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toc Macbeth Study Guide

Macbeth
// Key Quotes // 1.4.57: Macbeth’s first revelation of his dark ambition 1.7.1-27: Macbeth’s struggle and justification towards his actions 2.1.42-77: Macbeth’s famous speech about the dagger illusion that leads to Duncan’s murder 2.2.47-52: Speech about how Macbeth will “sleep no more” 3.1.51-77: Reveals his determination to kill Banquo and his wish to prevent Banquo’s sons to become kings 3.3.51-62: Speech about asking the nature to hide his evil ambition 5.3.21-33: Illustrates Macbeth’s fear and worry, implying how no one respects him as a king but there’s only dishonor and distrust 5.5.27-31: Life is nothing but acting, full of despair, life seems long and dreary but also short and quick. It depicts Macbeth’s confusion about life.


 * MacBeth is presented as the flawless protagonist who is valiant and loyal to his king as we hear about his victory in the beginning of Act 1. Yet he’s such an ambitious man that he eventually manipulates his goodness into evil and succumbs to his selfish desires. Despite such flaw, it’s evident that MacBeth struggles to commit murder and is conscious of his goodness when he reasons why he shouldn’t kill Duncan. Although he’s bold, he’s certainly not a decisive character. He needed Lady MacBeth’s persuasion to actually decide to murder Duncan. Without a doubt, he’s a good husband to his wife and loves her, which is partly why he eventually agreed with Lady MacBeth’s assassination plan. Thus, Macbeth is a dynamic character who continually faces the challenge of balancing between his goodness and his personal desires but in the end leans towards to fulfill his desires.


 * Yet MacBeth soon changes into a cruel tyranny. After Duncan’s death, he has crossed the Styx River. He can’t be good anymore. Macbeths falls into the trap of power and authority, and performs series of murders (Banquo, Macduff’s family) to maintain his status. He soon becomes the dominant dictator that everyone in Scotland fears and hates. He quickly loses his servants trust after he reveals his true nature during the incident with Banquo’s ghost during the feast. Scotland becomes miserable under Macbeth’s rule. In the end, Macbeth feels insecure and is confused about what he’s doing. He realizes how everyone turned their back against him and is left alone. However, it was too late of an epiphany.


 * Macbeth still depicts his courageous quality when he decides to fight against the English army and die at the battlefield, not cowardly staying safe in the castle. Some may feel sympathy and pity for Macbeth in the end. In fact some may claim that Macbeth is rather powerless of his decisions because he’s controlled by the witches. Is this true? Overall, Macbeth was an audacious, loyal and passionate warrior. Nevertheless, once he gained power, he turned into a cruel, merciless, uncontrollable tyrant. He succumbed to his ambitions, and his ambitions overtook his good nature. When Macbeth dies in the end, does he redeem any goodness or does he simply die as a tyrant? That’s for you to decide and argue.

