Act 1 Flashcards
Why does the play begin with witches?
-Establishes a darker sinister mood.
-Shows the influence of the characters.
-Introduces with those that have a significant amount of power.
Summary of Act 1: Scene 1
-Thunder and lightning crash above a Scottish moor.
-3 witches appear out of the storm.
-They make plans to meet again upon the heath, after the battle, to confront Macbeth.
Key ideas in Act 1: Scene 1?
-“Thunder and lightning”- creates an eerie atmosphere, heightens suspense.
-“Upon the heath”- meet in the wilderness, conveys how suspicious they are.
-“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”- ‘good is bad and bad is good,’ inversion of the natural order, conveys dichotomy of good and bad.
-“again, rain” and “done, won”- rhyming couplet, conveys control and sinister power of witches.
Summary of Act 1: Scene 2
-The captain regarded Macbeth and Banquo as nobles who fought with great courage and violence.
-Thane of Ross enters and tells the King that the traitorous Thane of Cawdor has been defeated.
-Macbeth has been decided to be granted the title of ‘Thane of Cawdor.’
Key ideas in Act 1: Scene 2?
-“For brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name,” introduces hero as someone special, foreshadows his lack of bravery as the play progresses.
-“Worthy gentleman!,” exclamatory tone, dramatic irony: later on he is not worthy as they say.
-“As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion,” zoomorphism, conveys Macbeth as brave, alludes to idea of Macbeth being the eagle and everyone else being the prey.
“No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive,” dramatic irony, Macbeth betrays Duncan and commits regicide.
Summary of Act 1: Scene 3
-On the heath near the battlefield, there three witches appear. The third witch cries that Macbeth is coming.
-Macbeth and Banquo come upon the witches and shrink in horror at the sight of the women.
-Banquo asks whether they are mortal.
-The witches reveal the prophecies given for Macbeth and Banquo.
-Macbeth is told that he will be given the title of Thane of Cawdor; eventually told he will be King as well, and Banquo is told that his children would be given the Title of King.
-Banquo is not ambitious about the prophecies given and is less concerned, but to Macbeth, he is more concerned, fuelling his ambition to become King.
Key ideas in Act 1: Scene 3?
-“So foul and fair a day I have not seen,” same words stated by witches, intrinsically linked, first words Macbeth says.
-“That look not like the inhabitants o’ the earth, and yet are on’t?” Describes appearance of witches. They are supernatural.
-“You imperfect speakers, tell me more,” disbelief at first, fatal flaw conveyed (hunger for power).
-“My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man.”- The thought of murder terrifies him, ironic since he goes on to commit regicide, for the title of ‘King.’
Summary of Act 1: Scene 4
-Duncan hears reports of Cawdor’s execution from his son Malcolm, who says that Cawdor died nobly, confessing freely of his crimes.
-Duncan thanks the two generals profusely for their heroism in the battle.
Key ideas, in Act 1: Scene 4?
“There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face,” cannot tell if one is thinking falsely, because of no implications portrayed on the outside.
“I built an absolute trust,” Dramatic irony, Macbeth is seen to be loyal towards the King but that eventually he commits regicide.
“Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires,” hamartia; growing of ambition, builds up his embodiment of evil and he does not want any witnesses for his evil actions.
Summary of Act 1: Scene 5
-Lady Macbeth reads to herself a letter she has received from Macbeth.
-Lady Macbeth thinks that Macbeth is ambitious but is too innocent. She thinks that if she had the masculine traits that Macbeth had, she would do whatever is required to seize the crown.
Key ideas for Act 1: Scene 5?
-“Hail, king that shalt be!” Hints to her ambition for Macbeth to become King.
-“It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness,” Macbeth is considered to be too innocent to do whatever he can to become King.
-“Unsex me here”, “Take my milk for gall,” links to how she wants to be more powerful and wants all masculine traits to achieve this. Links to her optimum determination.
-“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t,” hints to how she is skilled in the art of deception and links to the religious allegory of Adam and Eve, taking fruit from the Tree of Knowledge despite being instructed not to. This quote was inspired by King James after the gunpowder plot.
Summary of Act 1: Scene 6
-Duncan praises the castle’s pleasant environment, and thanks Lady Macbeth for her hospitality.
-Duncan also asks to be taken inside to Macbeth, whom he professes to love dearly.
Summary of Act 1: Scene 7
-Macbeth realises that there is no reason to kill the king other than his own ambition, which he realises is an unreliable guide.
-Lady Macbeth enters and tells her husband that the King has dined and that he has been asking for Macbeth.
-Macbeth declares that he no longer intends to kill Duncan.
-Lady Macbeth questions his manhood. Then, criticises how he is behaving due to it making him seem weak. Then, Macbeth agrees to proceed with the murder.
Key ideas for Act One: Scene 7
-“Was the hope drunk,” questioning his ambition, thinks that it is nonsense.
-“Be so much more the man,”playing on his egotistical status and manipulating his mindset.
-“Dash’d the brains out”, hinting how extreme she would go to get what she wants.
-“Bring forth men-children only,” His ambition has come back after a short period of time.
