Macbeth

• O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!" - Duncan (1,2) + THEMES


  - connotations of bravery and courage --> ironic as later, Macbeth lacks the coursge to stand up to his wife Lady Macbeth (LM)

  - Exclamatory "O" - adds emphasis to the greeting and shows how pleased Duncan is of Macbeth's (M) victory over Cawdor.

  - "worthy" - positive adjective - positive connotations which juxtapose w/ Macbeth's behaviour later in the play.

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  DUNCAN

  APPEARANCE VS REALITY

  LOYALTY / DUTY

  KINGSHIP
• brave Macbeth' - Duncan (1,2) + THEMES


  - Shakespeare establishes him as the epitome (best example), of a courageous, honourable man

  - "brave" described with the epithet 'brave' as he fights for his king and country

  CONTEXT: ^

  In the Jacobean era, Military strength was seen as an important part of being a man --> as was loyalty to the king.

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  DUNCAN

  APPEARANCE VS REALITY

  KINGSHIP
• "So foul and fair a day" (Macbeth) + THEMES


  - Macbeth's opening words comment on the day and weather - this immediately associates him with the witches (as they chanted 'fair is foul') and makes the audience wonder if he is already under the witches' spell.

  - the use of PARADOX emphasises this theme of appearance vs reality; the day is ambiguous - just like the witches' prophecies which are full of "fair" promises yet have "foul" consequences

  
  

  CONTEXT:

  The jacobean audience were very superstitious with deep-rooted beliefs in witches and their malevolent (evil) power. Therefore, Macbeth's words, which link him to the witches, would have made Shakespeare's audience uneasy and skeptical/distrusting of him (or even fear him)

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  WITCHES

  APPEARANCE VS REALITY

  GOOD VS EVIL

  DECEPTION

  BETRAYAL
• "Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires" - Macbeth (1,4) + THEMES


  - "stars" --> connotations to the heavens and fate --> the heavens and God are omniscient - therefore they see and know everything --> this indicates M knows that the murder he is contemplating is wrong as he seeks to conceal it from higher powers

  - "let not light see" - personification --> light symbolising God and showing how he is actively watching Macbeth (DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS).

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  AMBITION / GREED

  DECEPTION

  APPEARANCE VS REALITY

  BETRAYAL

  FATE
• "my dearest partner of greatness"- Macbeth in letter (1,5) + THEMES


  - "My" - possessive pronoun --> as LM is his wife, she would have been considered M's property by laws at the time (patriarchal society)

  - "dearest" - term of endearment --> indicating M and LM have a genuinely loving relationship --> perhaps explains why M is so easily manipulated by Lady Macbeth - bc he loves her.

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBEH

  LADY MACBETH

  LOVE

  AMBITION

  UNNATURAL

  MASCULINITY/FEMININITY
• "But wherefore could I not pronounce "amen?" I had most need of blessing, and "amen" stuck in my throat" - Macbeth (2,2) + THEMES


  - rhetorical Q shows M's fear as he is abandoned by God

  - ^ his surprise suggets that he didn't expect to be cut off from God --> could be interpreted as though he is asking God, not LM, why he is no longer able to pray.

  - "need of blessing" - acknowledging that the crime he has committed is a sin that only God can forgive --> it is quite interesting that after committing the murder M's first thought is to pray. This perhaps suggests that he didn't really want to kill Duncan and was pushed into doing it.

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  RELIGION

  GUILT

  LOYALTY/DUTY

  UNNATURAL

  SUPERNATURAL
• "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!" + THEMES


  - "Full of scorpions..." - metaphor - shows his mental distress is getting increasingly difficult to handle --> could also suggest that he has been taken over by evil desires and ambition (his hamartia (fatal flaw) is his ambition)

  
  

  - "scorpions" - connotations of danger and death, as scorpions are dangerous animals that bring about death and poison (M poisoned himself w this act) --> perhaps it could be seen to foreshadow Macbeth's demise.

  
  

  - "dear" - term of endearment - despite everything, Macbeth still appears to care deeply for his wife - does not blame her for the situation

  
  

  Exclamation mark - suggests his panic - he is unable to think clearly or calmly, and this affects his ability to think through the witches prophecies. - this highlights his minds deterioration (sympathy)

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  LADY MACBETH

  MADNESS

  GUILT

  AMBITION/GREED

  SUPERNATURAL
• "deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know!" - macbeth (4,1) + THEMES


  - Since he is king, he is not used to being "den[ied]" anything that he wants

  
  

  - "an eternal curse ..." - irony - > he attempts to threaten the witches with a curse, which is illogical as they have the power to curse, but he does not. - could also demonstrate a lack of understanding with regards to the power the witches have

  
  

  - Exclamation mark - demonstrates his panic and frustration

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  WITCHES

  MADNESS

  AMBITION/GREED

  SUPERNATURAL

  FATE
• "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" - Macbeth (5,5) + THEMES


  Language and Imagery:

  
  

  Shakespeare employs vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey Macbeth's existential despair. The metaphor of life as a "brief candle" emphasizes its fleeting nature and fragility, suggesting that it can be extinguished at any moment. This imagery evokes a sense of impermanence and vulnerability.

