Macbeth Key Characters Flashcards
How is Banquo potrayed to show restraint against temptations and what does this show to the audience
‘Neither beg nor fear your favour nor your hate’- takes the witches for what they are doesn’t trust them reinforced by ‘instrumnets of darkness’- act 1 scene 3
Pleases the Jacobean society since Banquo who is seen to have good relations with the king (Duncan) has not been tempted - ‘what can the devil speak true’
‘have we eaten on the insane root-metaphorical supernatural language to show how Banquo distances himself from the witches - Jacobean audience would favour Banquo
How does Banquos murder affect other characters
Marks the breakdown in Macbeth’s marriage and Lady M’s mental deterioration increases and gives in to this (suicide)- both M and Lady M have a role reversal shown by M sayin ‘blood stepp’d in so far … returning were as tedious as to go over’ Macbeth want to finish what he has started (ambition).
How is macbeth and Banquo seen to have a good relationship and how does M overshadow Banquo
Good relationship/equals:
Act 1 scene 3 both enter at the same time equals
‘Noble Banquo’, ‘worthy Banquo’ , ‘no less deserv’ed’ - repeatdely referred as being honourable.
Macbeth overshadowing B:
Act 1 scene 2 ‘our captains Macbeth and Banquo’- M mentioned first highlights his importance
Act 1 scene 3- ‘All hail Macbeth’ and witches respond only when Macbeth speaks which further demonstrates his importance over Banquo
How does Lady Macbeth subvert the traditional gender expectations
Exploits her appearance and patriarchal views of society to transfer her desire and ambitions to Macbeth
Women seen to have no legal rights and be owned by their husband during marriage. However, LM is presented as a dominnt figure with a clear identity and purpose and even tries to reject being a women
She was viewed to destoy Macbeth’s percpetion of his identity of masculinity leading to his murders and tyranny.
‘Pour my spirits in thine ear’ masculine role of LM- highlights her do iansnce over M destroying his self of identity. This shocks the Jacobean audience.
How is LM seen as supernatural
Her gender identity is ambiguous looks feminime although she is ‘wombless’ and ‘full of gallk on the inside.
Commands many rhetorics in act 2 scene 2 ‘go carry them’, ‘get on your night gown’, ‘wash this filthy witness from your hands’ and imitates the witches ‘come you spirits’,’come thick night’ and ‘pour my spirits in thine ear’ -act 1 scene 5 connote story of garden of evil again.
How does ‘The Fall’ link with LM
Eve ate into the Forbidden Fruit and convinced Adam to do the same.
Eve and LM both managed to drive the male character into evil shown by how M was driven by a metaphorical spur to kill Duncan
LM seen as ambitious
She pursues the promise of Macbeth’s kingship without an regard- ambitious. However, her violent speech,doesn’t account for her actions
Her ambition disappears in act 5 scene 1 when she begins to demonstrate signs of guilt of her paranoia. Although her ambition may also be interpreted as frightening since she doesn’t care for morality or natural order (obstacles for her goals)
LM seen as guilty
Her ambition took her down violent paths and that she couldn’t cope. Guilt is very destructive and causes insanity and torment
She is seen to repress any morality at the start of the play. Act 2 scene 2 ‘go wash this filthy witness from your hands’- get rid of wrongdoings ‘little water clears us off this deed’ however later on she says ‘will these hands never be clean?’
She speaks in prose then blank verse demonstarting her lack of sophistication and control
How does LM display appeareance vs reality
‘Beguile the time’, ‘look like the time’ parallel strudture emphasies idea of mirroring. LM wants M to hide his identity and manipulate others as she is doing to him. The verb ‘beguile’connotes manipulation.
