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Read the brief analysis below of Macbeth, I. vi. 1-31. You are to write a similar analysis of 25-50 lines. Follow this example. Cite the exact passage being analyzed at the head of your analysis. Then be sure to include:
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| I. vi. 1-31 | The setting is Inverness, before Macbeth's castle.
Duncan and Banquo appear discussing the pleasant atmosphere of
the place. Their hostess, Lady Macbeth, enters, gi ves Duncan
her hand, and pledges twice double service to him who has so
honored her house. The effect is one of heavy dramatic irony
accomplished by the emphasis of Banquo on the delicate air of
Inverness encouraging swallows to nest in every "jutty,
frieze,/Buttress, . . . coign of vantage" (6-7), by the
graceful apology of Duncan for the trouble Lady Macbeth's love
for him is putting her to (11-14), by his stating tha1 he had
hoped to precede Macbeth as "purveyor" for his worthy
Thane but that Macbeth's love "holp" him home
before (21-22), and by Lady Macbeth's pledge that she and her
husband will become "hermits" for Duncan's sake (18).
The "heaven's breath'" that "smells wooingly here"
(5-6), the excessively gracious obeisance of Lady Macbeth to
her king as she bows and is lifted by him, the stated purpose
of Duncan to continue graces towards Macbeth, all, when recalled
in the next scene, heighten the horror of Macbeth's being incited
by this perfect hostess to murder her honored guest in his sleep.
Immediately preceding (I. v.) Lady Macbeth has said "He that's coming/must be provided for" (67-68). The significance to the whole play of this scene is evident in the dual personality of Lady Macbeth, the unsuspecting trust of Duncan, Banquo's reserved suspicion (suggested by his silence) of Macbeth's ambition, and the unwitting prophecy of Lady Macbeth that isolation ("hermits") will be the ultimate reward she and her husband will reap from Duncan's favor of making himself accessible for murder in their house. |
| I. i. 1-13 | The setting of this scene features the three witches, the Weird sisters, and it is thundering and lightning. The dialogue between these sisters is foreshadowed, as they discuss when and where they will meet with Macbeth. It is discussed that they will meet "when the hurly-burly's done/ when the battle's lost and won" (3-4). This gives the air of foreshadowing that lends itself to the overall creepiness of the scene and also gives the witches their personalities. The thunder and lightning gives an obvious literal darkness to the mood of the scene but also an emotional darkness to the witches and the reader. More predictions come into play when the third witch says "that will be ere the set of the sun" (5). This prediction is meaningful, but difficult to decipher, and thus adds more mystery to the scene. Literally it means before the sun sets. When the first witch asks about the place of meeting, the answer is "upon the heath" (7), another cryptic statement. The witches are immediately recognized as characters that are something of an evil force, even though they are more complex and are not antagonists. They are, however, ugly, repulsive, and yet very mysterious and cryptic. They are even somewhat comical. In this scene, the witches have "familiars", defined as attendant spirits serving them in the form of animals. Graymalkin (9) and Paddock (10) are such spirits, although the purpose of them is questionable. However, they do signify that the witches have spiritual connections, making them even more unknown to humans. The final two lines contain the most foreshadowing perhaps seen in the whole scene. All three witches intone the following: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair/ hover through the fog and filthy air" (12-13). Present here is alliteration, description of surroundings, and foreshadowing. It is the closing of the first scene, and mystifies the reader and makes them look forward to the next scene. The entire scene is very important because it is the opening scene of the play, and hints the demise of a character that has not even been introduced yet. It is a very interesting beginning to a very interesting work. | Maddie Smith |
| I. ii. | The
setting is a heath near forres. The witches are conversing amongst
themselves preparing for Macbeth's arrival. Macbeth and Banquo
enter the scene unaware of the witches at first. When Macbeth
says, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" (I.
II. 125) it sets a tone of impending evil and uncertainty. The
witches greet Macbeth with praises saying, "All hail, Macbeth,
thou shalt be king hereafter!" (I. II. 137). This passage
puts in Macbeth's head the idea that someday he will be king.
This one line from this scene sends Macbeth into a downward spiral
into nadir because of his ambition. The witches go on to tell
you how Banquos descendents will be Kings. This passage makes
you think that there will be some kind of rivalry or uneasiness
between Macbeth and Banquo. The witches vanish and the two have
a brief discussion of what they just heard. Suddenly, Ross and
Angus enter showering Macbeth with compliments and greeting him
with the title "Thane of Cawdor". Macbeth is stunned
that the witches prediction comes true. Banquo says, "What,
can the Devil speak true?"(I. II. 195) . Macbeth then says
this, "Why do you dress me in borrow'd robes?" (I.
II. 196-197) which makes you think of a title that is not his.
Macbeth and Banquo then have a short interaction about the previous
events but decide to just wait and see what happens. |
James Vater |
| I. iii. 39-73 | The setting of this scene is the hill where the witches meet when Macbeth and Banquo are returning from the battle. They appear and notice the witches, wondering what they are. The first thing Macbeth says when he enters is "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" (39). This immediately foreshadows his future alliance with the witches and shows the reader that he is not as good as he appears to be. The witches make their prophecies that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then king, and Banquo-excited by the prophecies-does not understand why Macbeth seems wary of the witches. He also associates himself with them when he asks Macbeth, "Why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?" (54-55). The witches then make the prophecy that Banquo's children will be kings as well. At this point, Macbeth has abandoned some of his wariness. He has begun to trust the witches. He asks them to stay and tell him more about their prophecies (73) because he wants what they say to be true. At this point, the reader should see that Macbeth, who was formerly a good and loyal man, has begun to be corrupted by the witches' promise of power. This is an eerie scene because all his life Macbeth has been loyal to Duncan and now in a few minutes, that loyalty already started to dissolve into greed. As soon as the witches leave, Ross and Angus enter to tell Macbeth that Duncan has made him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth fails to recognize that Duncan gave him this title and not the witches. He therefore believes in the witches' prophecy even more and starts plotting his way to Duncan's throne, heading down the road that will get him into even more trouble later. | Grace Johnson |
| I. iii. 39-90 | The
setting is outdoors where it is dark and dreary. Macbeth and
Banquo are met by the 3 witches announce and prophesied that
Macbeth will become king and that Banquo will father kings. After
hearing this prophecy, Macbeth asks the witches questions in
hopes of clarifying this telling of the future. He then ponders
how this will happen thus putting complete trust that the witches
are being truthful. While on the other hand, Banquo questions
their motives and trustworthiness. The effect is one of skepticism,
doubt, and confusion accomplished by Banquo questioning his sanity
by stating "Were such things here as we do speak about?
Or have we eaten on the insane root." (86-87) The effect
is also extreme ignorance accomplished by Macbeth urging the
witches to tell him more "Stay, you imperfect speakers.
Tell me more" (73) Reflecting upon Banquo's and Macbeth's
reaction to the witches, one can tell their true character. Macbeth
remains ignorant and believes whatever he is told. He does not
rationalize situations. This will become apparent in the following
acts. Banquo, on the other hand, likes to look at the big picture
and the reality of situation. Out of these two characters, he
is the more rational one who would be a far better leader. The setting emphasizes the effect of ignorance and confusion because this scene takes place in a time described as "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." (39) This proves that everything in his life is not what it seems. This therefore shows that we live in a confusing world that does not always have a distinct line between good and evil. The element of actions emphasize the effect because once the witches vanish (after line 82) after telling Macbeth and Banquo what seems to be good new, Macbeth begins to go crazy. The witch's disappearance symbolizes common sense and right judgement. The significance within the immediate context is that we become aware that Macbeth is easily susceptible to persuasion and the pleasures of instant gratification. The significance of this scene to the whole play is that it sets the entire play in motion. This scene is where Macbeth begins to wonder about his conquest of the throne. This scene also ultimately causes Banquo's downfall because with the knowledge of the witch's prophecies, Banquo is a threat to Macbeth's growing power. |
Elizabeth Goetzinger |
| I. iii. 40-90 | Macbeth
and Banquo confront the the three weird sisters for the first
time in this passage. The sisters tell him of the great
things to come in his future including becoming the king. It
initially plants the idea in the head of Macbeth that it is his
"destiny" to become king, thus evolving the whole plot.
