Macbeth: Act I
Mrs. Wiley- English IV
Summary:
Three cackling witches plan to meet Macbeth on the heath as he returns from battle. A captain reports to King Duncan of Scotland that Macbeth has killed the traitor Macdonwald in battle. Another lord reports that Macbeth and Banquo have forced the invading Norwegians to surrender. Unknown to Macbeth, Duncan condemns to death the present Thane of Cawdor for treason and awards Macbeth his title.
Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches, who make three predictions: that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor; that Macbeth will be king; and that Banquo will beget kings. Ross and Angus, two noblemen, arrive to tell Macbeth that he has been made Thane of Cawdor. The news causes Macbeth to take the witches’ prophecies seriously, and he begins to consider murdering King Duncan.
At his palace, Duncan proclaims his son Malcolm heir to the throne. Macbeth acknowledges that Malcolm is an obstacle in his path to the throne and that “black and deep desires” stir in him.
At Inverness, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth relaying the witches’ prophecies. Fearing Macbeth is too soft-hearted to do what he must to become king, she resolves to use her power over him to steel his will. When she learns the king will visit their castle that night, Lady Macbeth sees it as the perfect opportunity to murder him.
King Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle. Then, he comments with dramatic irony on the pleasant atmosphere surround Macbeth’s home. Lady Macbeth graciously welcomes the king while plotting his murder.
Macbeth speaks his first important soliloquy, explaining how his ambition has led him to thoughts of murder. He is joined by Lady Macbeth, who taunts him to show his manliness by killing Duncan.
Scene I:
1. Define paradox.
An apparent contradiction that is actually true
2. Write lines 10-11 below:
“fair is foul and foul is fair.
Hover through the fog and filthy air.”
This rhymed couplet is the witches’ most famous utterance. What themes does it introduce? (Think about the meanings of the words fair and foul and their being a paradox.)
Appearances can be deceiving. The lines between good and evil sometimes become blurred.
Scene II:
3-4. Blood is mentioned more than 100 times in the play. As you read, think about its significance as an image and think about whether it may have different meanings at different points in the play, then find two different lines in scene two that make a reference to blood and write them below.
Line 1- “What bloody man is that?”
Line 18- “which smoked with bloody execution”
5. In lines 35-41, the Captain is talking about Macbeth. What are your first impressions of Macbeth?
He is a brave and intimidating soldier. He is a protector. He is bloody and barbaric, etc.
6. Refer to lines 63-67. Why does Macbeth “win” the title, Thane of Cawdor?
He saved the country from their attackers. The current Thane committed treason, and was sentenced to death.
Scene III:
7. Just as there is a blood motif throughout the play, so is there a theme of sleepiness. Find the line that introduces this theme at the beginning of scene three and write it below.
Line 19- “Sleep shall neither night nor day.”
8-10. When the witches approach Banquo and Macbeth, they greet Macbeth with three different titles. What are they?
Line 48- “Thane of Glamis”
Line 49- “Thane of Cawdor”
Line 50- “King, hereafter”
11-12. In this scene, the witches use two paradoxes to describe Banquo. What are they?
Line 65 1. “lesser than Macbeth, and greater”
Line 66 2. “Not so happy, yet much happier”
13. Explain the prediction the witches make for Macbeth. (Line 50)
The say that he will be king one day
14. Explain the prediction the witches make for Banquo. (Lines 67-68)
He will not be king, but his sons will be kings
15. Define aside.
Private words that a character speaks to the audience or another character, but that aren’t supposed to be heard by the others onstage
16. Refer to lines 117-121. (Remember, when the witches addressed Macbeth with the title, “Thane of Cawdor,” he had not yet received the news that he had been given that title. Imagine now what is going through his head about the witches’ predictions—if this came true, their others may come true as well. The asides in lines 117-121 let the audience know Macbeth’s and Banquo’s thoughts without other characters being aware of them. What might Ross and Angus think if they heard Macbeth and Banquo here?
Varied answers. They are traitors. They are crazy.
17. Refer to lines 134-142. What are the two ways that Macbeth imagines that he could become king?
By murdering Duncan OR waiting on chance. (Fatal flaw- the “horrid” image absorbing him) (135) (tragic)
Scene IV:
18. Refer to lines 41-51. Compare the two celestial images in the scene. Who is welcoming the light? Who is welcoming the darkness?
Duncan states that nobleness will shine like a star on those who deserve it, while Macbeth asks that the stars not illuminate his “black and deep desires.” Duncan welcomes the light. Macbeth asks for darkness.
Scene V:
19. Refer to lines 7-12. How does Macbeth feel about the prophecy that he will become king? (Does he believe that it will come true?)
He is excited and can’t wait to tell his wife, whom he refers to as his “dearest partner of greatness.” He believes the prophecy.
20. Refer to lines 13-22. Do you agree with Lady Macbeth’s interpretation of his character? Why or why not?
She says that he is great and kind… that conflicts with the image of the man who slit half and beheaded Macdonwald, and now desires to kill the king.
21. Refer to lines 28-31. Why is Lady Macbeth so shocked by the messenger’s statement?
She is surprised and won’t have time to prepare. She has a guilty conscience. She is fantasizing about killing Duncan and seeing Macbeth as king. Can the messenger read her mind?
22. Refer to lines 39-52. In these lines, Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits of the dead to “unsex” her and “fill me, from my crown to my toe, top-full of direst cruelty.” Continue reading through line 52 and explain what these statements mean as a whole and what role they may suggest that Lady Macbeth will play in Macbeth’s downfall.
She wants to be hardened- less emotional and more like a man. She wants to drive/ convince Macbeth to kill Duncan so that he may become king.
23. A. Summarize lines 61 (beginning with “To beguile…”) through lines 66.
B. Include exactly what she is saying in line 66.
C. Explain the simile in lines 63-64.
A- The king will never suspect you! Your face is going to give you away! Look happy. Act naturally. Look like a flower, but be a snake beneath it.
B- Let me handle it, then we will “supreme”
C- She compares her murderous, treacherous, manipulative husband to a snake.
24. Refer to lines 66-68. What does Lady Macbeth think will happen after Duncan’s murder?
Macbeth will become king. (What about Malcolm and Donalbain?)
Scene VI:
25. Define irony.
a contrast or discrepancy between what is expected and reality
26. Refer to lines 22-24.
A. What does Duncan say spurred Macbeth homeward?
B. What irony is the audience aware of?
A- his love for his wife
B- He is being nice, not realizing that the couple plans to kill him.
Scene VII:
27-28. Look at the extended metaphor in lines 25-28. Macbeth compares his intent (to murder) to a horse and his ambition to a spur.
29. What word does Lady Macbeth use to describe Macbeth if he does not kill Duncan (lines 35-44)?
coward
30. Look at lines 72-73, (Macbeth is speaking.) What cultural stereotype is behind his comment about male children? (This goes back to question 22—you may want to go back if this allows you to gain more insight into that question.)
He thinks that only men are capable of hard decisions; her strength surprises him.
31. Refer to lines 74-77. Why does Macbeth ask this question?
He is asking a rhetorical question, trying to talk himself into murder.