Macbeth Act 1-2

Question 1

Blood symbol

Answer 1

symbolizes guilt throughout the story
* everytime blood is shown, someone is either dealing with guilt, violence, and consequence of ambition

Question 2

Dagger symbol

Answer 2

symbolizes paranoia for what is to come, and inner conflict
* comes up before the murder of duncan
* escalation & continuation of violence and paranoia

Question 3

The three witches symbol

Answer 3

• gives the idea that everything happens for a reason - Macbeths rise to power
• 1.3, the witches show the danger in believeing the abililty to control fate

Question 4

The king (Duncan) symbol

Answer 4

When the king died, we can see that society started corrupting aswell
* natural order is disrupted
* corruption is not individial

Question 5

Ambition theme

Answer 5

adds to Macbeth’s ego for wanting to have power
* EX. Macbeths ambition to become king is ignited when he hears the witche’s prophercy that he will one day wear the corwn
* Macbeth is worried about keeping his position as king - he understands that Banquo’s sons are supposed to be king too
* the more Macbeth kills, the more he becomes obsessed about keeping his throne

Question 6

Apperance vs. Reality theme

Answer 6

EX. Lady Macbeth is meant to be all womanly and sweet but she actually wants to destroy everything
* Lady Macbeth is one of hte main motives for Macbeth’s mutders
* EX. When Duncan’s sons fled, they were accused of the kings murder
* guilt is an accusation that society places when things are going poorly

Question 7

Fate vs. Freewill theme

Answer 7

EX. Macbeth does not know if the prophecy of the three witches will happen becuase of fate or freewill. It was more of his wife’s idea to kill the king. Either way, Macbeth is ensured of the crown

Question 8

Supernatural theme

Answer 8

• the witches are a sipernatural phenomenon. Their prophecies influence other charaters actions and decisiosn
• Banquo’s ghost is also supernatural