Dramatic irony is used when Macbeth first speaks as he
echoes the weird sister by saying "So foul and fair a day
I have not seen". (39) This passage gives some insight
to the nature of both Macbeth and Banquo. It shows Macbeth's fascination with
power and willingness to believe in what he hears. It also
shows Banquo's wisdom in his hesitance to believe these
witches and actually considers their gro tesque appearances and
sinister cackle of their voices as they praise Macbeth and tell
him of his great future. This passage also shows the sinister yet divine nature if witches. They like to watch humans get into trouble and they know Macbeth's true nature, therefore they know that by telling Macbeth that he will be King and Thane of Cawdor, that it may cause him to commit acts of atrocity to attain these titles. It also forshadows that Banqou will be suspicious of Macbeth later on in the play because of their vastly different reactions to the prophesying of the three witches. |
Austin Cowan |
| I. v. 15-33, 45-61 | Lady
Macbeth's first soliloquy outlines Lady Macbeth's thoughts on
Macbeth's letter. She is eager about the Weird Sisters'
third prophecy, and she thinks that Macbeth "is to full
o' th' milk of human kindness" (17), meaning that he doesn't
have the gall to do what ever is necessary to become king: "Thou
wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without [ruthlessness]
should attend it" (18-20). When she learns that Duncan
is coming to her castle, "the raven himself is hoarse that
croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under [her] battlements"
(45-47). She asks spirits to "unsex [her] here" (48),
to make her unwomanly so that she can kill Duncan if Macbeth
decides against it: "Make thick [her] bloodtake [her] milk
for gallthat [her] keen knife see not the wound it makes"
(50, 55, 59). She has begun to plan out Duncan's death so that
even if Macbeth refuses, she can still make him king. This passage lays the foundation for Lady Macbeth's character. She is overly ambitious, and she can be ruthless. A minimal shock and shiver is sent through the reader upon reading this soliloquy. The setting would be dark to emphasize Lady Macbeth's thoughts on Duncan's murder. She would move as little as possible to symbolize her certainty on this decision. This passage is significant to the whole tragedy of Macbeth because it is ironic to Lady Macbeth scenes just before and after Duncan's death. In its immediate context, it gives a even more ambitious, feminine point of view to the Weird Sisters' predictions. This passage also adds another dimension to the tragedy by showing a human woman's greed and ambition near parallel with Macbeth's. |
Liz Williams |
| I. v. 1-85 |
This scene begins with Lady Macbeth standing alone with a letter written to her from Macbeth. In the letter Macbeth is telling Lady Macbeth about his meeting with the Weird Sisters and the prophecies that they had for him. After reading the letter Lady Macbeth has a soliloquy in which she summarizes the letter and she come up with the idea of killing Duncan. Moments later Macbeth appears and Lady Macbeth tells him about her plan to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth also tells Macbeth that his face is easy to read, and that he needs to work on not allowing people to read his face so people will not know what they are planning. Macbeth then professes that he does not want to kill Duncan, and Lady Macbeth says, "Leave all the rest to me" (86), meaning that she will take care of the plan and accomplishing the task of murdering Duncan. There is no doubt that this scene has an emotional effect on the reader. this scene shows what type of character Lady Macbeth truly is. In the first soliloquy that she has, lines 15-33, she is asking to be filled with cruelty, so that she will have no negative mental effects after she kills Duncan. In her second soliloquy, lines 45-60, she is asking to have her,"womanly characteristics," taken from her so that she is more man-like, ad will have the ability to kill the helpless king in his sleep. When Lady Macbeth states, "That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep throughthe blanket of dark" (59-61), she is asking for a dark night for her evil deed to be accomplished on, so no one will be able to see her do it and so that she herself can not even see the deed done. In this scene we also learn more about Macbeth's character. We learn that in the beginning he doesnot like the idea of killing Duncan, when Duncan would be unable to protect himself because he will be asleep. Also when Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth as, "Your face, my thane, is a book where men may read strange matters" (73-74). This shows that Lady Macbeth is afraid people willknow what they are planning to do, just by looking at Macbeth's facial features. This would prove problematic to their scheme because people would accuse them of it, after it was done, and they would be know as murderers, and if they are accused of murder then there is no way that they would be able to be the rulers of the land, and even worse they would most likely be executed. |
Zach Sanchez |
| I. vi. 1-28 | The
setting of this scene in a large empty hall where Macbeth is
alone. It takes place before the suggested murder of King Duncan
and Macbeth is debating upon whether or not to go through with
the murder. He talks about the character of Duncan, how Duncan
is truely a kind man, showing a flicker of a compassionate trait
in Macbeth. He comments on Duncan's character in lines 16 through
18, "Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek,
hath been so clear in his great office..." At this point,
Macbeth seems to be losing the debate on the issue of Duncan's
murder. He uses metaphors like in line 21 to get the audiance
to see the significance of what this action would entail. This outloud self argument proves to be in vain later on while Macbeth's wife convinces him to commit the murder by questioning his manliness. This action goes far beyond one murder as the play goes on, and the sane, logical Macbeth the reader or audiance sees in this scene is soon lost. |
Annie Rischard |
| I. vi. 1-31 | In
this passage from Macbeth, King Duncan, his sons, and
his closest subjects have come to Macbeth's castle, Inverness.
Lady Macbeth has come to greet them, while Macbeth decides he
better keep his distance. Ironically, Duncan and Banquo
are talking a bout how nice and inviting the castle appears.
Because prior to this scene, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are discussing
the murder of King Duncan, the reader's main emotional effect
is irony and dread. With Duncan expressing the castle is
"a pleasant seat" (1) and Banquo assuming there is
"no jutty, frieze Buttress, nor coign of vantage" (7-8),
the impending danger the reader is aware of is unsuspected by
any of the men from the court. Lady Macbeth is giving nothing
away. Her opening arms and smiling face only give the characters
false security. She even lavishes them with "all
[her] service" (32). Macbeth has hidden away because
he would give the secret away by his nervousness and guilt.
No one suspects the deadly deed that is being planned.
