Macbeth Characters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dramatis Personae DUNCAN, King of Scotland Duncan is a good king who his people like. By no fault of his own he is unable to discern those who threaten his reign. MACBETH, Thane of Glamis and Cawdor, a general in the King's army and LADY MACBETH, his wife Macbeth is a basically good man who is troubled by his conscience and loyalty though at the same time ambitious and murderous. He is led to evil initially by the witches' predictions and then by his wife's goading, which he succumbs to because he loves her so. His obsession over the kingship shows a certain kind of egotism.Lady Macbeth is a good wife who loves her husband. She is also ambitious but lacks the morals of her husband. To achieve her ambition, she rids of herself of any kindness that might stand in the way. However, she runs out of energy to supress her conscience and kills herself. BANQUO, Thane of Lochaber, a general in the King's army Banquo serves as a foil to Macbeth, showing an alternate react to prophecy. Banquo retains his morals and allegiances, but ends up dying. He is brave and ambitious, but this is tempered by intelligence. MACDUFF, Thane of Fife, a nobleman of Scotland Macduff shows early on a distrust of Macbeth. He also represents fate as when knocking on the door. He thinks he can avoid having his family looking guilty and getting killed by fleeing, but he overestimates Macbeth. Macduff then plays the avenger. MALCOLM, elder son of Duncan Malcolm, as a good king, is everything that Macbeth is not. He uses deception only to insure his personal safety. DONALBAIN, younger son of Duncan Donalbain is Duncan's youngest son and fless to Ireland when his father is murdered. LENNOX, nobleman of Scotland Lennox is one of Duncan's nobles and he is largely an observer in the play. He grows suspicious of what he sees in Macbeth, and grows increasingly sarcastic and is fearful for the fate of Scotland. ROSS, nobleman of Scotland Ross is Macduff's cousin. He acts as a messenger in the play, bringing good news of Macbeth's military victory and bad news about Macduff's family. SIWARD, Earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces Old Siward is the Earl of Northumberland and an ally of Malcom and Macduff. YOUNG SIWARD, his son Young Siward is Siward's son. He is slain by Macbeth in hand-to-hand combat. SEYTON, attendant to Macbeth Seyton is Macbeth's lieutenant. HECATE, Queen of the Witches Hecate is sometimes referred to as the queen of the witches. It is she who directs supernatural happenings and appearances of the mystical apparitions. The Three Witches The three witches add an element of supernatural and prophecy to the play. They each have a familiar, such as Graymalkin and Paddock, and are commanded by Hecate, a Greek goddess of the moon and later witchcraft. The witches are based on a variety of ideas about witches at the time. They can use sieves as boats, and they can assume the shape of an animal, but with a defect, as with the tailless rat. The witches were also thought to be able to control the winds. They are described as having beards but looking human. The Porter The Porter is the keeper of Macbeth's castle who imagines that he is the keeper of Hell's Gate. LADY MACDUFF Lady Macduff represents all the good people slaughtered by Macbeth. She loves her family, and is distressed at her husband's departure. She doesn't really believe her husband is a traitor and is conerned only that he is safe when the murderers arrive. FLEANCE, Banquo's son Fleance plays no large role, and the only question is how his line ends up becoming king after Malcolm. MENTEITH, ANGUS, and CAITHNESS noblemen of Scotland Other Characters An English Doctor, A Scottish Doctor, A Sergeant, An Old Man, The Ghost of Banquo and other Apparitions, Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murtherers, Attendants, and Messengers Summaries -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act I, Scene 1 The witches plan to meet after the battle, which we find is a rebellion in Scotland. They are summoned by their familiars and end with the theme of the play. Act I, Scene 2 The king and his thanes are at a camp and hear word of the battle from the bleeding sergeant. The sergeant had saved Malcolm earlier. He says that the battle was doubtful, with the rebel Macdonwald receiving reinforcements and luck. However, Macbeth man aged to fight well, and killed the slave Macdonwald. A second attack by the Norweyan lord angered Macbeth and he met their attacks so the Norwegians got their butts kicked. The sergeant goes to get some medical attention, and then Ross tells the rest of the story. Norway and the rebel Thane of Cawdor were met by Macbeth and were defeated. The Norwegian king Sweno was forced to pay ten thousand dollars. Macbeth is given the rebel Cawdor's title. Act I, Scene 3 The witches meet again, as planned. One has been killing pigs. Another witch is getting revenge on the captain of the Tiger, who's wife has not given her a chestnut. Winds summoned by her will blow in every direction, making the sailor throw up and nev er sleep, though the ship will never be lost. The witch has the pilot's thumb. Then Macbeth comes. The witches sing a little song. Macbeth comments on the good and bad day, then Banquo sees the witches. They look human in some ways, but don't in others. The witches hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, his current title, as well as Cawdor, which he doesn't know he is to receive, and King, which is a complete shock. Banquo is suprised that Macbeth isn't ecstatic at the prophecy, and asks the witches why they have no prophecy for him. The witches make important predictions to Banquo, as lesser but greater, less happy but happier than Macbeth. They also say his children will become Kings. Macbeth wants to know more. The witches vanish, and the two puzzle over the disapperance. Ross and Angus come. Ross tells them the kind heard of his victory in battle. They tell him the King will honor him in person, but that he has also received the t itle of Cawdor. Macbeth asks why he is given someone else's title and is told of the treason. Now Macbeth starts thinking the prophecy might come true. Banquo is still worried. Macbeth is scared as he considers killing the king to complete the prophecy. Banquo says he is getting used to his new title. Macbeth comes out of his thinking and thanks the men. He tells Banquo they will talk later. Act I, Scene 4 The king asks if Cawdor is executed yet and if the people who did it are back yet. Malcolm says the aren't back but someone who saw it said Cawdor confessed and apologized, at peace with himself so that death was not a problem, and the way he left was be tter than the way he lived. Duncan makes a comment important to theme, saying he trusted Cawdor, because he was deceptive in the way he acted. When Macbeth arrives, Duncan thanks him for what he did, saying he can never repay him. Macbeth says he was just doing his duty. Duncan says Macbeth will grow, and Banquo will be close to his heart. Banquo also expresses his loyalty, saying the benefit would be for Duncan. Duncan says he is happy despite troubles, and declares his son Malcolm his successor, making Malcolm a problem in Macbeth's getting the throne. Duncan decides to go to Macbeth's castle, and Macbeth goes to tell his wife. Macbeth talks of how he is having dark thoughts about trying to become king. Duncan comments on how great Banquo is and then follows him. Act I, Scene 5 Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from Macbeth, which tells about the witches prophecy. Lady Macbeth says that her husband is too nice to get the greatness he is promised. She decides to help him gain the crown. A messenger tells her the King is coming. Lady Macbeth decides that Duncan will be killed while staying there. She tries to get rid of all kind thoughts so that she can do the deed. She tells her husband to appear normal, even while he plans to kill the King. Act I, Scene 6 Duncan talks about how pleasant the castle is. Banquo notes how the birds are abundant, marking it for a nice place. Duncan greets Lady Macbeth, who returns the formality and assures her loyalty. She leads them into the castle. Act I, Scene 7 Macbeth contemplates the crime and says he should do it soon if he does it. If this was all there was to it, and all he had to worry about was the afterlife, he would do it. But he is also judged here, and murdering may lead to his own death. He is supposed to be loyal to Duncan as a relative and subject and host. And Duncan is such a nice, great leader that whoever kills him will be damned. Everyone will be sad. There is nothing to make him do it except ambition, which is like a spur but also like a rider who jumps on a horse but falls off the other side. Lady Macbeth says Duncan almost finished dinner. Macbeth doesn't want to kill someone who has done him so well. Lady Macbeth asks what happened to his hope that he had so much. She will not love him if he doesn't do this, what he wants. Macbeth doesn't want to do it, and Lady Macbeth asks what happened since he was so willing to do it before. She says that if she had sworn to, she would kill a baby suckling at her breast. Lady Macbeth says they won't fail because they will get the King's attendants drunk and make it look like they did it. Macbeth comments on his wife's mannly mettle, and starts to believe his wife. She says it will look like the servants did it, so Macbeth agrees to do it, while hiding what he did from his face, a refernce to the theme. Act II, Scene 1 Banquo and Fleance are walking around and wondering at the time. Baquo is worried about the dark thoughts in his head. Macbeth comes up and Banquo asks why he isn't sleeping when Duncan went to bed happy and sent them gifts. Macbeth responds that he wasn't as good a host because he was unprepared. Banquo dreamt of the witches and Macbeth says they should talk about that later. Banquo wants to maintain his loyalty to the king. Macbeth dismisses his servant and then imagines a dagger before him, but he isn't sure if it is real. He says it encourages to do the deed, showing him how. In the night, he dreams of Hecate and the witches, of a wolf howling the time for murder, and compares his stealthy approach to that of Tarquin. In horror, he resolves to do the deed. Act II, Scene 2 Lady Macbeth says that the alcohol that made the attendants drunk has given her courage. Omens of death wish the king good night, and Macbeth is going to kill him as the drunk attendants are unconscious. When Macbeth shows up she is afraid