Macbeth Flashcards
Brave - Macbeth
“he deserves” to be called “brave macbeth” - sergeant says this, shows he is appreciated and well-known
Killed “merciless macdonald”, unseaming him “from th’nave to th’chaps” a1s2 - an act that would otherwise be seen as brutal and unnecessary but only paints him as more of a hero - especially due to the contrast of the epithets used (“brave” vs “merciless”)
This also establishes that M is capable of terrible acts/crimes/atrocities, but in this instance it is celebrated as it secures the win for his country
Easily manipulated - Macbeth
his one weakness/fatal flaw/hamartia is a lust for power. exploited by the witches and LM at various points.
1.3 blindly trusts the witches after the title of the thane of cawdor got granted to him. Immediately begins to thinks about D’s murder that is “yet but fantastical” - one mention of potential power leads him to spiral.
LM is more direct. Takes on the role as femme fatale to persuade and manipulate M into doing her own desires. 1.7 questions his integrity (and as it has already been established 1.2 he is “valiant” this is significant to him) - heroic trait. Says that if she promised to, she would have “dashed the brains out” of her child.
She supports him, another method of manipulation “screw your courage to the sticking place” and he will not fail if he does so.
Ultimately leads to the cataylst of his downfall
Guilt - Macbeth
M immediately feels remorse following the regicide. “Macbeth will sleep no more”
He “dare not” look upon the murdered body again - maybe he is not so brave as was portrayed - forces LM to smear the blood on the guards as he couldnt do it himself - weak-minded. Does have a conscience.
He would “wake Duncan” if he could - contrasting his wife and how she is seemingly merciless/remorseless for her acts
Tyrant king - Macbeth
His guilt and paranoia coalesces into him becoming a monstrous king who will do anything to consolidate his power.
Was once rational and inspirational in battle - now is rather cowardly as he orders 3 murders (not just 1 - shows paranoia) to kill B and F after not being able to face the fact that he will not be in control of scotland one day. He loses sense on what is even a proportionate reaction and what is not - explaining why he thinks the deaths of B and F are justified (innocent lives lost) as B’s prophecy was “thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”
M’s support begins to dwindle more and more as people mourn the scotland that once was. “black macbeth” (contrasts to brave macbet) “whose sole name blisters” the tongue that speaks it. People do not even want to talk about him anymore as the situation is so dire and seemingly hopeless.
Downfall - Macbeth
Faces anagnorisis as he realises his attempts for power have been futile and that he was never truly destined for the throne. Despite this, he stays to fight MD, which is significant as it is his one final act of heroism and kingship, despite his reign ultimately “signifying nothing” and being “full of sound and fury” (violence and disruption in scotland).
envokes catharsis in the audience and pity that a once virtuous man fell victim to the “Juggling fiends” - became so corrupted that he lost all sense of himself. Strong, emotional conclusion that highlights the futility of M’s odious actions - they were good for no-one - and the inevitability of an undignified death where he is not mourned “dead butcher” “painted on a pole” (parallels MacDonald “fixed his head upon our battlements”)
His death is his final good deed to the world, almost an act of redemption as he rids the world of a traitor but goes down in a valiant way - showing he hasnt completely lost all of his core values.
Either way, he dies alone and having nothing to show for his efforts
