Macbeth

Scene 1:

In the first scene I predict that we will learn who Macbeth is, which might follow through with explaining why he is the assumed “main character”, judging by the previous books with the title of the antagonists.

Scene 3:

In this scene, we are introduced to the living Macbeth and his companion Banquo. With the predicted scene set on the heath, Macbeth is introduced to the witches fore sighting when the call him, to his confusion, “All hail… Thane of Glamis… Thane of Cawdor… that shalt be king hereafter…”. He consults himself

Scene 4:

In the end of the 4th scene, Macbeth admits

Scene 5:

In act 1 scene 5, the power of Lady Macbeth’s intentions, desires and frustration are revealed to the reader through use of metaphors in response to Macbeth’s letter. After Lady Macbeth has read the letter she exclaims “It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness”. She goes on to reveal her desires and evil intentions. This quote shows her frustration clearly because she cannot work through Macbeth and satisfy her desires for (his heart) is too full of kindness.

Scene 6:

In act 1 scene 6, Duncan enters Macbeth’s castle and remarks the beauty of it, followed by Banquo overstating its wonder and Lady Macbeth’s welcomings. “All our service In every point twice done and then done double Were poor and single business to contend Against those honours deep and broad wherewith Your majesty loads our house…” Comparing the scene prior to scene 5, Lady Macbeth’s evil intentions are shown again when she deceit’s Duncan by welcoming him into the castle saying that he has brought honour to their family.

Scene 7:

In act 1 scene 7, Macbeth outlines his ambition to become King but quickly changes his view on killing Duncan which angers Lady Macbeth. After illustrating her willingness to go through with her desires, “…Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this“, she provides a plan which Macbeth adds too and he decides that they will go through with the plan, as illustrated by “False face must hide what the false heart doth know“. They will act in deceit and abuse Duncan’s trust to kill him. Dramatic Irony is used in this to make the rest of the play more tense by showing Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s evil intentions and Duncan’s full trust in them, making his soon to come death more of a tragedy.

Act 2, Scene 1:

Shakespeare uses personification throughout the play to bring more meaning and characteristics to a feeling or object (in this case) to further reflect how a character is thinking. When Macbeth sees a dagger infront of him he fails to collect he say “Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet i see thee still.” In saying this, the reader understands the imaginated dagger represents his manipulated state and how he still feels guilt about his desire and plans to kill Duncan.

Scene 2:

In act 2 scene 2, Macbeth kills Duncan with bloody hands and repeatedly shows his guilt at what he has done, to Lady Macbeth’s dismissal. “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas in incarnadine, Making the green one red.” Macbeths expresses here that rather than the water clean his hands of his deed and conscience, his guilt through the blood of Duncan will infect the land with his regretful thoughts. Through Lady Macbeth’s repetitive dismissal of regret at what he has done, Macbeths controlled state is further shown because he himself is not dismissing these thoughts.

Scene 3:

In act 2 scene 3, Porter comedically talks about his drunkenness the night before and equivocators as Macduff goes to wake the King, leaving Macbeth and Lenox talking of the rowdy weather the previous night, introducing us to a technique used by Shakespeare called ‘Pathetic Fallacy’. Lenox said “some say, the earth Was feverous and did shake.” Macduff finds Duncan murdered and Macbeth quickly kills the guards who seemed to have killed him. Lady Macbeth and Banquo arrive and the pair of killers exaggerate their sorrow, Macbeth exclaiming he doesn’t want to live anymore. Duncan’s kids take off, Malcolm to England, Donalbain to Ireland. “His silver skin laced with his golden blood; And his gash’d stabs look’d like a breach in nature.” Aswell as lying that he didn’t kill Duncan, it is shown that Macbeth still feels guilt. You can feel when says this that he thinks it is a breach in nature and relating it back to his previous soliloquy, he believes he has disrupted nature itself.

Scene 4:

In the last scene of act 2, Old man and Ross talk about the natural world acting differently as the time says it is day but yet it is still night. Ross then talks to Macduff of Duncan’s children leaving, raising suspicion and of Macbeth’s sudden King role. Macduff shows his stance, deciding to go the funeral rather than stay and protect the new King. Shakespeare again illustrates ‘Pathetic Fallacy’ through the characters perspective on the changed natural world after Duncan’s brutal murder. “A falcon, towering in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawk’d at and kill’d.” We as the readers understand that the hierarchy’s in nature have noticeably changed, Shakespeare showing us that an owl has killed a falcon, clearly outlining that Duncan’s murder was against god’s intention which in-turn has upset the natural world.

Act 3 scene 1:

In act 3 scene 1, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth outline the importance that Banquo attends the celebratory party Macbeth is hosting, asking lots of questions. Macbeth then talks about his fear of Banquo through a sollilquoy. He then talks to ‘Two Murderers’ and tells them to Kill Banquo and his son. Dramatic Irony is used in this scene to show Macbeth’s irrational behaviour due to his greed and fear of others finding he killed Duncan. “Our fears in Banquo Stick deep.’ Contradicting what the reader thought about Macbeth towards Banquo, we know that Macbeth now fears Banquo due to his suspisions.