they woke up and it didn't work. She would have done it if Duncan didn't look like her fathe. But he did it, after some trouble. One attendant woke up and said "Murder" but then they went ack to sleep. Donalbain either said "God bless us" or "Amen" in response to Duncan saying it. Macbeth is troubled because he could not say "Amen". Lady Macbeth says not to think that way. Macbeth says he heard a voice saying he murdered sleep, which is described as such a sweet and pleasant thing. She tells him not to think of such sickly things and to wash his hands. She then agrees to put the daggers back, because Macbeth doesn't want to. She says only kids fear death and sleep. She will get some blood on the attendants to make them look guilty. Macbeth is troubled by knocking and says that nothing can wash his hands clean, and the blood will make the seas red. Lady Macbeth feels bad to have red hands but to be innocent of the crime itself. She tells him to wash his hands and retire and put on his nightgown so that they will not be suspicious to the watchers. Macbeth wishes he did not know what he had done. Act II, Scene 3 The porter hears knocking and says that a porter at hell would have a busy job. He pretends to be the porter of hell, and imagines the sort of people who would come, such as a farmer who didn't get the high prices wanted, a traitor, and a tailor who tried to overprice his garments. Finally he lets Macduff and Lennox in, and they have a discussion about drinking. The porter tells how drink causes red noses, sleep, and urine. He also says it causes lechery, though it takes away the performance. Macbeth comes and greets Lennox and Macduff. Macbeth leads Macduff to the king. Lennox comments on weird things that happened during the night. Macduff returns, having discovered the murder. He is in hysterics, telling them of the horror of horrors and calling for an alarm. He compares the events transpiring to Judgement Day, when the dead rise up to a trumpet. Lady Macbeth comes and asks what is going on. And Macduff tells Banquo when he enters. Macbeth reenters commenting on how awful life is with the death of his king. Malcolm and Donalbain are then informed what happened. Lennox says it looked like the chamber attendants had done it. Macbeth says that in his fury, he killed the attendants. Malcolm and Donalbain are afraid and agree to leave. Banquo says they should reassemble to investigate the matter. Malcolm, in a comment relevant to the theme, says it is easy to show a false sorrow. They both agree it is not safe there and depart. Act II, Scene 4 The old man says this is the worst night he has ever seen. Ross speaks metaphorically of the battle between light and dark. The old man compares it to an owl killing a great falcon. Ross then talks of the mysterious event with the horses of Duncan getting loose and eating each other. Macduff says it is thought the attendants did the murder. He thinks they were paid by Malcolm and Donalbain. Macbeth is said to have gone to Scone to get the crown. Duncan's body is said to be buried. Macduff and Ross bid each other farewell. The old man bids them farewell with a comment alluding again to the theme. Act III, Scene 1 Banquo comments on how Macbeth has everything he was promised, but he thinks Macbeth gained it through evil. But Banquo hopes now that his prophecies will come true and his kids will be kings. Macbeth invites Banquo, his chief guest, to a feast. Banquo and Fleance are riding that afternoon, but can be back by supper. Macbeth says that Malcolm and Donalbain, their cousins whom guilt rests upon, are in England and Ireland but don't admit to the crime. Macbeth bids them farewell then tells the servant to fetch the murderers. While waiting, he deliver a soliloquy about how it is insufficient to be king, unless he is secure. He fears Banquo, with his wisdom and temper, will try to unseat him, as the prophecies said his children would be kings. Macbeth fears he has given up his soul and committed an evil act, just to put Banquo's descendants on the throne. He tells fate to fight him to the death. Macbeth has been convincing the murderers that Banquo is a bad person over the course of two earlier meetings. Macbeth tells the murderers they have a special role as men, and the murderers say they have had a rough life and would do anything. Macbeth tells them to kill Banquo, their mutual enemy. He compares is battle with Banquo to fencing, but says he can't kill him himself. He tells them to do it carefully, and to kill Banquo's son Fleance as well. Act III, Scene 2 Lady Macbeth sends a servant for Macbeth, then says something that reminds of Macbeth's earlier soliloquy. It is no good to be insecure in what you have, and you might as well be destroyed. She asks Macbeth why he is keeping to himself and acting worried when he can't change what he has done. Macbeth says there is still a threat, and he wishes he were one of the dead who are in peace, than have such constant worries. Lady Macbeth tells him to act happy. Macbeth says his wife needs to remember that, too, and that they need to flatter Banquo to cover up for their dark plans. Lady Macbeth says not to kill Banquo and that they won't live forever. Macbeth says they can be happy after Banquo and Fleance are dead, which will happen that night. Macbeth doesn't want to tell his wife of his plans so that she can be innocent. He says this evil deed will help what was badly begun. Act III, Scene 3 A new murderer appears, claiming to be sent by Macbeth. Banquo approaches and they kill him, but Fleance escapes. They go to tell Macbeth. Act III, Scene 4 At the banquet, they seat themselves according to rank. Lady Macbeth goes to play hostess, while Macbeth meets with the Murderer. He learns Fleance escaped and says he is now surrounded by fears instead of being calm and safe. Macbeth is grateful that at least the snake is gone, thought the worm Fleance will likely return. He tells the murderer they will meet again. Lady Macbeth tells him to be a good host, otherwise the guests might as well be eating at home or paying for the meal. Macbeth then sees a ghost of Banquo sit in his chair, but Ross and Lennox tell him to sit since they don't see the ghost. Lady Macbeth tells the guests to wait, that this is just a temporary fit. She tells Macbeth that it is just his imagining from fear. Macbeth says he is just ill and drinks wine to Banquo. He tells the ghost to go away, that it is not real. Lady Macbeth tells the lords to leave after Macbeth continues to act strangely. He wonders then where Macduff is. He says he will go to see the witches again. Act III, Scene 5 Hecate is angry because the witches have been dealing with Macbeth without consulting her. She says he will be told his destiny at the cave the next day. The various spells she contrives will lure him into a false sense of security. The witches prepare for her return. Act III, Scene 6 Lennox thinks it is suspicious how Macbeth has been acting and how two people killed their fathers. Macduff is reported to be in the English court, rallying forces to remove Macbeth. Act IV, Scene 1 The witches meet again and cook up a spell in their cauldron with all sorts of interesting ingredients. Macbeth approaches them to answer his question, regardless of any havoc it might wreak. Macbeth opts to hear it from the witches' masters and is greeted by an apparition that can read his mind and answer his question. The armed head represents Macbeth, telling him to beware of Macduff. The bloody child represents Macduff, who we later find out was not of woman born. Macbeth wonder why, then, he should fear Macduff but just to be safe he will kill him anyway. The crowned child is Malcolm, with the tree representing Burnham Wood, and says not to fear until Great Burnham wood moves against him. Macbeth feels safe since a wood can never move and he knows no people not of woman born. He thinks the prophecy is a good and insures him a safe life. Then a line of kings is seen, thought to represent the descendents of Banquo that eventually lead to King James. The last king holds a mirror to make the line seem endless. So Macbeth gets his question answered about Macbeth's descendents and the witches try to cheer him up by dancing. Then they disappear. Lennox tells Macbeth than Lennox has gone to England. Macbeth comments in his aside about how he was overtaken by time because he failed to act on his plan. He decides to kill Macduff's children. Act IV, Scene 2 Lady Macduff is wondering why her husband left. She thinks he was mad, looking like a traitor, loveless and cowardly to leave his family and possessions. Ross tries to comfort her, telling her he knows what is wrong at the moment. People don't know they are traitors, when they know fear. Ross leaves and says he will be back. Lady Macduff has an interesting conversation with her son Sirrah about what they will do without a father. The messenger tells her to leave, that she is in danger. But Lady Macduff doesn't know where to go, and she has done no wrong. As she realizes that doing good is sometimes a bad thing, the murderers arrive. The murderers kill the Son, but Lady Macduff escapes. Act IV, Scene 3 Malcolm says they should find some place to cry, while Macduff says they should defend their native country the way they would a fallen comrade. Scotland is full of cries. Malcolm says this could be true, but he fears that Macduff could betray him to Macbeth for a reward. Malcolm says that even is Macduff isn't treacherous, he good give in to the royal command the way a cannon recoils after it is fired. He says bad things can look good while good things still look good. Malcolm asks why Macduff left his family. Macduff says he is not a bad person, that the tyrant Macbeth hurts Scotland as legal ruler. Malcolm says he does want to retake Scotland, but then to check still if Macduff is a spy, he lies, saying how he is a man of vices who would be an even worse ruler. At first, Macduff says the vices won't be a problem, that Scotland can deal with them and that Macbeth is worse. When Malcolm persists, Macduff says that Malcolm truly unfit to rule and fears for his country. Malcolm then says his fears are allayed, and that he really is virtuous person. Macduff says this is hard to deal with all of a sudden. The doctor then talks about how the king is healing people with the evil. Malcolm does not recognize Ross since he's been in England for a while. Ross tells how awful things are in Scotland, but assures Macduff his family is fine. He encourages them to return and save Scotland. Ross then tells Macduff that his family is actually dead. He