English Literature - Macbeth Flashcards
“Enter Banquo’s ghost” Act 3: Scene:4
> All the good qualities that Macbeth has, are portrayed through Banquo as well, so when Macbeth sees the ghost he sees all his good qualities that he has rid himself off by killing.
This is especially significant as in the middle of the play which this seen is held is where Banquo is a reflection of what Macbeth could have been.
the noun “ghost” conveys a belief that many people feared or were sceptical about, so Banquo knew by coming back as a ghost would make Macbeth even more vulnerable than he already is.
Shakespeare has created this idea to imply how Banquo, despite the fact he’s dead has power over macbeth’s conscience this contrasts to earlier on in the play where Macbeth was seen to have the upper hand over Banquo.
“look how our Partners rapt” - said by Banquo
> The verb “rapt” originates from the latin word to be seized or kidnapped, also referred to as rape
this implies that Macbeth is being forced to do things out of his control, as Banquo said this may suggest he is being generous to Macbeth as he has not been in full control of anything he has done and so cannot be fully blamed.
Shakespeare has presented this idea like this to address to the audience that people are seen as property and are manipulated to do crazy things.
“Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo”
> the collective pronoun “our” brings the two together in unison despite having their differences.
the noun “captains” suggests they are both already successful and have the power to decide their own fate.
SYNTAX- Macbeth’s name is placed before Banquo’s suggesting Shakespeare is trying to subtly foreshadow Macbeth’s later rise in power over Banquo.
this may make the audience wonder where the plot is leading to as when two very powerful men with two different plans and ideas are against each other, this would usually lead to conflict.
“THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS tell us truths…to betray in deepest consequence.”
> Some may believe that the noun “instruments” is a metaphor for the witches as they are the ones playing with all the strings, and causing people like Macbeth to do tragic deeds e.g. killing Duncan
NO ONE likes to talk about witches thats why they used a metaphor.
the superlative “deepest” emphasises the fact that they will be letting themselves into deep trouble resulting in huge consequences, this is where Banquo is trying to warn Macbeth about the witches power to manipulate.
First apparition
> An armed head warning Macbeth that Macduff (thane of fife) is coming to ruin him.
Second apparition
> A bloody child came to tell Macbeth that no one born of. woman could harm him. “For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”.
This is significant because the woman who had so much control over him throughout the whole play was so unmotherly which supports the apparition. “Pluck’d my nipple from its boneless gums”
Third apparition
> A child wearing a crown and holding a tree
“Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him.”
Macbeth will not be beaten until the Great Birnam woods travels to dunsinane hill.
“it’s too full o’th’ milk of human kindness”
> Ambition
After hearing the withes prophecy Lady Macbeth believes Macbeth has ambition but not enough to see it through so she has to take on the male role, but it okay because she is man enough for the both of them.
“look like the innocent flower but be the serpent underneath”
> telling him to not make anyone suspicious of what he’s about to do, however when they are not looking pounce upon them and catch them by surprise so no-one would suspect it was you.
“come you spirits…unsex me here”
> she knows how powerful the witches are so she asked them to take away her femininity as she doesn’t want to have that title
It was understood that most women in the shakespearian times were seen as weaker and less capable of men and Lady Macbeth strongly disagreed with that.
“Make thick my Blood”
> As most of the men in this plays are constantly bleeding because of fights and death, she wants her bleeding to stop which is contradicting to the idea of nature.
she wants more power
“was the hope drunk when you dress’d yourself”
> Drunk connotes no control over what you are doing.
its like your a child who needs taking care of.
his ambitions are becoming unrealistic