Duncan "loves [Macbeth] highly"( ), which gives the
reader a sense of dread, as well as ironic feelings. The significance this scene is to the immediate context is it gives Duncan and his servants a false security. They are unaware of the dangers about to occur. This is allows the reader to understand who is planning the murder at present: Lady Macbeth. She is the one who has no problem with lying and scheming. Currently, Macbeth has a conscience, feeling very guilty just for thinking about murdering King Duncan. This scene is important throughout the book because later Lady Macbeth role changes. She becomes distance from Macbeth, not in his inner circle as before. Macbeth becomes oblivious to the conscience he seemed to have. The consequences of death do not seem to register with him. He has not guilt, deciding to kill innocent people. Sadly, it becomes easier to kill with every murder. |
Devin Pinaroc |
| I. vi. 13-39 | The setting of this passage is inside the entry of Macbeth's Castle. Duncan has just arrived as Lady Macbeth greets him and his servants at the door. Duncan, clueless of his gruesome fate, greets Lady Macbeth warmheartedly as he arrives at the location of his demise. This passage is a very emotional one for the reader because the reader knows that although Duncan is a just and fair man, he is close to his death. The tone of the excerpt is incredibly ironic since Lady Macbeth is greeting Duncan and expressing her gratitude to him as his host, but she is secretly the key plotter in his assassination. It can be said that she is completely responsible for the murder of the king because she talks Macbeth into greed and makes him into a blood-thirsty and power-hungry killer. This scene is very influential to the rest of the play because Lady Macbeth's deception supports the image of the snake under the flower. One of the key factors to the emotional tone of this scene is how welcomed Duncan feels when he enters the castle, and more importantly how safe he feels. Since it was a custom for a host to defend and honor their guests with dignity, Lady Macbeth's yearning for the death of Duncan is almost inhuman when placed in the context of Shakespeare's life. This scene is considered to be significantly influential to the remainder of this play because it gives the reader and audience its first glimpse of Lady Macbeth's deception, and the length she was willing to go to achieve her goal of absolute power. | Ashton Slatev |
| I. vi. 39-90 | The setting is an outdoor opening in Scotland.
Macbeth and Banquo arrive and meet the three witches. Macbeth
begins by saying, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen"(39).
This immediately gives off a creepy feeling, but it is also one
of importance. We assume that this means whatever is to happen
next is very significant. The three witches then begin by saying
things to Macbeth which should be a great honor, but under the
circumstances, are completely horrible. The first witch begins
by saying, "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!"(51).
The second follows by saying, "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to
thee, Thane of Cawdor!"(52). The final witch says, "All
hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!"(53). The second
and third have foretold two things have not yet happened and
in order for them to it would require the people that are in
those positions to be killed. The creepy feeling only continues
as Banquo begins to realize that Macbeth is frightened. "Good
sir, why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so
fair?"(54-55). The witches disappear after leaving the men
confused and scared. The final thing said by Macbeth is, "Your children shall be kings"(89). Followed by Banquo saying, "You shall be king"(90). The significance of this is that in order for these wonderful things to happen people must be killed. This will set up the entire play and it is evident that horrible things are yet to come. |
Alexa Dorman |
| I. vii. 1-28 | This passage gives us a glimpse of Macbeth's inner character. He is clearly torn between his loyalty to his king and kinsman and his ambition and presumptuous wife. He then rationalizes on the pros and cons of killing Duncan will be and discusses any and all side-effects involved. This passage provides us with a great since of irony throughout Macbeth's soliloquy. One such example is when Macbeth says "he's here in double trust'. This gives off a sense of irony since Macbeth may be implying that he has already made his decision to assassinate King Duncan with accordance to his wife's' wishes. Macbeth's soliloquy also provides indirect characterization on Duncan "Besides, this Duncan hath borne his facilities so meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels". This clearly shows the integrity of Duncan and the level of respect he commands among his vassals. Macbeth's talk about Duncan can also help us conclude that he is trying to talk himself out of the dark deed using persuasive compliments and fierce consequences. This soliloquy gives off a very solemn mood and puts the reader in a state of uneasiness as they wonder to what Macbeth's final decision will be. This passage plays a huge role in Macbeth's character since it gives him a rational and logical side but does little to change the outcome of the Duncan's demise, only to provide a little irony and occasionally foreshadowing for the events to come. | Victor Aniebok |
| I. vii. 1-29 | The setting is inside Macbeth's castle, near where the servants are setting up the feast for Duncan. Macbeth is pacing, contemplating his assassination plans for Duncan. This is a soliloquy, being that the audience is able to hear what Macbeth is thinking. Macbeth, at first, believes that the assassination would be easy for the sole reason that it would not trigger any more terrible consequences. He states that he is willing to risk his eternal doom in hell, and that this is not his fear. He then begins going over the reasons he should not execute this murder ideas. His reasons against include that he is his subject and his kinsman "First, as i am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed" (13-14), his host "then, as his host" (14), and that Malcom was a fair and just ruler "So clear in his great office" (19). The dominate emotional effect is fear, the fear of being caught, and the fear of the same befalling Macbeth if he follows through with his murder, "Vaulting ambition, which... and falls on th' other" (27-28). Macbeth's lines here add in not only the element of fear but also foreshadow what is to come. The setting is a reminder that Duncan is already there, and in danger of Macbeth's plan. Language adds strong to the fear, "who should against the murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself." (15-16) Language throughout all of the scene which the choice of words such as "his virtues will plead like angels" puts Duncan on a pedestal like an angel, and puts Macbeth low, as Brutus. The signifigance of this passage is for effect and foreshadowing. This also shows Macbeth's "soft spot" showing that he is not fully for the murder. | Julia Peacock |
| II. i. | The
scene starts with Banquo and Fleance about to return to bed for
a nights slumber. The King and all of his noble men have been
invited to stay the night at Macbeth's home and are now asleep.
Macbeth imagines he sees a bloody dagger leading to Duncan's
room, who he must kill. The effect of this scene on the reader
is very dramatic, and troublesome. "Is this a dagger which
I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch
thee (44-46). Here we are waiting for Macbeth to kill the king,
so that it can be over with, because at this point he is somewhat
procrastinating. "I go and it is done. The bell invites
me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is knell that summons thee to
heaven or hell" (75-78). Here it is time to kill Duncan,
the bell is the signal that the kings guards are asleep, they
are drunk because of Lady Macbeth. The significance of the scene is it reveals the guilt that Macbeth will soon feel. It shines light on his very present conscience. We now know that if Lady Macbeth would have never made Macbeth kill the King, then it would have never been done. She was the final push that he needed, and he knew that, that is the hidden reason, hidden even to him, that he sent Lady Macbeth the letter warning her of the King's arrival at their castle. |
Morgyne Weaver |
| II. i. 1-77 | The setting is Inverness, a few minutes before the murder of the king. Macbeth and Banquo have been haunted by the witches prophecies', though Macbeth pretends to have forgetten them. Macbeth sees an image of a dagger leading him to Duncan's room. He hears the bell being rung by Lady Macbeth, signaling him to precede with the murder. The dominant emotional effect on the reader is that of suspense. Although most of us know what will happen, there is still one lingering question: "Will he be caught murdering Duncan red-handed?" This feeling of suspense is due to many things, those of which include: 1) the image of the dagger; 2) the fact that he is all alone, rather than surrounded by many people; 3) his feelings of nervousness as the time of the murder comes upon him. As a reader we are able to tell right of the bat that he is very uptight and somewhat nervous about what he must do. This also makes us feel nervous because we don't know what the result of his actions will be. This scene is significant because it leads us into the murder of the king and eventually shows us how horrified Macbeth is at his actions. As a whole, this scene is significant because it gives the reason for the murder of Duncan and who performed the act. | Gillian Ressler |
| II, i 44-77 | This
passage is known as the "Dagger Soliloquy". In it,
Macbeth summons the courage to murder Duncan through the hallucination
of a dagger, preparing himself to commit a crime that he is not
emotionally prepared for. As he reaches for the dagger, it becomes
bloody, streaming with "gouts of blood" (58). This
foreshadows the murder of Duncan by the hand of Macbeth. At the
end of his soliloquy, a bell rings, summoning him to do the awful
deed of killing the king. The effect of this passage is eerie
and foreboding. It shows that, although Macbeth may not be all
evil, he has the potential to do horrible things. He has an evil
side that can take over at any moment. The setting of this passage is outside Macbeth's castle in the cold, late night. There is no moon, as mentioned by Banquo earlier, and it is very dark. This intensifies the foreboding and ominous tone of the passage. Macbeth's thoughts and actions are directed toward "a dagger of the mind, a false creation" (50). He compares himself to a wolf in the hunt, and Tarquin, an infamous Roman rapist, increasing a sense that a great evil is about to occur. However, Macbeth is still nervous. There is still doubt in his mind as to whether this is the right thing to do, and yet he does it anyway. He is afraid, for instance, that he will get caught. He says, "Thou sure and firm-set earth, hear not my stepsfor fear thy very stones prate of my whereabouts" (71-73). This passage is significant because, in it, Macbeth prepares himself to commit a crime that will change his life forever. It will not only make him king, but will also push him over the edge into true calamity. This is the passage that started an avalanche of insanity and malevolence in Macbeth's mind, producing an unfeigned monster by the end of the play. |
Katie Trivitt |
| II. ii. | In
this passage Lady Macbeth can't kill Duncan because he resembled
her father so she waits for Macbeth to kill Duncan and then return.
