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Macbeth > Act 1 > Flashcards

Act 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What happens in Act 1 Scene 1?

A
  • We are introduced to the 3 witches.
  • An ominous atmosphere is created.
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2
Q

What was James I view of witches?

A
  • Being a witch was punishable by death in 1600’s
  • He wrote a book called Daemonolgie about them.
  • Encountered dangerous storms on a journey to Denmark with wife, blamed it on witches. He though witchcraft was “high treason against God.”
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3
Q

What did The Jacobean audience believe witches could do?

A
  • Fly
  • Curse crops
  • Cause infertility
  • Communicate with demons
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4
Q

Why were witches killed?

A
  • To reiforce patriarchal systems.
  • The unwordly power that witches had was “high treason against God.”
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5
Q

How does Shakespare make the witches seem evil in the first scene?

A
  • They use rhyming language - like that of a spell, a common fear of Jacobean audience.
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6
Q

What do the witches say about appearance vs reality in first scene?

A

“Fair is foul and foul is fair.”

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7
Q

What happens in Scene 2?

A
  • Captain comes back from battle and describes how great Macbeth was.
  • Duncan says that the previous Thane of Cawdor will be executed and Macbeth will be new Thane of Cawdor.
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8
Q

What did “Wryd” mean in old english?

A
  • “Wyrd” meant fate.
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9
Q

Why was treason such a bad act in Jacobean times?

A
  • Divine Right of Kings
  • Believed monarchs were appointed by God.
  • Sacrireligious to go against monarch.
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10
Q

What was The King’s Men?

A
  • A theatre company that performed plays for The King.
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11
Q

Give 2 quotes about the description of Macbeth on the battlefield.

A

“brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name, disdaining fortune.”
“unseamed him from the naves to the chaps” (without hesitation.)

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12
Q

What does Macbeth moving through the battlefield to get to Macdonald suggest?

A
  • This suggests that Macbeth is very ambitious and courageous.
  • He wants to show his courage. For Macbeth courage is the essence of being a man.
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13
Q

What’s ironic about the fact that Duncan says he will not let anyone decieve him any more after The 1st Thane of Cawdor comitted treason?

A
  • We learn from Macbeth’s **asides **in Act 1 Scene 3 that he is plotting a similar execution.
  • Appearance vs reality
  • Naivety of King Duncan
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14
Q

What happens in Scene 3?

A
  • On the way back from battle, Macbeth and Banquo run into the witches; they say Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and King, they tell Banquo his children will be Kings. Straight after, Ross informs Macbeth that he shall be Thane of Cawdor
  • Macbeth has his first thought about killing King.
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15
Q

What line does Macbeth say that mirrors what the witches say?
What does this show?

A

“So fair and foul a day.”
Fair –> won battle
Foul –> weather
Shows the witches will have a big impact on Macbeth.

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16
Q

What does Banquo say about the witches at the end of Scene 3?

A

“Instruments of darkness tell us truths to betray us in deepest consequence.”

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17
Q

How is the motif of clothes started in scene 3?

A

Macbeth asks the witches:
“why do you dress me in borrowed robes” –> Thane of Cawdor still alive

18
Q

What happens in Scene 4?

A
  • Malcom becomes heir to the throne.
  • Duncan is planning visit to Macbeth’s castle.
19
Q

What does Duncan say about the Thane of Cawdor’s face in scene 4?

A
  • “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.”
  • He fails to read what’s in The Thane of Cawdor’s face.
  • Naievty of Duncan
20
Q

How does Shakespeare present Duncan as a good King?

A
  • He is fair
  • Gives people what they deserve and shows praise.
  • Ie. Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor.
21
Q

What does Macbeth say in his aside in Scene 4?

A

“Let not light see my dark and deep desires.”
Religious imagery.

22
Q

What happens in Scene 5?

A
  • Lady Macbeth plans to kill King Duncan so that Macbeth can become King.
23
Q

How has Macbeth changed about the way he speaks about killing Duncan in Scene 4?

His aside at end of scene

A
  • No longer abstract and complex.
  • Matter of factness.
24
Q

How does Macbeth refer to Lady Macbeth, showing he respects her?

A

“my dearest partner of greatness.”

25
Q

What does the evil- side of Lady Macbeth’s character show?

A
  • The negative side- effects of treason
  • The effects it has on a loving relationship.
  • She is the reason Macbeth is a bad person
26
Q

What are 2 interpretations about Lady Macbeth with her plan to kill Duncan?

A

1.) She is evil and is making Macbeth bad.
2.) Macbeth was on the road to downfall anyway, she is just helping him.

27
Q

To what extent is Lady Macbeth seen as powerful….

A
  • Scene 4: argue she isn’t powerful because she needs the help of spirits.
  • BUT LATER… she is able to manipulate Macbeth.
28
Q

What was the role of women in Jacobean England?

A
  • They weren’t allowed on stage (misinterpretation!!)
  • Wives were expected to be obedient to their husbands.
  • Women in power was shocking: Elizabeth I
29
Q

What is the name of the book that refers to Lady Macbeth as “wifely roles of hostess and helpmate? “

A
  • A Woman’s Part –> feminist critism of Shakespeare.
30
Q

How is there a link between witches and Lady Macbeth?

A

“Unsex me here, fill me up with the direst cruelty.”
- Witches have no gener.
- Some people will believe she is a 4th witch.

31
Q

What is Lady Macbeth’s advice to Macbeth when she meets him in Scene 5?

A

“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.”
Appearance vs reality.

32
Q

What happens in Scene 6?

A
  • Duncan has arrived to Macbeth’s castle and greets Lady Macbeth.
33
Q

How is Duncan seen as a good but naive King?

A
  • He seems to enjoy the achievments of others, thanks people for their service
  • He is clear, doesn’t hide anything (“so clear in his great office.”)
  • Very polite around Lady Macbeth (“give me your hand.”)
  • HOWEVER….
  • He is naive for trusting Macbeth, leads to his downfall.
34
Q

What does Macbeth speak about in his “If it were done” soliloquy?

A
  • Pros and cons of killing Duncan.
35
Q

What reasons does Macbeth give to NOT kill King Duncan?

A
  • Duncan is a great King “so clear in his great office.”
  • Duncan is his guest.
  • Return to plague him.
  • He will go to hell: “jump the life to come.”
  • His wickidness will be exposed
36
Q

What 1 Reason does Macbeth give to kill Duncan?

A
  • “Vaulting ambition which overleaps itself.”
  • Overleaps: he knows his ambition will lead him to fall.
37
Q

What is Macbeth’s harmatia, fatal flaw?

A

His ambition…

38
Q

How does Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill Duncan after he changed his mind?

Scene 7….

A

“When thou durst do it, then you were a man.”
Masculinity is very important to Macbeth.

39
Q

What reason does Macbeth give to his wife for not wanting to kill Duncan?

A
  • Duncan has given him the title of Thane of Cawdor.
  • He wants to enjoy that.
40
Q

What was the famous act of treason that happened before Macbeth was published?

A
  • The Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
  • Catholic and Protestant tensions.
41
Q

What is the purpose of Act 1?

A
  • Show the plans of killing King Duncan.
  • Increase tension as the death of Duncan is awaited.
42
Q

Why is Macbeth willing to believe the wicthes?
THINK POWER
Contrast

A
  • This is because they give Macbeth power.
  • They give him truths that he values
  • Supernatural have control as Macbeth allows it.
  • Banquo choses not to believe “the instruments of darkness.”

Macbeth (6 decks)

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