Macbeth by William Shakespeare (1606 approx.

) Plot (Acts)
This Act opens with the three witches. A war is taking place between Scotland and Norway; Scotland is victorious due to the valiant efforts of M. The
Characters traitorous Thane of Cawdor is captured and executed. King Duncan rewards M with the title of Thane of Cawdor. Before he is given the title, the three
Macbeth (M) Eponymous protagonist, ambitious and ruthless witches confront M and Banquo. They tell M that he will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually king. M soon learns of his new title which fulfils part of the
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Lady Macbeth (LM) Defies expectations, strong and ambitious, but goes mad prophesy and sends word to his wife. Duncan plans on staying the night at M’s castle in Inverness. LM receives the news and immediately plots the death
of King Duncan so her husband will be king. LM manipulates M into following her plans; he reluctantly agrees. By the end of Act 1, M is determined to
Witches Supernatural beings, who prophesise (and influence?) events, could represent
follow through with the plan.
(or weird sisters) conscience.
M has some doubts (and visions) but he talks himself into murdering Duncan in his sleep. M is so scared that LM must finish the rest of the plan by wiping
Banquo M’s friend, sons prophesised to rule, killed by M’s murderers and returns as
blood on the drunk guards. The next morning, Macduff and Lennox arrive at M’s and Macduff discovers the dead body of King Duncan. The guards are
ghost. In real-life James I’s ancestor. 2
immediate suspects and M kills them. Malcolm and Donaldbain, the King’s sons, flee the castle because they are afraid that they will be blamed for the
Duncan Good king, praises M at start but murdered by him. murder of their father.
Macduff Wife and children killed; kills M; born by caesarian. Banquo begins to suspect M for the murder of King Duncan. Therefore, M sends out some men to murder Banquo and his son, Fleance. Banquo is
Malcolm Duncan’s son and heir to throne, good man, finally crowned murdered but Fleance escapes. M, LM, Lennox, Ross and other lords attend a banquet. The ghost of Banquo presents itself to M who begins to rant and
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Fleance Banquo’s son, represents innocence and justice. rave which makes the other guests uneasy. Lady M tries to cover up the situation by saying that M is prone to fits. Macduff has not attended the banquet
because he has gone to England looking for help because he is suspicious of M.
Context M confronts the three Weird Sisters and they show him more visions. The visions lead M to believe that he cannot be killed by any man born of woman and
Mac Bethad Born around 1005, the real-life inspiration for the story. until Birnham wood comes to his castle which gives him a false sense of security. He then sends murderers to kill Macduff’s family. Meanwhile, Macduff is
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in England begging Malcolm to return to Scotland to seize the throne from M who has become a tyrant. Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty; once satisfied he
Shakespeare wrote the play to please the King, focussing on topics of personal agrees to wage war against M with help from his uncle, Siward.
James I
interest to him (Scotland, witchcraft etc.)
LM has gone mad with guilt over the murders, and ultimately kills herself. Some of the Scottish lords discuss M’s state of mind and agree that they will help
A failed attempt to kill James I along with the government. Regicide was 5 Malcolm and Macduff fight against M. The witches’ prophecies come true when Macduff’s men use branches to hide their numbers, and when Macduff
Gunpowder Plot (1605)
therefore topical. reveals he was born by caesarian. Macduff kills M and the natural order is restored by the crowning of Malcolm as the rightful king.
Great Chain of Being A natural order, everyone having their proper place.
Kings were appointed by God, becoming his representative on earth, James I
Divine Right of Kings
promoted this view to help secure his reign
Tragedy M is a tragedy with M as a tragic hero.
James I fascinated and terrified by witchcraft, writing the book “Demonologie”
Witchcraft
on the subject. Themes Motifs / Imagery
Garden of Eden M works as an Allegory for the Bible story of Adam and Eve where man is Ambition Shown only as negative; M and LM sacrifice their morals Blood Symbolises violence and guilt.
tempted by evil, via woman to claim undeserved power. to achieve their desires. Children Symbolise innocence and legacy.
Guilt Macbeth is at first stunned by regret, can’t sleep and LM
Sleep Symbolises guilt and conscience.
is driven mad by her guilt.
Light & Dark Symbolise good and evil thoughts & actions.
Supernatural Witches, apparitions and M’s belief in prophecy
Dramatic/Stylistic Devices Birds (Avian) Symbolise misfortune, death and chaos.
Oxymoron Opposites and contradictions are used to reflect the disorder.
Violence M seeks to achieve his goals solely through battle and
Soliloquy One character speaking their thoughts aloud for the benefit of the audience; M murder.
uses to make audience complicit Key Vocabulary
Order and Disorder Natural order is disrupted then re-established. M inverts
Dramatic irony Audience knows more than characters; audience knows D will die the order of royal succession; LM inverts the patriarchal Patriarchal A society ruled by men.
