7.+Macbeth

Directions: your group is responsible for compiling and creating responses to all sections and will be graded on the completeness and accuracy of the information provided. In addition, your response must include material covered in class, not information "cut and pasted" from on-line study guides. Assignment is worth 100 points. Remember, you are helping your classmates by providing a complete response.

1) Plot Summary (no more than 250 words please):

King Duncan hears the news that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated two separate invading armies. Macbeth gets named thane of Cawdor (prophesied by witches).

Lady Macbeth desires the kingship for him and wants him to murder Duncan in order to obtain it. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to get Duncan’s two chamberlains drunk. While Duncan is asleep, Macbeth stabs him. Macbeth kills the chamberlains and easily assumes the kingship.

Macbeth hires a group of murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. At the feast that night, Banquo’s ghost visits Macbeth.

When news of his family’s execution reaches Macduff in England, he is stricken with grief and vows revenge. Lady Macbeth becomes plagued with fits of sleepwalking in which she is upset about what she believes to be bloodstains on her hands. Before Macbeth’s opponents arrive, Macbeth receives news that she has killed herself.

In the battle, the English forces gradually overwhelm Macbeth’s army and castle. On the battlefield, Macbeth encounters Macduff. Though he realizes that he is doomed, Macbeth continues to fight until Macduff kills and beheads him. Malcolm, now the king of Scotland, declares his benevolent intentions for the country and invites all to see him crowned at Scone.

2) Major Characters, Description, and Relationships:

//**Macbeth**// - Macbeth was a Scottish general and the thane of Glamis whose persistence to try and over rule fate ultimately led him to his downfall. He was a brace soldier and a powerful man, but he became easily tempted by his wife (Lady Macbeth) to lead him into murder to fulfill his ambitions to become King (taking down King Ducan). Lady Macbeth drives her husband to actually commit the murder by questioning his manly hood. When Macbeth commits the act of murder and is crowned king of Scotland, he embarks on more killings; some may call it a 'killing spree'. Macbeth lacks the skills necessary to rule, because he results every problem back to violence and/or murder. We see through Macbeth's interaction with the three witches he's ignorance and hubris because he believes that no-one can hurt him, and in a sense, believes he is invincible. **//The Three Witches//** - (Referred to as: The Weird Sisters) the three witches were “black and midnight hags” who plot mischief against Macbeth using charms, spells, and prophecies. They 'egg' Macbeth on so to speak. Their predictions prompt him to murder King Duncan, to order the deaths of Banquo and his son, and to blindly believe in his own immortality. The witches’ resemble more closely to masculinity due to their beards and bizarre potions. The reader is never truly clear on any of the three witches true identity. It seems that they take pleasure in using their knowledge to toy with people’s emotions and essentially, their lives. Some say the witches were more of a driving force to persuade Macbeth to commit the murder than his own wife, because the witches had their 'predictions'. Shakespeare creates the three witches' character to be set well outside the limits of human comprehension.
 * //Lady Macbeth// - ** Lady Macbeth was a truly ambitious woman who would do (and did) anything for power and position among the people of Scotland. She was definitely a powerful force to persuade her husband to kill King Ducan. In the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth held the 'masculine role' among the couple - some even say her character is viewed as "un-sexed". At first, she was more ruthless and ambitions than her husband. She wanted to do whatever it took for her husband to seize the crown (it was actually her idea at first). However, after Macbeth killed his first victim, he just kept going and going to essentially wipe out anyone who could potentially get in his way and Lady Macbeth did not approve of this. Macbeth took matters into his own hands after his first murder, and Lady Macbeth was not in control anymore (it's almost as if they switched roles). He did not discuss his thoughts, nor actions with her (i.e. killing the guards). Macbeth however was not the only one to fall into guilt. After Lady Macbeth's conicence arised, she also fells into guilt. By the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is so guiltful that she ended up sleepwalking through the castle, desperately trying to wash away an invisible bloodstain.This guilt ultimately leads her to her downfall by eventually committing suicide.
 * //Banquo//** - Banquo was a brave and noble general. According to the witches, he's children will inherit the Scottish throne. Banquo has ambitious thoughts, but he does not translate those thoughts into action (like Macbeth does). It seems that Banquo and Macbeth foil one another. Banquo is the 'path' that Macbeth did not take. Banquo let fate handle each day for him, Macbeth did not. Banquo was an honest person, who wanted to do the right things for his people; Macbeth (obviously) did not. It is Banquo's ghost that haunts Macbeth and reminds him that he did not emulate Bangquo's reaction to the witches' prophecy (born of a C section). Banquo's ghost is one of the main truths to Macbeth that he is not invincible.
 * //King Ducan//** - Was the "good king" of Scotland that is until Macbeth took his life for his own guilty pleasure to become king. Ducan was the victim in this crime, he was said to be a great king. King Ducan symbolizes Macbeth's crime, and also the destruction of the order in Scotland. King Ducan was an innocent soul who's admiration of his power led him to be killed by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