William Chen
A brave and loyal fighter, Banquo’s descendent were prophesied as Kings of Scotland by the witches. Knowing that his son’s would not be able to success the throne, Macbeth began showing signs of concerns when he first asked Banquo if “you shall cleave to my [Macbeth] consent” (2.1.34); Macbeth needed to be sure that he is socially above Banquo so as to secure his seat as future King of Scotland. Banquo’s response, “but still keep My bosom franchise and allegiance clear” (2.1.39) highlighted one of Banquo’s notable qualities: royalty. If observed carefully throughout the play, the readers can find that regardless of what happened to the throne and how it happened, Banquo’s complete royalty always leans toward the crown. Although he does suspects Macbeth of stealing the throne, he never neglected to show respect and support for the king. At the beginning of Act 3, when Banquo indicated the dubiousness of the succession, he immediately hushed himself because he does not want to offend the King. The fact that Banquo questions the surrounding situations so frequently automatically makes Banquo the more cautious and wary character, which inevitably also means that Banquo is clever by not completely believing everything he sees. His intuitive sense sounded most remarkably when Banquo told Macbeth to be careful about the things he heard because it might turn around and “ betray’s In deepest consequence.” (1.3.139). Banquo’s insightful analysis accurately unfolds the ugly truth of relying too much on the witches’ information. As the readers all know that __Macbeth__, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy and ultimately, they will come to realize just how shockingly correct Banquo is. Banquo seemingly plays a role of Macbeth’s left hand man, he will always be “lesser than Macbeth” (1.3.69); his future will not be as promising as Macbeth’s and his reward from the king, a hug, is far less pleasing than that of Macbeth’s. In addition, Banquo is “lesser than Macbeth” in a way that his ambition is fairly limited and controlled compared to Macbeth’s roaring sea of desire. It can be interpreted that Macbeth has more in all the greed’s, luxuries, and ambition; whereas Banquo is lesser in all of the evil-driven necessities. The fact that Banquo always kept his head and heart straight acts as a foil to Macbeth; Banquo’s purpose as a major character of the play is to outline his difference with Macbeth and serve as a foil. Banquo does not lack anything Macbeth possesses— ambition, throne as future kings, royalty— but the question lies on who has more of each. -Serves as a foil and represent what Macbeth is not, which is why his ghost appearance haunted Macbeth so much. - The ghost also brings immense guilt and fear to Macbeth. -Banquo has ambitious thought but limits it in his actions. -Banquo’s righteousness and royalty lead to his death, which contributes to the tragic nature of the play
 * Banquo’s muderder happened in less than 3 full acts of the play, demonstrating __Macbeth__’s quick paced tempo that evokes the drama and suddenness of the plot’s development. Regardless of the condensed appearance of Banquo’s character in the play, his influence is lasting and compelling.**
 * Royalty:**
 * Cleverness:**
 * Good Hearted:**
 * Banquo- things to think about**

Bibliography Shakespeare’s //Macbeth// Activities and worksheet provided in class

The witches
Emily Lee

The three witches are only in a small portion of the play, in Act 1 scene 1&3, Act 3 scene 5 and Act 4 scene 1, however, they play an important role of the play, foreshadowing what is going to happen next and creating suspense. Although, the witches are portrayed as evil, strange beings, Shakespeare left their true nature unclear to the audience, not knowing if the witches are playing with lives by saying predictions to make them do evil or simply reporting their inevitable fate.

Main point to remember about the witches: ** They tell half-truths. ** To Macbeth: He will be Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. (1.3. 51-53) - In Act 1, the witches tell him that he will be King, but not how. Eventually he became both, however, he became King by committing a murder to kill King Duncan in his sleep. The witches prediction to him foreshadows Macbeth becoming King, however to the audience, there it brings tension to the play because the witches didn’t explain how Macbeth will become King and will Macbeth be a good king. Three Apparitions: An Armed Head (4. 1. 77), A bloody child (4. 1. 83) and a child crowned, with a tree in his hand (4. 1. 98) - An armed head tells Macbeth to beware Macduff. o Even though the apparition tells Macbeth to beware Macduff, it actually symbolizes Macbeth’s death. - Bloody child tells Macbeth that no man born from a woman’s womb can harm him. o This prediction gives Macbeth more confidence and tranquility because he didn’t think a man that didn’t born from a woman’s womb existed, however, he didn’t know that Macduff was actually born through C-section, so he died in the end. - Child crowned with a tree in his hand tells him that Macbeth won’t be overthrown unless the Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane. o This also added confidence to Macbeth, because he didn’t think its possible for the Birnam wood to just move to Dunsinane. This apparition symbolizes Malcolm’s army attacking by disguising themselves behind the trees. To Banquo: He will be father of kings. (1. 3. 70-71) - In Act 1, the witches also tell Banquo his fate of never becoming King but have sons that become Kings. Unlike Macbeth, Banquo is more skeptical and cautious.

