MACBETH FEAR Flashcards
ACT1SC2 “brave Macbeth”
when we meet Macbeth the captain describes Macbeth with the adjective “brave” which foreshadows the unexpected betrayal caused by fear when Macbeth commits regicide against the divine right of kings and disrupting the great chain of beings ; moreover, the Jacobean audience would greatly admire and respect Macbeth as he is the epitome of masculinity and nobility since the** idealised way to die **was in a battle as a warrior who physically cut his way through the battle field brutally unseamed from th’nave to th’ chaps” ; therefore; Macbeth would have been **rewarded for his bravery **in the battlefield for code of chivalry admired by renaissance.
AC1SC2 “valour’s minion”
Macbeth is personified as “valour’s minion” in Act 1 scene 2 for being a ruthless killer foreshadowing how his reckless and bloodthirsty behaviour will lead to his hamartia. There is situational irony when Macbeth has been given the title Thane of Cawdor since the previous thane of Cawdor had betrayed the country foreshadowing Macbeth’s betrayal to the country by regicide caused by fear which conveys that words and actions do not reveal what lies under the surface. Macbeth act of regicide goes against the divine right of kings since he is murdering the god’s representative on earth and disrupting the great chain of beings meaning that regicide is a cardinal sin and a sin against order of universe creating fear and paranoia among the audience. James I was a patron for Shakespeare work therefore he would have been impressed because he passed on an act against the conjuring of spirits in 1603 when he came into power.
AC1 SC3 “whose murder yet is but fantastical”
From the soliloquy where the audience get an insight into Macbeth’s internal thoughts about the witches’ prophecies (AC1SC3) Macbeth uses disturbing imagery “whose murder yet is but fantastical” which projects Macbeth as a conflicted character who struggles to keep fear inside because of contradicting forces for example being emasculated by Lady Macbeth “are you a man” which reveals Jacobean’s view of masculinity that men had to repress fear to retain masculinity. Macbeth loses moral conscience due to excessive ambition which indicates that Macbeth is scaring himself due to regicide which projects political propaganda warning against the gunpowder plot which would have reminded James I that he was saved from treason therefore impressing him. Overall, in act 3sc1, the audience learns that Macbeth’s ascension to the throne is unrighteous and explores what it would be like to have a tyrant on the throne because of corruption of power has led to Macbeth drawing out his violent nature
AC1 SC2 “eagles” and “lions”
Macbeth has is portrayed as heroic with animal imagery “eagles and lions” which establishes the theme of reversal of moral disorder foreshadowing how regicide is going to cause moral disorder by an owl shrieking at the time when King Duncan was killed which subverts the Great Chain of Being. By the end of the play, Macbeth is compared to the metaphor “hell-hound” which portrays the theme of immorality since he is petrified of being caught of his actions since his soul would be eternally damned to hell.
“hide your fires” do not see “black and deep” desires
He orders the stars with personification to “hide its fires” since he does not want God to see his “black and deep desires” which is a metaphor that exposes his fear of being thrown off the thane of Cawdor since his commitment towards regicide is against the divine right of kings therefore his soul would be barred from heaven. Alternatively, Macbeth takes fate into his own hands fearlessly without being influenced by Lady Macbeth contradicting some of audience’s perceptions that Lady Macbeth pressurised Macbeth into murdering which is understandable because of the story of Adam and Eve since Eve corrupted Adam to eat the forbidden apple from the tree of knowledge which parallels to Lady Macbeth’s thirst of the throne leading to Macbeth’s demise. The adjectives “black” and “deep” describing Macbeth’s ambition to the throne making the audience understand that he has a moral conscience which is why he contemplates his decision to murdering Duncan declares the political propaganda warning against the Gun powder plot. Another way of interpreting this quote is that it presents a theological debate between predestination where God decides heaven or hell so cannot change this by actions and free will where actions determine whether the soul is going to heaven or hell suggesting that Macbeth could be a victim or predestination through witches prophecies or victim of himself as dark is associated with guilt. Pathetic fallacy is established from the beginning with furious thunderstorms and thick layers of fog and darkness where light cannot penetrate through creating atmosphere of obscurity and fear. Banquo observes “their candles all out” conveying night as starless and an omen for hopeless, devastating future is to come and even suggests that heaven is acting suspiciously and secretive so that the whole world is against Macbeth provoking fear in him. Furthermore, Macbeth’s wish has come true: the “stars” have extinguished their “fires” which is significant because it reveals Macbeth’s supernatural ability to control his environment and reality provoking fear from the audience.
