UNIT 1 - MACBETH Flashcards
What happened in Act 1? (S1-3)
A1 S1 - Three witches discuss where to meet with Macbeth.
A1 S2 - King Duncan speaks with a Sergeant/Captain about Macbeth and the battle that just occurred. Duncan orders the traitor (Thane of Cawdor) to be executed for treason and his title give to Macbeth.
A1 S3 - The witches meet with Macbeth and Banquo. They reveal prophecies for each:
MACBETH = Thane of Cawdor, King
BANQUO = Father a line of Kings
Ross and Angus arrive with news that Macbeth is the new Thane
What happened in Act 1 (S4-7)
A1 S4 - The King learns of the Thane’s execution. Macbeth and Banquo meet the King, he tells them that his son Malcom is ‘Prince of Cumberland’ heir to the throne. Duncan wants to visit Macbeth’s castle.
A1 S5 - Lady Macbeth is introduced, as she reads a letter from Macbeth telling her about the witches prophecies. She plots to kill Duncan immediately as she prepares for his arrival. She speaks with Macbeth about the plant to assassinate the King.
A1 S6 - The King and Banquo arrive at Macbeth’s Castle. They describe the ‘pleasant’ atmosphere. Lady Macbeth welcomes them.
Act 1 S7 - Macbeth is doubting and hestitaing to go through with the plan. Lady Macbeth tries to convince him otherwise, saying how she would’ve kept her word, and not be cowardly.
What happened in Act 2? (S1-2)
A2 S1 - Banquo and his son Fleance, are awake late at night, until they bump into Macbeth. When they leave, Macbeth hallucinates seeing a dagger leading to where he’s supposed to go to kill Duncan. He questions his sanity. A bell rings indicating the King will die.
A2 S2: Lady Macbeth hopes that Macbeth got away and that the guards did not wake up. She runs into her husband and he explains what he has done. Macbeth is full of guilt, therefore he makes sill mistakes (not leaving the daggers at the scene) as he explains that the guards saw him. When a knocking is heard, they leave to act as if they were sleeping.
A2 S3 - Comical relief is provided by the drunk Porter. Macduff and Lennox arrive to wake up the King. Macduff then finds the King dead. Macbeth blames the guards for his mruder, and claimed to have murdered them out of rage. Malcom and Donalbain (the sons of Duncan) flee the country out of fear.
What happened in Act 2? (S3-4)
A2 S3 - Comical relief is provided by the drunk Porter. Macduff and Lennox arrive to wake up the King. Macduff then finds the King dead. Macbeth blames the guards for his mruder, and claimed to have murdered them out of rage. Malcom and Donalbain (the sons of Duncan) flee the country out of fear.
A2 S4: Ross and an Old Man discuss the storage events that happened the night of the King’s murder. Macduff joins to tell them of the suspicion surrounding the sons. Macbeth is chosen as the new King.
What happened in Act 3? (S1-3)
A3 S1 - Banquo suspects Macbeth of foul play. Macbeth appears and learns of Banquo’s plans for the day. He orders Banquo to come to the banquet later on. Macbeth reflects on Banquo’s prophecy, enraged he hires/persuades two murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance.
A3 S2 - Lady Macbeth shows that she does feel guilty and is not as happy. Macbeth reveals that he shares similar feelings with her (tortured with fears of Banquo). They agree to put on happy faces for the banquet. Macbeth hints at his plans to have Banquo and his son killed, but does not reveal it entirely to his wife.
A3 S3 - Macbeth persuades a third murderer to kill Banquo and Fleance. The three ambush them and manage to kill Banquo. Fleance escapes.
What happened in Act 3? (S4-6)
A3 S4 - The banquet is going well, Macbeth learns that Banquo is dead but his son is not. Macbeth loses his composure when he see’s Banquo’s ghost. Lady Macbeth tries to calm the situation down, but it gets worse and she asks the guests to leave. Macbeth wants to visite the witches again for more info.
A3 S5 - Hecate (queen of witches) scolds the witches for approaching/messing with Macbeth. She directs them ho how to deal with him when he visits again. Her plan is to destroy him with over-confidence.
A3 S6 - Lennox and another Lord discuss recent events in Scotland. More suspicion surrounds Macbeth. Macduff has gone to England to join Malcolm in defeating Macbeth.
What happened in Act 4? (S1-3)
A4 S1 - The witches are making a potion. Macbeth visits and demands to know about his future. A series of apparitions (3) appear to him with prophecies. Macbeth then hears from Lennox and plans to kill Macduff’s family.
A4 S2 - Ross and Lady Macduff talk about Macduff leaving to England. Lady Macduff calls him a traitor for leaving his family. When Ross leaves, murderers come and kill her (offstage) and her son.
A4 S3 - Macduff tries to convince Malcolm to come back and fight for the throne. He wants him to gather an army to overthrow Macbeth. Malcolm is suspicious at first, but when convinced he says he will help. Ross comes to tell Macduff his family has been murdered.
What happens in Act 5? (S5-8 )
A5 S5 - Macbeth feels safe in his castle. He hears a cry and learns that his wife is dead. He then goes on about how life is meaningless. He then learns that Birnam Wood is “marching” to his castle.
A5 S6 - Malcolm’s army has arrived at Macbeth’s castle. They prepare to go to battle.
A5 S7 - Macbeth decides to join on the battlefield. He comes across Young Siward and kills hum. Macduff is looking for Macbeth. Siward announces that the castle has surrendered.
A5 S8 - Macduff and Macbeth fight. Macbeth admits to feeling guilty for killing his family. Macduff reveals he was a C-Section baby, so not naturally born of the womb. Macbeth is shocked and is later killed in battle. Macduff cuts his head off. Malcolm is crowned King.
What happens in Act 5? (S1-4)
A5 S1 - A gentlewoman calls a doctor to check on Lady Macbeth. She has been sleep-walking and talking. When observed, she lets slip the details of the murders she and Macbeth have committed. The gentlewoman and Doctor are shocked, and he says he can’t help her (she is beyond saving). SHE RUBS HER HANDS
A5 S2 - The Scottish Army is on their way to Birnam Wood to meet with the English (Malcolm and Siward). Angus says that those who still fight for Macbeth only do it out of fear (they don’t love him).
A5 S3 - Macbeth isn’t bothered by the reports that the nobles are leaving him. He stays confident that he is invincible (because of the prophecies). He receives a report that 10 000 English soldiers are coming. He prepares for battle while also checking with the Doctor on LM’s condition.
A5 S4 - Malcolm and English forces stop at Birnam Wood to cut branches and use them as a disguise to hide their numbers while marching to Dunsinane Hill.
What are some themes in the play?
Ambition: His own ambition is what causes him to spiral out of control and cause his own downfall. Both Macbeth and LM were too ambitious, causing them to kill many.
Guilt: Especially shown with LM’s character. Guilt is what caused insanity. It would go on to build up and haunt the characters over the course of the play. It even leads to LM’s suicide.
Fate
Appearance and Reality:
There is a lot of deception in this play. Macbeth lies about his foul deeds to his friends. He constantly hides the truth form those who he is supposed to trust/who trust him.
–> even with Donalbain: “there are dagger’s in men’s smiles.”
–> LM deceiving the King upon his arrival. “Innocent flower and snake underneath”
What are some symbols in the play?
Blood: Symbol of guilt for the characters. More blood is more guilt.
Sleep: Good sleep means you have a clean conscious, bad sleep means you have guilt and are disturbed/troubled.
Hallucinations
Nature
Light and Dark
Important parts of quote analysis?
- Themes present
- Characters
- Devices
- Overall Importance
