Flashcards
Macbeth
Cards in this deck (11)
- 1MacbethCharacters:
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
The three witches
Banquo
King Duncan
Macduff
Malcolm
Hecate
Fleance
Lennox
The Murderers
Ross - 2Key Eventsfull title · The Tragedy of Macbeth
author · William Shakespeare
type of work · Play
genre · Tragedy
language · English
time and place written · 1606, England - 3publisher · John Heminges and Henry Condell, two senior members of Shakespeare’s theatrical company tone · Dark and ominous, suggestive of a world turned topsy-turvy by foul and unnatural crimes tense · Not applicable (drama)setting (time) · The Middle Ages, specifically the eleventh century
setting (place) · Various locations in Scotland; also England, briefly
protagonist · Macbeth
tense · Not applicable (drama) - 4major conflicts · The struggle within Macbeth between his ambition and his sense of right and wrong; the struggle between the murderous evil represented by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the best interests of the nation, represented by Malcolm and Macduffthemes · The corrupting nature of unchecked ambition; the relationship between cruelty and masculinity; the difference between kingship and tyranny
- 5Act 1 Scenes 1-4Macbeth
As Macbeth is the main protagonist in the play, there are many scenes which help to illuminate his character. - 6Act One Scenes 1-2 As in many Shakespeare plays, we hear about the main character before we see him on stage. The important facts we get are:The obviously evil witches are planning to meet with Macbeth.
- 7Macbeth has shown amazing courage in the battle and virtually been the saviour of Scotland. He is called 'valiant', 'worthy' and 'noble' by Duncan, and is referred to as 'Bellona's bridegroom' – as if he is like a god.But he is also portrayed as savage: he rips one of his enemies apart as if he is an old garment: "unseamed him from the nave to the chaps". He decapitates the man and puts his severed head on a spike on the battlements as a trophy.
- 8We can thus see two possible sides to Macbeth emerging: the noble upholder of his King, and the bloodthirsty man who seems to be trying to replicate 'Golgotha' – the horrific place where Christ's crucifixion took place.Act One Scenes 3 – 4
We see Macbeth's response to the witches' greetings and prophecies. Guilt and fierce ambition are uppermost. - 9Banquo asks "Why do you start…?" The word 'start' meant to jump guiltily. Macbeth's imagination immediately takes off, jumping to thoughts of 'murder'.Notice the number of 'asides' which shows he dare not reveal his real thoughts.
- 10His frustration is clear when Duncan proclaims Malcolm as his heir: "Stars hide your fires. Let not light see my black and deep desires." This is the first time in the play that Macbeth invokes darkness, which is symbolic of evil.Notice that all of these thoughts occur to him before he speaks to Lady Macbeth. It is Macbeth himself who first thinks of murdering the king.
- 11However, we can sympathise with Macbeth to an extent as he suffers from merely contemplating what he might do; the 'horrid image' (of himself murdering the king)makes his hair stand on end, and his 'seated heart' knocks at his ribs in terror.The prospect of murder horrifies him.
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- Year 10 English Flashcards on Macbeth , created by alliaya proctor on 20/06/2017.
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- alliaya proctor
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