Macbeth comes back, horrified, with blood all over his hands,
carrying the daggers used to kill Duncan and says, "I have
done the deed" (19). Lady Macbeth gets mad at him for bringing
evidence away from the scene and tells him to take the daggers
back and put them in the guards' hands, but he can't go back
to see Duncan dead and so Lady Macbeth has to do it.
The scene ends with a knocking and Macbeth wishing the knocking
could make Duncan wake up, even though he's dead. The reader is nervous that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will get caught, but at the same time are horrified by Macbeth's brutal betrayal against his brother. It is a very tense scene as we read about what Macbeth has done and we see that even he knows that what he did was wrong when he says, " Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine" (78-80). With this quote Macbeth is saying that nothing will make his actions condonable. The setting is in their castle away from's Duncan's chamber. The only characters in the scene are Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and they are both very anxious and worried throughtout the scene. Lady Macbeth is mad at herself for not being able to kill Duncan with she exemplifies by saying, "My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white" (82-83). She talked about killing anyone without trouble, even children, but when it was time to put her plan into action she couldn't go through with it, however, Macbeth could. Macbeth killed Duncan in his sleep, but knew right after that he had done the wrong thing. He says, "Macbeth does murder sleep-the innocent sleep," which tells the reader that Macbeth know what he did was unfair and that killing someone, especially unguarded in their sleep, was unacceptable (48). This scene is important for the rest of the play because it shows hat Lady Macbeth know want she wants for her husband, but isn't able to get it for him. Later in the play we see that her influence fades Macbeth's power hunger frenzy increases and as he kills more and more. This scene shows that Macbeth can be ruthless and go through with tasks without thinking the consequences through fully. He knew right after that what he did was the wrong thing, but he had no problem with it when he was actually doing the act of murdering Duncan. |
Maddie Coffey |
| II, ii. 1-95 | In the second act in the play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth
shows how she can be very dominating and evil in certain
ways. The setting of the scene is in the castle
hallway, after Macbeth has murdered Duncan, who is his competition
for the crown. Macbeth and his wife appear there in
the hallway talking about the horrific action that
has just occurred, and Macbeth is panicking and starting
to repent for his murder. Lady Macbeth starts to question him about
what he has just done to Duncan, and he begins to regret
this as she asks for details. She then goes farther asking
about what he did with the weapons that he used
to kill the innocent men with, and he says he brought the
daggers with him because he did not know what to do
with them. He also kills the guards outside of Duncan's
chamber because he has to cover up his murder and make it look
like they killed Duncan. Lady Macbeth tells Duncan
that it is not a big deal what he has done, "Consider it
not so deeply" (41). Lady Macbeth seems very relaxed
and content about the whole situation although if they were found
guilty or caught, Macbeth would not only not be able to
become king, but he would probably be killed as well. Macbeth
forgets to leave the daggers with the guards and refuses
to go back to the scene of the crime to do so, and Lady
Macbeth says she will go back for Macbeth because now that
the innocent men are dead, they cannot do anything
to Macbeth or herself. Macbeth says to his evil wife
when she tells his to go back and place the daggers on the ground
by the guards, "I'll go no more. I an afraid to think
what I have done. Look on 't again I dare not"
(65-67). This shows the reader that Macbeth is starting
to regret killing an innocent man, and that Lady Macbeth is still
evil in her ways and does not repent at all. She says
in response to Macbeth, "Infirm of purpose! Give me the
daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures 'Tis
the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem
their guilt" (68-73). The setting of the passage is very dark and suspicious, because during the murder many people tell each other that they have heard mysterious noises in the night. The significance of this whole scene is very important because it shows how dominant Lady Macbeth's opinion can be and how her personality changes dramatically later on in the play by going from an evil, scheming, and selfish woman to someone who is not involved in his evil actions that occur later on. It is also important because it shows how Macbeth starts out innocent and only wanting to do good and wanting the crown, but his own needs sort of change him as well to become very evil and ruthless even after he becomes king. This shows that when we get what we want only by doing wrong or evil things, we can never be happy or satisfied, because we will always be haunted by regret or remorse for what we have done. |
Claire Pedulla |
| II. ii. 1-95 | The
setting is in Macbeth's castle, in the hallway (most likely)
outside of Duncan's room. Lady Macbeth is anxiously awaiting
her husband to return from murdering the king, Duncan, after
cowaring out of doing it herself because Duncan resembled her
father. Macbeth goes into Duncan's room and murders him.
When he has done the deed, Duncan's sons woke up and were terrified
and said a prayer. This frightened Macbeth and he realized
he could not say "Amen" which paralyzed him in horror.
When he returns to the hallway to tell Lady Macbeth that he has
killed Duncan, they both realize he still has the bloody daggers
in his hands. Macbeth's wife then returns the daggers and
smothers the "grooms" with blood to stage the crime.
Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to calm down and urges him to put
on his gown on and wash the blood from his hands when they hear
a knock on the door, knowing it is men who have come to wake
the king. The effect is one of dramatic suspense.
The effect of suspense is accomplished by the emphasis of the
danger of being caught in the act of murder. Such as when
the king's sons awake which frightens Macbeth, making him paranoid.
He reveals this when he freaks out toward his Lady saying "I
have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?...There's one
did laugh in's sleep, and one cried 'Murder!'" (19-32).
This mood is also reached when Macbeth forgets to leave the daggers
behind and instead Lady Macbeth questions him saying, "Why
did you bring the daggers from the place? They must lie
there." (62-63). The third way in whcih the
effect of dramatic suspense is reached is through the Porter's
knocking on the door which terrifies Macbeth, "Whence is
that knocking? How is't with me when every noise appals
me? What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine
eyes!" (74-77). The significance within the immediate
context of this scene is to show that Macbeth is not nearly as
strong as he seems (foreshadowing his future), Lady Macbeth's
ambition for Macbeth to hold the thrown and her undeniable evil
(for instance when she does not have a problem with the blood
on her hands whilst it is paralyzing Macbeth with fear and guilt),
and of course that Macbeth and his Lady have successfully murdered
the king, Duncan, and are on their way to holding the throne.
The significance of this scene within the whole play is undoubtedly
that Macbeth is evil, but also weak. He is paranoid about
his future and he will do anything to protect himself. |
Scout Harlow |
| II, ii, 12-57 | The setting is in Macbeth's castle hallway.
Macbeth has just murdered Duncan and has met his wife in the
castle. He is horrified at what he just did and he made a mistake
by bringing the murder weapon back with him instead of leaving
it with the drunken guards. He is very shaken up about
the events that occurred that night. The emotional effect
on the reader is shock and consternation emphasized by the excerpt
"Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall
sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more." (55-57)
and "there's one did laugh in s' sleep, and one cried "Murder!""
