Macbeth: Act 1

Macbeth: Act 1

1. Scene 1

   • Speak in verse shows that they might be casting a spell
     • They finish eachother's sentences shows that they are one; a collective group
   • "Thunder and Lightning. Enter three witches"
     • Pathetic Falacy; chaotic weather, sinister setting, connotations of dark, foreshadowing
       • "Fair is foul, and foul is fair"
         • Juxtaposition
   • WRITERS INTENT: WANTED TO SHOW HOW THEY VIOLATE THE NATURAL ORDER BY INTEREFERING WITH RIGHT AND WRONG

2. Scene 2

   • A battle takes place with Macbeth being portrayed as a war hero and saviour
     • "Brave Macbeth", "worthy gentlemen"
   • Thane of Cawdor deceives King Duncan so he gives it to Macbeth
     • "What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won"
       • Thane of Cawdor is like an Earl - an important and high status
         • Shows the respect Duncan has for Macbeth

3. Scene 3

   • Talk about the sailor and how they cursed him over a petty thing
     • Shows their power
       • Realtes to the fact that sailors are captains of their ship and Macbeth is going to be 'captain' of his land
   • "So fair and foul"
     • Macbeth said as they saw the three witches
       • Shows their connection so quickly
   • "That trusted home...the instruments of darkness"
     • Banquo doesn't trust the witches
       • As he knows that it would lead to some kind of destruction, not for anyone's benefit
         • "Look how our partners wrapped"
           • Macbeth is almost in a daze
       • Shows his goodness as he didn't need to be in the scene
         • Banquo is more deserving
           • Banquo is skeptical about the witches
             • He was given a prophecy too: that he would not be king but his offspring would be
   • "Doth unfix my hair"
     • Macbeth wants to kill Banquo because of his negative thinking
       • But on the other hand, feels guilt
         • Shows his humane side and that he has some element of good in him
           • He earns the title though
         • And shock of having these thoughts - almost questioning himself
   • "All hail that shalt be King hereafter"

4. Scene 4

   • "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face"
     • You can't tell what a man is thinking just by looking at his face
       • Links to the fact that the Thane of Cawdor betrayed him before
   • "I have begun to plant thee and will labour to make thee full of growing"
     • Duncan wants Macbeth to grow and flourish and succeed in his career
       • PEOPLE USED TO THINK THAT IF CROPS DIDN'T GROW, IT WAS BECAUSE OF WITCHES
         • Because the witches are involved, it might hinder the growth of Macbeth and Banquo
   • DUNCAN AND JAMES IV BOTH LINK; THEY KINGS OF SCOTLAND
     • GUY FAWKES TRIED TO KILL JAMES I WITH THE GUNPOWDER PLOT
       • THE YEAR AFTER SHAKESPEARE WROTE MACBETH TO PLEASE JAMES I
         • MACBETH IS PROTESTANT AS JAMES I IS PROTESTANT
   • "The eye wink at the hand...which the eye fears when it is done to see"
     • Macbeth is torn between decisions as his mind is provoking his hand to kill
       • The eye is shutting itself from the deeds the hand is carrying out
     • "The eye wink" shows that he is flirting with the idea of killing Duncan
       • He is interested and intrigued
       • Shows Duncan is naive as he is still trusting Macbeth when he got deceived one already
         • THEME OF TRAGEDY

5. Scene 5

   • Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship is strong
     • "My dearest partner of greatness"
       • Macbeth considers them as equal
         • SHAKESPEAREAN AUDIENCE WOULD THINK IT WAS WRONG AND SILLY
           • WOMEN WEREN'T INVOLVED IN POLITICAL MATTERS
             • But Macbeth told his wife everything
             • THE ROLES ARE SWITCHED THAN HOW IT WOULD'VE NORMALLY BEEN
   • "Too full of th'milk of human kindness"
     • Milk is pure and a natural souce
       • Breastmilk is pure and gives child nutrients
         • "I fear thy nature" she is scared that she might have to force him
           • AUDIENCE: SYMPATHETIC SAYING THAT HE IS JUST NORMAL, HE HAS CONSCIENCE AND FEELS GUILTY AT THE SAME TIME
   • "That I may pour spirits in thine ear"
     • Reference to witches
       • Shows her evil intentions and evil side
         • "The raven himself is hoarse"
           • Ravens are bad omens
             • "Under my battlements"
               • It is her territory and that she is powerful
   • "Unsex me"
     • She wants her gender to change so she could do the deed herself as Macbeth doesn't have any drive
       • She is aware of everything she is doing
         • She doesn't want to feel remorse or regret as she still has human kindness
           • "Your hand, your tongue: look like th'innocent flower, but e the serpent under't"
             • RELIGION AS EVE WAS BLAMED BUT THE SERPENT WAS AT FAULT
               • Snakes; evil, deception
     • "Come to my woman's breasts and take my milk for gall"
       • As milk is pure, she's saying take away my pureness and replace it with ruthless

6. Scene 6

   • "Pleasant seat...sweetly recommends"
     • Irony; Macbeth is about to kill Duncan but he is praising his house
   • "Those honours deep and broad wherewith your majesty loads our house"
     • Lady Macbeth is flattering King Duncan
       • Contrasts to the previous scene - shows how false she is
   • Duncan is naive, kind and gullible
     • Dramatic Irony as Macbeth is going to kill him
       • AUDIENCE: THE NICER HE IS, THE MORE SYMPATHY WE FEEL FOR HIM AS HE WILL DIE
         • JAMES I WAS KIND
   • "This guest of summer, the temple-haunting martlet"
     • Martlet is a bird: quest-seeking knowledge
       • Temple is a holy place - relates to Macbeth's place
         • Dramatic Irony as Duncan is unaware

7. Scene 7

   • "Of our poisoned chalice"
     • Oxymoron
       • Poison is bad but a chalice is a holy cup
         • RELIGION WAS A BIG THING IN THE 1600s
   • "But here upon this bank and shoal of time, we'd jump the life to come"
     • RELIGIOUS INFERENCE TO AFTERLIFE
       • The afterlife is compared to the ocean as it has no end and life on earth is a shoal with its shallow water
   • "Thine own act and valour as thou art in desire"
     • Are you afraid to do what you want?
       • Emotional Blackmail
   • "I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out"
     • She would have thrown her baby across the room is he had asked her to
       • Ironic as a mother's love towards her children cannot be compared
       • WOMEN WERE CONSIDERED LOW STATUS SO KILLING A MAN WOULD BE SO BAD
     • Breastfeeding is natural, creates a bond between a mother and child