The deceptiveness of appearances (include images of clothing)
One major theme throughout the play deals with the deceptiveness of appearances, specifically focusing on trust and betrayal. The very first evidence of this theme occurs in 1.3.114 when Macbeth questions, "Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" when he is pronounced Thane of Cawdor. This relates not only the theme of deception, but also introduces the use of clothing metaphors to highlight the theme. Then in 1.4.13, King Duncan comments, "There's no art/ To find the mind's construction in the face./ He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust." This quote further develops the idea of deception and how one cannot tell what another person is truly thinking. It also foreshadows Macbeth's betrayal of Duncan as Macbeth steps into the scene right after the king says these lines, while the audience knows already of the witches' predictions. Morever, on the night of Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to "Look like th' innocent flower,/ But be the serpend under 't." in 1.6.76. Again, this quote emphasizes the theme of deceptiveness and the idea that one can't tell what another person truly thinks or feels. In line 5.2.16, Caithness describes Macbeth as, "But for certain he cannot buckle his destempered cause in the belt of rule." This metaphor again illustrates how Macbeth is trying to be this king that he's not capable of being, and will never be by using clothing imagery to describe how Macbeth's tyranny does not fit his "belt buckle" role of king. In the same scene, Angus in 5.2.23 comments how "Now does he [Macbeth] feel his title/ Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe/ Upon a dwarfish thief." Here the audience again makes the connection between the clothing metaphors and the theme of deception. Shakespeare elogantly describes a picture of a huge robe hanging over and suffocating a small villain, who cannot bear to hold up the robe any longer, foreshadowing that Macbeth's rule is a false one and it will soon come to an end. The theme of deceptiveness of appearances pops up commonly through Macbeth; it is a major idea of the story that one cannot truly trust or confide in someone, for no one knows what that person is truly thinking. For Duncan, he trusts completely in Macbeth but ends up being slain by Macbeth's very hands. Also, Macbeth even deceives himself, as once he picks up the mantle of power, he soon finds that he cannot rule the kingdom as he is incapable. Shakespeare furthermore supports this theme by using imagery involving clothes that do not fit, emphasizing further that though Macbeth may wear the crown of King, inside he will never truly be King. -Howard

Violence and Tyranny (include images of disease and medicine)
Shao-Yan

- Throughout the play, as Macbeth slowly turns from king to tyrant, we can see that his actions also become increasingly violent. Thus, it can be said that tyranny and violence are interrelated in the play; as one grows stronger, so does the other. When Macbeth first kills Duncan, his first murder and act of violence in act 2 scene 1, he demonstrates huge remorse and guilt. As he becomes king, and the first hints of his tyranny appear, he decides to kill Banquo, and does so without persuasion from his wife, showing that his violence is starting to grow stronger. Finally, at the height of his tyranny, he orders servants to kill Macduff and his family without any hesitation, showing that violence has become almost second nature to him, that it no longer causes him any sense of remorse. - Act 4, Scene 2 - In this scene, Lady Macduff and Ross are discussing Macduff’s disappearance, which eventually leads to a discrete discussion about Scotland’s political situation. Ross says “But cruel are the times when we are traitors and do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor from what we fear, yet know not what we fear, but float upon a wild and violent sea”(4, ii, 22-25) This clearly describes Macbeth’s tyranny, since Ross describes that in the current time people are arrested and persecuted for crimes they aren’t aware of, and that people are fearful, yet they don’t know what they are scared of. This sense of insecurity and confusion is obviously due to Macbeth’s tyrannical rule, and so great the tyranny is that Ross even says that “I dare not speak much further”(4, ii, 21), in fear that Macbeth will find out and execute him. - In this scene, there is also a heavy use of bird imagery, especially through Lady Macduff’s dialogue. She states that “…The poor wren (the most diminutive of birds) will fight, her young ones in her nest, against the owl” (4, ii, 11-13). The owl in this quote is a symbol for Macbeth, the hunter and tyrant of Scotland. Where Macbeth was previously described as an eagle (1, ii, 39), a noble and courageous bird, he is now portrayed as an owl, a hunter in the night that preys on weak and innocent birds that protect their young. This shows an even further depth of Macbeth’s violent acts, since he purposely attacks and kills defenseless people, for no apparent reason at all. - This scene is also a great example of Macbeth’s tyranny and violence, for it shows his murderers pitilessly slaughtering Lady Macduff and her son. Though not really represented through words or quotes, the play directions show that Macduff’s son is first stabbed, and at the closing of the scene they chase the screaming Lady Macduff and kill her as well. This demonstrates Macbeth’s ruthlessness, because there really was no point in killing Lady Macduff or her son, but Macbeth does so anyways, for no reason. This scene also shows just how defenseless the people of Scotland are against Macbeth, and shows that Macbeth is very powerful, despite the cruel and twisted ways he is putting his power to use. This obvious abuse of power, along with the slaughtering of innocent and defenseless women and children, only exemplifies Macbeth’s tyranny and thirst for violence. - Act 5, Scene 1 - In the scene where the Doctor and the Gentlewoman witness Lady Macbeth sleepwalking, from the spectator’s perspective Lady Macbeth is obviously insane, or mentally ill. This plays along with the theme of disease in the play, since it shows that Lady Macbeth’s mind is deceased, the cause of her illness being her intense guilt over Duncan’s murder. When the doctor states that he cannot help Lady Macbeth, it shows that there really isn’t a cure or medicine for her guilt, and so her only reprieve is to kill herself, freeing herself of guilt. - Act 5, Scene 2 - In this scene, Macduff and Malcolm are planning the attack on Dunsinane Hill, when Caithness, a lord, says “Meet we th’ medicine of the sickly weal, And with him pour we in our country’s purge each drop of us.”(5, ii, 32-34) This shows that Scotland itself is plagued and ill, thanks to Macbeth’s tyrannical ruling, and since Macbeth is the cause and source of the illness, the only medicine for Scotland’s disease is his death. Scotland has grown weak during Macbeth's rule, and only by restoring a rightful heir to the throne, namely Malcolm, can Scotland's former glory and peace be restored.
 * Violence and Tyranny **
 * Disease and Medicine**

