Macbeth act 1

Macbeth act 1

1. Scene 1 - the witches

   • speak in trochaic tetrameter (stress is on the first syllable of each pair) - almost childish way of talking - suggests the idea of witches is childish
     • symbolises in shakespearen plays that a character is doing something wicked
   • "Fair is foul and foul is fair:"
     • fricative - witches has violent intentions - is the cause of the violence them or Macbeth?
       • Macbeth is evil - "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?"
     • paradox
     • ambiguity
     • frightens the jacobean audience, and makes the supernatural seem more real and intimidating
     • Suggests Macbeth won't see the bad outcomes in becoming King
     • a good role like king is ruined by the crime he commited to get it
   • Shakespeare is trying to seek King James' patronage - the king liked the idea of witches and paranoia - but it was a new idea
     • Macbeth was shown in King james' court, not at the globe theatre - he wants to educate them and entertain them
   • They might have become witches to get power in a patriarchal society - Shakespeare might be against patriarchal society
     • criticising treatment of women in front of a audience of nobles
     • King James is against women, he believes in original sin - eve represents all that is wrong with women
   • "When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"
     • only have gift of prophecy - deciding which weather condition is the best to control macbeth
       • can't necessarily control the weather
     • Later in the play they take on persona of the three fates/ three norns
       • can only tell prophecy
     • The actual meeting is hidden - prompts curiosity
   • "I come, Graymalkin!".... "Paddock calls"
     • the witches have masters - animals - shifts blame off the witches, suggests that it isn't witches that are at fault, but familiars
   • "Hover through the fog and filthy air"
     • almost mocking King James

2. Scene 2 - sergeant - Macbeth's blood lust

   • "smoked with bloody execution"
     • suggests fury, speed of attack, efficiency
     • he has blood lust, is this foreshadowing later events? Could this be his harmatia, driving the events of the play
   • "unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps"
     • suggests he was close to MacDonald when he killed him, impossible to do this from a distance
     • Macbeth wants to be close to the blood - recurring theme of blood lust
   • "Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him"
     • Shakes Macdonalds hand after he slices him open then says goodbye
       • enjoys his own joke about death - psychopathic
     • He enjoys killing - his harmatia - ultimately leads him to kill King Duncan
   • "Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, or memorise another golgotha, I cannot tell."
     • Sergeant is saying they are efficient
       • suggests the reason they are doing it is to bathe in blood
     • Golgotha - hill Jesus was crucified - death
       • Sergeant is suggesting that Macbeth is killing for Christianity, they are giving up their lives for their country
     • Macbeth is killing people so he can remember it, and enjoy it - blood lust
   • shows consequences of breeding warlike men in a warlike society
     • Result of conflict is creating men of power like Macbeth, Shakespeare wants to create a peaceful society ruled by civil law
   • Shakespeare wants to avoid a war against the catholics after the 1605 Gunpowder plot - year that Macbeth was written

3. Scene 3 - Do the Witches control Macbeth

   • First Witch: "Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wreck'd as homeward he did come"
     • Macbeth is coming home from the battle - should be the safest part
       • really it sets in motion his demise
     • King James believed the witches tried to sink his ship
       • Shakespeare is suggesting they can't do that, but what they can do is manipulate Macbeth's mind
         • Only have gift of prophecy
   • Third Witch: "All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!"
     • "thou" is informal of you - suggests love or low status
       • Witches treat Macbeth as inferior
         • They treat him like they know him - they see their evil in him
   • Banquo: "Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair"
     • "you" - respect and high status banquo always address Macbeth as "you"
     • "start"- startled - macbeth is afraid
       • Macbeth looks afraid because he is imaging himself killing Duncan
         • Harmatia of ambition and bloodlust
           • He could just wait for prophecy to come true
     • Sibilance - reminds us of the evil and temptation
       • Banquo knows Macbeth's bloodlust - he knows Macbeth will kill Duncan - he needs him to so his bloodline can become kings
         • Banquo is a little evil -they live in a martial society - warriors are rewarded
           • Banquo never tries to stop Macbeth
             • In the Holinshed's chronicles, Banquo and Macbeth kill Duncan together - Shakespeare changes this to flatter King James
           • One of the reasons Shakespeare does this to critice his society
   • Macbeth: "By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis"
     • In this society, the only way you can advance is through the deaths of others
   • Banquo: "What, can the devil speak true"
     • trochaic stress of "what" suggests he is being evil
     • in the line "honest trifles"
       • Banquo uses one too many syllables
         • Shows he is being evil and manipulating macbeth
       • Banquo: "Cousins, a word, I pray you"
         • Only 7 syllables
           • This continous slip of the pentameter shows he is being evil
             • He stops talking to Macbeth here because he knows he has planted the seed, and doesn't want to be obvious about persuading him
       • Thane of Cawdor is an "honest trifle"
         • Like putting on robes - it looks impressive but doesn't mean anything
           • word "trifle" suggests to Macbeth that he can aim higher (king)
             • Banquo wants him to become king
               • He appears to be advising him not to think about becoming king
                 • "In Deepest Consequence"
                 • Really it is pushing him closer
     • He now absolutley believes in the Witch's promises
       • Banquo releases that the Witches have evil intent - links them to the Devil
         • He doesn't intefere though
   • Macbeth: "The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrow'd robes?"
     • metaphor of wearing borrowed robes shows how he doesn't think power is a permanent position
       • titles can be won and lost through war
         • The robes are "borrowed" because he won't have them for long - titles are short term - Martial Society
           • Reveals his deep insecurity
             • To continue feeling secure, you must continue killing - Martial Society
     • Macbeth's aside: "Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair"
       • we instantly see him turn to murder
     • "my seated heart knock at my ribs"
       • "seated" - suggesets passive - suggests what he wants is action and wants to move towards his fate rather than wait for him
       • "knock" - suggests Macbeth is knocking to get to becoming King - knocking at the door of the throne room
     • Macbeth never uses the word "fate" in his aside only "chance" - suggests he won't wait to become king and let fate take its course, but will do it himself