Macbeth

Macbeth

1. Context

   • King James I
     • Christianity
       • The Bible
     • Kingship
     • Punishment of traitors
       • The gunpowder plot
         • Macbeth is killed for his treachery
     • The Supernatural
       • The witches
     • The Divine Right Of Kings
       • Macbeth is not the king appointed by God so by killing Duncan and taking his place he betrays God's will and must face consequences
   • 11th Century Scotland
     • Society
     • Historical impact/ events
   • 17th Century England
     • Patriarchal society
       • Weakness of women
         • Lady Macbeth
           • Strong minded in principle but weak in action/follow through
           • Seems strong and powerful in the beginning, but cannot kill Duncan - showing her weakness - and cannot handle the guilt overall (nightmares and suicide) further showing weakness
         • The witches
           • weak in that they cannot directly control Macbeth
           • Power comes with their evil/darkness and as such gives the implication that a powerful woman is an evil woman
           • 'you should be women and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so.' (1;3)
             • Not necessarily (fully) female in a sense so could gain power from having male properties
     • Christianity/ religion
     • natural order
     • Society
       • Gender roles

2. Themes

   • power and control
     • 'You would be so much more the man' (1;7)
       • Using gender roles to gain control over Macbeth by manipulating him
     • 'unsex me here' (1;5)
       • Lady Macbeth is trying to gain power so has asked to be 'unsexed' / given male properties in order to do what she wants to
     • 'Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil' (2;2)
       • Using intimidation and manipulation to gain power and control by calling Macbeth childish to be afraid in an attempt to manipulate him into being unafraid to do the deed
   • Kingship
     • 'All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter' (1;3)
       • King James' Bible Matthew 26:47-49 Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss and by saying 'Hail'
     • 'fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal' (1;5)
     • 'upon my head they place a fruitless crown. And put a barren sceptre in my gripe.' (3;1)
   • Natural order
     • 'Fair is foul and foul is fair' (1;1)
     • 'I could not say 'Amen' when they did say 'God bless us'.' (2;2)
     • 'A falcon, towering in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawk'd and kill'd' (2;4)
   • Appearance and reality
     • 'so foul and fair a day I have not seen' (1;3)
     • 'Is this a dagger I see before me the handle toward my hand?' (2;1)
     • 'Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't' (1;5)
   • Guilt
     • ' 'sleep no more: Macbeth does murder sleep' the innocent sleep' (2;2)
     • 'Out damned spot, out I say' (5;1)
     • 'Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?' (2;2)
     • Lady Macbeth kills herself from the guilt after being unable to sleep properly because of the guilt. (5;5)
   • Ambition
     • 'If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir.' (1;3)
     • 'To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself' (1;7)
     • ' [I have given suck, and know how tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me.] I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn [as you Have done to this.]' (1;7)
   • The Supernatural
   • Fate vs. Free will