Bibliography 1. Shakespeare, William "Macbeth"

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Masculinity in Macbeth is explicitly and implicitly related to cruelty and bravery. The more bloodthirsty and violent a character is, the more manly the character is considered. This theme runs throughout the play, and is a dominating factor that develops the characters, especially Macbeth, and also advances the plot. Macbeth begins to mature in the play after he cruelly murders King Duncan. As Macbeth listens to Lady Macbeth’s conspiracy to kill Duncan, Macbeth is drawn to the idea of masculinity. He says, “I dare do all that may become a man” (1.7.51), stating that he will carry out immoral actions for masculinity. Lady Macbeth also provokes Macbeth’s masculinity by saying, “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (1.7.56). She tells Macbeth that she will not see Macbeth as a man if he doesn’t kill Duncan for his greater wealth. Macbeth is clearly unsatisfied with the murder of Duncan and commits another murder by sending murderers to kill Banquo. In this scene, he says, “We are men, my liege” (3.1.102), believing that he will become more masculine by committing another coldblooded crime. By aligning masculinity with cruelty, Macbeth commits many crimes that distill negativity upon his character by the audience. We see that Macbeth's tainted idea of masculinity ultimately leads to his demise when Macbeth is violently killed at the end of the play, a scene that juxtaposes with the opening war scene where Macbeth was the killer.=====

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Siward praised his son as masculine, not for his cruelty, but for his bravery. Analyzing his son’s wound in the chest, Siward deduced that his son was not murdered fleeing. He is very proudly says, “But like a man he died” (5.8.48).=====

Blood
Emily Hsu The symbol of blood changes throughout the play, corresponding to the changes in characters, atmosphere, and mood of the play. By using the imagery of blood, Shakespeare effectively shows the meaning behind each scene and transformation of Macbeth’s character. · The first symbol of blood came up at the beginning of the play when Duncan sees the injured sergeant and says, “What bloody man is that?” (1,2,1) The sergeant comes to describe the battle and how bravely Macbeth and Banquo fought—“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), /Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, /Which smoked with bloody execution, /Like valor’s minion, carved out his passage” (1,2, 18-21) à In these two quotations, the blood is a reference of honor and bravery. Because of Macbeth’s braveness in killing the enemy of Scotland in the battle, he gains King Duncan’s trust and praises. · The second symbol of blood appears before King Duncan’s murder. When Macbeth hallucinates about seeing a dagger before him and guides him to kill King Duncan, he says, “And on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, /Which was not so before. There’s no such thing./ it is the bloody business which informs/ Thus to mine eyes.” (2,1 58-61) à Unlike the symbolic of blood before, here the blood symbolizes treachery, murder, and the cause of ambition. The value of blood changes from positive to dark and evil. And it is because of Macbeth’s desire to dethrone, his personality changes from honest, noble to deceitful and treachery. · After Duncan’s death, Macbeth regrets what he has done and tries to wash the blood off his hands—“ Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand?” à here bloody symbolizes guilt, remorse. Macbeth not only realizes the severity of his crime, but also the starting point of never return from hell. · Next image of blood shows in Lady Macbeth’s confrontation scene to Macbeth when their hands are contaminated with blood after they murder Duncan. She persuades Macbeth to stop thinking about what he has done—“The sleeping and the dead/ Are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood/ That dears a painted devil. If he do bleed, / I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, /For it must seem their guilt” (2, 2, 69-73) à By using the imagery of blood, Shakespeare shows that Lady Macbeth is fearless and cruel over their crime. · Next imagery of blood appears in Act 4 scene 1 when the second apparition—a bloody child—shows and says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn /The power of man, for none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth” (4,1, 90-92) à The bloody child refers to Macduff’s birth. The imagery of blood represents the downfall of Macbeth and victory of Macduff. · In Act 5, the imagery of blood shows in Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene when she subconsciously reveals her feelings towards King Duncan’s murder—“Here’s the smell of blood still. All/ the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little/ hand. O, O, O!” (5,1 53-55) à Here blood symbolizes conscience, remorse, and horror. Because Lady Macbeth is so remorseful of her crime that she becomes mentally ill and cannot recovers from it. This imagery of blood is also used to show the true character of Lady Macbeth compare to the one before. · At the last scene, the imagery of blood comes up again when Macduff seeks vengeance from Macbeth for Scotland and his wife and children, he says, “I have no words; / My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain/ Than terms can give thee out.” (5, 8, 8-10) à The imagery of blood in this scene symbolizes vengeance, victory, and justice. After slaying Macbeth, Macduff gains the victory, rescues his homeland, and restores the justice for Scotland.

