Macbeth Flashcards
Why does Shakespeare open the start of Macbeth with the witches?
He decides to open the play with the witches suggesting that they will take a significant role in Macbeth`
First line of play and what it means
“When shall we three meet again?” - prompts curiosity on what the witches meeting was about.
Why do the witches talk in rhyming cuplets?
Emphasise on how different they are compared to the rest of the characters who speak normally- this creates mystery and adds power
How is the weather when the witches appear?
“thunder and lightening” - pathetic fallacy, makes the atmosphere dark and frightening
How do the witches prompt MB to kill Duncan?
They predict he will be the king after Duncan which pushes him to murder Duncsn
How do the witches keep control of MB?
They confuse him using paradoxes, not being clear of what the future will hold
quote to show macbeths fatal flaw (hamartia)
“i have no spur, only leaping ambition” - his spur is encourages by LMB
How does Macbeth use LMB to his advantage
he knows he needs her to reach his ambition, so he entices her by telling her the prophecies
what does MB say to LMB to entice her with the prophecies?
“what greatness is promised thee”
what does MB call LMB and why?
“dearest partner in greatness” - shakespeare killed them both bc they are just as responsible as eachother
how does banquo show ambition?
“speak then to me” wants the witches to talk directly to him.
he also tells MB he had a dream about the weird sisters before they met them.
what is Shakespeare implying with Banquos ambition?
all good men can be destroyed by their ambition
how do the witches show ambition
through love by macbeth. but hecarty reminds them hes in it for himself
what does Hecarty say to the witches about macbeth
“Loves for his own ends, not for you.” - he only cares for himself not the witches showing cowardice
how does LMB show masculinity and neocrmancy
“come you spirits, unsex me here” - literally taking away her woman hood
how does LMB show masculinity and neocramancy #2
“come to my womans breasts, and take my milk for gall” - suggesting she wants to turn her milk to poison. This is a metaphor for what society does to woman
how did men act
a strict patriarchy forces men to act in a more ruthless way
how does macbeth contridict his masculinty
“i dare do all that to become a man.” showing he doesn’t want to go as far as regicide
how is kingship shown through Malcom
he criticises Macduff after he hears about the murder of his family. tells him to man up
what does King Malcom say to macduff after he hears about his family being killed
“dispute it like a man.” - pull yourself together.
how does Macduff react to Malcom telling him to man up?
he replies saying “i shall do so, but i must also feel it as a man.” which teaches Malcom about masculine role models
how can we tell king malcom has become more masculine?
he responds to siwards death “hes worth more sorrow and ill spend for him”
why does shakespeare make king malcom turn from critising masculinity to showing it?
because he is giving a message to king James that this is what a king should be like.
what is one of shakespears motives
great trouble in the country in the time with catholics, SP doesnt want king james to turn into a tyrant like macbeth.
how does macbeth believe in fate
he freely chooses to believe in his fate which leads to his downfall
what does the innocent flower quote show?
the serpent links LMB to Satan who tempted adam and eve in the garden of eve
why do the witches chant fair is foul and foul is fair?
they are suggesting that things that appear good are actually evil
“Brave Macbeth”
portray Macbeth as a very strong and loyal soldier, and a hero on the battlefield who fought bravely to protect his king.
quote that represents good snd evil through light and darkness
Stars hide your fires; let not light see my dark and deep desires
When thou durst do it, then you were a man
trying to insult Macbeth, by telling him that he is no longer a man.
Lady Macbeth feels that a real man would be able to kill the king and usurp the crown without questioning it, due to their desire for power.
This is a desire that she clearly has, and this quote is also a good example of how she is able to manipulate Macbeth.
will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand
Shakespeare uses blood as a metaphor for guilt. Macbeth uses this quote to say that he is so guilty that he is covered in blood, which could also represent the blood of his victims
“I am in blood, steeped in so far,”
Steeped is the key verb in this quote, as Macbeth feels that the blood has steeped into his body and into his soul, so will remain there forever
Hamartia
Ambition
Peripeteia
Macbeths killing of Duncan
When was Macbeth set
Jacobean times - 11th century
What does harmatia mean
Fatal flaw (macbeths ambition)
Quote to show Macbeth’s hamartia
I have no spur only vaulting ambition
ambition Banquo
To witches ‘speak to me’ ambitious to know what future might hold
Banquos hamartia
Dreamt about weird sisters before he meets them so ambitious
All good men can be destroyed by ambition
Banquo dies for fam.,
Bc he wants family name crown (ambition)
Witches harmatia
Love from witches ‘loves for his own ends not for you’
“Take my milk for gull”
Metaphor for what society does to women, power must be masculine
“Brave Macbeth - well he deserves rhat name”
Shows in a high regard adjective brave - PATRICARHY
As play continues we see him betray the king
Foreshadowing ‘brave’ he’s willing to do things -kill king
“Let not light see my dark and deep desires”
Shows Macbeth was already influenced Before LMB
Catalyst harmatia spurs him on
“Unsex me here..”
“…fill me from the crown to thr toe top full of direst cruelty”
