Macbeth Revision Flashcards
Here, Macbeth briefly decides to let “chance” take its course rather than fighting things, or, murdering his noble king(which is an act of regicide). Macbeth: goes with his line of thought. But if “chance” is the same as “fate,” then it seems to amount to the same thing—and it’s not good for Macbeth. Or Duncan.
MACBETH [Aside] If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir.
Once he learns that King Duncan has named Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland and heir to the crown of Scotland, Macbeth isn’t content to wait around for “chance” to intervene. He decides that he must take action, or “o’erleap” the obstacles in his path to the throne. By murder. Which seems pretty willful.
MACBETH [Aside] -The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
When Macbeth tries to insist that the murder plot is off, Lady Macbeth needles him (and makes a few impotence jokes) until he finally gives in. That’s right—gives in. Saying “I dare do all that may become a man” sounds a lot like he’s made a decision.
MACBETH Prithee, peace: I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none
Here’s another count against ambition: After reading the letter from her husband (which recounts the witches’ prophesy), Lady Macbeth’s thoughts immediately turn to murder. Problem: Macbeth has ambition, but he doesn’t have the nerve to see it through. Luckily Lady Macbeth is man enough for both of them.
LADY MACBETH - Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it.
Whenever flowers and serpents come into it, we’re ready to suspect Eve and that pesky snake. And sure enough, here’s a woman convincing a man to share in her own, nasty little vision of the way things should be.
LADY MACBETH -Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.
Okay, Lady Macbeth. It’s easy to make fun of your poor husband when he’s the one having the visions. You won’t be laughing as hard when you’re the one trying wash an invisible bloodstain out of your hand.
LADY MACBETH- “O, proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear.This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts,Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done, You look but on a stool.”
“Rapt” comes from the Latin word “raptus,” which means to be “seized” or “kidnapped.” (It’s the same word that gives us “rape,” which clues you into the way that women were viewed as property—rape was a crime against a man’s property rather than a crime against a woman.) But back to the play: of Macbeth is “rapt,” then he’s been “seized” by something outside of his control. Does that mean we let him off the hook?
BANQUO “Look, how our partner’s rapt.”
