Macbeth
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Act I, Scene I
Vocabulary
hurlyburly – turmoil ere – before heath – a tract of open land with sparse vegetation anon – soon
When are the witches planning to meet again and for what purpose?
The witches are planning to meet at the heath to see Macbeth
Describe the setting of this scene. How might it be significant considering this is the first scene of the play? What sort of mood does it create?
The setting of this scene takes place in a desert. This is significant because it creates a scary, dark mood.
The witches say together, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” This is one of the most famous lines in Macbeth. What do you think it means?
Act I, Scene II
Vocabulary
broil – battle spent –
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Why does Banquo warn Macbeth about “the instruments of darkness?” What type of literary device is this? How does this comment tie into the “fair is foul, foul is fair” theme?
Banquo warns Macbeth about the Witches because he knows only bad can come from them. This is an example of foreshadowing. This comment ties into the "fair is foul, foul is fair" theme by in order for the prophecy to take place foul must be achieved.
12. As the others talk, what does Macbeth’s aside reveal about his thinking? What does he fear? How is this moment a significant turning point for Macbeth?
Macbeth's aside reveals that now he is going to get greedy and try to come up with ways to get rid of Duncan. He fears murdering Duncan and this is a turning point because this is when he is going to write his wife and will realize that this must happen in order for him to achieve
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What is the difference between how Banquo reacts to the fulfillment of the first prophecy and how Macbeth reacts? Why might their reactions be significant?
Banquo is still happy because according to the prophecy he is still prosperous, Macbeth however is completely excited because these Witches are telling him he's going to rule Scotland and be prosperous and all of these things. These reactions are significant because they foreshadow what's going to happen to Banquo and Macbeth.
14. What common human feeling is Macbeth expressing when he says, “My thought…/ Shakes so my single state of man that function/Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is/ But what is not”? How does the quote relate to the “fair is foul” theme?
Macbeth is expressing his confusion and indecision. His over-analysis of the situation leaves him doubting his every move. He is overwhelmed by his imaginings and is unsure of what is real and what is fantasy. Macbeth’s sentiment that “nothing is but what is not’ again highlights the concept that things are not what they appear to be
Act I, Scene IV
Vocabulary
liege – a ruler; king studied – rehearsed owed – owned careless – worthless before – ahead wanton – unrestrained; lewd harbinger – a
A lot like Macbeth, the character Banquo was also a highly skilled soldier, and very much trusted by their king, even though Macbeth respects Banquo’s bravery he also fears his wisdom. While Macbeth is quick to action and has little to no time for thought Banquo chooses not to turn his thoughts into action, Banquo is however a lot more cautious as shown when he and Macbeth met the three witches. Banquo actually considers the reasons for what the witches are offering and later realizes they are telling him his future and thinks that the witches are attempting to make him greedy for power. Macbeth however reacts oppositely. Banquo actually considers the reasons for what the witches are offering and rather than thinking about the outcomes of his
History has been filled with evil people doing evil things for power whether that means killing or putting other people down. The truth is everyone wants power and once that power is gained they will do whatever to maintain it. In the play Macbeth written by Shakespeare the main character receives a prophecy from witches (wierd sisters) telling him he will become king. Acting in response Macbeth kills the king and soon becomes the new king. The play follows his story as he struggles to maintain his power and battles against those threaten his rule. In Act 3 scene 1, Macbeth's’ soliloquy about Banquo, his best friend, expresses the tones of fear, jealousy, and anger through the literary devices of metaphors, repetition, and foreshadowing, which
Macbeth shows himself to be two-faced in this scene. During the time in which he is talking to himself, he is full of treachery and surprise. I will be surprised. However, when he turns and speaks again to Banquo, he is very. acts innocently and claims that in the meantime he and Banquo should speak their "free hearts" to each other, which means that they will be.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair, a phrase that has become synonym with Macbeth. It is also the introduction to one of the most important themes of this tragedy: appearance and reality. Shakespeare uses various characters and situations to emphasize this confusion between the real and the surreal, the authentic and the fake, the act and the sincere. In order to discuss this theme, different characters will be looked at : in the first paragraph, the Witches, in the second, Duncan and in the third, Lady Macbeth.
Later in the play Banquo starts to have a bad feeling about Macbeth. "Thou hast it now: King, Cowdor, Glamis, all,/ as the weird women promised, and I fear/ thou play'dst most foully for `t." III i 1-3, this is a quote from Banquo explaining how he feels about Macbeth's predictions coming true. Macbeth realizes this about Banquo and he starts to have feelings about killing Banquo. This isn't the only reason he feels this way, the witches had also made predictions for Banquo. "Thou shall get kings, though thou be none." I iii 67, Macbeth doesn't want any of Banquo's family to rule Scotland; he wants his own family to continue to rule. Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his on Fleance. The murderers end up killing Banquo, but Fleance gets away.
Our main character Macbeth is very driven by his need for what he believes to be the truth. The play starts out with the quote “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” (1.1.6) meaning nothing is, as it seems. This quote was from all three witches, who decided they were going to seek out Macbeth who at the time was Thane of Glamis and a prized solider on the battlefield. Macbeth at this time was looking for more in his life. The witches then gave him and his friend Banquo three prophecies. They were that he would become Tha...