  The comparison of life to a "walking shadow" highlights its insubstantial and transient quality. Shadows are ephemeral and lack substance, mirroring the fleeting nature of human existence. This metaphor reinforces the idea that life is ephemeral and ultimately devoid of substance or permanence. Also shadows are substances that only occur when a light source is exposed (e.g. Sun/Moon) - and without it, it isnt there: perhaps representing Macbeth's spur and his ambition being drained or his spur (lady macbeth) now no longer living there

  
  

  Themes:

  Transience of Life: The quote underscores the theme of the transience of life. Macbeth's lamentation reflects the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of human existence. This theme permeates the play, as characters confront the impermanence of power, ambition, and life itself.

  
  

  Futility of Human Endeavor: Macbeth's comparison of life to a "poor player" emphasizes the futility of human endeavor. Despite one's ambitions and efforts, life leads inevitably to death, and achievements are ultimately insignificant in the face of mortality. This theme is central to "Macbeth," as characters grapple with the consequences of their actions and the realization of the ultimate futility of their pursuits - an actor goes on stage, does his bit and then leaves and is forgotten abaout.

  
  

  Existential Despair: The quote reflects existential despair as Macbeth grapples with the meaninglessness of life. His musings on life as a "walking shadow" and a "poor player" convey a
• "Sleep no more, Macbeth hath murder sleep" (2,2)


  - This line demonstrates M's immediate guilt following the murder of King Duncan. This may evoke a small amount of sympathy for M from the audience, however, the act of regicide was still seen as unforgivable in Jacobean society. The idea of M's guilt and regret strays away from the concept of a two-dimensional villain. Sleep is a recurring motif in Macbeth that symbolises innocence, peace, and moral conscience. By murdering Duncan, Macbeth metaphorically kills his own ability to sleep peacefully, signifying the loss of innocence and the beginning of his descent into moral darkness.

  
  

  - This line reflects Macbeth's internal conflict and guilt over his actions. Despite committing the murder to fulfill his ambitions, Macbeth realizes the enormity of his crime and is tormented by guilt. The repetition of "Sleep no more" emphasizes the irreversibility of his actions and the haunting nature of his guilt.

  
  

  -This line foreshadows Macbeth's increasing paranoia and descent into madness as the play progresses. His inability to sleep becomes a recurring motif, symbolizing his troubled conscience and mental deterioration.

  
  

  -The line marks a significant turning point in Macbeth's character. It shows his transformation from a loyal and honorable warrior into a ruthless and morally bankrupt tyrant consumed by ambition.
• Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?' - Macbeth (2,3)


  Imagery and Allusion:

  Macbeth is grappling with intense guilt after committing the murder of King Duncan. He uses vivid imagery and an allusion to Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, to express the magnitude of his crime. The metaphorical use of Neptune's ocean suggests that even the vastness of the sea cannot cleanse the blood from his hands, symbolizing the weight of his guilt and the impossibility of erasing his actions.

  
  

  Rhetorical Question:

  This line is a rhetorical question, emphasizing Macbeth's inner turmoil and his desperate desire to undo what he has done. He knows that the blood on his hands is a permanent stain, both physically and metaphorically, and his question serves as a rhetorical device to highlight his sense of guilt and remorse.

  
  

  Symbolism:

  The blood on Macbeth's hands serves as a powerful symbol throughout the play, representing his guilt and moral corruption. Here, Macbeth's plea to Neptune reflects his desperation for absolution and his realization that he cannot escape the consequences of his actions.
• Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow /

  Creeps in this petty pace from day to day [...] /

  Life [...] is but a tale /

  Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, /

  Signifiying nothing'.


  "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day"

  
  

  This opening line reflects Macbeth's despair and sense of the futility of time. He sees life as a monotonous progression, with each day passing slowly and indistinguishably from the next. The repetition of "tomorrow" emphasizes the endless, repetitive nature of time, which he perceives as crawling at a petty, insignificant pace.

  
  

  "Life [...] is but a tale / Told by an idiot"

  
  

  Here, Macbeth compares life to a meaningless story, narrated by a fool. This suggests his nihilistic view of existence, seeing life as devoid of purpose or significance. The metaphor of life as a tale emphasizes its transient and ultimately inconsequential nature.

  
  

  "Full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing"

  
  

  This iconic phrase encapsulates Macbeth's bleak outlook on life. He describes life as filled with noise and chaos, but ultimately devoid of meaning or substance. The "sound and fury" represent the tumult and turmoil of human existence, but in Macbeth's eyes, they are empty and without purpose.
• 'If chance may have me king, why chance may crown me, without my stir'

  • fate = 'chance'
  • he believes this is lucky and if he does not act upon this fortune, it may not actually happen - leads to killing of Duncan.