AC1SC7 “we’d jump the life to come”
Macbeth refers to the afterlife “we’d jump the life to come” which Christians believed it would be granted to those who honoured God which indicates that Macbeth knows his commitment to regicide sacrificed his opportunity of his life to heaven becoming fully mortal and abandoned by God. This threat makes him reconsider the plan showing the power of religion and belief over people currently. An alternative interpretation could be Macbeth should have listened to his moral conscience and faith which is ironic because he was diminished as a “coward” for being afraid of regicide so lost self-esteem leading to suppressed guilt of regicide.
AC2 SC2 “stuck in ny throat”
Shakespeare uses the metaphor “stuck in my throat” as evidence of Macbeth being deeply distressed of what he has done because he cannot say amen so is aware that he has been denied God forgiveness as he sacrificed his opportunity to eternal damnation. The phrase “i has most need of blessing” reveals his regret and disparity to reclaim his innocence.
AC3SC1
“our fears in banquo stick deep”
In soliloquy when he remembers the witches’ prophecies he claims, “our fears in Banquo stick deep” which demonstrates his fear for Banquo because of his jealous of his qualities for example his “dauntless temper”. This is further emphasised by the metaphor “we’d scorched the snake but not killed it” revealing Macbeth’s insecurity that he did not secure the throne because Fleance was still alive: he fears being foreshadowed by Banquo like Caesar by Mark Anthony.
AC3SC1 “barren sceptre” “fruitless”
Shakespeare’s use of fertility imagery and adjective to describe the lineage “barren sceptre” and “fruitless” reveals Macbeth insecurity about the prophecy and resentment towards the Banquo for son to be king and witches for making him king without successors which solidifies his poor leadership evidenced by emasculating his inability to produce an heir therefore Macbeth has foolishly damned himself for Banquo’s benefit. He believed that the kingship has been forcefully “wrenched” from him and King Duncan” which reveals Macbeth’s regret and guilt as well as fear because in the Jacobean era, which was religious, they believed God was all-seeing, so no one was exempt from his judgement so Macbeth long to regain his innocence “filed his mind” indicating Macbeth has been psychologically damaged by the fact he has been disassociated from God.
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood” “clean my hand?” ACT2SC2
Macbeth’s use of dramatic, Latinate language to describe blood from his hallucinations “Will all great Neptune’s Ocean wash this blood //clean my hand?” which is symbolic for blood and guilt which the audience can understand that he is mentally traumatised from the regicide because he is faces reality of guilt which goes beyond literal meaning of blood on hands: nothing can remove metaphorical ‘blood in their souls’. Neptune is a non-Christian’s God which could suggest Macbeth has turned his back on God. Some sympathise for Macbeth because of the belief that his fear is due to toxic masculinity in Jacobean era and LM pressure as well as the debate of excessive ambition vs moral conscience leading to regicide.
ACT2SC2 “ this my hand will rather / the multitudinous des incardine”
Macbeth is feeling impure with the hyperbolic metaphor “this my hand will rather / the multitudinous is incardine” emphasising the terrible enormity of murder he has committed so Macbeth should regret his actions.
AC2SC1 “ is this the dagger i see before me”
Macbeth cannot differentiate between reality and imagination with the rhetorical question “is this the dagger i see before me” showing guilt has already taken hold when his faced guilt in the form of blood guilt hallucinations.
“Heat oppressed” ACT2SC1??
His brain is metaphorically described as “heat-oppressed” exposing his Inability to cope with the stress caused by mental trauma from regicide which the Jacobean audience would believe guilt as being possessed by the devil however the modern audience with more psychological understanding would agree guilt mental trauma is a symptom for repressed guilt.
“Fitful fever”
Alliteration to describe life
Day to day illness
“Restless estacy”
“Restless ecstasy” Symbolises sleep as innocent and peaceful that brings comfort to escape from the troubles of reality, so he relieves his crimes by closing his eyes because sleep has been denied to Macbeth after committing regicide revealing his sub conscience. Macbeth has sacrificed his serenity and his wellbeing as he will “sleep no more” realising he has damned himself and has brought torment of himself therefore Shakespeare spreads the message to the audience that the guilt of sins is self-destructive and cannot enjoy with murdered being bathed of blood. Macbeth uses the 3rd person to disassociate himself from the problem.
