Paper 3: Macbeth

Question 1

Identify and explain Macbeths violent actions throughout the play

Answer 1

Macbeth is responsible for four deaths, but has many more on his conscience.

• MacDonwald
• Macbeth takes the throne of Scotland by killing Duncan and his guards.
• After Macbeth murdered Duncan, it was Macduff who discovered the body. Later his wife, Lady Macduff and her children, were murdered by Macbeth.
• Macbeth in his lust for power sees Banquo as a threat and has him murdered by three hired assassins; Banquo’s son, Fleance, escapes.

Question 2

Explain what blood symbolises within Macbeth

Answer 2

Blood symbolizes the guilt and how it sits like a permanent stain on the consciences of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, one that hounds them to their graves.

Question 3

Explain what the weather symbolises within Macbeth and give an example of its occurrence within the play

Answer 3

Unnatural occurrences in the natural realm, such as thunder and lighting that accompanies the Witches presence, act as a symbol of the violation in the natural order (chain of being) which reflects corruption in the moral and political orders. For example, terrible storms that rage on the night of Duncan’s murder - these violations of the natural order reflect corruption in the moral and political orders.

Question 4

Explain what sleep symbolises and give examples of its occurrence within the play

Answer 4

Sleeping is a state of complete vulnerability as one is defenceless and and exposed portrayed when king Duncan was murdered in his sleep; he was unaware of the danger he is in.

Throughout the play it is also clear that sleep is necessary, highlighted when Macbeth takes advantage of this time of rest and vulnerability that his mental state starts to deteriorate; resulting in him never being able to fully rest again.

This is also echoed by Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking habit as she wanders between the world of order and disorder. Her poor mental state is displayed when she attempts to free herself from the images of her blood-stained hands. Straddling the lines between the conscious and the unconscious, Lady Macbeth occupies a world of mangled sleep that reveals itself as only madness. Ironcally, having taking advantage of (and corrupted) the realm of sleep, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth find their own sleep forever tainted.

Question 5

Explain the difference between a symbol and a motif

Answer 5

A symbol is a sign or object used to represent something, while a motif is a persisting idea.

Question 6

Identify the motifs within Macbeth

Answer 6

Hallucination
Violence
Prophecy + Equivocation
Light and darkness - good and evil
Treachery
Death
Love

Question 7

Explain why the motif of prophecy is so important throughout the development of the play

Answer 7

All of Macbeth and Lady Macbeths actions are based on the Witches prophecy

Question 8

Give an example of equivocation within the play

Answer 8

Equivocation is the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself, Evident with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth when they try to hide the fact the they plan to kill King Duncan. Appearance vs reality

Question 9

Define the term ‘treachery’

Answer 9

Betrayal or breaking trust

Question 10

Identify the aspects/elements of the crime and mystery genre

Answer 10

• Sense of mystery needing unravelling
• Setting/time as backdrops for criminal actions
• Nature of the crime and criminals (treason/murder)
• Detection/detectives
• Investigation leading to punishment
• Restoration of order
• Punishment, justice, legal system
• Victims of crime and suffering
• Motifs (love, death, money, power, danger)
  -How crime affects the audience (suspense, excitement, relief)

Question 11

In terms of context, explain the great chain of being

Answer 11

The great chain of being was an ideological belief which orientated from the ancient Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato.

The Jacobean society believed that authority was derived from God in a great chain of being/hierarchy. God was at the top then came angels, mankind and animals. In the human order the king was supreme and males were above females. If the hierarchy/chain is broken or disturbed, it can descend into chaos.

Question 12

Describe the characteristics of King James I in the Jacobean era

Answer 12

The play Macbeth is associated with the reigning monarch King James I. James believed that in the divine right of kingship, regicide is a sin. King James I believed in the diabolical powers of witchcraft. He authored Daemonologie on the threat of witches in Scotland.

Question 13

In terms of context, explain the characteristics of the judicial system during the Jacobean era

Answer 13

• There wasn’t much law enforcement
• Prison was a place to hold a criminal before their punishment is decided.
• Imprisonment was not considered a punishment as those who committed a crime were subject to hard and cruel physical punishment.

Question 14

In terms of context, explain the characteristics of punishment given to criminals during the Jacobean era

Answer 14

Criminal actions were divided into three categories: most to least serious

1. Treason: act threatening the monarchy. Punished; death by hanging, removing limbs (dismemberment) .
2. Felonies: witchcraft. Punished by hanging or beheading.
3. Misdemeanours: petty theft. Punished by whipping or burning at the stake.

Question 15

In terms of context, identify who ruled Scotland in the Jacobean era

Answer 15

King James I

Question 16

In terms of context, explain what is meant by the divine right of Kings

Answer 16

The divine right of Kings was the idea of a King being chosen by God and was His representative on earth. They had complete power and expected total obedience from the people they controlled. Kings controlled both the government and the church. Kings James I strongly believed in the divine right of Kings. James I wrote that a bad king is a form of godly “plague” that people must endure before God offers deliverance.

Question 17

In terms of context, explain how witchcraft and superstition was viewed during in the Jacobean era

Answer 17

King James I was a string believer in the diabolical powers of witchcraft. He authored Daemonologie on the threat of witches in Scotland. The book was a dialogue in which James extensively explained his beliefs on witchcraft, aiming to bring evidence which would justify the death penalty as a punishment for witchcraft. The act of witch hunts were encouraged throughout the book.

During the Jacobean era people blamed unexplained events as the work of witches. The fear and anger of unexplained events was directed at the obvious target - witches. Women, especially old, poor, widowers were often accused of being witches. Witches were charged with a ‘felony’ and were hung.

Question 18

In terms of context, explain how the real King Macbeth differs from Macbeth within Shakespeares play

Answer 18

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is based on Holinshed’s Chronicles so is not historically accurate. The most significant difference between the true Macbeth and Shakespeare’s fictional character is the thirst for power. Shakespeare’s version of Macbeth would stop at nothing to get to the throne. He went on a killing rampage and made many decisions that the real Macbeth would have never made. The real Macbeth ruled Scotland for 10 years whereas Shakespeares adaptation makes the reign of Macbeth look short lived and bloody. This signals his primary interest is depicting Macbeth as a usurper and tyrant, rather than as a legitimate ruler.

Question 19

In terms of context, explain why religion is significant within the play of Macbeth

Answer 19

• England in the Jacobean era was mainly divided into two main religions; Catholic and Protestant.
• King James was a Protestant which upset many Catholics at the time. This led to the Gunpowder plot.
• By law Shakespeare was made to declare his allegiance to the Protestant church.
• Through all of Shakespeare’s writings it is unclear if he was Catholic or Protestant. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth one can see clear indications of Anti-Catholic movements but also pro-Catholic as well.
• Catholic beliefs are portrayed as Macbeth has free will and has a choice in determining his fate.
• Macbeth also references the Gunpowder plot where the anti-Catholic propaganda and fear from the public spurned an attempt to kill King James and his parliament.

Question 20

In terms of context, explain the Gunpowder plot

Answer 20

in November 1605, the Gunpowder Plot had been discovered: the plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament, kill James, and replace him with a Catholic monarch failed, and the plotters were tortured and horribly executed (by the Protestant King James I)

Question 21

Explain why critics have suggested that Lady Macbeth is the fourth witch.

Answer 21

Her passion, power and ambition, especially in women, was attacked and accused of witchcraft.