| What is the point of the first scene (literally) and in reference to the whole play? (I.i) | The first scene shows the theme of appearance vs. reality. The point of the first scene is to show the supernatural effect of the play by introducing the witches. The lines in the first scene foreshadow what will happen in the future |
| What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald? (I.ii.26) | Duncan calls Macbeth “valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” when he hears he defeated Macdonwald.by saying this, it is evident that Duncan thinks very highly of him. |
| Who is sentenced to death? | Thane of Cawdor |
| What do the witches predict in Act I, Scene 3 for Macbeth? For Banquo? | Macbeth- he will be Thane of Cawdor and king after thatBanquo- he will be a king, but they don’t specify what kind of king he would be… |
| Who news does Ross bring Macbeth? (I.iii.108-111) | Ross tells Macbeth that Thane of Cawdor is going to be killed for treason (executed). So, Macbeth is given a chance to be Thane (as predicted by the witches). However, King wants to be Thane as well, so this foreshadows that there can be hatred towards one another in the futurehe isnt executed yet! but he will be |
| Banquo, like Macbeth, is surprised that the witches have predicted Macbeth’s new title. He is, however, leery. What does he say about the motives of the “instruments of darkness”?(I.iii.129-134) | Macbeth claims that the motives of the “instruments of darkness” are not good. They tell people the truth just so that they can get the people to do bad things. By having these innocent people do bad things, they also create bad ambitions for these people.They tell us things that are true |
| Malcolm describes Cawdor’s last moments before execution. What is Duncan ‘s reply? (I.iv.4-15) | Duncan says that you can’t trust someone just based on their face. They can look innocent and like they have no bad intentions but they can actually be very evil. So basically you can’t trust anyone based on their opinion. |
| Macbeth says, “Stars, hide your fires. Let not light see my black and deep desires.” What are Macbeth’s desires? (I.iv.48-53) | Macbeth desires to be the King and kill Duncan and steal his position.How do we know this? Talks about the Prince of Cumberland…. He isn’t too threatening… because he doesn’t have to, since his dad has that covered. |
| After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him? (I.v.1-38) | She plans to help him by convincing him to be courageous and to be a man and just follow through. She wants to persuade him and talk him out of whatever is stopping him from getting the grown. |
| What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is coming? (I.v.39-55) | Her prayer to the spirits is that Macbeth will be king and that he will fulfill the destiny he was given by the witches. So that she can become more like a man |
| What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home? (I.v.63-75) | Lady Macbeth says that he should greet the king with a false motivation- very kindly and he should look innocent however he should be like a serpent that hides under the flower. She says that when he least expects it he must strike. |
| What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing Duncan? (I.vii.1-26), (I.vii.31-35) | Macbeth says that he is one the King’s subjects and he should always try to protect him. He is also the host and he should be protecting the king from murderers and not murder him. Also Duncan is such a good humble leader that killing him would be a serious crime and people would be very unhappy with the injustice of his murder. People would be extremely sad and unhappy about his death. |
| What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder? (I.vii.38-57) | Lady Macbeth says that he should follow through with his ambition and he should not lie as a coward and saying he can’t. She says that he acts like the poor cat I’th’ adage. |
| What is Lady Macbeth’s plan? (I.vii.60-82) | Lady Macbeth’s plan is that he should just go one step further and murder Macbeth and he would be a man. Also, the timing is just extremely good so e should just follow through. Going to get the guards drunkWhile theyre drunk, well kill the kingWe will blame the guards for the murder |
| Who said “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”, and what does it mean | this is said by the three witches/weird sisters. This means that everything that seems good is bad, and everything that seems bad is good. (thematic concept of appearance vs. reality)Things are not what they seem to be. Good is bad, bad is good. |
| Who said “Sleep shall neither night nor dayHang upon his pent-house lid;He shall live a man forbid:Weary se’nnights nine times nineShall he dwindle, peak and pine:Though his bark cannot be lost,Yet it shall be tempest-tost.” and what does it mean | this is said by the first witch while talking to the other witches. Here, they are planning to tell Macbeth about their prophecy and his fate. The witches are casting the spell for MacbethThis quote means that both Macbeth and Banquo are going to have trouble sleeping. Sleep is a recurring motif in this play (lack of sleep). The “bark” is a ship that represents Macbeth and his life is “tempest-tost”. He will be filled with guilt and unable to sleep. |
| who said “you should be women,And yet your beards forbid me to interpretThat you are so.” and what does it mean | this is said to Banqo to the witches (in Macbeth’s presence).at this time, the witches have conjured, or called upon, Macbeth and Banquo (first time they are meeting the witches)this means that I think you are women, but your beards make me think you are men. This emphasizes the witches as “not of this world” |
| who said “Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fearThings that do sound so fair?” and what does it mean | this is said by Banquo to the other three witches. The three witches are telling Macbeth and Banquo their prophecies. Macbeth has learned that he will soon become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scott. this means that Banquo is questioning Macbeth about why he is so afraid when the prophecy seems to be good- Thane of Cawdor and then Scottland |
| “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.Not so happy, yet much happier.Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:” | this is said by the three witches to Macbeth and Banquosaying Your life will not be as successful as Macbeth’s, nor as much of a failure. Your children will become king, but you will not. The Witches speak in riddles to reveal this prophecy. These are paradoxes- ideas that seem to be contradictory, but upon closer to examination, reveal truth |
| “why do you dress meIn borrow’d robes?” | this is said by Macbeth to Angus and Ross (the king’s noblemen)Macbeth is metaphorically asking why he is wearing the Thane of Cawdor’s clothes- robes- if he is not Thane of Cawdor |
| “And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,The instruments of darkness tell us truths,Win us with honest trifles, to betray’sIn deepest consequence” | this is said by Banquo to Macbeth.this means that Banquo s cautious about believing the witches- come times evil tells us the truth in order to hurt us. |
| “Come what come may,Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” | this line is said by Macbeth when he is talking to himself (an aside)He is saying let whatever is going on come to me come to me. Reference of theme of fate. What will be will be- time passes even in the most difficult moments. |
| “nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it;” | this is said by Malcolm to King DuncanThe son, Malcolm, is talking to the king about the Thane of Cawdor dying in a repentant way. His death was better than his life. |
| “There’s no artTo find the mind’s construction in the face:He was a gentleman on whom I builtAn absolute trust.” | This is said by King Duncan to Malcolm.he is saying that there is no way to know what someone is thinking by looking at them. I trusted him and he betrayed me. Macbeth enters shortly after this line is spoken- foreshadowing |
| “Stars, hide your fires;Let not light see my black and deep desires:” | This is said to Macbeth while he is talking to himself.he is saying that although he has dark ambitions, he won’t let them show, and that he will hide his desires from everyone.Turn off the lights so that my dark thoughts cant be seen… reference theme of fate. First true glance of Macbeth’s ambition |
| “I have no spurTo prick the sides of my intent, but onlyVaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself” | This is said to Macbeth while he is talking to himself.He means that there is nothing that makes him want to kill the king, except his ambition, which takes over him. This vaulting ambition overtakes him at a pace where he cant stop it. |
| “But screw your courage to the sticking-placeAnd we’ll not fail.” | This is said to Macbeth by Lady Macbeth.In this scene, Lady Macbeth interrogates Macbeth’s masculinity once he’s shown doubt. Lady Macbeth tries to convince him that going through with this and killing Duncan would make him a better person. |
Macbeth (Act 1)
August 15, 2019