Chorus Flashcards
‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’
ca1sf3 - T
Character/s
The Witches
Act, Scene
1,1
AO1 - Translation
‘Goodness is bad, and badness is good’
AO2 - Simple
Paradoxical statement
AO2 - Full
This paradoxical statement by the witches refers to a theme that recurs throughout the play: the moral ambiguity of humanity. What seems to be the natural order becomes reversed as the mischief sown by the witches’ actions is exacerbated by man’s folly and ambition.
AO3
Shakespeare is sending the message to not follow the supernatural as it leads to evil. King James I hated witches and even wrote a book entitled ‘Demonology’, he is emphasising that the supernatural causes corruption and leads to King Duncan’s death, meaning they’re against God.
‘He’s here in double trust’
ca1sf3 - T
Character/s
Macbeth
Act, Scene
1,7
AO1 - Translation
‘Duncan trusts me as his kinsman and host’
AO2 - Simple
Noun phrase that Macbeth is trusted as Duncan’s kinsman and host
AO2 - Full
Again, the noun phrase ‘double trust’ relates to Macbeth’s battle with his conscience. He should be trusted in two ways - as Duncan’s kinsman so he should always protect him and as his host, so he should close the door to his murderer’s face and not try to murder him, himself, so the betrayal would be even worse because of this.
AO3
These ideas of a host’s obligations and loyalty to the king would have a strong impact on the Jacobean audience.
‘Infected be the air’
ca1sf3 - T
Character/s
Macbeth
Act, Scene
4,1
AO1 - Translation
‘The air on which they ride is infected’
AO2 - Simple
Irony, Macbeth says not to trust the Witches but he trusted them
AO2 - Full
Complete irony, he’s saying the witches are so terrible, they even infect the ar ‘they ride’. He said ‘and damned all those that trust them’, which is ironic as he trusted them, he in fact is damning himself. He allowed their predictions to come true. This suggests Macbeth regrets what he did, and wishes he was ill as a result. ‘Damned’ might suggest that in faith, the higher power would judge him and he will face the consequences of his actions.
AO3
Shakespeare is suggesting that you should never trust the supernatural as it only brings bad things and makes you regret listening to them. You will also face consequences, and be ‘damned’ by God if you go against the King.
‘Blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me’
ca1 - T
Character/s
Macbeth
Act, Scene
4,1
AO1 - Translation
‘Baonquo, with his blood-clotted hair is smiling at me’
AO2 - Simple
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AO2 - Full
AO3
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‘Violent sorrow seems a modern ecstasy’
ca1sf3 - T
Character/s
Ross
Act, Scene
4,3
AO1 - Translation
‘Where violent sorrows have become a common emotion’
AO2 - Simple
Happiness is replaced by sadness
AO2 - Full
Scotland’s overwhelmingness of happiness is now the feeling of deep distress because violence is so common that it has replaced Soctlad’s happiness with sadness due to Macbeth’s rule.
AO3
Shakespeare is suggesting that committing regicide and ruling a country over which God has not chosen you to rule over will lead to the country no longer being happy and it’ll just being full of sorrow.
‘False face must hide what a false heart doth know’
ca1s - T
Character/s
Macbeth
Act, Scene
1,7
AO1 - Translation
‘Hide with a false pleasant face what you know in your false, evil heart’
AO2 - Simple
Macbeth must pretend to be loyal to Duncan while knowing he is going to betray and murder him.
AO2 - Full
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AO3
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‘Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow’
ca1sf3 - T
Character/s
Macbeth
Act, Scene
5,3
AO1 - Translation
‘Take away her memory of sorrow’
AO2 - Simple
The murder is rooted in her mind
AO2 - Full
Because of her guilt of taking part in murdering Duncan, she suffers from the consequences of which she sees ‘endless visions that keep her from sleeping’. Macbeth asks the doctor if he can treat it and free her mind of her troubles. But guilt lasts forever like her nightmares.
AO3
Shakespeare is suggesting the consequences of regicide will get in your head and cause a disease-like effect that is incurable.