(30-31). The setting of the scene showed the vulnerable position
Macbeth and hi wife are in. Macbeth's apprehension
and guilt really showed when greeted by two strangers his inability
to say "amen" (39) back. Lady Macbeth's unconcerned
attitude is revealed when she says "consider it not so deeply"
(40). The actions Lady Macbeth takes during this time and Macbeth
differ greatly. Lady Macbeth is concerned with taking the
dagger back saying "Give me the dagger. The sleeping
and the dead are but as pictures."(69-70) while Macbeth
is so shaken he can't move saying "I'll go no more.
I am afraid to think what I have done" (65-66). The significance of this scene is to show the crossroads that Macbeth has just entered. From this point he has the option to use this moment to make him a great king or use this moment to drag him down to the eventual downfall that will happen. This scene also shows Lady Macbeth "just do it" attitude she wants everything to been done and forgotten once she gets what she wants. |
Isioma Nwokolo |
| II. ii. 37-81 | The
setting of this scene is in the Macbeth castle. Just moments
before these lines were spoken, Macbeth had gone into Duncan's
room, and had just completed the murder by stabbing the
king to his death. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are standing in a
hallway discussing what to do next. It is easy to see that Macbeth
is freaking himself out. He keeps saying that he is hearing voices
cry out to him that say, "Sleep no more!" (54) and
he's describing to his wife that they say that he has murdered
sleep (55). This is almost forshadowing that yes, Macbeth won't
be able to sleep anymore because of the guilt that he carries
after murdering that innocent man, Duncan. Lady Macbeth then
tells Duncan to stop worrying and to stop thinking of that because
it's not true. She tells him to wash off the blood from his dirty
hands, and when she says to get rid of the daggers, he says he
can't go back to face what he had done. From this, you can tell
that Macbeth's conscience is already killing him and Lady Macbeth
doesn't even seem to mind it. As a reader, I was almost sad for
Macbeth, knowing that he was going to be suffocated with this
awful guilt, and angry at Lady Macbeth for not seeming to care at
all. The time and place in the castle is dark and depressing and you can't help but feel overwhelmed with the events that had just occurred. The description of blood Macbeth mentions is vivid in your mind as you read that the sea will turn from a green color to red (78-81). The panic is clear in the writing for Macbeth's lines and Lady Macbeth just seems so collected and serene. This scene or passage is very important. It may make you understanding of where Macbeth came from but at the same time, it can make the next scenes a shock for why and when he does them. This scene is a main turning point in the play. |
Pia Hinahon |
| II. ii. 58-88 | The setting of this passage is in Iverness, in
Macbeth's castle late at night while everyone sleeps but Macbeth
and his wife. Macbeth has just committed the murder of King Duncan
and enters the hallway where Lady Macbeth awaits him quietly.
He is horrified at his own actions and already feels guilt while
his wife tells him that he is being foolish and needs to act
like a man. She is frustrated because Macbeth did not follow
the plan and could get them caught for doing so. Then, Lady Macbeth
must carry out the final part of the plan: the framing of the
two grooms for the King's murder, because Macbeth is too afraid
to do this.Then there is an abrupt and loud knocking at the castle
door and they both hurry back to their chamber in fear of being
caught. The tone of this passage is very dark, dismal, and quiet,
while remaining violent and urgent all the while.The tone is
demonstrated in the dictation between Macbeth and his wife. Lady
Macbeth shows fear in "Who was it that thus cried?"(58)
while she shows frustration in "Why did you bring these
daggers from the place?"(62). Violence is shown in her words
"Go, carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood."(63-64).
Urgency and fear is shown in Macbeth's line "Whence is that
knocking? How is 't with me when every noise appalls me?"(74-76).
Finally, Lady Macbeth's frustration towards her husband is shown
in her line of "My hands are of your color, but I shame
to wear a heart so white."(82-83). The immediate significance of the actions that occurred in this scene in the context of the play include the aspects of the long awaited death of King Duncan, the death of the King's guards, the immediate fear and guilt Macbeth holds in himself, the anger and contempt Lady Macbeth holds in herself for her cowardly husband, and an unsuspecting visit from who we later come to know as the Porter as comic relief from the harshness and panic of the scene before. The passage's long-term significance on the entire play includes the aspects of Macbeth becoming heir to the throne due to the death of King Duncan, the swift departure of Duncan's two sons in fear for their lives, the decreasing splendor and goodness of Scotland, and the inevitable murder of Macbeth. |
Zoe Kent |
| II. ii. 58-95 |
The setting is creepy and filled with paranoia. Lady Macbeth is talking to Macbeth after he committed the murder. Macbeth is scatterbrained and not thinking straight. He instantly regrets murdering Duncan. He feels as if the blood cannot be washed away from his hands. This is true, in a way, because Macbeth murders more people throughout the play. The first murder started a chain reaction, which led to more murders and the corruption of Macbeth. The murder does not seem to faze Lady Macbeth. She wants to just wash her hands and put the murder behind her. Macbeth forgets to leave the daggers, the murder weapons, in the room with Duncan. All it takes is for someone to walk into the hallway for him or her to see Macbeth and Lady Macbeth with the bloody weapons. This was not a smart move on Macbeth's part! The reader thinks that Lady Macbeth is ruthless and Macbeth just does what he is told by her. This shows that Lady Macbeth controls Macbeth and is very persuasive. The reader is shocked by what occurred pertaining Macbeth and Lady Macbeths reactions. "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep." (47-48) uses sleep as a symbol for innocence. This shows Macbeth as no longer innocent. He is corrupt. In line 62 Lady Macbeth says, "Why did you bring these daggers from the place?" This shows that Macbeth was not in his right mind and was in a state of shock after the murder. | Colleen Smith |
| II. ii. 68-95 | There is a sensee of panic and regret throughout this scene, outside of the dead king Duncan's bedroom. The setting is one of apprehension. Macbeth has just killed the king, but he made the mistake of bringing the daggers back out with him. That is when Lady Macbeth sees him, she is furious with him. The reader will feel disgust at first for Macbeth, but as one reads on Macbeth shows how sorry he is for killing Duncan and the reader then begins to feel disgust toward Lady Macbeth for forcing him to kill Duncan. It is obvious that Macbeth knows he made a mistake when he says "No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red." (79-81) He realizes the multitude of what he has done, where as Lady Macbeth doesn't. Her ignorance is obvious when she says "A little water clears us of this deed." Once they hear knocking the panic becomes overwhelming and is obvious in their language. "Hark, more knocking. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us and show us to be watchers" (89-91) This shows the severity of their panic, they are going to abandon everything and pretend they were sleeping. This passage is very important because when you first read it, one would automatically think that Macbeth will become king, but further reading will prove that this scene just leads to more killing. Two wrongs make a right come into play the first wrong coming here and this passage also leads to the second wrong. | Caroline Cameron |
| II. iii. 45-72 | In
this passage Duncan is about to be discovered murdered in his
chamber. Macbeth, Macduff, and Lenox meanwhile are conversing
over the strange feeling adrift in the castle and the strangeness
of the previous night. Lenox states that, "The night
has been unruly." (61) Something disturbed his
sleep, but he believes it could have been an earth quake.
This is an eerie passage that gives the reader a feeling of suspense.