Act 3 scene 2:

In Act 3 scene 2, it is finalised for the death of Banquo and his son. Macbeth reiterates his nightmares and fears he has to Lady Macbeth who once again tells Macbeth to stop thinking of such things. Macbeth relays his troubled thoughts once again. “O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” Describing as if there were scorpions in it means that his mind is poisoned with bad thoughts and very conflicted inside.

Act 3 Scene 3:

In Act 3 scene 3, a new murderer is introduced that Macbeth seemingly used at the last minute. Banquo and Fleance are ambushed by them, Banquo dying and Fleance fleeing. “O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!Thou mayst revenge. O slave!“

Act 3 scene 4:

MACBETH

You know your own ranks; so you know where to sit; Sit down

And I bid you a hearty welcome.

Lords

Thanks, your majesty.

MACBETH

We will mingle with everyone,

And I will play the humble host.

Our hostess will stay seated, but soon

She will welcome you all.

LADY MACBETH

Sir, welcome our friends warmly please

First Murderer appears at the door

MACBETH

See, they encounter them with their hearts’ thanks.

The table is full on both sides, I will sit in the middle

Be happy and soon we will toast around the table

Approaching the door

You have blood on your face.

First Murderer

It’s Banqous.

MACBETH

Better to have his blood on your face than for Banquo to have it in his veins.

Is he dead?

First Murderer

My Lord, I cut his throat.

MACBETH

You are the best at cutting throats yet he’s good

Who cut the throat of Fleance if you didn’t 

But if you did you are the best

First Murderer

Most royal sir,

Fleance escaped.

MACBETH

Then Once again I get angry. If Fleance was dead my problems would be over.

I would be happy again with no worries.

Instead I am still full of worry and trapped by my own mind.

But Banquo’s body is safe and hidden?

First Murderer

Ay, my good lord; he is dead in a ditch

With heaps of cuts on his head

Although just one would have easily killed him.

MACBETH

Thanks for that:

While Banquo is dead, his son still lives.

But in time, his son will grow up to be just as dangerous.

Now go away, we will talk tomorrow.

Exit Murderer

LADY MACBETH

My royal lord, 

We need to make this a fun dinner party, 

Why would you invite people over if they are not entertained. 

They might as well eat at home

MACBETH

Sweet remembrancer!

Now, good digestion wait on appetite,

And health on both!

LENNOX

Take a seat, your highness.

The GHOST OF BANQUO enters, and sits in MACBETH’s place

MACBETH

We would have had all our nobility under one roof if Banquo were here

I hope that he is late because of rudeness and not that anything bad has happened to him. 

ROSS

He’s absence, sir, lays blame on his promise. Please sit your highness grace us with your royal company 

MACBETH

The table’s full.

LENNOX

There is an empty seat right here sir….

MACBETH

Where?

LENNOX

Right here, Macbeth. Why aren’t you sitting??

MACBETH

Which of you have done this?

Lords

Done What, my good lord?

MACBETH

You can’t say I did it: don’t shake your bloody head at me

ROSS

Gentlemen, stand his highness is not well

LADY MACBETH

Sit worthy friends, my lord is often like this, he has been since he was young, please stay seated. It will pass in a moment, he will be well again. He will be offended if you pay too much attention and it will last longer. Don’t acknowledge it and continue with your meal. Be strong

MACBETH

Yes, and a brave one, who dares look at something

That would horrify the devil.

LADY MACBETH

Oh it is not real, you make things up when you’re afraid, like you did with the dagger in the air. Your fear doesn’t even look real, it seems as you are being told a scary story at a winter fire. It is shameful to make such faces when the vision is done, you’ll see it is just a seat.

MACBETH

There, you see it!

Do you?

Ah, what do I care! If the bodies we bury can just come back, then our graves will just be the mouths of the birds that eat them.

GHOST OF BANQUO vanishes

LADY MACBETH

Has your foolishness stopped you from thinking all together?

MACBETH

I saw him, as solidly as I stand here.

LADY MACBETH

shameful

MACBETH

Blood has been shed here now, in the olden time,

Yes, and since murders have been committed

To terrible to hear the times have been,

It used to be that when the brains were bashed out 

They would die and that would be it. 

But now they rise again, with twenty fatal head wounds

And try again to kill us.

That, when the brains were out, the man would die,

And would stay dead, but now they just rise up again.

With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,

And push us from our stools: this is even more strange

Than murder.

LADY MACBETH

My worthy lord,

Your noble friends are missing you.

MACBETH

I forgot about them. 

Don’t be alarmed by me, my most worthy friends,

I have a strange disorder, which no longer

Shocks those that know me well. 

Come let’s drink a toast: love and health to all;

Now I’ll sit down. Give me some wine; fill my cup.

I drink to the general joy of the whole table,

And to our dear friend Banquo, who we miss;

I wish he was here! To all, and him, we drink,

Now everybody drink.

