[Part 2]- Characters: Macbeth 🤴 Flashcards
1
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- the metaphorical snake is representative of kingship and Banquo’s children- committing regicide of the king isn’t enough and they need to kill Banquo, and his heir to be safe from the metaphorical snake that threatens them.
- C= which is contextually important, because it reflects how after the Gunpowder plot, James I struck a medal with a snake on it, after the plot was unsuccessful.
2
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- L= metaphor- suggests Macbeth perceives Banquo as a danger/threat to himself- as even from the grave, he is still able to threaten Macbeth.
- therefore this metaphor, would portray Banquo, Fleance- and fleance’s children as the metaphorical ‘snake’ that has been scorched, and not killed- it will heal, and usurp him of his kingship [and power] by murdering Macbeth.
3
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- reflecting how Macbeth has failed and not succeeded at being the ‘serpent’ underneath- like Lady Macbeth instructed him to- ; the serpent is now Fleance [and Banquo] which will jeopardise his chance at continuing to be king. [this echoes LM’s words]
- This is because Banquo, has given his life, so Fleance and the generations to come can be kings- leaving Macbeth with a ‘fruitless crown’ and barren sceptre.
4
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- ; from one perspective, this be be viewed as Macbeth condemning/criticising Lady Macbeth for what she had done.
- Since if Macbeth hadn’t taken her advice and followed her command, perhaps he wouldn’t have had a ‘barren sceptre’, and damned his eternal jewel to hell.
- Therefore he uses this metaphor of a scotched snake, to condemn himself for taking her advice/listening to her- someone who is subordinate to him- in the social hierarchy- she is perceived as inferior to Macbeth, due to the sexiest views of the time.
- this echoes Lady Macbeth’s words, and could perhaps be argued as the critical moment/turning point of their marriage- this is the destruction of the healthy relationship, leading LM to take her life- Macbeth now disregards/rejects her.
5
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
C= In the Jacobean era, a Jacobean audience would be able to recognise the token/symbol that the snake is- satan/the devil- temptations/desires.
- therefore in light of this view, this highlights how Macbeth has taken Lady Macbeth advice’s, as he is lead by temptation and his own desires- leading to his own tragic ruin- his throne will be forcefully taken and usurped.
- Paralleling how perhaps Lady Macbeth is like Eve, as she tempts Adam [Macbeth] into murdering the king, and to usurp the throne.
6
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- perhaps this is another parallel, since like Christianity and God mostly hold Eve as responsible for eating the forbidden fruit, Macbeth holds Lady Macbeth responsible for him committing the barbaric act of regicide.
7
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- Macbeth holds Lady Macbeth responsible for him committing the barbaric act of regicide.
- by Macbeth acting against God’s intention and will, there are not only physical and spiritual consequences, but psychological consequences for Macbeth as well.
- not only does he suffer from a guilty conscience, his mind is becoming overshadowed by animals [and animalistic behaviour]- as his humanity is starting to be lost and dissolve- replaced with a animal and monster.
8
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- is mind is becoming overshadowed by animals*
-therefore, this reflects how Macbeth has deliberately chosen to act against God and is starting to be punished for his crimes- ‘scorpions’ and other harmful creatures are now living in, and infesting his brain on a metaphorical and symbolical level.
9
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- ; the imagery of ‘scorched’, has connotations of fire, flame and hell- highlighting how Macbeth will burn in hell, as he has damned his soul to hell- by opposing the great chain of being, defying the societal rules of that [Jacobean] era.
10
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- It’s interesting to note that Shakespeare deliberately shows how Macbeth suffers whilst he is still alive, to show the treasures he seeked to gain and posses, are now dismantled.
- C= perhaps Shakespeare does this to warn a Jacobean audience of regicide- link to gunpowder plot- the eternal and physical punishment of killing the king.
11
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- Moreover, the harsh ‘k’ sound, reflects the brutality of Macbeth external/internal torture- [consonace].
- L= sibilance- highlights the wicked and menacing essence/nature of the notions/thoughts that are in his mind.
12
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- L= metaphor- this highlights how Macbeth discards the idea/notion of fate and destinity- he refuses to believe that it’s unavoidable that Fleance will take the throne and become king.
- instead arguing this could have been stopped/prevented, so he hires the three murderers to kill Fleance and Banquo.
13
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- I= ‘we have scotched the snake, not killed it’, ‘She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice…’- from this interpretation, perhaps Macbeth [thinks he] is destined to have his throne/kingship usurped from him.
- From this interpretation, he believes the witches’ predictions/properties, therefore he believe in kismet/fate.
14
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- ; he has free will and uses it wrongly- unlike how Banquo chose to use his free will for destiny to happen naturally, he decided to use his choice and free will, to take the throne by force, advancing his destinity/fate
- therefore Shakespeare does this to highlight how kimset/fate can allow kinship/monarchy at its own time/naturally, instead of it being furthered by human hands.
- For example, this is clearly shown as Fleance will become king; its Malcolm who is currently the king.
15
Q
‘We have scotched the snake, not killed it’ 🐍
A
- L= use of serpent/snake imagery echoes the serpent in Genesis 3, enticing/tempting Adam and Eve.
- therefore Shakespeare uses this to reflect how the witches/supernatural have become like the serpent/serpent-as they entice Macbeth [using his desire to be king], enticing him to believe in the predictions/destinity they had told him, which leads him to commiting regicide and a spree of murders.
