Gothic Themes

Gothic Themes

1. Blood

   • So is he mine; and in such bloody distance, That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life
   • We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd In England and in Ireland, not confessing
   • Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day; And with thy bloody and invisible hand
   • There’s blood upon thy face.
   • Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purged the gentle weal;
   • Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold
   • It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood
   • The secret'st man of blood. What is the night?

2. Death

   • Which in his death were perfect
   • With twenty trenched gashes on his head; The least a death to nature
   • Who wear our health but sickly in his life, Which in his death were perfect
   • To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death
   • Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead
   • For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd
   • Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd
   • With twenty mortal murders on their crowns
   • We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it
     • Macbeth knows that the evil deed is incomplete. Is the Snake reffering to the power of Banquo and the venom that lies with a potentiality to ruin the plan?
   • Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd
   • It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain To kill their gracious father?

3. Inner Turmoil

   • Fail not our feast
     • Why does Macbeth insist on Banquo being at the dinner?
   • Duncan is in his grave. After lifes fitful fever, he sleeps well
     • Ironic because such chaos is caused because of Macbeth's actions only.
   • Better be with the dead
   • O full of scorpions is my mind
     • Scorpions suggest that these thoughts may cause Macbeth pain, as well as highlights the chaos going on inside
   • Come seeling night
     • Similar to Lady Macbeth's call of "Come, thick night"
   • Theres blood upon thy face
     • As readers, this comment jumps at us. Why does Macbeth comment on blood when he is at a formal dinner? Does this reflect his ability to think straight?
   • Which of you have done this?
   • If I stand here,I saw him
   • And betimes I will- to the weird sisters
   • His highness is not well
   • When now I think you can behold such sights
   • Thy gory locks at me!

4. Light and Dark imagery

   • Come, seeling night
   • I must become a borrower of the night
   • Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
   • Till seven at night: to make society The sweeter welcome
   • The moment on't; for't must be done to-night
   • If it find heaven, must find it out to-night
   • That shake us nightly: better be with the dead,
   • Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night
   • Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
   • While night's black agents to their preys do rouse.
   • Light thickens
   • A light, A light!

5. Duplicity

   • Ride you this afternoon?
     • Certainly, there is duplicity in Macbeth's tone. He is consciously being ovely-friendly to Banquo to find out information.
   • Fail not our feast
   • Do you find your patience so predominant in your nature, that you can let this go?
     • Macbeth is able to manipulate the murderers. Do we see similarities in his character with Lady Macbeth? This shows duplicity as he is able to switch from the victim to the manipulator.
   • Ye go for men
   • Better be with dead
   • Be innocent of the knowlege
     • As readers, we are forced to question Macbeth's intention. Why does he keep his plan away from Lady Macbeth? Similar to when she questions his nature of being "too full" of human kindness?
   • Blood hath been shee ere now
   • Contrast when the ghost of Banquo leaves
     • Macbeth is almost able to switch "on" and "off" his emotions. When Banquo leaves, he is able to appear normal to guests.
   • Present him eminence

6. The Supernatural

   • To the weird sisters. More shall they speak
   • Why how now, Hecate, you look so angerly?
   • Come, seeling night
   • ere to black Hecates summons
   • [Enter the Ghost of Banquo and sits in Macbeth's place]
   • The table's full

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