Lords

We know are duties, and we pledge allegiance 

Re-enter GHOST OF BANQUO

MACBETH

Go away!. You are not alive, stop staring at me from your dead eyes.

LADY MACBETH

Think of this as just a bad habit, there is nothing else to it. 

It is only a shame it is spoiling our dinner party 

MACBETH

My nerves would never tremble from any mortal danger,

Bears, wolves, weapons, tigers, -anything!

But even with my sword, I am like a frightened baby girl before this strange thing!

GHOST OF BANQUO vanishes

Phew, it’s gone!

I am a man again. Everythings ok now…..

LADY MACBETH

You have ruined a good dinner, with the most disorder

MACBETH

Was it real?

Can they make the bravest scared?

 You are very strange…

How can you see that thing,

And not tremble in fear!

I am filled with it…

ROSS

What “things”?

LADY MACBETH

I pray to you, don’t ask, he only gets worse, being asked will not have a positive effect. Do not worry about leaving in order of status, instead leave all at once.

.

LENNOX

Good night; I hope King Macbeth gets better….

LADY MACBETH

And good night to you all!

Exeunt all but MACBETH and LADY MACBETH

MACBETH

I will be found out, 

Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;

And people, by many ways, 

have found out the most secret parts of others…. 

What is the time?

LADY MACBETH

It is almost morning, but you can’t tell which is which

MACBETH

Have you realised- we did invite him- but Macduff has not come to this party….

LADY MACBETH

Did you ask him again?

MACBETH

I did notice he did not come, and I will ask him again…..

He’s being very rude!

 I’ll get him tomorrow.

I will also meet again with the witches,

They will prophesy more, I need to know more!

No matter what, they will speak! I’ll do anything for my Kingship.

Now I’ve gone too far, that even if I returned to honour and owned up, 

I would never be free again. I may as well continue on this dark path now,

It will be easier to continue than to own up.

My strange thoughts, they are becoming reality, it will turn me evil!;

I must act quickly before I’m accused.

LADY MACBETH

You will be fine tomorrow, once you get some sleep.

MACBETH

Yeah, lets go to bed…..My weird mood….

It’s caused by my fear, it’s making me evil and nervous!!!

There is worse to come, I’m scared!!

Act 3 Scene 5:

In act 3 scene 5, Hecate is angry that the other witches have gone ahead with their plan and talks about continuing Macbeth’s path of destruction by making him immortal. “And you all know, security Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.” By offering him immortality, the witches want to destroy himself

Act 3 Scene 6:

In act 3 scene 6, Lennox and Lord talk, Lennox speculating that Fleance could have killed Duncan. He then asks where Duncan’s sons had gone. The Lord explains they have allied with several people, planning for war to overthrow King Macbeth. “Prepares for some attempt of war.” Duncan’s children do not like Macbeth as King.

Act 4 Scene 1:

In act 4 scene 1, we meet the witches again, making a potion. Macbeth enters and demands the witches tell him what he asks, then we meet the apparitionss. They tell him beware Macduff, no man shall harm you, and that he will never vanquish until “Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.” He then says he will curse the witches if they don’t tell him if Banquo’s sons will become Kings. The witches show him Banquo’s sons as Kings.

Act 4 Scene 2:

In act 4 scene 2, we find that Macduff has fled his castle and his wife, Lady Macduff, and their child. Lady Macduff and Rosse talk about Maduff, Rosse says “when we are traitors” and leaves. The Son says he will carry on with what he is given after Lady Macduff exclaims that Macduff is (pretty much) dead. They then talk about what it is to be a traitor and the Son says “Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.” The Messenger then says someone is coming and they should leave. Lady Macduff doesn’t know where to leave and the Murderer comes in and asks where her Husband is, then stabbing the son.

Act 4 Scene 3:

In act 4 scene 3, Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty and honesty by saying he is the attributes of a bad and selfish King. Malcolm admits he was lying and he was testing Macduff to his confusion. Then Macduff is told his wife and child are well by Rosse who then changes what he was saying, saying they were savagely murdered. Malcolm influences Macduff to go and kill Macbeth.

Act 5 Scene 1,2,3,4:

Over the course of act 5 scene 1, 2, 3, and 4, the Doctor and Gentle-Woman listen to Lady Macbeth talking in her sleep and are shocked. She indicates her guilt to the audience through Dramatic Irony, talking of washing blood off her hands and Banqou. In the next scene, some lords and soldiers under Macbeth’s command, talk about the oncoming enemy and then leave for Birnam Woods. We then switch to Macbeth being brave, clearly showing that the Witches talk of his immortality has gone to his head. The Doctor talks of his ill Wife, him responding rudely saying he should be “chucked to the dogs”. Simultaneously calling the soldiers with fear weak and threatening to hang them, calling Seyton a goose. Malcolm and Siward then talk about their plan of attack, saying they shall use the trees branches as camoflauge.

Act 5 Scene 5: Blue – Metaphor Red – Rhyme Yellow – Repetition

She should have died hereafter; There would have been time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. 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. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

In act 5 scene 5,