//**Macduff**// - A Scottish nobleman who was on a mission to place the rightful King (Malcolm) on the throne. He became a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth and place order back into Scotland again. Macduff desires vengeance for Macbeth's murder of Macduff's young son and wife. 3) Literary Terms discussed in class (including a brief definition and how they relate to the text):

Symbolism: Is using one thing to represent another. Symbolism is a huge part of the play Macbeth. Shakespear uses the symbols to display a greater meaning in the story. For example he uses blood to show both guilt in the murdering parties, and the violence of the act itself. Shakespear also uses the symbol of weather in the play. When Duncan is murdered it is storming and night. The night and day do not cooperate later in the story as nature changes from good to evil

Foil: When two characters are compared to show the differances of the characters. There are many foils in the story of Macbeth, Macbeth and the Thane of Cawdor are foils at the beggining because while Macbeth is a loyal thane, the thane of Cawdor has turned traitor. Later Macbether and Banquo because Banquo remains loyal whilst Macbeth plans to kill the king. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are foils twice, at first because he is unwilling to kill the king and she wants to, and later because she feels guilty and he gets worse. Finally Macbeth and Macduff are foils because Macbeth kills the king and Macduff remained loyal and goes after Macbeth.

Irony: When something unexpected occurs. The whole story is ironic in that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth go through all of the trouble to kill the king and take the thrown but when they accomplish the task, it is nothing like they had hoped. They simply feel worse and worse until finally they die unhappy and alone.

Metaphor: A comparison without a connecting word. Metaphors are used frequently throughout the book, one of the best examples coming when Lady Macbeth is trying to convince Macbeth to commit murder and says "Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it". Here she is telling him to be cruel, but make people think he is the good guy so they will not suspect his guilt.

Foreshadowing: Giving a glimpse of the future to the characters and audience. Forshadowing is prominent in the scenes with the weird sisters. They make several predictions throughout the book including Macbeth's rise and fall. These events all come true as they predicted though the predictions are well disguised and clever so as not to give anything away.

Imagery: The detail in the story describing the scenes and characters. Macbeth is rich in detail, entire scenes are thoroughly described such as the night of Duncan's murder where the weather, and castle are made to look and feel unnatural with a storm. Also the imagery after the murder of mousing owls killing hawks show that things have become unnatural in the kingdom. Also the many clothing referances such as "why do you dress me in borrowed robes", creates an image of Macbether being not quite right for the position

Soliloquy: A quote said by one character to reflect his/her feelings but cannot be heard by any other chacters. The soliloquy is used by macbeth frequently as a means of portraying his feelings and thoughts to the audience. Since it is a play and meant to be performed, we are not given a look into his thought process through reading, so he must vocalize his thoughts so that no other characters can hear him, thus the soliloquy

Aside: When one character speaks and only one or several of the characters on stage can hear. The aside is used on occasion such as Macbether talking to Banquo and Donalbane talking to Malcolm. This is meant like a whisper to allow one character to talk to anotther, but since the characters must be loud enough for the audience to hear, the aside is used.

4) How has the writer created meaning? In other words, what choices has he/she made in plot structure, point of view, character, setting, tone, style and/or symbol in order to convey meaning?:

Shakespeare uses much in his plot to convey the meaning that ill gotten gains will not help one to prosper. He uses the nature of the world to show that things are not right when Duncan is killed. Night and day are flipping and birds are attacking other birds and horses are eating horses. These refelct a change in nature and the change in nature reflects an upset world because Duncan was killed. Also the setting where, Scotland is dying under the unrightful king, England is flourishing under James, the rightful heir to their thrown. Also the whole plot of the story reflects this point, the unrightful king Macbeth suffers the thrown even though it is not his to take and by the end he suffers unhappiness and death. Meanwhile the loyal thane Banquo is killed, but his line will take over the line of Kings for generations. The symbols of blood also reflect the guilt and further the feeling that the end does not justify the means because the blood and guilt are ever present and undying on their minds. (i'm sorry this is a little late, i was finishing my outline for the sgp)

5) Themes/Motifs(at least 4):


 * Masculinity**

The theme of masculinity is most clearly present when Lady Macbeth calls Macbeth’s manhood into question when trying to convince him to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth essentially takes on the role of the man in their “household” because she demonstrates fearlessness and a willingness to kill to achieve personal gains. This aggressiveness is usually symbolic of masculinity. Macbeth demonstrates a more passive and apprehensive attitude, which traditionally is more feminine.

