Macbeth Act 1, Scene 3 Flashcards
Characters in this scene
The Witches appear again. They use vulgar and rude language. Animals are referred to often. This symbolises the Witches link to nature and lower level animals.
Scene also introduces the characters of Macbeth and Banquo.
What are we being shown in this scene?
We are shown the power of the Witches. Their power is not as great as it may seem in Scene 1. The 1st Witch has been offended by some woman who wouldn’t give her chestnuts. She decides to take it out on the woman’s husband who is a sailor. She has control over the winds to disrupt the ship’s journey. This demonstrates that she has power but not enough to take his life.
How do Macbeth and Banquo react differently to the Witches’ predictions?
Banquo is not interested in what the Witches have to say, he is suspicious and wary of them and even questions his own sanity when he asks, “have we eaten on the insane root”. He accepts that they are telling the truth “Win us with honest trifles - to betray’s” but is aware that they are manipulating Macbeth and himself. Banquo sees the Witches as evil “instruments of darkness”. Macbeth on the other hand is not so sue “Cannot be ill, cannot be good”
How does the encounter with the Witches leave Macbeth?
Macbeth is “rapt withal” -he is spellbound by the predictions, he’s taken in by them, but also scared by the powerful ambition that the Witches awaken within him.
When Macbeth finds out he’s been made Thane of Cawdor, what affect does it have on him?
It shows that the first prediction has come true and convinces him that the prediction about him becoming King must also be true. This strengthen’s his ambition. Macbeth can’t stop thinking about the prophecies which shows his desire for power. He immediately starts thinking about Duncan, but he’s reluctant.
At this point in the play, how would you describe Macbeth?
Macbeth isn’t an evil character but he’s wrestling with his conscience and torn between his ambition and loyalty.
Language technique
Metaphor - The Witches describe sending out a storm on a sailor’s ship so that he can’t sleep. This could be read as a metaphor for what will happen to Macbeth, who’s made sleepless by guilt, and the ship could be a metaphor for Scotland, which is almost destroyed during Macbeth’s violent reign.
Literary devices
- Contrast. Shakespeare uses Banquo as a contrast to Macbeth. He uses the differences between them to show the audience that Macbeth is responsible for his own eventual downfall.
Foreshadowing
“I’ll drain him dry as hay” when the Witch is talking about the sailor. Can also be read as a comment about Macbeth and his fate. He’s ultimately drained morally, physically and spiritually by the end of the play.
The Witch also says she will torture the sailor by preventing him from sleeping “Sleep shall neither night nor day, I hang upon his penthouse lid”. Sleep is a very natural and important part of life. We need it to stay physically and mentally strong. As Macbeth goes on to do lots of unnatural deeds he’s unable to sleep which impacts on his mental state.
Key quotes
“So foul and fair a day I have not seen”
Immediately links Macbeth to the Witches. We sometimes see Macbeth slip into the way of speech associated with the Witches which could be interpreted as Shakespeare’s way of showing the affect the witches and dark spirits are having on him. Remember the Witches prophecy “Foul is fair” in Act 1, Scene 1.
The Witches tell Banquo he will be “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater”. This hints that although Macbeth will get what he wants (he’ll be King), it won’t make him happy. The Witches use paradoxes and riddles to confuse Macbeth and Banquo and lead them astray.
“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” also refers to Banquo’s sons being kings, but it could also mean that Banquo is greater because he isn’t driven by greed and ambition.