encourages revenge. Macduff thinks Macbeth wouldn't have killed his kid if he had any of his own. They plan to go to Scotland. Act V, Scene 1 The gentlewoman who cares for Lady Macbeth has summoned a doctor, but in two nights the reported symptoms of waking up and writing something have not occurred. The doctor says it is a disturbance of nature for her to do such things while appearing to sleep. The gentlewoman will not repeat anything Lady Macbeth has said for she is unsure, but then Lady Macbeth appears, carrying a light. Lady Macbeth acts as if washing her hands, seeing a spot of blood. She questions why her husband should be scared, but complains still of the blood that was shed. She is wracked with guilt that troubles her as the two observe. The doctor says she needs the help of god, not a doctor for her troubles Act V, Scene 2 The English forces with the Scottish thanes are near, Menteith reports. The revenge they seek is a strong enough cause to raise the dead and wounded. Angus says they will met at Burnham wood, and Caithness asks if Donalbain is coming. Lennox explains he has a list of everyone, including boys ready to show their manhood in their first battle, and Donalbain is not on the list. Caithness explains that Macbeth is strengthening his castle, and is acting crazy, unable to rule. Angus explains these are the consequences of the murder; people don't willingly follow him and his title means little. Menteith explains Macbeth is afraid of himself, and Caithness compares Malcolm to doctor, and by working with him they will cure their country by shedding their blood. Act V, Scene 3 Macbeth is wondering how the prophecy will come true, and tries to remain confident. Macbeth upraids his servant for seeming afraid, but is told of the English forces. Mcabeth tells Seyton this revolt will either remove or leave him happy, as right now he has none of things due a man of old age. Macbeth asks for his armor, planning to defend himself to the end. Macbeth asks the doctor to cure his wife. The doctor wishes he weren't there. Act V, Scene 4 Malcolm hopes to regain the safety they once had. Menteith is sure it will happen. Malcolm tells each soldier to cut down a large tree branch and put it in front of him, thereby camouflaging himself. The scouts will think there are less of them. Macbeth waits in his castle, his only hope of defense. Though they have hopes of what they want to accomplish, now is the time for actual blows and battle to win. Act V, Scene 5 Macbeth says let them come to the castle, he can hold them off. If they didn't have his soldiers, then he could have met them on the field and beat them back. Macbeth has forgotten what it is like to be afraid, having as much fear as a man can bear. Macbeth wishes his wife had died later, at a better time. He comments on how life passes at this little speed, with people dying after a futile life. Macbeth says the messenger comes to speak, he should give his report quickly. The messenger, unsure of how to report what he saw, says Birnham wood appeared to move (remember that the soldiers are carrying boughs to hide themselves as they move), thus the prophecy is fulfilled. Macbeth starts wishing this were just all over and prepares for death fighting. Act V, Scene 6 Macolm and Macduff split off from Siward, and they throw down their boughs, preparing to fight. Act V, Scene 7 Macbeth knows he is stuck fighting, and he wonders who was not born of woman. Macbeth tells Young Siward who he is, and Macbeth says he should be not just hateful but fearful to Young Siward's ears. Macbeth says he doesn't fear any not of woman born and kills Young Siward. Macduff says he must kill Macbeth to avenge his family, and only Macbeth. By the noise of Macbeth's armor, he locates him. Siward explains the battle is easy. Malcolm enters the castle. Act V, Scene 8 Macbeth asks why he should kill himself when the wounds he might inflict upon himself would look better upon his living enemies. Macbeth says he has avoided Macduff and does not want to kill him after killing his family. Macduff says he will speak with his sword instead of words. Macbeth says the Macduff will not hurt him. Macduff then reveals that he was ripped from his mother's womb while she died. Macbeth is angry to discover that the prophecy will come true and only provided him false hope. Macduff tells him to give up and explains he will be put on a pole and displayed as a tyrant. Macbeth says he will try despite the prophecy rather than yield to Malcolm. Act V, Scene 9 Malcolm wishes no one had to die, but Siward says it is necessary and the cost wasn't that high for such a good day. Ross tells Siward that Young Siward, who just became a man in fighting, died. He tells him not to have sorrow, though. Siward says he died well then. Macduff hails Malcolm as king holding Macbeth's head. Act I Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Scene 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene I The scene opens with three witches entering an open plain. Thunder and lightning surround them, as the first witch asks of the other witches, "When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" (lines 1-2). The second witch replies that they will meet "when the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won." (lines 3-4), and the third witch says that "that will be ere the set of the sun"(line 5). The witches proceed to discuss where they will meet, and decide that they will meet "upon the heath" (line 7). The third witch then prophesies that they will meet Macbeth there. They leave with one final chorus: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair / Hover through the fog and filthy air," symbolizing the inversion of the world. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene II A Captain tells King Duncan and his son, Malcolm, about a battle that was fought against Macdonwald (a rebel). This battle quickly fulfills the first of many prophecies supplied by the witches. Macbeth, the title character, is first brought into the story as part of the Captain's report. Macbeth's character is greatly built up in this second scene by both the Captain and King Duncan. The Captain says, "For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name . . . nev'r shook hands, nor bade farewell to him [Macdonwald], / Till he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops [gutted Macdonwald], / And fixed his head upon our battlements" (lines 17 - 23). Macbeth is portrayed as brave, heroic, bold, and fearless in the face of death. The King adds, "O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!" (line 24). Now we know that he has relation to the king and the throne, which is important later. Ross, a Thane of Scotland, enters the scene and tells the King about a conflict against Norway in which Scotland was victorious. He also says, "[Norway was] Assisted by that most disloyal traitor / The Thane of Cawdor" (lines 53 - 54). The King says, "No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest: go pronounce him present [immediate] death, / And with his former title greet Macbeth." A minor theme of trust appears here, though this theme isn't large enough to give it formal standing, but remember the King's trust: broken by Cawdor, and immense for Macbeth. Also, Macbeth is given title of Thane of Cawdor, a good gift for the King's "valiant cousin's service to the King (a reward). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene III The witches reconvene upon the heath. The first witch talks about a sailor's wife who "had chestnuts in her lap" (line 4). The sailor's wife might represent another foreshadowing, this time of Lady Macbeth. The line (plus line 5) could be changed to "[Lady Macbeth] had [great, power-hungry desire] in her lap, / and [fed her desire], and mounched, and mounched." The sailor, then, is Macbeth. A curse is laid upon him by the first witch (lines 18 - 22): "Sleep shall neither night nor day Hang upon his penthouse lid; He shall live a man forbid: Weary . . ." Then Banquo and Macbeth enter the scene. Shakespeare throws in a pinch of humor at a tense situation, something he does in other parts of this play. Banquo says, "You should be women, / And yet your beards forbid me to interpret / That you are so" (lines 45 - 47). The witches then speak to Macbeth and give their great prophecy: Present: "Thane of Glamis!" (line 48) Future 1: "Thane of Cawdor!" (line 49) Future 2: "Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!" (line 50) The witches then speak to Banquo when requested by him, giving their second great prophecy: "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none." (line 67) Macbeth challenges the witches, questioning their prophecies. He says, "The Thane of Cawdor lives, / A prosperous gentleman . . . / . . . Say from whence / You owe this strange intelligence?" (lines 72 - 73). On lines 83 - 88, Shakespeare adds in more humor to lighten the situation. Then Ross and Angus enter the scene. Ross tells Macbeth, "He [King Duncan] bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor" (line 105). This statement almost convinces Macbeth and Banquo of the witches' prophecies. Does Banquo have prophecies of his own? "What, can the devil speak true?" asks Banquo (line 107). He says line 124, "The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's / In deepest consequence." He thinks and says bad things of the witches. He calls them instruments of darkness and the devil. He might believe that these prophecies will only bring harm even before anything begins to happen. We'll see if he's right later. Macbeth goes through stages of reactions to the prophecies. Banquo says on line 57, "[Macbeth] seems rapt withal [entranced by the prophecies]", meaning that Macbeth first has fear. When Macbeth demands of the witches answers about their prophecies, he has questioning denial. He says, "To be King / Stands not within the prospect of belief, / No more than to be Cawdor" (lines 73 - 75). Macbeth and Banquo joke about the prophecies, but after they are told that Macbeth is Thane of Cawdor, they are quick to accept the witches' prophecies (maybe the witches heard about the King's decision through other sources). Macbeth wants to believe the prophecies. He grows to desire the power in such a short time: Macbeth says, "Two truths are to / As happy prologues to the swelling act / Of the imperial theme" (lines 127 - 129) and, "[the prophecies have] given me earnest of success" (line 132). