Macbeth Analysis Flashcards
“For Brave Macbeth…”
-Characterisation
He is admired, loved, inspiring, looked up to by others
-He is courageous, fearless, valiant and heroic
-He is an honest, good man and a morally correct person
“Like Valour’s minion…
-Characterisation
-He is also brutal, violent, threatening and vicious in battle
-Admired for persevering in an impossible situation also shows how he will do anything to get what he wants
“Good sir, why…”
-word choice
-Macbeth is absorbed, entranced, bewitched by the idea of him being king
-All of his focus is on the witches, his ambition is already starting to trickle in, starting to take over
“He’s here in double trust…”
-List
-All of his loyalties to the king, the reasons he shouldn’t kill the king, as well as showing how big a deal it is killing such an important person he is supposed to protect
-Macbeth is aware of the negative consequences, not fully corrupted by his ambition
“i have no spur…”
-imagery of a horse, that is going to fast, out of control, wild, unpredictable, unmanageable, ungovernable, describing his ambition
-this thoughts are tumbling out of control, he is confused and losing trust in himself
“I had else been perfect…”
-metaphor, tells us how solid and capable he once was, he was strong and accomplished, safe and secure
-characterisation, macbeth is aware he is losing his sanity but not able to control it.
“But now I am cabined…”
-alliteration or ‘c’ , emphasises how trapped and troubled Macbeth is and how aware he is of that feeling
-He can no longer trust himself, no longer knows what is right and wrong, isn’t sure of himself anymore
“I am in blood stepped…”
-he caused so much bloodshed and committed such heinous acts that he should just keep going
-He is now fully committed to his path of destruction and tyranny, he has accepted that he is in too deep
-Symbolism of baptism, making a lifelong commitment to the path of tyranny
“Those he commands move…”
-his soldiers only obey him our of fear,money and habit , they do not respect him or admire him contrasting the start of the play
-symbolism suggests that the role is too big for Macbeth, daunting and he cannot handle the pressure
-Starting to lose his position of power as people begin to plot against him
“I have lived long enough…”
-List, emphasises all the thing sin his life he could have had but has now lost, experiencing guilt and grief
-His ambition has cost him everything
-He is deeply hated, loathed, despised by everyone, lost that respect he once had and is now extremely lonely
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow…”
-Repetition puts emphasises on how days go by with no meaning for Macbeth, showing how nihilistic his views on life of become
-No joy, happiness in his life, he is miserable, desolate, consequences of his actions
“life’s but a walking shadow…”
-Macbeth’s life is desolate, empty with no real meaning
-imagery of shadow shows how futile and worthless Macbeth’s life is
–Stage suggests his life is a performance, has no real meaning, impact on anything.
-struts and frets shows the stark contrast between him at the start of the play and end.
