Macbeth
Act I
 Macbeth meets the witches in Act I and is
immediately tempted by their prophecies.
 Both speak in contradiction:
 Witches with the prophecy “Fair is foul and foul is
fair.”
 Macbeth in Scene three when speaking with
Banquo about the battle “So foul and fair a day I
have not seen.”
 These contradictions link them
 By the end of Act I Macbeth is not a
good man, but he is not a evil either. He
is TEMPTED by the prophecies, however
he does have doubts. He is inability to
stand up to his wife’s ability to manipulate
him brings on his down fall.
Lady Macbeth
 Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as
a very powerful character. This is an
unusual characterization for female
characters of this time period.
 Through her, and her behavior, we
explore the theme of Masculinity and
cruelty. Shakespeare, and his audience
at the Globe would associate cruelty with
men.
 This is evidenced by several of Lady
Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s statements
throughout the play.
 “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal
thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from
the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.”
 “Bring forth men-children only, For they
undaunted mettle should compose Nothing
but males.”
ACT II
 The appearance of Fleance (Banquo’s
son) is a reminder of the witches’
prophecy.
 Banquo’s knowledge of the witches’
prophecy makes him a potential friend
and a potential enemy.
 If Macbeth succeeds in killing Duncan,
Fleance will be in danger.
Duncan’s Chamber
 This is a hidden area where the murder
of Duncan, the guards and a future death
will take place.
 The audience at the Globe would not
actually see these killings, however, all
who enter this chamber emerge
powerfully changed.
Irony
 After the murder of Duncan, Lady
Macbeth tells Macbeth “A little water
clears us of the deed. How easy it is
then.”
 Ironically, they are both unable to wash
away the guilt of the murder.
 After Macbeth murders Duncan, strange things
happen in the atmosphere and in nature.
Duncan’s horses eat one another and an owl
kills a falcon.
 These strange occurrences cast a menacing
shadow over Macbeth’s coronation. By killing
Duncan, Macbeth releases chaos among
Scotland—The good, benevolent king is
replaced by a tyrant.
ACT III
 During this act, Macbeth sinks even
lower into madness. He arranges the
murder of his best friend, and his son in
order to insure that no one will find out
that he and his wife have killed the king.
The Banquet
 This is simultaneously the high point of
Macbeth’s reign and the beginning of his
downfall.
 High point: all are celebrating his
coronation
 Downfall: he is haunted by Banquo’s
ghost and appears to be insane in front
of his subjects.
 It is appropriate that Banquo’s ghost and
not Duncan’s haunts Macbeth. He also
heard the prophecies but took no action
to further his own interests.
 Shakespeare’s message is that ambition
does not require bloodshed.
ACT IV
 In this scene Macbeth descends into
complete madness. When he murders
Macduff’s family this act of violence is
seen as the worst. It is not done for
political gain or to silence an enemy, it is
strictly done out of malice.
Cruelty and Masculinity
 Once again in this act this theme is
explored. When Macduff is told that
Macbeth has killed his family his reaction
is to weep. Malcolm states to “Dispute it
like a man.” Macduff’s reply is “But I
must also feel it like a man.”
 Shakespeare’s commentary on
masculinity here is that Macduff is truly a
man and a human being. It is
appropriate for Macduff to weep and it in
no way effects his masculinity.
ACT V
 The resolution of the play takes place in
8 short scenes.
 Lady Macbeth falls into madness and
Macbeth’s downfall is complete.
Sleepwalking
 Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
sleepwalk during the play. Sleep is
associated with innocence and inability to
sleep is associated with guilt.
 Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are
unable to sleep after the murder of
Duncan. “Macbeth doth murder sleep.”
Irony
 Ironically, Lady Macbeth believes that
she has a spot of blood of on her hands.
During Act V she cannot wash away the
imagined spot of blood “Out , damned
spot, out, I say!” She cannot wash away
the guilt of her crimes.
Witches
 The witches have much power over the
events in the play.
 Duncan’s murder
 Banquo’s murder
 Their prophecies truly come to fruition
 Birnum Wood marches on Dunsinane
(Malcolm’s men camouflage themselves
with a bough from a tree in the woods)
No man of woman born can harm
Macbeth. (Macduff is actually born of a
C-section. “Macduff was from his
mother’s womb untimely ripped.”
Tomorrow and tomorrow
and tomorrow…
 This speech, given by Macbeth
immediately after his knowledge that his
wife has killed herself, is a reflection of
his hopelessness. Life has no meaning.
 However, if we are to take them at facevalue, then his actions truly “signify
nothing” and they are meaningless rather
than evil.
 Or…. It could be a commentary by
Shakespeare about his theater and how
the events on stage have signified
nothing. Remember the Gunpowder plot
and his father’s involvement. This could
be Shakespeare’s way of covering
himself.
Macbeth’s Death
 Macbeth’s death comes as somewhat of a
relief. He is not a sympathetic hero—more so
a tyrant. He is truly a tragic hero. His ambition
causes him to take action that ultimately brings
on his downfall.
 When he kills Duncan his virtue is gone.
 Theme: Ambition must be checked to maintain
order.