Macbeth

Question 1

Form and Genre

Answer 1

Tragic play. The audience will recognise the protagonist Macbeth as the hero, whose hamartia - his ability to allow himself to be persuaded by others - leads to his downfall. Macbeth is notable for being the only tragedy Shakespeare wrote where the hero is also the villain, emphasising the extent of his downfall. It also suggests his villainy is a choice, he could have remained a hero.

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

The structure is strictly chronological and follows a two-part structure. This is so that there is increased tension - the audience is waiting for Macbeth to fall prey to his hamartia. The first part is focused on crime, the second on consequence. This enables a number of contrasts - Macbeth from ‘brave’ hero to ‘tyrant’ - Lady Macbeth from strong-willed to losing her mind. It highlights the essential nature of the play, consequence of sin and regicide.

Question 3

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”

Answer 3

This quote is from the opening scene, where the witches discuss the imminent disorder of the world. This opening scene describes the storm and the witches - the chaos of the storm reflects the chaos the witches are (arguably) soon to unleash

Similarly, ‘fair’ (meaning beautiful) and ‘foul’ are antithetical. The witches are however stating that they have been reversed. This paradox foreshadows the chaos that will result from regicide.

These words are echoed when Macbeth, riding from the battle, states “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” - This immediately connects Macbeth to these sinister forces. This leaves the audience to wonder if the witches are independent agents toying with human lives, or agents of fate - whose prophecies are only reports of the inevitable.

Question 4

“Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires”

Answer 4

Macbeth’s first soliloquy, said at the beginning of the play when Malcolm has been named Duncan’s heir.

• Motif of darkness, associated with evil and treachery. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s invitation to dark forces and motivations result in physical darkness - this imagery highlights the lawlessness and reversal of natural order.
• Imagery of stars juxtaposes with the imagery of darkness - perhaps the light represents Macbeth’s moral side, which he is allowing to be overshadowed by his ambition.
• Stars could also symbolise the heavens - this perhaps suggests that Macbeth is well aware of his ambitions.

Question 5

“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”

Answer 5

Lady Macbeth in her first speech, convincing Macbeth to act innocently when Duncan arrives at their house while they plot to murder him

• Imagery of ‘serpent’ has biblical connotations, and highlights how sinful their ambitions are. Moreover, in Genesis, the devil tempted Eve, who in turn tempted Adam - the imagery of the devilish snake could therefore strengthen the interpretation that Lady Macbeth is the catalyst - or entirely enables - to Macbeth’s fall.
• Within this scene, Lady Macbeth is in control, as highlighted by the imperatives.

Question 6

“Out, damned spot; out, I say”

Answer 6

Lady Macbeth to herself during the sleepwalking scene

• Lady Macbeth uses a prose - a type of speech generally reserved for the more common characters (such as the Porter) or to indicate an extreme emotional state. While technically queen, this form of speech highlights how she has morally and spiritually fallen.
• Repetition of “out” highlights her desperation
• Use of imperatives contrast with Lady Macbeth’s former power - manipulating Macbeth in her early speeches filled with imperatives - as we can see here, she is reduces to talking in her sleep and is powerless to remove her guilt.

Question 7

“Out, out, brief candle. Life’s but a walking shadow”

Answer 7

Macbeth after hearing about Lady Macbeth’s death

• Motif of darkness, Macbeth reflects on the dark deeds which he has committed and the emptiness it has brought him. He finds himself trapped with nowhere to go, apart from the grave
• Repetition of “out” links this to Lady Macbeth’s profession of guilt. Here, Macbeth recognises that the only way to escape his guilt is for the “candle” of his life to be extinguished.

Question 8

Context

Answer 8

• Macbeth was most likely written in 1606, in the early reign of James I. Shakespeare would have wanted to please him.
• Many believed in the Great Chain of Being, a means of understanding the natural order of the world - the King was closest to angels. Additionally, James believed in the Divine Right of Kings, holding regicide to be a cardinal sin.
• Majority of Jacobeans were strongly Christian
• Women were supposed to be meek, passive and only have power in the domestic sphere - not the political one. Legally, they belonged to their husbands.

Question 9

“Instruments of darkness”

Answer 9

Macbeth has just been made Thane of Cawor and seems excited that the prophecies are possibly coming true. He asks Banquo whether Banquo hopes that his prophecy will also come true. Banquo, here, immediately responds that Macbeth shouldn’t trust the withces.
- Banquo emphasises how the witches offer “trifles”, or small delights, but warns that this is a trap to lead Macbeth increasingly into sin. Macbeth will fall prey to this trap, as mapped in the beginning of the play - the play is split into two, with the latter half exploring the consequence of sin.
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