The plot is growing higher and higher until it reaches the climax
of discovering the dead king, Duncan. This passage is especially creepy because it is early in the morning and there is almost no one around. The fact that the reader is aware of Duncan's murder but the characters are not arouses building expectations of future events in the reader. Finally Macbeth's deception of Lenox and Macduff adds to his development as an antagonist. Macduff openly asks Macbeth "Is the king stirring, worthy thane?" Macbeth deceitfully replies "Not yet." (48-49) Even more, Macbeth offers to lead Macduff to the dead body perhaps in an attempt to feign innocence. "I'll bring you to him." (52) All of this action is relevant to the play because it is Macbeth's first murder, first claim of innocence, and first crossover into the maniacal man that soon envelops him. |
Theresa Nash |
| II. iii. 82-138 | The setting is at Macbeth's castle. Macduff has arrived to pick up Duncan early in the morning, and goes into the room he is sleeping in to retrieve him. Horrified, Macduff starts screaming that there has been a murder. He calls Malcom, Banquo, and Macbeth along with others in the castle to proclaim that he has found Duncan dead in his bed. Malcom seems calm, replying to the news by simply asking, "O, by whom?" (118). The watch man have been framed to have done the murder, "their hands and faces were all badged with blood," (120). This is ironic because in reality, Macbeth really killed Duncan. Macbeth does not admit to the murder of Duncan, but does say that he kills the watchmen because, "who could refrain that had a heart to love, and in that heart courage to make's love known?" (135-137). Lady Macbeth, who was also part of the murder, claims that she is upset and distraught by the news, when it was actually her drive that caused the murder of Duncan to occur. These lines foreshadow that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are manipulative and evil and will cause turmoil in the future. | Trinian O'Neill |
| II. iv. 1-26 | In this passage, Ross and an anonymous old man are discussing strange events in nature that have recently taken place. A falcon has been killed by an owl, and Duncan's horses escaped from their stalls and began to eat each other. The dominant emotional effect on the reader is one of unease and foreboding, as the unnatural events reinforce the horror of Duncan's murder at the hands of Macbeth. The events discussed by the two men have an emphasis on the upset of natural order and something lower on the food chain rising up to brutally attack its usual master, and also attacking those it would usually be friends with. The old man says "A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, / Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed" (15-16). This immediately reminds the reader of the fact that Duncan believed he was safe in the home of his kinsman and subject, but that Macbeth betrayed that trust in carrying out Duncan's murder. Ross exclaims, " And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and / certain), / Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, / Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, / Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would / Make war with mankind" (17-22). This reminds the reader of the fact that Macbeth was a celebrated warrior, but he has fallen and he has, in effect, made war with mankind by betraying his king. This scene serves to reinforce the disgust the reader feels after seeing Macbeth murder Duncan, and it also foreshadows the fact that more strange and awful things are bound to happen. It also continues the theme that events in nature mirror and emphasize human actions. | Valerie Kastens |
| II. vii. 1-50 | This
scene takes places in Duncan's castle, just after he was murdered.
Macbeth enters the room with his wife, practically crazy with
anxiety and soon to be regret. He speaks to his wife unclearly,
not quite making sense with anything he is saying. Macbeth speaks
of voices he has heard and his fear of being caught. Lady Macbeth
tries to calm him down, finding his troubled rambling stupid
and unimportant. However, unbeknownst to Macbeth, his wife was
the one disturbed and anxious at the beginning of the scene.
Lady Macbeth had said, "Had he not resembled my father as
he slept, I had done 't" (12-13). Although thoroughly discussed
and understood, the actually murdering of Duncan is something
that never appeared on stage in Shakespeare's creation of this
play. Instead, the place where Duncan sleeps appears as a rather
mysterious chamber into which those who enter, emerge eternally
changed. This passage can apply to a reader because it appeals to senses and feelings that every human have. The previously unassailable and intimidating Lady Macbeth shows her first signs of vulnerability, in backing out of the murder of Duncan because of his resemblance to her father. Macbeth experiences major regret after the life-changing decision to kill Duncan. |
Olivia Glazner |
| III. iii. 1-33 | n
Act 3, Scene 3, of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, three murderers
have been hired by the king, Macbeth to murder Banquo and his
son Fleance. They crouch down by the side of the road awaiting
the arrival of the two and when they come, the murderers attack,
as Banquo sacrifices himself so his son can escape. The murders
kill banquo, but are not fast enough to catch Fleance, who has
run away. The effect of this scene is that of forshadowing. When
Banquo is speaking to Fleance he says there will be "Rain
tonight" (25), foreshadowing, the events that are about
to occur. Later, as Banquo is being killed, he tells Fleance
to "Fly, fly, fly" (25), then adding, "Thou mayst
revenge- O slave!" (26), forshadowing Fleance becoming king,
just as the Weird Sisters had predicted, and what Macbeth was
trying to prevent. Light is mentioned many times from the murderers,
beginning with "The west yet glimmers with some streaks
of day," (7), the opposite of Banquo's prediction of rain.
When banquo enters, the murderers know it is him saying "A
light, a light!" (20), the light signifying the goodness
and even the innocence and loyalty of Banquo, and to reiterate
this, after Banquo's death, the third murderer says "Who
did strike out the light?" (27), refering to the darkness
after Banquo has died. The death of Banquo will come later to
haunt Macbeth, but so will the escape of Fleance. There is little
dialogue in this scene, but lots of action. This makes what is
said that much more important, and the death of Banquo, Macbeth's
loyal friend, and the fleeing of Fleance plays a huge role in
the events yet to come. The murderers know of that they have only carried out half of their task, when Fleance escapes, and they say, "We have lost best half of our affair." (31-32). The death of Banquo is a big deal, as seen in the next scene, where Macbeth begins to see the ghost of Banquo. This murder shows how corrupt Macbeth is beginning to come, and the next scene shows his mental state, which is not well. This scene is also important to the whole play because Fleance escaped, which shows that Macbeth will need to carry out more murders in the future, and how much more corrupt Macbeth will become. |
Maddy Rupert |
| III. iii. 1-34 | The setting is dark, and it takes place outside
the palace. In this scene, the three murderers that Macbeth has
hired, sneak up on Banquo and kill him. This scene describes
the three murderers talking about how Macbeth sent them. When
Banquo approaches, they kill him and put out the torch he was
carrying. Banquo's son Fleance, who Macbeth also instructed them
to kill, escapes. Banquo told Fleance to avenge him, as he was
escaping. Then the three murderers go give Macbeth the news.
The emotional effect this portrays is sorrow, for Macbeth's ambition,
that will make him continue to perform evil acts. This ambition
is not getting him anything but sorrow and sleepless nights. The reader feels sorrow not only for Macbeth's victims, but also for Macbeth. This is because Macbeth has let the inner evil come out of him. When Banquo says, "It will be rain tonight,"(23) it portrays the darkness of the setting and foreshadows the evil to come. Darkness is also shown when the third murderer says, "who did strike out the light?" (28). The reader feels sorrow for Banquo when the murderers attack and he says "O treachery! Fly good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!" (25). We see that Banquo really cares for his son. Macbeth is murdering a good person, which makes him even more treacherous. Banquo then says, "Thou mayst revenge..." (26). He is letting his son know what he should do. |
Amy Ward |
| III. iv. 10-41 | The setting is in Macbeth's home, with all the
dinner guests nearby. Macbeth is at the door talking to one of
Banquo's murderers. Macbeth learns that Banquo is dead but that
Fleance escaped. The murderer leaves and Lady Macbeth, with no
idea what happened, tells Macbeth to return to the feast. The
effect on the readers is the realization that Macbeth is now
truly the one that wants to murder so he can get a step up. He
is now so deep in murder that he believes murder would make him
"whole as the marble, founded as the rock" (24). They
also see Macbeth as the more evil one, as suggested by Lady Macbeth
and her lines that show she knows nothing as Macbeth just carried
out yet another murder. An element that helps to achieve this
effect is when the murderer tells Macbeth that Banquo is dead
and Macbeth's first response is simply "Thanks for that"
(31). Also, when Macbeth finds out that the child, Fleance, is
still alive, he says that "now I am cabined, cribbed, confined,
bound in to saucy doubts and fears" (26-27). The ironic
switch in roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is increasingly evident
in this scene, shown when Lady Macbeth talks about the feast
while Macbeth just got finished learning of a murder. The significance of this event in the play is that we see a disturbed, continued transformation of Macbeth's character, especially when we are able to compare it to Lady Macbeth's character. Macbeth admits that until he murders Fleance, he will not be whole; Macbeth is slipping into the idea that he must murder to be happy and complete. |
Parker Klingenberg |
| III. iv. 50-81 | This
scene takes place in Macbeth's palace at a banquet he has held
for himself and some of the lords. As Ross invites him to sit
and dine with the other lords, Macbeth finds that he cannot sit
because there are no empty seats left. He sees that the ghost
of Banquo is sitting in the seat that was reserved for him and
starts asking the others who has brought him saying, "Thou
canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me"
(61-62). Lady Macbeth then tries to calm Macbeth and the other
lords, but only succeeds in persuading the other lords to stay.
