Act 1 scene 7 Flashcards
He is willing to risk not going to heaven if he can just do this deed and get away with in the here and now but he knows there is a strong element of justice on earth as well as after life. He fears that bloody instructions return to play the inventor he fears if he does a dirty deed that deed will follow him and he will not escape consequences.
This blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here… …We’d jump the life to come
Macbeth considers what is wrong to Duncan, first I am related to him his Kingsman second I his subject. He is my king. I should obey him third I’m his host. I invited him to my home. I should shut the door against anyone who will harm him and not be the one who harm him either. Macbeth has no problem distinguishing between right and wrong, and he knows it is wrong to kill Duncan.
He’s here in double trust; first, as I am his Kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed, then as his host, who should against his murder shot the door, not bear the knife himself
Macbeth offers a tribute to Duncan as a king, he says that Duncan has used his powers both his intelligence and influence his king, in a meek and gentle way, never abused his position as king. Clear in his office – honest. He imagines angels will play trumpets against the terrible crime of killing this innocent man. Need to be aware of the divine rates of Kings I.e. The king is God on earth so if you commit crime against king you are committing crime against God.
Besides, this Duncan born his faculties so meek, has been so clear in his great office, that his virtues were pleaded like angels trumpet – tongu’d against the deep damnation of his taking off
Macbeth admits his only motivation in committing the crime is his own selfish desire to be king. Almost as if he knows his ambition will be his downfall
I have no spur to price the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition
He does not want to kill Duncan, he has got lots of praise for his role in the battle against the rebels and he wants to wear them in their newest gloss not cast aside so soon. This relates to clothing imagery mentioned earlier and play.
We will proceed no further in this business
Her response, he accuses Macbeth of not really loving her, he has changed his mind about murdering Duncan, has he changed his mind about loving her?
From this time/Such I account thy love
Then she says that for the rest of his life he will be filled with self loathing and disgust because he wanted something I didn’t have the courage to go and get it
And live a coward in thine own esteem
Macbeth replies by saying he does everything that any man would do in a good conscience but if I do something evil then I stop being a real man
I dare do all that May become a man/who dares do more Is none?
She replies saying that when he dared to do this deed, then he was behaving like a man
When you durst do it, then you were a man
Next thing she says is deeply shocking, she gives us an image of mother breastfeeding her baby and dashing their brains out if she had promised to do it saying I would never break a promise to you even if it meant doing something as a natural as murdering my own child
I have given Suck – dash’d the brains out, had I sworn as you have done to this
Key moment at end of act one, because of the pressure put upon him by his wife and his own desire to be keen, his ambition and because of which is prophecy, all of these factors combined plus the opportunity presenting himself i.e. Duncan arriving at his door, all of these factors cause him to change his mind
If we should fail
Final quote in this scene captures the theme of appearance versus reality. So earlier when Lady Macbeth told her husband to look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it. Now her husband I made that something you have to act a certain way even though you are feeling something else inside.
False face must hide what the falls heart doth know
My birth starts to admire the determination his wife has revealed, he knows it is unnatural for a woman. There is nothing vaguely female about the way you are behaving. From now on the only word only needs male children.
Bring forth man – children only;/for thy daunted mettle should compose/nothing but males
