| ‘the Thane of Cawdor lives’ (Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth) | The Thane of Cawdor was a traitor, the fact that Macbeth is the next Thane of Cawdor suggests he will also be a traitor. The play is like a VICIOUS CIRCLE, ends at the beginning. Also, your name or title determines your position in life eg. Thane of Cawdor = traitor, Macbeth = bad, Macduff = good |
| ‘there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust’ (Act 1, Scene 4, Duncan) | Duncan trusted the Thane of Cawdor, yet he has been betrayed. As Duncan is more aware of traitors, it FORSHADOWS the fact that Macbeth is going to kill him |
| ‘the raven himself is hoarse, that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan’ (Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy) | The raven is an OMEN for death, in this instance, it is the death of Duncan. Omens bring a sense of the inevitable; nothing can be done to change it. Is it just an omen for Duncan, or is he going to be killed? |
| ‘come Fate into the list, and champion me to th’utterance’ (Act 3, Scene 1, Macbeth) | Challenge fate to a duel: a DIRECT MENTION of fate! Shows that Macbeth does not accept his fate and wishes to change it. Is it because of guilt or fear of Hell? The fact he is willing to fight shows he is a warrior |
| ‘what’s he that was not born of a woman? Such a one am I to fear, or none’ (Act 5, Scene 7, Macbeth) | Shows acceptance of fate- Macduff was born by C-Section, not naturally (ahahaha) |
| ‘let me find him, Fortune, and more I beg not’ (Act 5, Scene 7, Macbeth) | Fortune is fate PERSONIFIED. Macbeth is calling on Fate to help him, even though he knows it is too late (he had previously accepted fate) |
| ‘all hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis”all hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor”all hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter’ (Act 1, Scene 3, witches) | The whole play revolves around the witches’ prophecies, alongside the telling of half-truths we see that the witches are crucial to the play. They are literally in control of fate, anything they say seems to come true. Suggests that the supernatural are in control of fate, not humans (out of our hands). The audience waits in anticipation for the events to unfold, bringing a sense of DRAMATIC IRONY to the audience, also shows how the supernatural has a massive impact (CONTEXT: Jacobean audience terrified of supernatural, know it will come true, whereas in a modern audience it adds suspense) |
| The play has a cyclical ending (starts and ends with a battle, ends at the beginning, vicious, a murderer in position of King) | Prompts many questions for the audience, adds SUSPENSE: Will tyranny take over the next King? Will Fleance come back seeking revenge? |
Macbeth Theme: Fate
September 11, 2019