English: Macbeth

English: Macbeth

1. Themes

2. Quotes

   • “Fair is foul and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air.” -Witch Act 1, Scene 1
     • The opening of the play, to show that Scotland will be turned upside down
     • Themes of Duality and Nature and the Supenatural are present
     • The alliteration of “f” sounds evil and oppresive
     • “Hover” shows that they are definitely witches, the use of broomsticks
     • “Fair is foul” this is an oxymoron
     • “Filthy air” the atmosphere of the play
   • “...brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name disdaining fortune...” -Sergeant Act 1, Scene 2
     • King Duncan hears how Macbeth has won the battle for Scotland
     • Themes of Power and Duality
     • “Brave” shows how people respect and look up to him
     • “Disdaining fortune” Macbeth isn’t interested in power at this point. This is ironic and shows foreshadowing
   • “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.” -Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3
     • Macbeth has been told of the witche’s prephecy. Immediately he is afraid.
     • Themes are Thought vs Action and Guilt
     • “Fears” emotive language shows that the “brave” Macbeth can be afraid
     • “Horrible imaginings” he fears his thoughts more than what he will ever do [1]
   • “To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself.” -Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2
     • Macbeth is stuggling to come to terms to killing King Duncan
     • Themes of Guilt and Thought vs Action
     • “Know” repetition, obsessed with his own thoughts
   • “Sleep no more! Macbeth hath murded sleep.” -Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2
     • Macbeth struggles to come to terms whith what he has done
     • Themes of Guilt and Thought vs Action
     • “Murdered” powerful verb, Macbeth acknowledges he has commited the worst crime possible
     • “Sleep” this is repeated, which shows an obsession with a lack of rest
     • Personification of sleep, the sleep is a victim, just like Duncan
   • “The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees is left, the vault to brag on” -Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 3
     • Duncan’s body is discovered and Macbeth shows his “dispair” at the king’s death OR shows his joy that the king’s sons are the only thing to get rid of
     • Theme of Duality
     • “Wine of life” metaphor for Duncan’s blood
     • “Lees” the dregs, could be the king’s sons?
     • “Wine” has religous connotations to the last supper, which would make Macbeth Judas and Duncan, the Christ
   • “Tis unnatural, even like the deed that’s done.” -Old Man, Act 2, Scene 4
     • Scotland reacts to the news that the king is dead. Even random old men think something bad is happening
     • Themes of Nature and Supernatural and Action
     • “Unnatural” refers to the murder of the king, but also witchcraft
     • “Deed that’s done” almost sounds like the Old Man and all of Scotland knows what Maxbeth has done, adding to his paranoia
   • “Upon my head they placed a fuitless crown, and a barren sceptre in my gripe.” -Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1
     • Macbeth remebers the prophecy about Banquo’s sons so he plans to kill them
     • Could be referring to what he thinks that the witches have made him infertile
     • Themes of Nature and the Supernatural
     • “Fruitless” pointless, a waste of effort, childless
     • “Barren” empty, dry, unable to produce life
     • “Sceptre” symbol for his “manhood”
     • “Gripe” an archaic word, but in this context means to grip tightly, Macbeth wants to hold tightly to his newfound crown.
   • “I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in to saucy doubts and fears.”
     • Macbeth reacts badly to the news Fleance has escaped the murderers.

3. Ideas

   • Puritan Christians
   • Women in Jacobean society
   • CONTEXTTT vry important peeps