Macbeth

• description

  • brave
  • ambitious
  • consumed by guilt
  • impulsive
  • ruthless
  • tyrannical
• Tragic hero

  • starts- noble / respected / high ranking
  • harmartia - fatal flaw / unchecked ambition
  • leads to his downfall
  • fall from grace due to harmartia
• " All's too weak for brave Macbeth "
• " All's too weak for brave Macbeth "

  • Everyone is beneath him - he is undefeated / arrogant
• He's respected and idolised for his actions
• King has deep trust in Macbeth - how he can easily manipulate and then kill him
• " Unseamed him from the nave to the chops "
• " Unseamed him from the nave to the chops "

  • excessive and unnecessary violence
  • forshadows his violent nature in future
• " Like valour's minion "
• " Like valour's minion "

  • slave to courage
  • will do anything to be perceived as brave and respected in society
• " So foul and fair a day i have not seen "

  (Macbeth's first line in the play)
• " So foul and fair a day i have not seen "

  (Macbeth's first line in the play)

  • mirrors the witches words
  • suggests he has been fated by the supernatural from the start
  • can he be held accountable for his actions if it was out of his control
• [aside] " Stars hide your fires let not light see my black and deep desires "
• [aside] - said next to Duncan / Duncan's blindness to Macbeth's plan / consequence of trust
• He knows what he is doing is wrong yet his unchecked ambition means that he will continue with his plan in pursuit of power
• " Come, let me hold you. (He grabs at the air in front of him without touching anything) "
• " Come, let me hold you. (He grabs at the air in front of him without touching anything) "

  • intrigued by the supernatural / commanding
• " Come, let me hold you. (He grabs at the air in front of him without touching anything) "

  • Interpretation 1 - Macbeth is fated by the witches and always has been
  • has no control of his actions
  • is being coerced into committing regicide
• " Come, let me hold you. (He grabs at the air in front of him without touching anything) "

  • Interpretation 2 - Macbeth is blaming the supernatural for his actions to distance blame from himself
  • " your leading me towards the place I was already going "
  • planning to kill Duncan long before supernatural intervention
• " Will all Great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean "
• " Will all Great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean "

  • realising the significance of the act he has committed
  • the vast consequences he will face
  • guilt is inescapable
  • wants to be free of his actions
• " must embrace the fate of that dark hour "
• " must embrace the fate of that dark hour "

  • this time has always been destined
  • there is no way to stop it so he must go along with it
  • his actions are immoral and he knows it
• " never shake thy gory locks at me "

  • commanding / desperate
  • descending into madness
  • trying to regain control
• Banquet scene - turning point

  paradoxical

  • king + high ranking - most power
  • consumed by guilt and delusions as he spirals into madness - least power
• " I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked "

  • will do anything to hold onto his power and status no matter what may happen to him
• " usurper's cursed head "
• " usurper's cursed head "

  • he is beheaded and his head is placed on a spike
  • cyclical structure
  • first we hear of Macbeth he has killed a traitor now he has been killed for being a traitor