Sleep
Chris Germain

The patterns of imagery that depict sleep in Macbeth often coincide with other themes of natural order and light versus darkness. It also plays a supporting role to the image of blood, which all combined together depict the effects of guilt on the human soul.

Right from the beginning in Act 2, Shakespeare establishes sleep as one of the most natural and peaceful acts of nature. However, before the murder of Duncan, Macbeth notes how “Nature seems dead” and foreshadows the “wicked dreams”, or immoral acts of humans, coming to “abuse/The curtained sleep” (2.1.62-63). Evidence can be found in the violent nature of the weather and the sounds heard during that night.

Shortly after Macbeth kills Duncan and begins to regret his actions, the image of sleep is personified, because not only is the King been murdered that night, but also “Macbeth does murder sleep” (2.2.48). On the surface, sleep in this context represents Duncan; however, ‘sleep’ also symbolizes Macbeth’s future anticipation of guilt rendering him unable to sleep at night, and the foregoing of his soul to the devil. Ironically, Lady Macbeth dismisses her husband’s troubles by telling him: “You do unbend your noble strength to think/So brainsickly of things” (2.2 59-60), but as the audience later finds out, Macbeth actually becomes numb to the guilt, while Lady Macbeth is the one who suffers.

Act 5 opens with the Doctor and Gentlewoman discussing Lady Macbeth’s “slumb’ry agitation” (5.1.12) that begins to occur quite frequently. The doctor describes the phenomenon as “A great perturbation in nature” (5.1.10), which again relates the disruption of sleep to the disruption of natural order by immoral deeds. Lady Macbeth relives several key events during her sleepwalking, such as the murder of Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff’s family. Through the combined images of her disturbed sleep, blood, and darkness, for example when she mimics washing her hands yelling: “Out, damned spot, out, I say...Hell is murky”(5.1.37-38), it is clear that her guilt has caught up with her and for this reason she eventually chooses to take her own life.

