Key episodes of 'Macbeth'

Key episodes of 'Macbeth'

1. Captain's description

   • Noble presentation of Macbeth

2. Macbeth meets the witches

   • First impressions of Macbeth in person
     • Attraction of evil
     • Still good
   • Supernatural

3. Lady Macbeth with the letter

   • First impression of her
   • Description of Macbeth, as ambitions, but without evil
   • Gothic 'violent' language
   • Calls on the supernatural

4. 'Is this a dagger' scene

   • Doubt, madness, supernatural

5. Duncan's murder

   • Reactions of both LM and M
     • LM contrasts before and after M is there
     • Hyperbole (e.g. sea)

6. Banquo's ghost

   • Supernatural, despair, conscience, madness...

7. Apparitions

   • Supernatural, Gothic, irony... beforehand Hecate says 'he shall spurn fate' 'security is mortals' chiefest enemy'

8. Lady Macbeth sleepwalking

   • Gothic contrasts...
   • Madness, vulnerability

9. Macbeth's despair

   • Suicide (Sin)... Gothic contrasts with Captain's description
   • Madness...