Macbeth : Ambition Flashcards
Banquo compared to Macbeth
Macbeth and Banquo and Witches meet for the prophecy
“lesser than Macbeth, and greater…Not so happy yet much happier”
Paradoxical statement shown by the comparative adjectives of “lesser” and “greater” show jealousy and contempy that Macbeth will have of Banquo in future as according to witches banquo will be more successful and this shows macbeth has been infuenced by the witches from the start.
CONT: Witches were considered evil in jacobean times/Equivocation
LNK “fair is foul and foul is fair”
False appearences/Supernatural
stars fires
Macbeth is in an aside plotting Duncan murder
“Stars hide your fires let not light see my black and deep desires”
contrast of light imagery shown by “stars” and “black” emphasises Macbeth conflicted personality and tumultuous mental nature
Imperative verb “hide” to command nature like “stars” could be seen as blasphemous by jacobean audience and seen against nature
In an aside showing his true feelings/ deceitful and flase appearences as not sharing true feelings with anyone else
ryhming mimcs witches showing macbeth is becoming more like them
- false appearences
- LNK to “dunnest smoke of hell” quote
Angles
Macbeth soliquoy thinking about whether to kill duncan
“His virtues will plead like angels trumpet tongued against the deep damnation of his taking off”
Biblical imagery of deep damnationa nd angels converys macbeth mortal sin of killing macbeth
harsh alliteration of deep damanation shows the severe consequences of regicide
eumphemistic language “taking off” for duncans death as macbeth is overwhelmed with guilt showing his vulnerability
Horse in M soliquoy
Macbeth in a soliquoy thinking about whether to kill duncan
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and fall on the other”
“Vaulting ambition” is a metaphor which shows Macbeth intense desire for power and also the danger of his desire for power as shown when he uses the verbs “overleaps” and “fall” showing the harsh consequences if he fails
CONT: these horse metaphors wouldve been well understood by jacobean audience as very popular sport back then
Macbeth masculinity
Macbeth justyfying not killing Duncan to LM
“I dare do all that may become a man”
The modal verb “may” expresses possibility showing his wavering ocntingency on doing the right thing showing his lack of claroity on what to which allows LM to easily manipulate him
Man Children
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth aguing whether to kill duncan
“we will proceed no further in this business … bring forth men children only”
modal verb “will” coverys Macbeth finality on his decision and the euphemisim “this business” is used to describe the murder of duncan conveying his knowledge of sinful nature of regicide and perhaps he believes deep down that duncan doesnt deserve it
CONT:shakespeare trying to please King James 1 so makes it look like regicide is very bad
Macbeth copying LM
LM has convinced M to kill duncan and end the scene saying
“False face must hide what the false heart doth know”
imperative verb “must” shows Macbeth knows consequences of regicide placing lots of importance not to get caught
“hide” continues theme of false appearences and links with look lik innocnet flower showing Macbeth has been manipulated by LM
CONT: role reveral - man being manipulated by woman
Macbeth before killing duncan
Macbeth last lines before killing Duncan
“hear it not duncan for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or hell”
Mirrored “heaven” to “hell” as macbeth in his guilt ridden state cant tell the difference and is confused
Rhyme echoes the witches manner of speaking
Ends the scene with “hell”
Macbeth safety
After Macbeth has become king he becomes wary of Banquo and says
” to be thus is nothing but to be safely thus. Our fears in banquo stick deep”
says being king is “nothing” which shows the extent of his ambition which could be both harmful an helpful to macbeth. Alternatively murdering duncan was not worth it and only made him insecure
“fears” shows macbeth paranoia of Banquo as he has used false appearences to kill duncan so he is scared banquo could do the same
jewel soul
Macbeth soliqouy before he tells murderers to murder Banquo
“Mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo’s kings”
“Eternal jewel” - represents his soul shows the extent of his ambition as willing to give up his soul to devil
“common enemy of man” - euphemistic language to describe the devil still shows Macbeth fear of devil and has not fully turned evil monster yet
by describing banquos kids as ‘seeds” using plant like language shows the natureness of banquo kids ot become king - meant to happen
CONT: divine right of kings/ Eternal jewel mentioned in bible to show soul so audience wouldve been familiar with the reference
Blood wade
Macbeth talking with LM after banquet
“I am in blood stepped in so far that should i wade no more returning were as tedious as go over”
“blood” represents all the voilent acts he has comitted and can almost be seen as a metaphor for his violent state of mind
“tedious” such a trivial adjective to describe killing vs not killing shows macbeths corrupted mind and how killing has corrupted him
“as” shows macbeth killing vs non killing side is equal yet macbeth still chooses to keep on killing showing a deep sense of violence inside of him that always been tehre - his true self without any manipulation
Macbeth safety
After Macbeth has become king he becomes wary of Banquo and says
” to be thus is nothing but to be safely thus. Our fears in banquo stick deep”
says being king is “nothing” which shows the extent of his ambition which could be both harmful an helpful to macbeth. Alternatively murdering duncan was not worth it and only made him insecure
“fears” shows macbeth paranoia of Banquo as he has used false appearences to kill duncan so he is scared banquo could do the same
jewel soul
Macbeth soliqouy before he tells murderers to murder Banquo
“Mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo’s kings”
“Eternal jewel” - represents his soul shows the extent of his ambition as willing to give up his soul to devil
“common enemy of man” - euphemistic language to describe the devil still shows Macbeth fear of devil and has not fully turned evil monster yet
by describing banquos kids as ‘seeds” using plant like language shows the natureness of banquo kids ot become king - meant to happen
CONT: divine right of kings/ Eternal jewel mentioned in bible to show soul so audience wouldve been familiar with the reference
Lady Macbeth without content
Lady Macbeth in an aside talking about her unhappiness
"”Noughts had alls spent where our desire is got without content”
“desire… without content” - shows M and LM are not happy - what they wanted buy still not happy maybe be showing the hastiness of their decision making not properly thinking on what they wanted especially M who constantly got manipulated
rhyming structure links LM to witches showing her evil nature
DEV: in an aside only shows her witch side when she is alone not even with M showing her dominance over him as she manipulates him
LNK”my dearest patner of greatness”
CONT: Witches are bad / Role reversal of woman dominating
