Pygmalion Questions

Question 1

What is the point of the first scene literally and in reference to the play?

Answer 1

The witches are deciding when they should meet again. In reference to the whole play, it sets the mood for the entire play. It introduces major ideas in the play, such as supernatural influences (witches), Macbeth, and the idea of fair being foul and foul being fair.

A battlefield during a thunderstorm- bad things are going to happen

Question 2

What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald?

Answer 2

He calls him “valiant cousin, worthy gentleman”.

Brave relative

Question 3

Who is sentenced to death?

Answer 3

The current Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.

Question 4

What do the witches predict in I.iii for Macbeth? For Banquo?

Answer 4

They predict that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and Glamis, and eventually become King. They predict that Banquo “lesser than Macbeth, and greater, Not so happy, and yet happier” and that his children will be Kings, but he will not be one.

Question 5

What news does Ross bring Macbeth?

Answer 5

Ross tells Macbeth that he is now Thane of Cawdor (because he did a very good job during the battle)

Question 6

Banquo, like Macbeth, is surprised that the witches have predicted Macbeth’s new title.
He is, however, leery. What does he say about the motives of the “instruments of
darkness”?

Answer 6

The instruments of darkness often will talk about good things but will not talk about the consequences of them

They will tell half the truth to cause your destruction

Question 7

Malcolm describes Cawdor’s last moments before execution. What is Duncan’s reply?

Answer 7

There is no art to finding a man’s construction in his face

(You can’t tell what a man is thinking from his face)

Question 8

Macbeth says, “Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires.” What are Macbeth’s desires?

Answer 8

He wants to be the King and knows that something will have to be done with the current king, Duncan, and his sons, Donalbain & Malcolm, before he can become King.

Question 9

After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him?

Answer 9

Lady Machet thinks he could be a good king but doesn’t have any guts or the fierceness to get it. She plans to kill the King with Macbeth to get the title.

Question 10

What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is coming”?

Answer 10

She wants to be less “feminine” - - filled with cruelty, and given a hard heart and thick blood so that she can be tough enough to murder the King.

Question 11

What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?

Answer 11

She advises Macbeth to hide his true feelings and look innocent after committing murder.

Question 12

What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing Duncan?

Answer 12

Macbeth doesn’t want to kill Duncan because he is Duncans kinsman, he is a good and well liked King, and he gave him recognition for his work in the battle.

Question 13

What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder?

Answer 13

She tells him not to be a coward because he can be King. She tells him to be a man, and says she would rather kill her baby than break a promise (manipulating Macbeth into thinking he promised to kill him, even when he just said “we’ll talk later).

Question 14

What is Lady Macbeth’s plan?

Answer 14

She will get the guards drunk and have them fall asleep so Macbeth can go into the king’s room and kill him.

Question 15

What is Macbeth’s lie to Banquo about the witches’ predictions?

Answer 15

He tells Banquo that he doesn’t think about the witches’ predictions, which is a lie.

Question 16

What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give Macbeth to let him know that she has taken care of the guards (grooms)?

Answer 16

Lady Macbeth would ring a bell (bell tolls).

Question 17

What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?

Answer 17

Lady Macbeth’s excuse to not kill him was that he looks like her father.

Question 18

After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady Macbeth and is concerned about not being able to say “Amen.” What is her advice to him?

Answer 18

Her advice to Macbeth was to not worry about it too much because it would make him crazy.
“Things without remedy should be without regard”

Question 19

Then, Macbeth is worried about hearing a voice saying, “Macbeth does murder sleep.” What does Lady Macbeth then tell him to do?

Answer 19

She told him to wash his hands (“this filthy witness”) to wash away his actions and forget about it.

Question 20

Why won’t Macbeth take the daggers back to the scene of the crime?

Answer 20

He did not take the daggers because he felt guilty about killing Duncan, and he couldn’t go back to see him dead.

Question 21

Who was knocking?

Answer 21

Macduff and Lennox were knocking at the gate.

Question 22

What three things does drinking provoke?

Answer 22

“Nose painting, sleep, and urine”

Question 23

How does Lennox describe the night, and what is Macbeth’s response?

Answer 23

He describes the night as terrible and explained that it predicted terrible, confusing times ahead and Macbeth responded by saying it was a “rough night” (showing he doesn’t care).

Question 24

What did Macduff discover?

Answer 24

Duncan’s body. (the king)

Question 25

Macduff says, “Oh, gentle lady, ‘Tis not for you to hear what I can speak. The repetition, in a woman’s ear, Would murder as it fell.” What is ironic about this?

Answer 25

Its ironic because she played a part in murdering Duncan and is not truly a lady.

Question 26

What excuse or explanation did Macbeth give for killing the guards (grooms)? What is his real reason?

Answer 26

He claimed he did it out of anger and rage, but he actually killed the guards because he wanted to get rid of witnesses.

Question 27

Why do Malcolm and Donalbain leave?

Answer 27

To escape whoever murdered the king.

Question 28

Why does Ross not believe Malcolm and Donalbain were responsible for Duncan’s murder?

Answer 28

He doesn’t believe Malcolm and Donalbain are responsible for their fathers murder because it’s against nature.

Question 29

Why does Macbeth want Banquo and Fleance dead?

Answer 29

They believe there was foul play in Duncan’s murder and he does not want Fleance to benefit from “his work”

Question 30

What is Macbeth’s plan for killing Banquo and Fleance? Does it work?

Answer 30

Macbeth contacts 2 murderers and convinces them that Banquo is their “enemy”, so they will kill him. They end up killing Banquo but Fleance escapes.

Question 31

Macbeth says, “The worm that’s fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No
teeth for the present.” What does that mean?

Answer 31

Fleance is not a threat now, but he may be venomous (revengeful) when he grows.

Question 32

Who (what) did Macbeth see at the banquet table?

Answer 32

He saw the ghost of Banquo at the banquet table.

Question 33

How does Lady Macbeth cover for Macbeth at the banquet? What excuses does she give

for his wild talk?

Answer 33

She tells the guests that he often has fits and tells them to ignore him. She later sends the guests home when his behavior becomes worse.

Question 34

Who else was missing from the banquet table (besides Banquo)?

Answer 34

Macduff was missing from the banquet table.

Question 35

Macbeth says, “I am in blood Stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning

were as tedious as go o’er.” What does he mean?

Answer 35

He means that Macbeth has participated in so many murders that it is easier for him to continue than to stop.

Question 36

What does Hecate want the witches to do?

Answer 36

Hecate wants the witches to meet Macbeth so she can cast a spell on him.

Question 37

What does Lennox think about Macbeth, Fleance, and Duncan’s sons?

Answer 37

Lennox thinks that Macbeth is the “good guy”, he thinks that Fleance killed Banquo, and he thinks that Duncan’s sons killed the king.