Create a mind map of words
you associate with COMMITMENT. Be
prepared to write them on the board.
By the end of the lesson you will …
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Understand the different ideas
associated with the theme of
commitment
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The idea of commitment?
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What does commitment mean?
What does commitment in marriage mean?
Are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth committed
to each other, in your opinion?
Does their commitment change in the play?
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Marriage commitment is being dedicated,
faithful and supporting the other person in
the relationship whatever happens.
Sickness and in health
Forever
To love and to cherish
Equal
Healthy relationship
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the state or quality of being dedicated to a
cause, activity, etc.
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an engagement or obligation that restricts
freedom of action
Marriage commitment
Support, what else?
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Descriptions of him before we know he is
married
What do we know?
Analysing the Text
Lady Macbeth reads her husband’s letter. She hatches an
ambitious plan to convince her husband to murder Duncan.
Lady Macbeth then welcomes Macbeth home and prepares to
receive the king.
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Most women had the most basic education – focused on
looking after the household
Women had few legal rights and could not work
Woman were viewed as inferior to men and were not given
the same amount of respect
Women were seen as unable to control their emotions,
therefore silence was seen as a female virtue!
How do these ideas fit with the character of Lady Macbeth?
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LADY MACBETH […] Glamis thou art, and
Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art
promised: yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full
o' the milk of human kindness To catch the
nearest way: thou wouldst be great; Art not
without ambition, but without The illness
should attend it: (1.5.1)
LADY MACBETH: 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! (1.5.38)
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Exploring the relationship between the
Macbeths in Act One
respect
power
love
trust
masculinity
passion
good vs. evil
strength
ambition
corruption
manipulation
malcontent
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Point – The first scene shows….
Evidence – For example, it says
Technique – The use of the word…….suggests
that (Explain)
Reader/Response/Really good alternative
suggestion/addition to your point/Refer back
to the question and develop that original
point – This illustrate that their relationship
was unusual for the time…
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Dearest partner of greatness
Lady Macbeth fears her husband’s weakness
The way Lady M is so masculine and evil – not
many women would have dared question
their husband. She is super-smart and bored
of being the little woman at home. She is
ruthless and ambitious.
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Shakespeare establishes the close
relationship between Macbeth and his wife.
It reveals what they both think of each other
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Act 1 Scene 7 – Macbeth has doubts – Lady
Macbeth taunts him and he gives in.
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MACBETH
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Prithee, peace:
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.
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Act 1 Scene 7 – Macbeth has doubts – Lady
Macbeth taunts him and he gives in.
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When you durst do it, then you were a man. LM to M.
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MACBETH
Prithee, peace:
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.
Translation - MACBETH
Please, stop! I dare to do only what is proper for a man
to do. He who dares to do more is not a man at all.
I have given suck, and know
How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me.
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.
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What does this reveal about her commitment to
her husband? Killing for each other? Is that
commitment?
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Infirm of purpose!
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Coward
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
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Macbeth and his wife welcome guests to their state banquet.
The Ghost of Banquo appears but only Macbeth can see it, and
his strange behaviour startles his wife and their guests.
1.
What do Macbeth’s first words show about his state of
mind?
2.
What is Macbeth’s preoccupation and how does it
effect his behaviour?
3.
How does Lady Macbeth respond to her husband?
Does her argument reflect earlier ideas about
Macbeth?
4.
We have looked at how the setting of the first scenes
create an atmosphere. How does the setting here
create an atmosphere?
Be sure to include the following key words in your analysis of this scene:
good vs. evil
masculinity
madness
control
facade
grotesque
supernatural
power
tyranny
transgression
conscience
Analysing the Text
The battle is at its height. Macbeth is fortified inside his castle
but his enemies are closing in. A messenger arrives and informs
Macbeth that his wife is dead.
1.
Highlight and explain a section of the soliloquy
that explains Macbeth’s feelings.
2.
Why does Macbeth make so many references to
time? Who does Banquo state can see into the
‘seeds of time’ at the start of the tragedy? How do
these two ideas link?
3.
What is a ‘player’? Which characters have been
playing a game and who has won?
Be sure to include the following key words in your analysis of this scene:
cunning
resignation
despair
ambition
good vs. evil
time
power
manipulation
futility
impotent
Analysing the Text
Macduff has defeated Macbeth in a duel. He cuts off his head
and raises it on a pike. Malcolm, the rightful heir to the Scottish
crown, is proclaimed the king.
1.
How is ‘time free’?
2.
Why is Macbeth referred to as a ‘usurper’?
3.
Why does Malcolm make the thanes earls?
4.
How has Macbeth’s reputation changed from the
start of the play? How will history remember him?
1.
Why is ‘Grace’ mentioned?
2.
What is ‘Scone’ and how is it important?
Be sure to include the following key words in your analysis of this scene:
order
victory
tradition
power
rebirth
good vs. evil
reputation
catharsis
rehabilitation
structure
We are now going to work in
small groups of two or three
to create a dramatic scene.
The theme of the drama is
power.
The situations link into the
play we will be studying…
Two friends go to see a
fortune teller. There seems to
be really good news for one
of them – but is it good
news? Could there be an
alternative meaning?
A young ambitious couple –
George and Katie – are
discussing jobs.
George has a chance of a huge
promotion but has to do
something underhand to get it.
Katie encourages him, even
though George isn't sure ….
Improvise a scene in which
three mysterious characters
are plotting a meeting. They
want to control another
person.
Try to make the scene weird,
sinister and threatening.
As we watch each
performance, think about
how each group show power
in the relationships.
Can you relate the
performances to one of our
word associations or
quotations?
Think more about the character you created. Did your character
have power or not? How did you show it in your performance?
Complete the Role on the Wall worksheet with your ideas.
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Inside- write the emotions and feelings of the character
Outside- write about the behaviour of the character
‘One thing I already knew…’
‘Two things I would still like to know…’
‘Three things I learned today…’