Fear Flashcards
“brave Macbeth…distaining Fortune”
Language: adjective and personification
MB is presented as brave; Fortune is personified as being on Macdonald’s side but MB does not fear this and defeats him anyway
Context:
MB embodies Jacobean ideals of masculinity - he is brave and noble
“I could not say Amen…every noise appals me”
Context:
After the murder, MB cannot pray, therefore he cannot ask God for forgiveness. He is also terrified the murder will be discovered.
MB realises his soul is damned as he has murdered God’s representative on Earth.
Great Chain of Being
‘I fear thy nature is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness’
Language - metaphor
LMB feminizes MB; she knows he is ambitious but too kind to act upon achieving his ambitions off the battlefield. She realizes that she will need to manipulate him into murdering King Duncan.
“Our fears in Banquo stick deep… my genius is rebuked as it is said Mark Antony’s was by Caesar”
Language: imagery, adjective
MB compares himself to Mark Antony and Banquo to Octavius Caesar (Caesar eventually defeated Mark Antony)
“deep” shows how much MB fears Banquo
“they rise again…and push us from our stools” - MB
Deeper:
MB is terrified by the appearance of Banquo’s ghost, which is a projection of his guilty conscience.
The “stool” could symbolize the throne, MB is afraid that the murders he’s committed will lose him his throne
“I have almost forgot the taste of fears”
Language: alliteration
In contrast to scenes after Duncan’s murder, MB no longer feels fear. He has no loyalty from his people and is ready to die.
The natural order - and rightful king - can be restored.
Topic sentence 1 (warrior)
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is presented as a fearless warrior.
Topic sentence 2 (LMB)
However, Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth is too good natured to murder to become king.
Topic sentence 3 (Banquo’s sons)
After murdering Duncan, Macbeth fears punishment from God; he also fears that Banquo’s sons will become kings.
Topic sentence 4 (desensitised)
By the end of the play, Macbeth has become desensitised to fear and chooses to die fighting.
