Character Analysis Flashcards
1
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Banquo Character Analysis
A
- Banquo has personal ambition and is tempted by the thought that his children one day will be king
- But knows what is right or wrong and that is why he is Noble, Loyal, and Self - Controlled
2
Q
Macduff Character Analysis
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- Macduff on the other hand doesn’t have any ambition for the throne and is solely focused on reverting Macbeth’s wrong he is patriotic, Emotional, Noble and Loyal
- This is why Macbeth targetted these characters in his murderous rampage as they serve as reminders of the man he once was before his flaws consumed him
3
Q
Lady Macbeth Analysis
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- Lady Macbeth’s true nature is between talking to herself and pressing her husband
- This shows the juxtaposition between when she is talking to her husband compared to by herself which is full of fear and guilt
- She can hide this with a hardened extension
- Blood on her hands that can’t be washed away shows paranoia and remorse and is overwhelmed with anxiety and despair
- She appears cold and calculating but is inwardly emotional and vulnerable and is unable to kill Duncan herself because of this
4
Q
Analysis of Macbeth in Act 1
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- Macbeth is first mentioned in Act 1 Scene 2 where a messenger is relaying the outcome of a recent battle to King Duncan
- Referred to as “Brave Macbeth” - Act 1 Scene 2
- He is also portrayed as a hero figure whom Ducan holds in high esteem and calls him “O, Valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen” - Act 1 Scene 2
- When they get prophecies from the witches Banquo says about him “ Why do you start to fair, Things that could sound so fair?” - Banquo Act 1 Scene 3
5
Q
Analysis of Macbeth in Act 2
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- As Lady Macbeth pressures him into killing the king
- The battle between Ambition and Conscience continues as he begins to murder the king
- He invasions a bloody dagger in Act 2 Scene 1 which shows his subconscious. It is not enough to stop him from his task
- He is not scared of killing someone as he has done it on the battlefield many times. But instead is scared of the Moral and spiritual consequences
6
Q
Analysis of Macbeth in Act 3
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- Although Macbeth’s Ambition has carried him to the highest level in the country. He still wants more
- He wants to determine the throne for himself and his future children. “ For them the gracious Duncan I have murdered” - Act 3 Scene 1
- His guilt and conscience still don’t carry out the deeds personally and hire assassins/murderers
- With each bad decision he becomes more comfortable with his evil side and uses the night to cover his sins
- Manifestation of guilt happens when he sees Banquo’s ghost back then people would have taken this more literally
7
Q
Analysis of Macbeth in Act 4
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- When Macbeth goes to the witches again and they tell hun 3 prophecies
- One of them being “Laugh to scorn, The power or man, for none of women born shall harm Macbeth” - Act 4 Scene 1
- Macbeth couldn’t image how anyone could be born any other way which reassured him that he was fine
- But when the witches tell him again that Banquo’s descendants will become king he loses his temper and goes on a killing rampage tapping into his evil/dark side. the rekindles his paranoia
8
Q
Analysis of Macbeth in Act 5
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- Act 5 Scene 3 is when we next see Macbeth again
- His character changes as he is now in his soldier mind set again as he is about to go into battle
- Bold and believes in himself, because of the witches prophocies
- Soldier attitude : Hardened, less emotional
- Read to let his fate play out
9
Q
General Analysis of Macbeth in all Acts
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- Macbeth is Brave, Moral, Easily manipulated, and has a fatal flaw like other Shakespeare characters which is the overwhelming ambition and desire for power
- This is coupled with a guilty conscience and forms lots of inner conflict
- This is put in the form of soliloquies. This is a monologue that a spoken aloud to oneself without any other character hearing it.
- This gives the reader a sense of sympathy for Macbeth, as aware of what is going on in his head.
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