macbeth act 1

• influence of witches - “so foul and fair a day i have not seen”

  • shows signs of manipulation physically and orally
  • first words echo witches paradox “fair is foul”
  • becomes mouthpiece for witches evil
  • vessel for misconduct
• influence of witches - “doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs” 


  • witches rattled him externally and viscerally
  • subtle motif of clothes with symbolise power, deception and identity
  • ”why do you dress me in borrow’d robes”
  • awarded a title he doesn’t deserve
  • his move through hierarchy is superficial and transient rather than intrinsic role he was destined
• ”valour’s minion”

  • His reputation precedes him – established as respected.
  • Emphasise fall from grace.
  • reputable - abhorred as traffic hero - key aspect of dramatic tragedy
  • “valour’s minion” - abides to codes of honour
  • noun “minion” could foreshadow susceptibility to manipulation
  • soon to be marionette of the witch
• “disdaining fortune smoked with blood execution“


  • a relentless force in battle so skilled his sword didn’t have time to cool
  • “smok’d“ could connote heat and hell
  • foreshadows evil
  • “disdaining fortune” shows disregard for fate
  • attempt to manipulate cosmic order
  • evident in disruption of divine right of kings
• atypical relationship with lady macbeth - topic sentence

  macbeth’s initial stoic presentation is starkly juxtaposed by mass emasculation as the wife is typically synonymous with subversiveness, he is made inferior
• atypical relationship- “a book where men may read strange matters”

  • LM mobilises plot of regicide – manipulation + emasculation.
  • Belittles him – “a book where men may read strange matters” – mocks candidness.
  • Introduces manipulation – Macbeth is weak and vulnerable – fails to align with masculine archetype – question ability to fulfil role – embarrassing and atypical to be commanded by a woman.
• atypical relationship- “worthy cawdor”

  • Utilises flattery – “worthy Cawdor” – echo witches: “Hail, Thane of Cawdor”.
  • Harvested two relations with supernatural entities – governed by women.
  • Submissive nature to women is antithesis to patriarchal norms.
  • 17th century: dominance of men engrained in society – not interchangeable.
  • contorts this to elicit fear in audience – questions if barbarity of women just atypical trope.
• emasculation - “was hope drunk”

  • lady macbeths emasculation becomes explicit in interrogative rhetorical question
  • “was hope drunk wherein you dress yourself”
  • ridicules his state of mind
  • use of rhetorical question id calculated
  • gives him time to ponder
  • exploits his shame
• emasculation - “coward”


  • epithet insult threatens entire sense of being as a soldier
  • questions macbeth’s masculinity and livelihood
• emasculation - “dashed the brains out”

  • blackmails him
  • uses herself to quantify his weakness
  • says she would’ve ”dashed the brains out” if her child if she had sworn to
  • like macbeth had sworn to commit murder
  • merciless act of rejecting maternal inclinations
  • characterised as violent and determined as she effectively competes with a man