Alina-Gabriela David

Anul 3, Grupa En-Sp

Macbeth

1) One of the Aristotelian principles of tragedy is that the hero's downfall is caused by a moral weakness
or flaw that inexorably leads him to his tragic destiny. In this respect, can Macbeth be seen as an
Aristotelian tragedy? What basic human flaws or weaknesses does Macbeth display? How do they
contribute to his downfall?
Macbeth is an example of the terrible effects that ambition and guilt can have on a man who lacks
strength of character. We can consider him as irrevocably evil. Althoug he is a great warrior, is ill
equipped for the psychic consequences of crime.He fluctuates between fits of fevered action, in which he
plots a series of murders to secure his throne, and moments of terrible guilt (as when Banquos ghost
appears) and absolute pessimism (after his wifes death, when he seems to succumb to despair). These
fluctuations reflect the tragic tension within Macbeth: he is at once too ambitious to allow his conscience
to stop him from murdering his way to the top and too conscientious to be happy with himself as a
murderer.
2) The three witches have been seen as figures of the Greek Moirae (Latin Parcae), or Fates, who
respectively spin, measure out and cut the thread of human life. Note how the scenes with the "weird
sisters" (Old Eng. wyrd=Fate) punctuate and structure the play. To what extent do their predictions
dictate events? Are their prophecies binding? Is Macbeth trapped by destiny, a victim of fate, or does he
have free will? How do we know? Note specific scenes and speeches that justify your point of view.
The witches play the role of prophet because they predicted predicted that Macbeth will soon
become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. The moment he becomes aware of the
fact that the king has conferred upon him the title he remembers about the prophecy which means that
the witches influenced him and somehow triggerd in him the idea of murdering the present king. Also, he
remembers the witches prophecy regarding Banquo; so he decides to hire a group of murderers to kill
Banquo and his son Fleance.
3) Banquo is a foil
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to Macbeth in that both are the subject of prophecies concerning the future kingship
of Scotland, but they react to these prophecies differently. How does each respond to his encounter with
the witches? Are there key differences? Why does Shakespeare include two sets of prophecies? What
is the effect of this juxtaposition?
Banquo showed a different understanding of what the witches say over how Macbeth thought. In
the first act Banquo was cautious regarding what the witches said, as Macbeth thought it would be
marvelous. The first thing Banquo says about the prophecies when he sees that the first prophecy
(Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor) come true is that that trusted home / Might yet enkindle you unto the
crown, / Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange; / And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The
instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray's / In deepest consequence .
The main difference between the two is that Banquo is more cautious of what the witches said, as
Macbeth is in a lot more wonder, than wondering if he could become King. The reason why Shakespeare
made two prophecies is based on the juxtaposition between Macbeth and Banquo: the first one is

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Definition: a dramatic foil is a minor character that resembles or is in parallel circumstances to a central figure
in the play. Foils are similar enough to the main character(s) to provide a useful basis of comparison, but different
enough that the comparison is meaningful: they enhance our understanding of the main character's personality
traits or actions.
Alina-Gabriela David
Anul 3, Grupa En-Sp

ambitious and resentful, while the second one is more cautious and careful of the situation at hand, which
makes them great counterparts to each other.
4) Apart from the Weird Sisters, there are only two significant female characters in the play.
Compare/contrast Lady Macbeth and LadyMacduff. Are they foils to one another? Why or why not?
What do they have in common? How do they differ? Lady Macduff is defined principally as a mother,
while Lady Macbeth is apparently childless (see IV.iii.216). Nonetheless, Lady Macbeth says that she
has "given suck, and [knows]/ How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks [her]" (I.vii.54-55). Can that
shared experience of motherhood be seen as a bond between the two women? Does Lady Macbeth
share the blame for Lady Macduff's murder? Does she approve of her husband's actions? Before she
dies, Lady Macduff complains of her husband's "unnatural" behavior in abandoning wife and children
(IV.ii.9). Is her anger justified?
On one hand, Lady Macbeth is a very strong character. When she is introduced, she is already
plotting Duncans murder, and she appears stronger than her husband. She seems fully aware of this and
knows that she will have to push Macbeth into committing murder. Her thoughness makes Macbeth seem
weaker in the sense that he sees her as a masculine soul inhabiting a female body.Another influence that
Lady Macbeth has upon her husband is that of manipulation.
On the other hand Lady Macduff is a minor character. She is presented as a wife and a mother, a
wife who is annoyed over her husband's apparently irresponsible desertion of the family, and a mother
who is cocerned about her son's safety in the absence of the father. Thus, she is totally opposed to Lady
Macbeth.
5) In some respects, Macbeth is a meditation upon "manhood." It explores "natural" and "unnatural"
gender behavior, offering varying views on what constitutes real "manhood." Note statements throughout
the play that deal with "manliness," masculine identity, being a man, etc. How do the various characters
in the play define "manhood"? How do these definitions shift over the course of the play?
Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood, wishing herself to be
unsexed, and does not contradict Macbeth when he says that a woman like her should give birth only to
boys. In the same manner that Lady Macbeth goads her husband on to murder, Macbeth provokes the
assassins he hires to murder Banquo by questioning their manhood. Such acts show that both Macbeth
and Lady Macbeth equate masculinity with naked aggression; whenever they discuss manhood, violence
follows. Their understanding of manhood allows the political order depicted in the play to descend into
chaos.
The play does put forth a revised and less destructive definition of manhood. In the scene where Macduff
learns of the murders of his wife and child, Malcolm consoles him by encouraging him to take the news in
manly fashion, by seeking revenge upon Macbeth. Macduff shows the young heir apparent that he has
a mistaken understanding of masculinity. To Malcolms suggestion, Dispute it like a man, Macduff
replies, I shall do so. But I must also feel it as a man (IV.iii.221223).