Act I Discussion Questions
1. After a period of indecision, Macbeth confirms his intent to carry out the murder of Duncan. Write a paragraph describing his thoughts as
he makes his decision. What are the reasons for his hesitation? How does he rationalize his choice? Use at least two examples from the
play to support your ideas.
2. At the conclusion of Act I-i (Act I - Scene I), the witches cry, ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’. What do they mean?
3. In Act I-ii, Macbeth is described. Are these qualities admirable? Do they help explain his later actions?
4. On lines 17-49 of Act I-iv, the King thanks his generals and they respond. What differences do you notice between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s
replies to Duncan? What can you conclude from these differences?
5. Describe the Macbeths’ marriage. Assess whether it is a good/bad marriage and whether it conforms to your idea of a good marriage.
6. Read Macbeth’s soliloquy at the beginning of Act I-vii. How did this soliloquy add to your understanding of Macbeth or alter your opinion of
him?
7. Describe the various techniques used by Lady Macbeth in Act I-vii to convince her husband to murder Duncan. Decide which one was the
most successful.
Act II Discussion Questions
8. In Act II-i, how should Macbeth’s soliloquy (lines 40-68) be acted? Recommend what movements, gestures, and facial expressions might be
included? What props, lighting, and sound effects could be added to enhance the dramatic atmosphere?
9. In Shakespeare’s time, theatre was definitely a collaborative art where playwrights rarely worked alone when creating their plays. Explain.
10. At the end of his soliloquy in Act II-i, just before Macbeth hears the bell ring, he tells himself to stop talking and start doing something. What
do you think Macbeth’s acknowledged procrastination indicates about the way he was feeling?
11. In Act IIii, what does Lady Macbeth fear the most? What frightens her? Is she being logical? What should she fear the most?
12. What are Banquo’s concerns about the witches’ prophecy? What is Macbeth’s response?
13. Describe the murder of Duncan and the brief aftermath as recounted by Macbeth to those in attendance at the death scene.
14. As described in Scenes III and IV, how does nature reflect the human events in the play?
Act III Discussion Questions
15. As Act III opens, what hope does Banquo maintain? How is Banquo treated by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? How does he respond? Why
does Macbeth fear Banquo?
16. How does Macbeth convince the murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance? What reason does he give for wanting to keep secret his connection
with the murderers?
17. In Scene II, compare and contrast the feelings of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. What changes do you perceive in Macbeth?
18. How does Macbeth now feel about Duncan? How do these feelings contrast with his feelings before Duncan’s murder?
19. What does Macbeth’s behavior at the banquet suggest about his emotional state? How does Lady Macbeth handle the situation?
20. What does Macbeth plan for the day after the banquet? Does he tell Lady Macbeth what he plans to do? What does this suggest about their
relationship?
21. In his soliloquy in Scene I (Lines 52-76), what is upsetting Macbeth? Why does it upset him so much?
22. Some scholars consider the climax of the play to occur with the stage directions “Exit Fleance.” Why do you think they feel this way?
Soliloquies
Translate these soliloquies below into modern-day English. Each line should be translated to roughly the same line length as the original.
The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. 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! make thick my blood;
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry 'Hold, hold!'
He chid the sisters
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him: then prophet-like
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so,
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come fate into the list.
And champion me to the utterance!
Lady Macbeth
Act I-Scene V
Macbeth
Act III-Scene I