In act three another prophecy foretold by the witches comes true. The paradox “fair is foul and foul is fair” characterizes the changes the protagonists undergo in acts one, two and three. Throughout the play Macbeth, the “fair” one, becomes overcome by guilt and becomes “foul”. While Lady Macbeth who was “foul” in her instigations becomes “fair”.
Macbeth began this play with a great future ahead of him: a Thane to the King with a great life and many friends. Shortly after Macbeth is given the title Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and his companion Banquo encounter a group of witches. The witches are portrayed as wicked and menacing, saying “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air” (Act 1, Scene 1). This quote shows that what appears to be fair and good, similar to that of Macbeth at the beginning of this play. This quote also applies to the Witches themselves. The Witches’ prophecies to Banquo and Macbeth appear to be fair and very appealing to the men, but are actually very deceiving and leads to Macbeth’s ultimate downfall. Following Macbeth’s visit by the witches, he tells Lady Macbeth of his encounter but says that he does not wish to kill King Duncan to become King. Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as an evil mastermind, using her powers of seduction to challenge Macbeth’s masculinity. Macbeth may not have murdered for the throne if it was not for the actions of Lady Macbeth, who accuses Macbeth of being too kind hearted to take the closest path to the throne. Macbeth’s downfall begins with the actions that his wife convinces him to take. Shakespeare uses characterization to show that Macbeth is a tragic hero, but these characters’ actions also cause many conflicts that lead to Macbeth’s
Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" is considered one of his great tragedies. The play fully uses plot, character, setting, atmosphere, diction and imagery to create a compelling drama. The general setting of Macbeth is tenth and eleventh century Scotland. The play is about a once loyal and trusted noble of Scotland who, after a meeting with three witches, becomes ambitious and plans the murder of the king. After doing so and claiming the throne, he faces the other nobles of Scotland who try to stop him. In the play, Macbeth faces an internal conflict with his opposing decisions. On one hand, he has to decide of he is to assassinate the king in order to claim his throne. This would result in his death for treason if he is caught, and he would also have to kill his friend. On the other hand, if he is to not kill him, he may never realize his ambitious dreams of ruling Scotland. Another of his internal struggles is his decision of killing his friend Banquo. After hiring murderers to kill him, Macbeth begins to see Banquo's ghost which drives him crazy, possibly a result of his guilty conscience. Macbeth's external conflict is with Macduff and his forces trying to avenge the king and end Macbeth's reign over Scotland. One specific motif is considered the major theme, which represents the overall atmosphere throughout the play. This motif is "fair is foul and foul is fair."
The witches are evil women and discuss their recent evil activities. The witches did not believe in peace and proved so in the statement “Fair is foul, and foul is fair:”(1.1, 11). The witches who represent evil tell Macbeth that he will be king one day as well as state that Banquo’s sons will be
In conclusion, this theme of appearance versus reality is developed and presented through different characters in the play which include The Witches, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. All these three characters paint a vivid picture of their personalities on the outside; but as proven, they are different on the inside. Interestingly, Macbeth’s first line in the play is “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” (1, 3, 36), showing that Macbeth is the core of the play’s moral confusion from the start of this play. It is made clear that Shakespeare identifies what he sees in life as the world’s fatal flaw, the inability to distinguish between appearance and reality. However, no matter what, reality will conquer appearance whether it is slow in the case of Macbeth or abrupt like Lady Macbeth’s, the truth will always emerge at the end.
...le Macbeth tells them that ‘every man be master of his time’ so that he can ‘keep alone’. By choosing to isolate himself and not inform Lady Macbeth of his plans to murder Banquo we see how Macbeth feels as if he can’t even trust his closest companions. After turning his back on Lady Macbeth, Macbeth becomes fixated not only on the prophecies of the witches but when he hints to Lady Macbeth that ‘a deed of dreadful note’ will fall upon Banquo and his son he talks like the witches. This shows how Macbeth has turned his back on seeking council from his lords and advisors and begins to act as a king who instead of rationally thinking things out, he chooses to justify his reasons on prophetic predictions from a world of sorcery.
In Act 1, Scene 1, the three witches meet in the battlefields to talk about when they are going to meet Macbeth following the fighting. In Act 1, Scene 1 Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy to show the mood of the scene. The weathe...
In act 1 scene 1 it begins with the arrival of the three witches deciding to confront the great general Macbeth after his victorious return from battle. Banqou also stood before the witches as they began their significant prophecies about the events that will occur
"Fair is foul and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air” (1.1.11-13). Humanity has the proficiency of being two-faced, one can be bad but appear good as well as be good but appear bad. Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare best exemplifies the following theme, “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” By opening the play with these lines, Shakespeare created an eerie atmosphere and promptly expressed the play’s theme. The composition portrays a Scottish soldier named Macbeth who is met by three witches with foreshadowing greetings, he is told he will be King and then falls into darkness to gain power despite the harsh consequences. Within the plot, the theme “fair is foul and foul is fair” is established and repeated throughout the play. The theme not only weaves its way into the narrative, it is shown within the supernatural beings, incidents, and play’s characters.