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene IV Malcolm tells the King about Cawdor's death. He says that Cawdor died not caring for his life. Maybe Shakespeare is showing the meaningless of life, and how unimportant it can be at times. Trust comes back again when the King says about Cawdor, "He was a gentleman whom I built / An absolute trust" (lines 13 - 14). The King also praises Macbeth again when he says, "O worthiest cousin / ... / More is thy due than all can pay" (lines 14 and 21). When Macbeth first speaks, lines 22 - 27, he reinforces his loyalty and duty to Duncan and the kingdom. These lines adds irony to the play. Macbeth desires to be the King, a position currently held by the person he is speaking to in humbleness. The King the establishes a crown prince: "We will establish our estate upon Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland" - lines 37 - 39. Macbeth once again shows his great desire for the throne. After Malcolm is instated, Macbeth says, "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires" - lines 48 - 51. He is now willing to go through great lengths to get the throne. Malcolm is now an enemy which he must "o'erleap" to get to the throne. He is willing to push others down to rise to the top. How far will he go? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene V Lady Macbeth receives Macbeth's letter. In the letter, Macbeth tells his wife about the witches, the prophecies, and how his gained title of Thane of Cawdor leads him to believe that he will be King. Lady Macbeth begins the play with great desire, saying "[you (Macbeth)] shalt be / What though art promised" (lines 16 - 17). She questions Macbeth's character: "Yet do I fear nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way" - lines 17 - 19. This feeling is the opposite of the King's. Duncan praised Macbeth earlier for his qualities, while Lady Macbeth thinks they just stand in the way of success. The King is respected, and he is a likable character. Lady Macbeth is the opposite. So who will lead Macbeth to the throne? Lady Macbeth, of course. She says, "Hie thee hither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, / And chastise with the valor of my tongue / ... / To have thee crowned withal" (lines 26 - 28 and 31). She wants to control her husband to get him the crown. A messenger enters and says that King Duncan will stay in Macbeth's castle tonight. Lady Macbeth quickly turns this news to opportunity to take the throne by killing Duncan: "the fatal entrance of Duncan" (line 40). She wants nothing but to be cruel enough to complete the necessary tasks, "Come to my woman's breasts, / And take my milk for gall" (lines 48 - 49). Macbeth enters and she tells him to let her take care of the business. Duncan's expected departure tomorrow from the castle, "O, never / Shall sun that morrow see!" as Lady Macbeth puts it (lines 61 - 62). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene VI The King and Lady Macbeth have a short conversation in this scene. The King says an ironical statement on lines 11 to 12, "The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, / Which still we thank as love." The love he is talking about is the Macbeths' hospitality. This is ironic because of the "trouble"; there really is trouble in store for Duncan here! King Duncan praises Macbeth to the end! He says, "We love him [Macbeth] highly, / And shall continue our graces toward him" (lines 29 - 30). The reader must concede the ironic qualities of the King's praises and trust going towards the man who is part of a plan to murder him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene VII In this scene, Macbeth goes through some ethical transformations. In his soliloquy lines 1 to 28, he has second thoughts, wonders what Duncan has done to him to deserve his death, and decides that he doesn't want to go through with the killing of the King. He tells Lady Macbeth, "We will proceed no further in this business: / He hath honored me of late, and I have bought / Golden opinions from all sorts of people, / Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, / Not cast aside so soon" (lines 31 - 35). Lady Macbeth is able to convince him to not give up the plan and his chances for kingship. She tells him that there isn't a chance they'll fail. She then tells Macbeth a more detailed plan of the murder (lines 61 - 72). Macbeth finally says, "I am settled, and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat" (lines 79 - 81), but take note that he said "terrible", meaning that deep down he knows it's wrong. Macbeth finishes with, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know" (line 82), exactly what Lady Macbeth wants him to say (referring to the masks). She has him wrapped around her fingers; at least she does now. Act II Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene I This act starts with Banquo and his son talking about the weather. Macbeth enters and talks to Banquo who brings up the witches. Macbeth lies when he says, "I think not of them" (line 21). Instead, he says, "If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis, / It shall make honor for you" (lines 25 - 26). In other words, Macbeth is looking for conformation of Banquo's allegiance to Macbeth. Banquo says that he is loyal to Macbeth, but is loyal to the King and his country first. This is a contrast from Macbeth who is loyal to himself first, and last the King. Macbeth finishes the scene with a soliloquy. First, he envisions a dagger, one that would be used to kill Duncan. He is still not on terms with his conscience when it comes to murdering the King. The dagger personifies that unsurety. But the dagger changes; it becomes covered with blood! This might mean that he sees no other option but to kill Duncan. His patience runs thin, "Whiles I threat, he lives" (line 60). After a bell rings signaling that Lady Macbeth is ready, Macbeth says, "Hear it [the bell] not, Duncan, for it is a knell / That summons thee to heaven, or to hell" (lines 63 - 64). This statement might be a threat to Duncan, meaning that he has no doubts about the murder, or it might be a remorseful statement meaning that he hasn't come to terms with the murder. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene II This scene is filled with symbolism after symbolism, some in the form of themes. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about the deed that has been completed. Some of the things they say relate to other parts of the play and offer more insight on the here and now of the play. Lady Macbeth ascribes twice to the owls shrieking; the owls symbolize the death. Their shriek is painful to the ears, like Duncan's death is painful to many people. The owls are night creatures which hunt and kill their prey at night, just like Macbeth did (though his prey is King Duncan, not rodents). Lady Macbeth has a chink in her armor. Although she wants to be cruel and emotionless, she can't truly be. She says, "Had [Duncan] not resembled / My father as he slept, I [would have killed him]" (lines 12 - 13). Religion (Christianity) is mentioned in this scene. Lines 21 to 32, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth how the servants (that were drugged) in Duncan's chamber said "God bless us!" and "Amen", but that he couldn't say it. "But where fore could not I pronounce 'Amen'? / I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen' / Stuck in my throat" (lines 30 - 32). This symbolizes the great guilt that he feels. He has alienated himself from God, even though he needed to be blessed by God. Sleep comes up often in this scene. Remember that the witches said (I, iii, lines 19 - 20), "Sleep shall neither night nor day / Hang upon his penthouse lid." Macbeth narrates that the servants then say "'Sleep no more! / Macbeth doth murder sleep'" (lines 34 - 35). He continues what the servants say, "'Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor / shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more'" (lines 41 - 42). Macbeth is imagining what the servants say. All of this is just a personification of his guilt. The sleep here (and with the witches) means at peace. Macbeth may physically sleep, but he'll never be at peace because of his acts. You'll see how this plays itself out throughout the play. Macbeth looks at his hands which are covered with blood. He says, "What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes!" (line 58). In Oedipus Rex, the main character plucks his eyes out after he finds out that he has killed his father (amongst other things). King Duncan seemed like a father figure to him, always raising his self confidence and looking out for him. Shakespeare might have been referring to this when he wrote this in. Can his bloody hands ever be cleaned? This is very much like the physical sleep compared to being at peace. Macbeth doesn't believe that he can clean his hands. He might get them physically clean, but they will always be tainted with his murderous deed (again he shows his guilt). Macbeth ends the seem with remorse for his actions. He says (lines 72 - 73), "To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. (Knock.) / Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!" But, of course, it is too late. Duncan will never wake again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene III We are in the middle of a very tense situation. The King has just been murdered by the title character, and soon, the characters will be discussing the murder. What does Shakespeare do? He throws in a drunk porter who makes bad puns, jokes, and silly sexual talk. It's just some humor in the midst of despair (fair in foul). Many things happen in this scene. The characters all find out about the murder. Macbeth kills the servants in the King's chambers, and his frame of the servants works. Macbeth gives suspiciously long speeches, leading Lady Macbeth to purposely faint (shutting Macbeth up and keeping him from further digging his hole). One humorous point of irony comes from lines 85 to 88, when Macduff tells Lady Macbeth, "O gentle lady, / 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: / The repetition, in a woman's ear, / Would murder as it fell." Of course we know that Lady Macbeth was the one that devised the murderous plan! One important role of this scene is to bring together all the main characters of the play: Macduff: He is the somewhat innocent bystander of the scene. He idly talks about the King before the death announcement is made. He leaves to attend to the King, and comes back in great horror. He is loyal to the king: "Approach the [King's] chamber, and destroy you sight" by seeing him dead. He wakes all the nobles and announces the King's death. Macduff finishes with his pledge to fight against the treason that occurred, on line 134. Lennox: He (without knowing it), keeps the blame off Macbeth for a while. He is the character that suggests that the servants in the King's chamber were the murderers. This may have helped keep all the nobles from immediately pointing the finger at each other. Banquo: Remember that he is loyal to the throne. His main role comes from lines 128 to 134 when he says that the nobles should meet to question this murder further. He says, "In the great hand of God I stand, and thence / Against the undivulged pretense I fight / Of treasonous malice" (lines 132 - 134). His role is to find the killer of the King. Malcolm and Donalbain: They are the sons of the King. They suspect a traitor in their midst. They believe that some of the Thanes might have a mask on. Malcolm says, "To show an unfelt sorrow is an office / Which the false man does easy" (lines 138 - 139). Donalbain says, "There's daggers in men's smiles" (line 142). These two feel that their lives are in danger. Since the King was killed, they are next in line for the throne, so the power hungry murderer would kill them next. They flee to different countries until the situation cools down. