Sem 2 Exam Essay - Macbeth Flashcards
Describe macbeth’s desire to be king
Taste of power as thane of cawdor - willing to do anything / kill anyone
What three quotes represent macbeth’s desire to be king
“Let not light see my black and deep desires”
“Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself”
“Catch/with his surcease success”
Technique and meaning of “let not light see my black and deep desires”
Aside
Knows his plans are wrong but do anything to be king
Technique and meaning of “vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself”
Soliloquy
No good reason to murder -> ambition to be king -> downfall
Technique and meaning of “catch/with his surcease success”
Metaphor
Without consequences Duncan’s death would immediately lead to Macbeth being crowned king
What three quotes represent witches manipulation of Macbeth
“All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”
“My thought, whose murder is yet but fantastical”
“Fair is foul and foul is fair”
Technique and meaning of “all hail Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter!”
Foreshadowing
Spark idea he can be king bc other prophecies come true -> create ambition
Technique and meaning of “my thought whose murder is yet but fantastical”
Aside
Ambition for power, spark murderous ambition
Technique and meaning of “fair is foul and foul is fair”
Motif, alliteration, paradox
- Relevant throughout play -> evil doing in name of ambition
- good things actually bad vice versa
- great predictions -> evil actions
What three quotes represent lady Macbeth manipulation
“Bend up…to this terrible feat”
“Screw your courage to the sticking place”
“…to be more than what you were, you would, be so much more the man”
Technique and meaning of “bend up…to this terrible feat”
Imagery
She convinced Macbeth to fulfill his thoughts of murder
He allowed himself to be manipulated
Technique and meaning of “screw your courage to the sticking place”
Metaphor
Macbeth needs to arm himself with courage to murder
Technique and meaning of “…to be more than what you were, you would, be so much more the man”
Consonance
He wouldn’t be a man if he didn’t do it
Be more manly than before if he were king
Three reasons Macbeth is a pawn
Desire to be king
Witches manipulation
Lady Macbeth manipulation
Describe the theme of Ambition (intro)
- driving force of play
- blind to right & wrong - ultimately downfall
- hero’s greatest weakness
- excessive ambition - unnatural, dangerous
Macbeth is a pawn to his ambition, the witches & lady Macbeth
