“Macbeth” Critical Analysis

Act I

Honors English II

Mrs. Anderson

  1. Discuss Macbeth’s values as they are revealed in Act I. What seems to influence his behavior the most? Religion? Ethics? Self-interest? Emotional drives? Quote and cite specific evidence from the text.
  1. Would Macbeth have decided to kill the King without the Witches’ prophecy? Discuss how his encounter with the Witches affects his decision. Quote and cite specific evidence from the text.
  1. Some critics say that Macbeth and his wife may be the happiest married couple in all of Shakespeare’s plays. How do Macbeth and his wife deal with one another? Quote and cite specific evidence from the text. Who seems to be the dominant partner? Explain your reasoning.
  1. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” chant the Witches in Scene 1 (12). As Macbeth and Banquo near the Witches, Macbeth says, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” (Shakespeare I.iii.40)[c1]. He is saying that the day is fair because the battles have gone his way, but the day is foul because of the weather. Statements like this- where opposite statements are true- are called paradoxes.

Make a list of things that happen in Act I that show that “foul is fair, and fair is foul”. Consider when people say that an event or act is wonderful, when actually something bad could come of it. Then write a paragraph about the effect that such paradoxes have on the mood of the play. Quote and cite specific evidence from the text.

  1. Shakespeare portrays gender roles in a very interesting way in “Macbeth”. Explain if the roles of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are what you expected. Explain the roles of these two individuals in the play and in marriage. How do their roles align with the basic human ideas of males and females? How do their roles differ from the basic human ideas of males and females? (You should consider the stereotypes of these genders) Quote and cite specific evidence from the text to support your response.

[c1]Note this is the proper MLA citation format for a play. This citation indicates Act I, Scene 3, line 40.