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene IV The character of an old man is introduced. He gives a different perspective on the death of Duncan. He has gone through many years, but he hadn't seen many of the disturbances that he saw the night before. A falcon (majestic -- symbolizing the King), is killed by a mousing owl (a hunting creature - - symbolizing Macbeth). A not-so-symbolic disturbance is the story of the horses eating each other. This scene also gives some quick developments in the story (told by Macduff). Duncan's body is taken to be buried and Macbeth is to be instated as new King of Scotland. A good line in this scene comes from the Old Man (lines 40 - 41): "God's benison go with you, and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!" Macbeth and Malcolm: Heroes of the Story? Is this story now heroless? Macbeth has shown his evil side, plotting and killing an innocent man. He is no longer the hero of the story as he once was (first he was the courageous dier praised by the Captain and the King). He is the villain that must be thwarted. Who then assumes the role of hero? Malcolm would have been my first choice. He is the son of the King who would get the thrown and take revenge upon his father's killer. But he and his brother run away for fear of their lives. Banquo? Lennox? Macduff? Fleance? Read on to Act III, and you will see one of these people be eliminated from this list. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to table of contents Act III Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V (not available) Scene VI (not available) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene I This act opens with Banquo's short soliloquy. In this soliloquy, the reader finds out that Macbeth is suspected and that Banquo is able to see through Macbeth's mask. Banquo says, "Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,/As the weird women promised, and I fear/Thou play'dst most foully for 't" (lines 1 -- 3). But also in his soliloquy, he shows his own desire for fulfillment of his part of the prophecy, "May they not be my oracles as well/And set me up in hope?" (lines 9 - 10). Macbeth and Banquo then speak. Macbeth gains useful information about Banquo's departure. This information will be used at the end of this scene. Macbeth also tries to pass the blame of himself, "We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed/In England are in Ireland, not confessing/Their cruel parricide" (lines 29 - 31). Macbeth: He has felt power. He is now King, and he doesn't want to give it up. At first he wasn't at peace because he wanted the throne. Now that he has the throne, he loses his peace with the prospect of loosing the crown. He says to himself, 'They hailed [Banquo] father to a line of kings./Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown/And put a barren scepter in my gripe,/Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,/No son of mine succeeding" (lines 60 - 64). His only choice now is to kill Banquo and Fleance. He is trying to work against prophecy, something he never learns not to do. Macbeth hires murderers, but doesn't just give them a command to kill Banquo and Fleance, he also expertly manipulates them. He makes the murderers believe that Banquo is the enemy of their country and that they would be patriotic if they killed Banquo. He says, "I was [Banquo] in the times past, which held you/So under fortune" (lines 77 - 78), and, "[Banquo's] execution takes your enemy off" (line 105). The murderers agree and leave to carry out the task. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene II Lady Macbeth and Macbeth go through a metamorphosis. There is a reversal in roles between the two characters. Macbeth has become the plotting, treacherous one who can't rest until the murder of Banquo and Fleance are completed. Lady Macbeth first regrets what they had done when she says, "Where our desire is got without content:/'Tis safer to be that which we destroy/Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy" (lines 5 - 7). She tells Macbeth, "You must leave this" (line 35), meaning his plans. Finally, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth, "Be innocent of the knowledge" (line 45), or in other words Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth to put on a mask about this plot. This truly is a reversal of roles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene III A third murderer joins the previously hired two. This signifies how desperate Macbeth is. He is really going to great lengths to get the job done. Banquo is murdered, but just before he dies, he gives Fleance an edict, "Thou mayst revenge" (line 18). Will Fleance do something to take revenge upon his father's killer? Keep on reading the play and find out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene IV There is a banquet with some nobles. Macbeth finds out from a murderer that Banquo was killed but Fleance escaped. Macbeth is disturbed by the news of Fleance, but is happy that Banquo is killed. He says, "There the grown serpent lies [Banquo is a ditch]; the worm [Fleance] that's fled/Hath nature that in time will venom breed" (lines 30 - 31). In other words, he's worried that Fleance will still fulfill the prophecy. Macbeth is told by Lady Macbeth to make a toast for his assembled guests. The speech is interrupted by the appearance of Banquo's ghost. Macbeth rants and raves strange things that confuse and worry his guests, "Prithee, see there!/Behold! Look! Lo! How say you?" (lines 69 - 70.) The guests don't see what Macbeth is talking to. Lady Macbeth calms the group down, telling them that Macbeth is just sick. She eventually evicts the crowd before Macbeth says something too incriminating. Is the ghost real or imaginary? Imaginary. As said earlier, Macbeth is talking to air, raving, having gone partly insane. The ghost is a hallucination brought forth from his guilt. Remember that he sent his best friend to his grave. No one else sees the ghost, giving the image even less credibility. After the nobles have dispersed, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he has put spies by Macduff's castle and that he noticed that Macduff didn't attend the banquet. Will this turn into the new struggle between light and dark? He also says, "I will, to the weird sister:/More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know/By the worst means the worst" (lines 134 - 136). Lady Macbeth says an ironical statement at the end: "You lack the season of all nature, sleep" (line 142). Macbeth really needs peace, but he can't relax because he feels that his power is threatened. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act IV Scene I Scene II Scene III -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene I The Three Witches enter the scene, a witches' haunt. They begin their ritual, adding many foul things to a bubbling cauldron ("scale of dragon, tooth of wolf/ witch's mummy, maw and gulf/ of the ravined salt-sea shark, root of hemlock digged i'th' dark/ liver of a blaspheming Jew", etc. [lines 22-26]), chanting what are probably the most famous lines in Macbeth: "Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble." As the second witch pours in babboon's blood to cool the mixture, Hecate and three other witches enter. Hecate commends the witches for their excellent work, and incites the witches to sing and dance 'round the caldron, to enchant it. Hecate and the other three witches exit after the song, just as Macbeth enters, heralded by the second witch: "By the pricking of my thumbs,/ something wicked this way comes:/open, locks,/whoever knocks!" (lines 44-47). Macbeth inquires of the witches as to what they are doing. They say that it is a deed without a name. He then challenges the witches to answer him, almost in effect saying that he can be more evil than they. "I conjure you, by that which you profess, howe'er you come to know it, answer me: though you untie the winds and let them fight against the churches; though the yesty waves confound and swallow navigation up; though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down; though castles topple on their warders' heads; though palaces and pyramids do slope their heads to their heads to their foundations; though the treasure of nature's germens tunble all together, even till destruction sicken, answer me to what I ask you." lines 50-61 The witches implore him to speak, saying that they will answer. Then first witch then asks Macbeth if he would rather hear it from their masters or from them. Macbeth tells them to call their masters. They throw in sow's blood to complete the conjuration. Thunder rolls and the first apparition appears: an armed head. Macbeth begins to speak to it, but is stopped by the first witch, who tells him to listen, that the apparition does not know him. The apparition gives Macbeth a warning: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough." - lines 71-72 The apparition descends into the cauldron. Macbeth attempts to speak to it, and is again shushed by the first witch. The witch then speaks of the coming of a second apparition, more powerful than the first. More thunder, and the second apparition rises from the cauldron: a bloody child. The apparition speaks to Macbeth: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn The pow'r of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth." - lines 79-81 Macbeth laughs at