Hamartia Tragic flaw; M’s is that he is easily influenced and has ambition hierarchy. society
Anagnorisis Character’s recognition or the tragedy to come; M realises Macduff was born by Regicide Murder of the monarch
cesarean Masculinity / LM challenges M’s manliness and dismisses her
Usurp To take power
Peripetieia Sudden reversal of fortune. Femininity femininity to commit dark deeds. Witches too described
as having beards. Treason Betrayal of monarch or country.
Rhyme Used by the witches to create chant-like, supernatural atmosphere
Kingship vs tyranny Duncan is presented as a good King whereas M is a tyrant Thane A title, like ‘Lord’
Pathetic fallacy unnatural events are usually echoed by unnatural weather
usurper. Hubris Excessive pride, suffered by M or LM
Chiasmus Repetition of a phrase in reverse (fair is foul and foul is fair)
Fate and free will Ambiguous if M is to blame or no choice because of those
Jacobean During the reign of James I (1603-1625)
manipulating him.
Apparition Ghost or ghostly vision.
Appearance vs Characters hallucinate visions and sounds and deceive,
reality hiding their true thoughts. Tyrant Someone who rules with fear. Abuses power.
 Key Quotations
Act & Spoken by: Quotation: Techniques Explanation
Scene
Chiasmus
Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air. First scene of the play
Act I, Oxymoron
The Witches
Scene i Rhyme Introduces idea of inverting the natural order and of witches’ supernatural abilities.
When the battle’s lost and won.
Pathetic Fallacy
For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name Foreshadowing Establishes the audience’s view of M before we meet him on stage. Makes his fall from grace more shocking
Act I,
Captain Metaphor Establishes M’s capacity for violence, foreshadowing the violence come. Also shows the brutal treatment of anyone
Scene ii unseamed him from the nave to th' chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements
Imagery considered a traitor.
Act I, Macbeth So foul and fair a day I have not seen Allusion to witches’ lines M’s echo of the witches’ lines shows he may already be succumbing to their manipulations.
Scene III Banquo And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths Foreshadowing Banquo warns M of temptation and manipulation by evildoers.
Act I,
Macbeth Stars hide your fires let not light see my black and deep desires. Motif: Light and dark M learns of Duncan naming Malcolm as heir which makes him feel dark desires which he wants to keep secret.
Scene IV
Act I, Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness. Gender roles LM has just read M’s letter and started to plot, she fears M is not ruthless enough to act.
Scene V Lady Macbeth Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't. Simile & metaphor LM advises M to be deceitful., looking harmless but being dangerous.
un-sex me here Imperatives LM calls on dark forces to strip her of feminine qualities to let her commit evil acts
M cannot bring himself to say the words ‘murder’ or ‘kill’ showing how he tries not to face the reality of his intended
Macbeth If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly. Euphemism
Act I, acts.
Scene vii Lady Macbeth When you durst do it, then you were a man. Theme: masculinity LM challenges M’s masculinity to manipulate him into action.
Macbeth False face must hide what the false heart doth know. Theme: Appearance M realises he must deceive; pretending to be loyal when actually betraying.
Hyperbole
Macbeth Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand M has killed Duncan and immediately feels guilt
Motif: Blood
Theme: masculinity LM has hands covered in red blood, like M, but says she would be ashamed if she (a woman) acted as cowardly as
Act II, Lady Macbeth My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white.
Metaphor him.
Scene ii
Macbeth Amen stuck in my throat. Theme: supernatural M cannot speak a prayer by saying Amen because he is no longer ‘good’.
Theme: Guilt
Lady Macbeth These deeds must not be thought after these ways. So, it will make us mad. LM tells M not to think about the murder; if they do it will make them mad.
Foreshadowing
Act II,
Donalbain There’s daggers in men’s smiles. Theme: Appearance Even when someone smiles at you they could be plotting against you.
Scene iii
Lady Macbeth What’s done is done. Irony LM says the matter is finished even though they will soon face deadly consequences..
Act III,
Macbeth O full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Metaphors M discusses his guilt/paranoia. He has killed Duncan and ordered Banquo and Fleance’s.
Scene ii
Macbeth Duncan is in his grave; After life's fitful fever he sleeps well Motif: Sleep M almost envies Duncan’s peaceful death compared to his own stressful existence.
Act IV, M orders the murder of Macduff’s wife and children showing his absolute brutality and desperation by this point in
Macbeth give to th' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, Theme: Violence
Scene i the play.
Out, damned spot! out, I say! Imperatives
Act V,
Lady Macbeth Here’s the smell of blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little Sleepwalking scene. LM’s guilt overcomes. This is the last time she is seen on stage.
Scene i Allusion to M’s ‘Neptune’
hand.
Act V,
Macbeth It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Extended metaphor M talks about futility of life, just before his death.
Scene v