Macbeth

Question 1

-important notes for Macbeth

Answer 1

‘A society which has no principle of rule other than strength”oxford uni lecturer
Banquo == a foil to M == highlight’s macbeth’s violence and hamartia

A man doesn’t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall” – peripeteia is brought about due to M’s error in judgement

Question 2

A1S2 - employs macbeth as a construct to adequate quintessential form Scottish soldier

Answer 2

-”fixed his head’ – utilizes head as a motif for macbeth moral decline
-moral peak – however at denouement of play Macbeth is the ‘usurper’s cursed head’
== cyclical structure to Macbeth’s character arch ==
On one level symbolises Macbeth’s hamartia – even the most heroic figures can become corrupted by hamartia
On another level almost as if balance of the great chain of being is restored – fate will ultimately take dominance – deters usurpers

Question 3

Macbeth’s violence stemmed from spiritual malpractice

Captain praises Macbeth telling Duncan “all’s too weak for Brave Macbeth”

Answer 3

• juxtaposition weak and brave serves to foreshadow Macbeth’s later descent into witches blasphemous regime
• praises macbeth as he is said to be brave - syntax ‘weak’ structured before predicts macbeth’s fate - idea of a pre decided fate that you can not alter – scare usurpers
• ALT - links to later in Act 1 witches use equivocation to disorientate macbeth and banquo’s moral compass – tell banquo he will be ‘greater and lesser than macbeth’
• perhaps, subtly suggesting Macbeth;is violent acts are result of witches – pivotal force caused macbeth to starts series of murders – jacobean audience perception that witches power is commendable and highly seductive – please King James wrote book ‘Daemonologie” – expressed admiration towards witches. Therefore, shakespeare could have allowed witches to be driving force – so king gives them patronage

Question 4

A1S3 - macbeth first appears

-”So foul and fair a day I hath not seen” (M’s first line)

Answer 4

• paradoxical – echoes witches suggestive of their influence on him
• however! - witches used words in a more balanced way (fair is foul and foul is fair) represents deception they will insue – foreshadow mental turmoil

Question 5

what is Macbeth described as in Malcolm’s speech at the end?

Answer 5

‘dead butcher

• butcher mercilessly attack the vulnerable – desensitised to pain
• butcher have blood on apron - Macbeth stained with guilt