She tries to snap Macbeth out of his sudden panic attack. The
effect of this passage is dramatic irony because we know that
the guilt that Macbeth carries is driving him crazy, while the
other lords at the banquet are puzzled as to why he is acting
in such an outrageous manner. The lavishness and hospitality
of the banquet as compared to the dark deed committed before
this passage, the sudden attack of guilt that overwhelms Macbeth
as he sees the ghost of Banquo, the calm yet devious words that
Lady Macbeth uses to not only persuade the lords from leaving
the banquet but also to cover up for the sin they have committed,
together, help achieve the overall feeling of Macbeth's hidden
guilt that the lords are all oblivious to. Previous to this passage, Macbeth spoke to murderer who killed Banquo and notices the blood on his face. He is then reminded of his guests by his wife and goes to join them at the table. The significance of this passage is that it shows his remorse for his actions and the guilt that he carries with him as king. The questioning of his manhood by his wife also reveals the ambition she has for power. |
Amy Nguyen |
| III. iv. 82-130 | This
scene is the point where Macbeth is shown to be publicly crazy.
He has kept his insanity mainly between him and Lady Macbeth
but here he throws a fit over his hallucination of Banquo. In
true it is not certain whether the ghost of Banquo actually is
real and only Macbeth can see him or Macbeth is just seeing things
such as the floating dagger. This scene takes place at the banquet
for Macbeth becoming king. As Macbeth goes to sit down he can
not because he sees the ghost of Banquo in his seat and starts
freaking out. Lady Macbeth is not aware of the death of Banquo
and thinks he is still startled at the death of the king. She
tries to calm him down but it is to no avail, Macbeth goes on
yelling at the ghost. The ghost does leave but returns shortly
once Macbeth mentions Banquo at the dinner and the yelling continues.
Macbeth is extremely afraid of the ghost and curses it with all
his might. It is very symbolic, blood is used and he compares
Banquo's ghost to a bear, rhinoceros, and a tiger. Macbeth is certainly insane at this point and the reader gets sucked into the story to see how far Macbeth will continue until he says that he committed the murders. Lady Macbeth realizes he might do that very thing and tries to soothe him. She however is shocked later that he killed Banquo as well and this puts a rift between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth throughout the rest of the play. Also Macbeth is seen in a bit of a different light by the people of Scotland after the banquet. It is one of the most intense scenes outside the murder scenes, and it changes the course of the play thereafter. |
David Krenger |
| III. iv.102-131 | The
setting should be somber, but with merry company at a feast provided
by king Macbeth but the behavior of Macbeth proved otherwise
with his startling behavior. At first Macbeth is apologizing
for a moment of startling behavior and makes up for it by proposing
a toast with partial dedication to Banquo, a friend who has not
come to the feast because Macbeth murdered him so as to keep
the throne for himself(102-111). After the toast Macbeth sees
the ghost of his murdered friend, Banquo and begs the ghost to
leave the feast because the sight grows on his conscience(113-116).
As macbeth throws his fit Lady Macbeth tries to apologies for
Macbeth and explains that it is something that he commonly does
but as readers we understand that she is not fully conscience
of why Macbeth is putting on such a show(117-120). Macbeth begins
to challenge Banquo as a reaction of his cowardice and begs him
pathetically to leave him at peace. When Banquo finally exits
Macbeth claims "I am man again"(121-131). The significance of this scene is to show the reliability of Banquo and the true cowardly and evil side of Macbeth. Banquo is reliable to keep his promises even in death. He promised to attend the feast that was set up by Macbeth and he came physically in spirit. Macbeth shows fear, in an almost insane way that breaks the pleasant meeting. When Banquo leaves then we see how he suddenly seems "man again". |
Haley Evans |
| IV. i. 1-47 | This
selection is a very famous scene of Shakespeare's, where the
lines "Double, double toil and trouble;/ Fire burn, and
cauldron bubble"(10-11) come from. In this selection, the
Weird Sisters are making a potion. They describe all the ingredients,
most of them being very unusual things, that go into the potion.
This selection concludes with one of the witches sensing the
coming of Macbeth. This selection has a very spooky feel to it,
largely because the witches are making a magical potion. The
ingredients that go into the cauldron add to the spookiness of
the selection. Most of the ingredients are associated with witches
and dark magic. As with every other scene involving the witches,
thunder and storms are present, adding to the supernatural feel
the witches have. This selection is very significant within the play. Mainly , this selection shows just how evil and wicked Macbeth has become. The last lines of this selection are "By the pricking of my thumbs,/ Something wicked this way comes."(44-45), said by the second witch. When a supernatural and evil being senses Macbeth coming, it implies that he has become as wicked if not more wicked than the witches. |
Carter Hood |
| IV, i. 1-48 | The
setting is a cavern. In the middle sits a boiling cauldron,
which contains a potion that is being prepared by the Three Witches.
