Villainy in Macbeth

Villainy in Macbeth

1. The witches...

   • Act 1 Scene 1
     • they are waiting for him
       • Is macbeth about to be cursed? we hear all the thing they have done to others.
       • is macbeth part of their pact already? "hail macbeth"
     • "when the hurley burleys done when the battles lost and won"
       • Winning the power but at the cost of others having to be harmed by loosing
       • sugesting macbeth will do anything to "win"
   • act 1 scene 3
     • how macbeth reacts
       • silent, thinking and questioning about what they have told him. is it real?
       • confused showing he knows right and wrong
       • immediatly thinks of the murder!
       • Intrigued in the demons showing villainy.
     • How banquo reacts
       • doesn't believe it tells them to go away etc
   • James was very keen on demonology
   • How king duncan speaks about him
     • As a hero!
       • loyalty
     • ruthless and vicious macbeth fights showing no mercy.
       • Villainy
   • Act 4 scene 1
     • how has he changed?
       • he himself has gone to find the witches, not the witches him
         • he is seeking out the evil, the "demons" instead of just letting god decide his fate.
         • he is predicting the future! this is wrong
         • he has traveled to a dark scary place that nobody else would go to, to try and seek out evil showing his ambition.
     • his speech.
       • He demands the witches and is no longer scared of them.
       • the murders have given him confidence that nobody can defeat him.
       • he is angry at the witches for who they have made him become

2. King Duncan's Murder

   • Is this a dagger?
     • vision of a dagger
       • ghost?
       • Macbeth's inner evil?
       • or a spell the witches have cast upon him?
       • inticing him to murder
     • imagary
       • witchcrafts- evil
       • describes himself as the wolf
         • shows he knows that the act is evil yet he is still willing to carry on with it.
     • Shows his fear and unease over killing Duncan
   • lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth
     • Calls him a coward
     • Says that he doesn't love her
     • Says he is to scared to act
     • Calls him evil for breaking the promise " What beats was't then // that made you break this enterprise to me??"
     • she would rather kill her own child than break a promise to her husband
   • act 1 scene 7
     • he question the reasons why he should not kill Duncan the king.
       • If there were no consequences he would do it but there are...
       • he will be judged
       • it will haunt him
       • he is related to him
       • he should be loyal to the king as his subject
       • Of all things he should be protecting the king!!!
       • Duncan is a good kind king which will make macbeth evil if he were to kill a good man
     • He realises that killing the king is wrong!
     • The only thing driving macbeth is his ambition
   • Taken place offstage
     • macbeth kills him peacefully he didn't want it to happen duncan had done no wrong and was a good man
     • Shakespeare doesn't want to offend James the 1st as it would be disrespectful.
     • It would have made it more comical on a shakespearan stage but this is a serious part of the play.

3. banqou's murder

   • taken place onstage
     • Banquos death is very viollant showing how macbeth doesn't care how much pain banquo goes through
       • it is far more entertaining for the audience without offending anyone.
       • this shows hatred and fear towards banquo
       • This is not because banquo has done anything wrong, he is only suspicious.
   • hired murderers to do it for him
     • Sympathy?
       • he knows he needs for it to happen but he is doesn't think he can kill his best friend after all they have been through.
       • he doesn't want to see banquo die.
     • Cowardice?
       • Macbeth is used to killing people face to face showing his bravery.
       • it's almost as if macbeth is running away from the murder
         • he is also running away from the consequences as the murderers will get blamed and not him.
     • More evil?
       • its like he is "killing vermin" as he gets he "servents" to do the dirty work for him
       • he no longer cares for banquo as he is far more powerful than him
         • Power means he can have whoever he wants murdered quickly and swiftly and get away with the consequences.
   • lady macbeth had no means of persuasion
     • getting away with the first murder of the king now makes macbeth feel he can get away with anything.
       • he no-longer shows any dread for the consequences and does not need to be persuaded.
     • he feels this is a more personal matter that he needs to deal with alone
     • he is now more "experienced" since killing duncan and his conscience has weakened.
   • its more villainous than duncans murder as he does not do it himslf showing his power over people has grown, he no loonger cares about the people he kills and he can get away with anything he likes.

4. banquo's ghost

   • Visual representation of villainy
   • supernatural
   • the murderers turn up on a joyful occasion having just commited murder
     • Shows how macbeth cannot ever relieve himself of the constant willingness to kill to remove the threats to his power
   • villainy
     • guilt
       • he has just murdered a friend
         • His conscience is shown in supernatural form
         • regret
     • Fear of banqou's sons
       • "fleance scaped" "then comes my fit again"
       • He has no children to heir
       • Banquo's sons can still come king
         • jealousy