‘Look like the innocent flower but be ther serpent under it’ - act 1 scene 6 juxtaposing positive and negative connotations of ‘flower’ and ‘serpent’. LM emphasises to hide your true identity
‘False face must hide what false heart doth know’-act 1 scene 7 no sense of morality don’t listen to natural order (moral compass)
How is Macbeth shown to go against religion how does this make the audience feel
Heaven and hell play heavily on his mind:
He mentions jumping ‘the life to come’ implying to sacrifice an eternal life in Heaven for a finite life in Earth so he can enjoy his power during his rule
He is shown to defy against God shown by the murder of Duncan (king) and even acknowledges the morality of his decsision act 1 scene 7 ‘The deep damnation of his taking-off’
This shocks the Jacobean audience as religion was deeply important to society and the act of regicide will go against their moral views (great chain of being)
How is Macbeth displayed as a tragic hero what does this make the audience feel
His hamartia (unchecked ambition) lead to severe guilt and lose his sense of natural order and identity resulting in his death-
Shakespeare uses Macbeth to teach the importance of morality and respecting God’s will to the audience.
Shakespeare ensures we support Macbeth and hope he will succeed through his role at the start as a ‘brave’ and like a ‘lion’ or ‘eagle’ .This creates a big moral crisis for the Jacobean audience since he is prophecised to kill the king forcing us to admit that he is wrong and his tragic death is justified.
How is Macbeth potrayed as ambitious how does this make the audience feel
At the start he was seen to not be ambitious due to his conflicting thoughts of morality and his conscience that killing a man is wrong
Although he is tempted by Lady Macbeth who acts as a metaphorical ‘spur’ and the witches leading to his downfall as a character as he begins to lack his sense of identity.
Shakespeare shows that Macbeth’s ambition is sinful shown by the act of killing Duncan to increase his role in the great chain of being however his lack of restraint to it lead to his death- shows Jacobean audience that it is important to show self restraint
How is Macbeth seen as guilty how does this make the audience feel
After the murder of Duncan Macbeth is guilt ridden (nihilistic figure) from his unchecked ambition-“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand?’ act 2 scene 1
Macbeth can no longer enjoy the immortal life he has sacrificed through the act of regicide and the punishment from this leads to his guilt
The Jacobean audience feels sorrow for Macbeth due to his immense guilt of killing not only a king but a friend however the moral compass of the Jacobean society feels that his death and suffering is justified.
Macbeths relations with other characters
LM: Both LM and M are presented to have the same ambition and are power hungry. Both are guilty and paranoid as the plot develops.
LM seen as dominating over M at during the start of the play however there is a role reversal shown by ‘be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck’ act 3 scene 2
Duncan: Both M and D are kings of Scotland however Duncan is seen to be the rightful ruler appointed by the God whereas Macbeth is a tyrannt
Duncan was reliant on Macbeth for protetcion however Macbeth misplaced his trust
Malcolm: Malcolm rightful to the throne unlike Macbeth he is a symbol of peace and purity like Duncan whereas Macbeth is seen as chaotic and disorderly
Macduff: Macduff highlights the flaws of Macbeth (his foil). Macduff chooses allegiance unlike Macbeth and fights for honour and nobility
Banquo: Macbeth’s best friend and is respected. Banquo resists temptations and is a symbol for honour , loyalty and prosperity due to his morality.
Macbeth charcter development throught the play
Beginning: Witches prophecies are the catalyst for his change in character
He is shown to have weak will and a sense of morality however LM makes him subvert by attacking his self of identity ‘ are you a man’ , you live like a coward’ (masuclinity). Addironally , the witches feed his smbition further by tempting his ambition.
Middle:
Macbeth is consumed by guilt from his inner conflict of his morality although his unchecked ambition leads him further into bloodshed and betrayal- act 3 scene 4 ‘I am blood stepped in so far … retruning were as tedious as go over’
End:
Characterised as a tyrant and embraces the violence and greed to fulfill his ambition -‘ give to the edge o’ the sword his wife his babes act 4 scene 1. Those he commands ‘move only in command, Nothing in love’ act 5 scene 2