They are apparently reciting a charm, and the atmosphere they
create with their screechy voices and dark persona is extremely
eerie. This affects the audience by setting a weary tone
for the remainder of the play. This affects the reader
emotionally because of the witches' dialogue, which includes
phrases like "Double, double, toil and trouble" (10)
and "Make the gruel thick and slab" (32). The
language that the witches use to achieve this affect is the infamous
reverse iambic pentameter, which is prevalent throughout the
charm reciting with lines like "Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse"
(28). The lead witch, immediately following the Witches' recital, says something ironic that is a pivotal moment in the play; "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes" (45-46). This is ironic because witches are generally perceived to be evil and demonic, and yet they are condoning Macbeth as "wicked." This shows how much Macbeth has changed for the worse since the beginning of the play, and helps the audience realize the severity of Macbeth's actions, as well as the prophetic nature of the witches. |
Ethan Berney |
| IV. i. 44-118 | The setting is a stormy night at the witch's cave
in Scotland. A frightened Macbeth seeks out the witches to hear
new prophecies that will help him to predict future outcomes
of events. The witches provide answers to Macbeth's questions
by summoning three apparitions, each one more horrible than the
one before it. The first apparition is a floating armed head
warning Macbeth to,"Beware Macduff!" (81). The second
apparition is a bloody child telling Macbeth that, "none
of woman born/shall harm [him]" (91-92). And the third apparition
is a crowned child holding a tree who assures Macbeth that, "[he]
shall never vanquished be until/Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane
Hill/shall come against him" (105-107). The emotional effect of this passage on the reader is the reassurance of Macbeth's surmounting level of evilness and the thought that Macbeth is interpreting these prophecies incorrectly because of his growing insanity and misguided confidence. The reader can how evil Macbeth has become when one of the witches announces, "by the pricking of my thumbs,/something wicked this way comes" (44-45). The witches themselves are very wicked and sinister supernatural creatures so the fact that even they think Macbeth is wicked shows the reader how evil Macbeth has become since the last time he met with them. The reader's thought of Macbeth's false interpretations is emphasized by the rash conclusions that he jumps to after seeing the apparitions such as when he says, "thou hast harped my fear aright" (84) after the first apparition, "then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee?" (93) after the second apparition, and "that will never be./Who can...unfix his earthbound root?" (108-110) after the third apparition. After seeing these apparitions, Macbeth thinks that he is invincible. This scene is very important because it foretells the events that will happen later in the play. The true meanings of the apparitions are very different than the foolish ideas that Macbeth comes up with. Macduff ends up killing Macbeth because he is not of woman born, he was born by a Caesarean section. The great Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill because the English army advancing on Macbeth's castle carries boughs cut from the wood. |
Katie Brown |
| IV. i. 70-107 | Macbeth is visiting the Weïrd Sisters and demands they show him what they are doing. The witches make three apparitions appear. The first warns Macbeth, saying "beware Macduff" (81). The second tells Macbeth that no one that was born of a woman will harm him. The third says to Macbeth that he will not be defeated until the trees take their roots from the ground. The emotional effect on the reader is one of uncertainty. Macbeth's mood in the passage changes after each apparition appears leaving the reader unsure. After the first appearance Macbeth says "for thy good caution, thanks" (84) showing that he is grateful for the spirits message. Then after the second apparition he is confused because the apparitions contradict each other and the third apparition coincides with the second and makes Macbeth reassured. The setting is never really defined, although there is thunder. This also feeds into the air of uncertainty. Previously, the witches were concocting a charm that leads to the apparitions appearing for Macbeth. The forming of the apparitions is the followed by the show of eight kings. The appearance of the line of Banquo frightens Macbeth into killing Macduff's family. | Sarah McAnulty |
| IV. i. 77-117 | This passage is the second string of the mysterious predictions of the Weird Sisters. With words such as "Beware the Thane of Fife," (82) "Be bloody, bold, and resolute," (90) and "lion-mettled, proud" (103) give a emotional effect of anger to yourself because he see these words and thinks that he needs to kill Macduff, because he is already on the rampage of killing his friends, anger that he has indeed gone mad. More elements that show this kind of anger towards Macbeth is how he takes these predictions in his interpretation for them. His interpretation for the second prediction is, "Then live Macduff; what need i fear of thee? / But yet ill make assurance double sure..." (93-94) He interprets he is invincible, but decides to kill Macduff anyways for the heck of it. This can cause some kind of pity anger towards Macbeth. The significance within the whole play shows that his careless interpretation of the predictions shows that he thinks he is close to godliness and too proud to look down and face some actual problems. | Phillip Kim |
| IV. i. 81-126 | The
setting is a dark cavern. Macbeth is witnessing his first
apparition. the witches have just been making spells around
a cauldron when to their satisfaction Macbeth turns up demanding
the truth of their prophecies. in response, they summon
three apparitions in which the first is an armed head, the second
is a bloody child, and the third is a crowned child. each
has its own warning in which they caution Macbeth to beware
of his surroundings. The emotional effect on me, as
the reader, was of great foreshadowing, by each apparition
and their warnings being symbolic for what will come
in the future, when the third apparition tells Macbeth he will
be safe only "until/Great Birnam Wood to high
Dunsinane Hill/Shall come against him" (106-107), saying
that Macbeth will be in grave danger if this comes true. Each
apparition in this dark, cold cavern contribute to this effect
because they each tell him to beware of a certain person
and Macbeth in turn will act upon this with brutality. Apparition
one tells him to, "Beware Macduff!" (81), apparition
two tells him, "for none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth"
(91-92), and apparition yjree tells him he will be safe "until/Great
Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/ Shall come against him"
(106-107). All of these cautions start to be put in
effect in the following scene when Macbeth acts upon them. The significance to the whole play of this scene becomes obvious when the apparitions continue telling him to beware of certain people because we know as the readers Macbeth is going to take the matter in his own hands by killing more. |
Elizabeth Brown |
| IV. iii.118-160 | This is the scene where Macduff goes to try and
convince Malcom to come back to Scotland and save it from Macbeth.
They are in England, where Malcom and his brother Donalbain have
fled after the murder of their father, the gracious King
Duncan. As a means of testing Macduff's true intentions,
Malcom has just told him that basically, he would be even worse
a leader than Macbeth. Macduff passes the test by finally
admitting that Malcom is not even "fit to live" (121),
and that after having tried everything in his power, all
"hope ends here (132). However, Malcom then understands
that Macduff truly does care about Scotland, and so consols him
by explaining that all he had just admitted to being was just
a test. By the end of this passage, Macduff is rightfully
confused. The dominant emotional effect of this passage
on the reader is relief mixed with a new anticipation, for Malcom's
return would mean that the end Macbeth's evil reign is that much
more possible. Malcom gives himself completely as Macduff's and
his "poor country's to command" (151). The significance of this to the rest of the play is the fact that now Macbeth has a true challenge before him. Ultimately, Malcom's acceptance to return to Scotland is the beginning of Macbeth's downfal, because when his army arrives, it is supported by all the nobles of Scotland as well, thus leaving Macbeth totally isolated. While Macbeth wanted independence, his complete independence means he is powerless. |
Sara Figueroa |
| IV. vi. 234-267 | The
passage I cited above was when Macduff found out that his family
had been killed by Macbeth. It starts out with Ross, the messenger,
reluctantly being forced to tell Macduff what had happened because
in the previous lines he had been beating around the bush with
the idea. When he finally spit out what had happened, Macduff
answered with questions of denial and kept asking him if all
of his family had been killed. Making sure that maybe Ross had
made a mistake and that maybe one was left. When he realized
what had happened, he sputtered lines of anger and at the end
of my passage he started showing signs of sorrow. The dominant emotion effect on the reader would probably be a mix of denial, anger and sorrow. The passage had such a variation in emotion that there is no way to truly put a single emotion on it. "My children too?" (247) and "And I must from thence? My wife killed too?" (250), these were a few questions of denial that Macduff asked Ross just seconds after hearing the fate of his family. "He has no children. All my pretty ones? Did you say "all"? O Hell-kite! All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?" (255-258). This quote was like the transition from anger to sorrow. At the beginning he's kind of angry at either Malcolm or Macbeth for not knowing how it feels to have children and how much they really mean when you have them. And at the end, he finally stops denying the truth and seems to settle down into sorrow. "'Dispute it like a man.' 'I shall do so, but I must also feel it like a man.'" (259-261). This is such a pivotal line in the scene because it's showing that you are still a man if you show true sorrow for things you love. The setting was in the middle of a conversation between Macduff and Malcolm so the passage fit in well with how it was written. This allowed for the anger and crazed lines he had, to make sense and not seem overdone or unusual. The actions were fitting of his emotions. When reading the passage, you can easily picture Macduff pacing around or falling to his knees in sorrow. There were no actions but the writing of the passage allowed you to imagine what Macduff might have done. The language of the passage was very exaggerated and loud highlighting denial and anger but became more calm highlighting sorrow. The passage's significance within the immediate context was pretty large. The passage was basically what gave Macduff that push to seek revenge. The passage created talk of revenge between Malcolm and Macduff. Its significance within the whole play was huge also. This event was the push Macduff needed to get revenge on Macbeth and eventually kill him. |
Alexis Smith |