the first apparition's warning, thinking that he has nothing to fear from Macduff, and also swearing to kill him, just to insure that the prophecy does not come true. The third apparition arises: a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. Macbeth asks what this means, and is immediately chastised by all three witches and told not to speak to it. The third apparition then gives Macbeth this message: "Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him." - lines 90-94 The third apparition descends into the cauldron, as Macbeth gloats over the apparently well-boding prophecies. He claims that the wood will never move, asking "who can impress the forest, bid the tree/ unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements, good!" (lines 95-96). He asks one last question of the witches: whether or not Fleance will ever rule the kingdom, but the witches tell him to ask no more questions. Macbeth says that he must know, and says that the witches will be cursed if they do not show him. The witches all cry "Show!", and eight Kings (one with a mirror in hand) and Banquo appear. Macbeth cries out, horrified, as the image of Banquo, blood-stained and battered, smiles at him and points at the other Kings. Macbeth begs of the first witch to know if this is so. Her response is that of course it is so, but asks why he stands there so amazed at this grotesque scene. She implores the other two witches to perform a short dance to cheer him up, and says that "this great king may kindly say/ our duties did his welcome pay.", pointing out that Macbeth learned what he wanted to know, though it was not what he wanted to hear. The witches dance and vanish. Macbeth, thoroughly distraught, cries out, looking for the witches, and condemns the day, saying "Let this pernicious hour/ stand aye accursed in the calendar!" (lines 133-134). He hears someone outside and tells them to enter. Lennox enters the haunt and inquires what Macbeth wants. Macbeth asks him if he saw the weird sisters (the witches), to which the response was no. He then asks if the witches came by him on, but again the answer is no. Macbeth condemns the very air where the witches are ("filthy air" [I,i,11]) and then asks what the hoofbeats were that he heard before. Lennox replies that it was several riders attempting to find him and tell him that Macduff had fled to England. Macbeth, in a short aside , laments that an idea is worth nothing if not acted upon, and that, from that point on, "the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand." (lines 147-148). He then decides that he will surprise the family of Macduff and destroy his family, thus removing the threat that Macduff represents. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene II The scene opens with Lady Macduff and Ross speaking of Macduff's flight to England. She calls him[Ross] a traitor and that he fled his family and posessions out of fear. Ross attempts to try to make her realize that he might have had some reason for fleeing ("You know not/whether it was his wisdom or his fear"(lines 4-5)), but Lady Macduff responds in anger: "Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles, in a place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not; he wants the natural touch: for the poor wren, the most diminutive of birds, will fight, her young ones in the nest, against the owl. All is the fear and nothing is the love; as little is the wisdom, where the flight so runs against all reason." lines 6-14 Ross again attempts to calm and comfort her, to try to make her believe that her husband is not a traitor to his family. Lady Macduff continues on, and Ross takes his leave of her, becoming too distraught by Lady Macduff's carrying on to stay without breaking into tears and leaves. At this point, one of the most interesting dialogues in Macbeth takes place: Lady Macduff then inquires of her son how he will live with his father dead. He claims that he will live "like the birds"(line 32), just dealing with what he gets, and then tells his mother that his father is not dead. Lady Macduff claims that, yes, Macduff is dead, and again inquires how her son will live without a father. He deigns to answer and instead asks her how she will do without a husband. She claims that she can "buy [herself] twenty at the market"(line 40), to which the son replies that she'll "buy 'em to sell again"(line 40), i.e. to betray her again. She remarks on her son's sharp wit, quite astute for a child, before the son asks her if his father was a traitor. She replies that he was, and the son asks what a traitor is. Lady Macduff replies that a traitor is one who "swears and lies" (line 47), and the son asks if everyone who does this is a traitor, and again, the mother replies yes, and that all traitors must be hanged. The son askes her if everyone who swears and lies must be hung, and the mother replies, every last one. Finally, the son asks, "who must hang them?" (line 52), to which the mother replies, "the honest men" (line 53). The son then sums up his argument by making one of the most astute observations in all literature: "Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them." lines 54-56 His mother is awed by this point, but still inquires what he will do for a father. The son replies that if he were really dead, that Lady Macduff would be weeping for him, and that if she was not weeping, it would be a good sign that he would have a new father very soon. His mother dismisses his very valid point as "prattling" just as a messenger enters. The messenger carries a dire message: "Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known, Though in your state of honor I am perfect. I doubt[fear] some danger does approach you nearly; if you will take a homely man's adivice, Be not found here; hence, with your little ones. To fright you thus, methinks I am too savage; to do worse to you were fell cruelty, Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer. lines 63-71 Lady Macduff is thoroughly perplexed by this, and first thinks that she has done no one any harm, and does not understand why anyone would wish to harm her or hers. Then she realizes that she is in the real world, where many times, to good is very dangerous, and asks of herself why she should put up such a womanly defense as "I have done no harm", then sees people entering the room that she does not recognize. The first murderer asks her where Macduff is, to which she replies that she would hope in a place where none such as the murderer should find him. The murderer calls Macduff a traitor, and the son calls him a liar. The murderer calls him a "young fry of treachery"(line 82) and stabs him. The child implores Lady Macduff to run away before he dies. Lady Macduff runs out, screaming "Murder!" , but is pursued and overtaken by the murderers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene III Malcolm and Macduff enter the scene in front of the King's palace. Malcolm suggests that they mourn Macbeth's kinghood in Scotland, but Macduff suggests that they "hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men/ bestride our down- fall'n birthdom." (lines 3-4). Malcolm reminds Macduff that the man he now calls a dictator was once called honest and implores him not to be hasty, since Macbeth might be innocent. Macduff denies that he[Macduff] is treacherous, but Malcolm points out that Macbeth was once a valiant man, and that it was the brightest of angels that fell from heaven. Macduff says that he has lost hope, and Malcolm voices his doubts about who is worse, Macbeth or Macduff. He points out that Macduff left his family unguarded, but also points out that he may not be objective, and says that Macduff may be justified, no matter what he may think. Macduff becomes angry at this and points out how Scotland is bleeding, with a tyrant on her throne. He thinks that Malcolm is insinuating that he just wants power for himself and says that he would not be the villain that Malcolm accuses him of being for Scotland plus all of the wealth in the East. Malcolm asks Macduff not to be offended, that he agrees that Scotland is sinking, but also thinks that if the tyrant was killed, the country would simply have more vices, suffering, and sundry ways than ever before because of who would succeed Macbeth to the throne. Macduff inquires as to what Malcolm means. Malcolm repsonds by saying that his faults, if exposed "black Macbeth/ will seem pure as snow, and the poor state/ esteem him as a lamb, being compared/ with my confineless harms." (lines 52-55). Macduff responds that he could not even in the legions of hell could he find a person worse than Macbeth. Malcolm responds by naming Macbeth's faults, but says that Macbeth' are nothing compared to his own. Macduff says that compared to Macbeth, what he would do would be tolerable. Malcolm responds by saying that the more his hunger for power is fed, the greater it will grow. Macduff says that the evils that Malcolm might do would be outweighed by his virtues; Malcolm says he has none. Macduff begins to wail, to lament the loss of Scotland (note the turnaround from above!), as Malcolm asks him if such a person as he has just described should be fit to govern Scotland, and Macduff replies that such a person is not fit to live and that his hope for Scotland is ended. Malcolm then suddenly proclaims his faith in Macduff, and believes that he is a noble man who is willing to fight for the right reasons; however, Macduff falls silent. Malcolm inquires why, and Macduff replies that "such welcome and unwelcome things at once/ 'tis hard to reconcile."