11th Century Scotland & The Real Macbeth
Bubba Yee In 1034, when Malcolm II died, there was a succession in the MacAlpin Dynasty, which eventually led to a civil war in Scotland. Malcolm II had a daughter named Bethoc, who was also Duncan’s mother. Eventually, Duncan is crowned King. However, Macbeth challenged Duncan for the throne. Unlike what is portrayed in Shakespeare’s play, where Duncan is killed in his sleep, he was actually killed during a battle by Macbeth in 1040. Furthermore, Macbeth rules for 17 years and “he rules well” (History of Scotland), until Malcolm III, Duncan’s son, kills Macbeth in 1057, but Lulach, Macbeth’s stepson, takes position as King. Unfortunately, Malcolm III kills him too, and he finally claims position as King. As Malcolm Canmore ruled from 1057 to 1093, Scotland was brought into closer connection with Western Europe. The Norman Conquest of England, in 1066, made English-speaking people of Lothian to obey a Celtic King instead of William of Normandy. Around 1068, when Malcolm married Margaret, sister to the King of England, after his former wife died, he automatically allied the English Royal House. He married Margaret during his raid, and engaged her to try to rescue Northern England from the Normans. In 1072, the Conqueror came to Abernethy to avenge Malcolm’s earlier raid, and Malcolm surrendered his son, Duncan, as a hostage for peace. Malcolm renewed the Treaty of Abernethy after several raids of Northern England, and after the death of the Conqueror. William II then started to invade many of Malcolm’s lands. When Malcolm led an army into Northumberland, he was defeated and slain, along with his son Edward. Malcolm’s wife Margaret died in Edinburgh Castle. Macbeth was married to Kenneth III’s granddaughter Gruoch, which helped him a lot in advancing to the throne. Macbeth in reality was very different from that of Shakespeare’s //Macbeth//. First, as mentioned above, he kills Duncan I during a war, not during his sleep. Secondly, as also mentioned above, he ruled evenly, and “impos[ed] law[s] and order[s] and encourage[ed] Christianity” (BBC); he wasn’t a tyrant who put the country under famine and chaos. Lastly, he was a brave leader who traveled to England quite often, not like the coward mentioned in the play. "BBC - History - Historic Figures: Macbeth (c.1005 - 1057)." //BBC - Homepage//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. . "HISTORY OF SCOTLAND." //HistoryWorld - History and Timelines//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. . "Scotland in the 11th Century - King Malcolm Canmore." //A Free Online History of Scotland//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. .

King James's influence on the play
Many of Shakespeare’s works came out during the “Golden Age” of rule under King James I of England or King James IV of Scotland. First off, Shakespeare wrote Banquo as an almost incorruptible character who has almost no moral qualms as opposed to Holinshed's //Chronicles,// in which Banquo helps kill King Duncan. The ghosts, whom Macbeth sees, are symbolic of King James’s heritage. In addition, King James was especially interested in witchcraft and the effect it had on humans. King James wrote a book in 1597 called //Daemonologie,// which was about witches. Shakespeare’s //Macbeth// has witches in it who predict the play and corrupt Macbeth. Therefore it can be argued that the tragedy of Macbeth is caused by witchcraft. Shakespeare’s plays are normally about human psychology, but by adding witchcraft in, he is essentially sucking up to King James. In conclusion, King James influenced the plot of //Macbeth// with his interest of witchcraft and for just being king at the time //Macbeth// was written. Shakespeare wanted to please the most important person of his audience, and at that time, would be King James. Works Cited "James I of England." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. . "Macbeth." //Shmoop: Study Guides & Teacher Resources//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. . "Macbeth." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. . = = Nafisah Khan
 * Lady Macbeth**
 * **General Characteristics**
 * She changes from a character that is power hungry and doesn’t feel guilt to someone whose guilt makes her kill herself
 * She is dynamic
 * Beginning: “go get some water and wash this filthy witness from your hands”
 * She can wash her hands of guilt
 * Strong, ruthless, ambitious
 * End: “Out, damned spot, out I say! One. Two.”
 * She cant wash her hands of guilt
 * Sensitive and weak
 * **Relationship with Macbeth**
 * Lady Macbeth, at the beginning tells Macbeth what to do and convinces him to kill Duncan
 * “Go, carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood.”
 * She is ordering him to do something
 * But when Macbeth becomes king there relationship changes and he gains power
 * “say to the King I would attend his leisure for a few words”
 * She has to ask for permission to speak to him
 * **Role in themes:**
 * Psychological affects of guilt
 * She has dreams, in which she relives the murders her husband did and that she participated in.
 * This leads to her committing suicide.
 * Blood symbolizes guilt
 * “Out, damned spot, out I say! One. Two.”
 * She is hallucinating
 * Corrupting power of ambition
 * She promoted Macbeth killing Duncan in order for him to become king
 * “When you durst do it, then you were a man.”
 * She tells Macbeth that he isn’t a man until he kills Duncan
 * This lead to the corruption of Macbeth because once he got a taste of power he wanted to keep it and continued killing
 * Deceptiveness of appearances
 * In Act 2. Scene 3, Lady Macbeth seems like an innocent, charming and hospitable woman but little does everyone know she helped plot the murder of their king.
 * Macduff: “the repetition in a woman’s ear would murder as it fell”
 * This is also ironic
 * **Examples of Irony:**
 * “These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad.”
 * This is ironic because she is the one that goes crazy in Act 5.
 * “The repetition in a woman’s ear would murder as it fell”
 * Macduff thinks that she cant hear about what went on with the murder of Duncan but Lady Macbeth was involved
 * Witchcraft in Shakespeare's Time**

