9. 'Some holy angel fly to the court of England and unfold his message ere he come - that a swift blessing may soon return to this our suffering country under a hand accursed!'

   • 'a hand accursed,' refers to Macbeths rein.
   • Wishing freedom for scotland
   • Personification of Scotland 'suffering country'