(lines 138-139). A doctor enters, and Malcolm asks if the King is coming. The doctor says that he will be there shortly because many people were waiting to be healed by him. Malcolm thanks the doctor, who leaves. Macduff inquires which disease the doctor means, and Malcolm tells him that he means "the evil", a disease which people believe that the King is able to cure by touch. Ross approaches, and Macduff welcomes his cousin. Macduff asks if Scotland stands where it did (i.e. Macbeth still on the throne). Ross expounds on the evils of the country, with which Macduff agrees. Malcolm asks what the latest horror is, and Ross responds by telling him that he doesn't know, that even the passing hour's news is hailed as old. Macduff then inquires of his family, and Ross tells him that everything is fine with them. Ross then tells him that Macbeth is massing an army, and that Macduff's aid in Scotland would help to stop this, and would turn many against Macbeth. Malcolm informs Ross that England has lent them 10000 soldiers to fight. Ross tells them that he wishes he could answer with news that was as heartening, but that Macduff's family was massacred. Malcolm and Macduff are both shocked by this, and Malcolm says that they must take revenge for this wrong, and that Macduff should take it like a man. Macduff replies: "I shall do so, But I must also feel it as a man. I cannot but remember such things were, that were most precious to me. Did heaven look on, And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff, they were all struck down for thee! Naught that I am, not for their own demerits but for mine fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now!" lines 220-227 Malcolm proceeds to incite him to use this as the "whetstone of his sword" (line 228), to make his grief into anger. Macduff responds that he "could play the woman with [his] eyes,/ and the braggart with [his] tounge" (lines 230-231). He tells them delay no longer, to bring Macbeth within reach of his sword, and that if he should escape, that heaven should forgive him. Malcolm replies that nothing is stopping them from leaving now, and that they should go soon. He tries to instill some confidence in them with his final lines: "Recieve what cheer you may,/ the night is long that never finds the day." (lines 239-240). Act V Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V Scene VI Scene VII Scene VIII -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene I The doctor says, "To receive at/once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of/watching [of one awake]" (lines 10 - 12). Remember in Act II how sleep and peace are related? We can restate the quotation with this premise: "To receive at once the benefit of physical sleep, but do the acts of one not at peace." When the gentlewoman says, "That, sir, which I will not report after her" (line 15) when asked by the doctor about what Lady Macbeth said, she is either protecting herself from being caught up in the mess or she is protecting Lady Macbeth from getting in trouble. It's most likely the former. Remember Act II, Scene ii? In that scene, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that water would clean his hands of the deed (murdering the King), but here, Lady Macbeth is obsessively washing her hands. "Yet here's a spot" (line 34), and "Yet who would have thought/the old man [Duncan] to have so much blood in him?" (lines 42 - 43.) In other words, she didn't know that Duncan's death would taint her so much Her hands are permanently tainted with her evil acts. This shows an even further reversal of the roles between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth (as we've seen in Act III). Macbeth didn't think that washing would truly clean his hands, now Lady Macbeth feels that way. Lady Macbeth addresses Macbeth on lines 65 to 68. She in trying to convince him that we was just seeing things, and that Banquo's ghost wasn't really there. Maybe she's seeing ghosts and she's trying to convince herself they aren't really there by convincing others. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene II The campaign against Macbeth is under way, and people are pumped up against Macbeth. Menteith says, "For [Siward and Macduff's] dear causes/Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm/Excite the mortified man" (lines 3 - 5). There are references made to Birnam Wood, alluding to fulfillment of the apparitions' prophecies. Lines 16 to 22 have some words and phrases that stick out: sticking on his hands -- Macbeth's guilt his title hang loose -- Macbeth is going to lose his title. giant's robe upon a dwarfish thief -- Macbeth is a dwarf in a position that's too big for him, and he stole that position (from Duncan). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene III Macbeth is impatient. "Bring me no more reports" (line 1) and "The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon!/Where got'st thou that goose look?" (lines 11 - 12.) He's fed up with the situation and he just wants peace. He is relying on his prophecies given by the apparitions: "Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane/I cannot taint with fear" (lines 2 - 3). Lines 22 to 28 show Macbeth's regret. He is sad that he will die alone without any true friends. Maybe pushing people down for power isn't worth it (a moral of the story?). The reader may feel sorry for him, until the reader realizes that Macbeth brought all this upon himself. Macbeth says, "Give me my armor" (line 33, and similar on lines 36 and 58). Why would he ask for armor when he doesn't think anyone can hurt him? Is he not so confident? Maybe Shakespeare made a mistake, thou it probably isn't. Macbeth then hears of Lady Macbeth's sickness. He responds rudely, meanly, and unprofessionally to the doctor. He doesn't seem like he cares very much about his wife, that this news is just another distraction. At the end, the doctor says, "Where I from Dunsinane away and clear,/Profit again should hardly draw me here" (lines 61 - 62). He realizes that Macbeth's castle isn't the most opportune place to be right now, so he decides to leave. He's just another person that's abandoned Macbeth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene IV Malcolm once again takes leadership. He says, "Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand/That chambers will be safe" (lines 1 - 2), or in other words, the nobles won't have to worry about being killed in their beds like Duncan was. His speech is basically a pep rally to motivate the nobles and soldiers. We see the character of Malcolm grow up in this play, from a child that runs away from danger in Act II, to a man who leads an army to gain what would rightfully should be his. "Let every soldier hew him down a bough/And bear 't before him" (lines 4 - 5). This is the moving of Birnam woods to Dunsinane, as the apparition foretold. This is somewhat the beginning of the end, the first of the apparitions' prophecies to come true. But who is the person not of woman born? Malcolm says on lines 13 to 14, "And none serve with [Macbeth] but constrained things/Whose hearts are absent too," meaning that Macbeth has no real comrades. Shakespeare is emphasizing the theme of aloneness, mentioning it at least two times. He is trying to add to the over all moral of this story involving greed and desire for power. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene V In this scene, two pieces of bad news come to Macbeth. The first is that Lady Macbeth dies, most likely of her insanity. Macbeth is sad but doesn't want to have to deal with this at such a bad time for him. The second bad news is that Birnam Wood has come to Dunsinane. Macbeth's whole world is falling apart. He says two important quotations. The first is from lines 23 t o28: "Out, out brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing." Although he might feel life is meaningless, he for some reason still fights on. The second quotation comes from lines 49 to 50: "I 'gin to be aweary of the sun, And wish th' estate o' th' world were now undone." In other words, he's sick of things going bad for him, and wishes that the world didn't have to have good prevail all the time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene VI The army advances towards Macbeth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene VII Macbeth feels trapped: "They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly" (line 1). He probably would want things to go back to how they were before the murder. Back then, he wasn't disturbed by everyone and everything. Macbeth and Young Siward fight and Macbeth is victorious. He gets very cocky when he says, "But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,/Brandished by man that's of woman born" (lines 12 - 13). You know the statement about not getting overconfident. Someone should tell Macbeth this because he may lose some confidence soon, and that could crush him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scene VIII Macbeth and Macduff come to their final struggle. Macduff surprises Macbeth by saying: "Despair thy charm, And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped." - lines 13 - 16. The final part of the apparitions' prophecies have come true! Macbeth says "I'll not fight with thee" (line 22), but Macduff chides him (like Lady Macbeth did in Act I), "Then yield thee, coward" (line 23). All Macbeth has left is his pride, and it is his pride which keeps him fighting: "I will not yield,/To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet" (lines 27 - 28). Macbeth is killed by Macduff, ending the struggle between light and dark. Siward finds is son dead. He says, "He's worth no more:/They say he parted well and paid his score:/And so God be with him!" (lines 51 - 53). He doesn't mourn or feel emotion. Is he the true man? The play ends with Malcolm taking the crown. Malcolm gives a speech to close the story. In his speech he thanks his friends who have fought on the side on good and says that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth brought their deaths upon themselves through their evil and selfish deeds. This speech finishes off the play with a note of the moral; it's the last thing that is in our heads as we leave the story so it is a good thing to conclude with a moral. Act I MC 1. How many witches are in Act I? A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four 2. Who recounts one of the battles in Scene ii? A. Lennox B. a Captain C. a traitor D. Macbeth 3. Who are these battles against? A. Cawdor and Macbeth B. Macdonwald and Macbeth C. Norway and Macbeth D. Norway and Macdonwald 4. What prophecy is given to Banquo? A. Father of kings B. He'll be a king himself C. He will never sleep again 5. Who becomes crowned prince? A. Macbeth B. Banquo C. Banquo's son, Fleance D. Malcolm E. Donalbain SA 1. Why did Cawdor loose his life and title? 2. What are Macbeth's phases of reaction to the prophecies? 3. What does Lady Macbeth envision as a man? 4. Why does Macbeth have second thoughts about killing Duncan? Essay 1. What are the witches and their significance in the play (mention their prophecies)? 2. What are themes that come up in Act I and how do they relate to each other? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act II MC 1. Who does Banquo have most allegiance to (from Scene i)? A. Macbeth B. God C. The King D. His family 2. Which of these Gods is mentioned in Scene ii? A. Neptune B. Pluto C. Mercury D. Venus E. Jupiter 3. Who announced the death of Duncan? A. Lennox B. Macduff C. Porter D. Banquo 4. Which two characters flee the country in fear of their lives? A. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth B. Malcolm and Donalbain C. Banquo and Fleance D. Ross and the Old Man SA 1. Why does Lady Macbeth faint? 2. What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do at the end of Scene iii? Why? 3. What is the purpose of the Old Man? Essay 1. Name three symbols in Scene ii and what they mean. 2. What are some of the characters' responses to the news of Duncan's death? What do they tell us about the character? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act III MC 1. Who suspects Macbeth of the murders? A. Malcolm B. Macduff C. Fleance D. the murderers 2. Who is Macbeth plotting to kill? A. Banquo and his wife B. Banquo and his friend C. Banquo and his son D. Banquo and his servant 3. How many murderers are hired for this task? A. Three B. Four C. Two 4. Who is killed in this act? A. Macbeth B. Banquo C. Fleance D. Banquo and Fleance SA 1. Why does Macbeth decide to kill more people? 2. Why does Macbeth see a ghost? 3. What does Macbeth plan on doing tomorrow? Why? Essay 1. Even though there is a reversal in roles between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is still a smart, strong character. Support or dispute this statement using Act III. 2. Is Macbeth sane? Support your answer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act IV MC 1. How many apparitions are there? A. one B. two C. three D. four 2. Who does Malcolm tell about his own desires? A. Macduff B. the witches C. Macbeth D. Ross 3. Who tells Macduff about the death of his family? A. Malcolm B. Lennox C. Macbeth D. Ross SA 1. What forms do each of the apparitions take? 2. Why does Macbeth order the death of Macduff's family? Essay 1. What is the point of the conversation between Malcolm and Macduff? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act V MC 1. What was it that the gentlewoman first says Lady Macbeth does while sleepwalking? A. make her bed B. write something C. cook something D. cry 2. How many soldiers are there? A. 1,000 B. 5,000 C. 10,000 D. 15,000 E. 100,000 3. What does Macbeth ask for? A. Lady Macbeth B. meat C. a letter D. his armor 4. How is Young Siward related to Malcolm? He's Malcolm's ________. A. uncle B. cousin C. brother D. nephew 5. What does the army make with Birnam Wood? A. boughs B. battering rams C. torches SA 1. What drives Macduff in this Act? 2. How do the apparitions' prophecies play themselves out? Essay 1. Analyze Lady Macbeth, her insanity, and death. 2. What is the moral of the story? 3. What about Fleance? Isn't he supposed to be King? If the play continued, what do you think would have happened? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers Act I MC 1. C 2. B 3. D 4. A 5. D SA 1. He supported Norway against his homeland of Scotland. 2. fear - denial - acceptance - desire - inhibited - convinced 3. A man is cruel, unfeeling, full of evil thoughts. 4. His morals kick into play and Duncan never did anything bad to him (he just gave Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor!). Act II MC 1. C 2. A 3. B 4. B SA 1. Maybe to change the topic, maybe to shut up Macbeth and his long speeches. 2. They decide to flee the country because they fear that their lives are in danger. 3. The Old Man gives us a commoner's view on the events. Act III MC 1. B 2. C 3. A 4. B SA 1. He feels that his power is threatened. 2. His guilt personifies as a ghost. 3. Talk to the witches. He is worried about the threat Fleance. Act IV MC 1. C 2. A 3. D SA 1. An armed head, a child crowned with a tree in his hand, a bloody child. 2. Macbeth is worried that Macduff is a threat to his power. Act V MC 1. B 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. A SA 1. Macduff is driven by revenge for the death of his family. 2. Birnam woods is moved to Dunsinane in forms of boughs, Macduff is not of woman born and he kills Macbeth. Major Themes in Macbeth Nature The Paradox Manhood Masks Light and Dark -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nature "Thunder and lightning." This is the description of the scene before Act I, Scene I, line 1. The thunder and lightning represent disturbances in nature. Most people do not think of a great day being filled with thunder and lightning. So the witches are surrounded by a shroud of thunder and lightning. Also, the first witch asks in line 2 about the meeting with Macbeth, "In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" The meeting will also be filled with these disturbances. The witches are also surrounded by more undesired parts of weather: "Hover through the fog and filthy air" (line 11). The weather might personify the witches, meaning that the witches themselves are disturbances, though not limited to nature. The bad weather also might mean that the witches are bad or foul ("filthy air") creatures. In Act II, Scene I, it is a dark night. Fleance says "The moon is down" (line 2), and Banquo says, "[Heaven's] candles are all out [there are no stars in the sky]" (line 5). Darkness evokes feelings of evilness, of a disturbance in nature on this accursed night. It creates a perfect scene for the baneful murders. Another disturbance in nature comes from Macbeth's mouth, "Now o'er the one half-world / Nature seems dead" (lines 49 - 50). This statement might mean that nowhere he looks, the world seems dead (there is no hope, as the existentialist philosophy supports). It might also give him conceited ideas that the murder he is about to commit will have repercussions spreading far. The doctor says in Act V, Scene i, line 10, "A great perturbation in nature," while talking about Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking. This is just another example of how nature is disturbed by human doings, placing emphases on mankind (following the Humanistic philosophy). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Paradox The witches chorus on Act I, Scene I, line 10: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." This is a paradox. It is also a prophecy, where one thing seems like another (the characters of the play), or about how things will change through the story (again the characters). Being so early in the play, it is a good grasper for the reader. Not being a simple statement, it makes the reader think about the line to find some meaning for themselves. It is easier to grasp a meaning of this line as you progress through this book. This theme is a subtle theme, but no with out meaning. We will refer to this theme again and again throughout the play, adding new lines to the theme, or analyzing characters and events using this theme. The first thing that Macbeth says when he enters scene three (line 38) is, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." Maybe when the witches said "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," during scene one, they were just referring to the condition of the day when they meet Macbeth, though I believe that there is more, something we'll see later in the play. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manhood "Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here," says Lady Macbeth (Act I, scene v, lines 41 - 42). She wishes she were a man. Why? What does Lady Macbeth see is a man? "And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full / Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood, / Stop up th' access and passage to remorse, / That no compunctions visitings of nature / Shake my fell purpose, not keep peace between / Th' effect and it!" (lines 43 - 48). This is what a true man to Lady Macbeth is. To help convince Macbeth not to call the murder off, Lady Macbeth questions his manhood. She says, "When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man" (lines 49 - 51). The sad part is that Lady Macbeth truly does believe that Macbeth wouldn't be a man if he didn't agree to the killing. Probably the most direct example of manhood being a theme in Macbeth is Macduff at the end of Act IV. While Malcolm implores him to "dispute it like a man" (line 220), Macduff says that he must also "feel it as a man" (line 221), which changes the image of a man given above by Lady Macbeth. While she portrays men as being cruel and cold-hearted, Macduff shows that a man is cruel and cold when he needs to be, but feels just as intensely as he acts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Masks In Act I, scene v, as Lady Macbeth talks to Macbeth, she gives him specific instructions: "Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue: like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't." - lines 65 - 67. Or in other words, put on a poker face so no one will suspect us (be foul though seem fair, as the witches put it in scene one). Throughout the play, many characters put on metaphorical masks to hid their true nature, thoughts, or feelings. In scene vi, Lady Macbeth puts on her mask. She says (lines 14 - 20) that the service and hospitality are nothing "Against those honors deep and broad wherewith / Your Majesty loads our house . . ." She easily keeps any suspicion off of her in her ruse. There's one other thing before we move on. "But be the serpent under 't" (line 67). Lady Macbeth might be referring to herself, that she is the serpent under Macbeth, and that Macbeth is the mask, or screen, which diverts attention from Lady Macbeth. As said earlier, Banquo sees through Macbeth's masks. In Act III, scene i, Banquo puts up his own masks. He almost knows that Macbeth is the murderer, but he hides his suspicions while he idly talks to Macbeth. The masks aren't always limited to uses of evil. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Light vs. Dark Much of this play is filled with the struggle between light and darkness (symbolizing Macbeth-- he asks for darkness to hide his desires in Act I, and then darkness shrouds the night of the murder). The light in the first two acts is King Duncan, but the struggle went in favor of darkness. This struggle occurs in every act of the play. Also, in Act V, Scene vii, Macduff enters and says, "If thou [Macbeth] be'st slain and with no stroke of mine,/My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still" (lines 15 - 16). Macduff can't rest until he gets revenge on the killer of his family, something Malcolm and Fleance (whose family was also killed by Macbeth) didn't say. Macduff is the hero of the play. He is the light that will soon come to a final climactic battle with the dark (Macbeth). There is also religious meaning to this: God against the devil, Macbeth being the devil (remember how he couldn't say "Amen" in Act II?). This theme has been used in many contemporary stories; it's an epic battle of good vs. evil.