The idea of witchcraft takes a strong presence throughout Macbeth. Kicking off the play, the three witches enter the scene with plans on meeting Macbeth. Their prophecies are what pushed Macbeth and Lady Macbeth the terrible crimes in order to gain power. Shakespeare didn’t conjure the idea of Witches on his own. During this time period, beliefs in the supernatural were real, and although it is crazy to think of, many women during this period were accused of witchcraft. Much like assassins plot against presidents, James I was paranoid he was a subject of plot by three Scottish witches. Terrified, he claimed that the witches were planning on shipwrecking him by stirring up storms. “Witches,” at this time, were dealt as criminals for their wrongdoings, and mainly were hanged as punishment. The women who were accused of witchcraft were deeply frowned upon, avoided, and thought of as associating with the devil and evil spirits. The “weird women” in Shakespeare are suspected to be the source of all evil, with their prophecies, potions, and appearances. Most likely, if Macbeth never met these awful hags, he would have never commited the crimes that he did. Real stories about witchcraft during this time period have been incorporated into Macbeth’s story. Here are some examples from the text that allow for support for this theory. · The three witches o James the I had a fear that he was being plotted against by three Scottish wishes, hence, ‘the three weird women’ · Plotting Revenge through causing storms o James the I had the belief that witches were trying to conjure storms while he was sailing, and this also occurs in Macbeth o The first witch wants to plot against a woman and her husband by causing a storm while the husband is at Sea o Act 1 Scene 3 **First Witch** I myself have all the other, And the very ports they blow, All the quarters that they know I’ th’ shipman’s card. I’ll drain him dry as hay Sleep shall neither night nor day Hang upon his penthouse lid. He shall live a man forbid. · Familiars o Familiars were supernatural entities that witches used for assisting witches in their practice of evil o Act 1 Scene 1 “**First Witch** I come, Graymalkin **Second Witch** Paddock calls.” -The names of their familiars · Appearance of Witches o Accused witches in Shakespeares time period were the old women with missing teeth, slipping appearances, facial hair, etc. o Act 1 Scene 3 **Banquo** What are these, So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth And yet are on ‘t? –Live you? Or are you aught That man may question? You seem to understand me By each at once her choppy finger laying Upon her skinny lips, You should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so. · During the time period of Shakespeare, Witches often took on the appearance of disgusting characters o Act 1 Scene 1 **First Witch** Where has though been, sister? **Second Witch** Killing Swine o Act 4 Scene 1 **Third Witch** …gall of goat and slips of yew · Magic through prophecies and potions o The witches predict: - Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor - Macbeth will become King - Banquo’s children will become King - “Beware Macduff” - A child of woman can not harm Macbeth - Macbeth will not be overthrown until Birnam Wood moves to Dinsinane. o Act 4 Scene 1 **ALL** Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldrun bubble. Works Cited: [] [] [] []

Good & Evil Alberto Latorre Good and evil is an on running theme throughout the play “at the heart of Macbeth” (Hubpages). Some example from the play that lets us see this are; the witches set this tone at the very beginning of the play when they say “Fair is foul and foul is fair” (Hubpages). This means that good and evil exist side by side and it can be difficult sometimes to tell which is which. ‘The fair face may hide the foul heart’ this quote shows us how it can be hard to distinguish between good and evil sometimes. ‘Duncan says of the first Thane of Cawdor’, “There is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face”. That quote takes more of a part in the theme of equivocation but still relates in the sense that just because you can see a mask it doesn’t mean its going to have the same face when you take it off. One question I asked myself is, “Are the witches’ intentions towards Macbeth in the beginning foul or fair? Flighty02, By. "Macbeth Themes - Good And Evil." //HubPages//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. .