Another theme that is prevalent in the work is cruelty. The level of involvement and the level of cruelty in the work switches roles between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as the work goes on. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth is much more cruel and terrible, while Macbeth is a little more reserved. By the end of the work, Macbeth is uncontrollably cruel, by killing everyone who he thought would get in his way of being king. And Lady Macbeth, before she died, was grief stricken and basically harmless. She slept walk and pretended to continue to wash the blood off her hands that was not really there.
 * Cruelty**

The motif of a prophesized future is also present in the work. The Weird sisters throughout the work display a deeper knowledge of what lies ahead for the characters in the story. For Macbeth, they predict his rise to power, but the also predict his downfall. Their last prophesies for Macbeth are one’s with an underlying meaning. The prophesy about “The power of man, for none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth.” (Act IV, Scene I, Lines, 82-83). Macbeth believed he was safe because every person on Earth was born from women. What he did not know was that his killer, MacDuff was given birth by Cesarean Section and not from the womb of a women. The other prophesy, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until/Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/Shall come against him.” (Act IV, Scene I, Lines 96-98). Macbeth thought that the witches meant by the time the trees from the woods grew to his castle he would be safe. What really happened was when Malcolm and MacDuff came to the castle covered in tree branches from Great Birnam Wood to attack Macbeth. These prophecies made by the Weird Sisters are a big part of the play and how his rise and fall from power are set up.
 * Prophesy**

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are frequently reminded throughout the play of their guilt and accountability of all the deaths that occurred. Before he is about to kill Duncan, Macbeth sees a flying dagger that is pointing toward Duncan’s chamber. The dagger represented the course Macbeth was about to take by killing Duncan. Macbeth is later reminded of his friend’s, Banquo’s death by seeing a hallucination of him at a feast. Macbeth is being constantly reminded that he murdered a good friend. At the end of the play, Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk dreaming that her hands are stained with blood, and no matter how hard she tries she cannot wash it away. All of the hallucinations are signs of their guilt.
 * Hallucinations**

6) Quotes from the text that capture major themes (at least 3):

1.) **Masculinity**: "What beast was 't, then,/That made you break this enterprise to me?/ When you durst do it, then you were a man;/ And to be more than what you were, you would/Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place/Did then adhere, and yet you would make both./ They have made themselves, and that their fitness now/ Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know/ How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me./ I would, while it was smiling in my face,/ Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums/ And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you/ Have done to this." (Act I, Scene vii, Lines 47-59) **This quote is Lady Macbeth asking Macbeth what kind of man he is if he does not go through with the murder of Duncan.**


 * 2.) Cruelty:  "Now, if you have a station in the file,/ Not i' th' worst rank of manhood, say 't,/ And I will put that business in your bosoms,/ Whose execution takes your enemy off,/ Grapples you to the heart and love of us,/ Who wear our health but sickly in his life,/ Which in his death were perfect." (Act III, Scene I, Lines 104-110) ****Macbeth is stating that as long as Banquo is alive, he is sick, and he will be healthy again when Banquo is dead. **

3.) **Hallucinations: **"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One, two. Why, then, 'tis time to do 't. Hell is/ murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows/ it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the/ old man to have had so much blood in him." (Act 5, Scene I, Lines 25-31) **This is when Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and is trying to remove the blood off her hands that is not really there. **

7) Interpretive Questions (at least 3):


 * 1).** An important theme in //Macbeth// is the relationship between gender and power, particularly the idea of masculinity. What are these values, and how do various characters embody them? How does Shakespeare subvert his characters’ perception of gender roles?


 * 2).** Discuss the role that blood plays in //Macbeth,// particularly immediately following Duncan’s murder and late in the play. What does it symbolize for Macbeth and his wife?


 * 3).** One of the important themes in //Macbeth// is the idea of moral authority that some kings do not care about the people, but just the fact that they are in power. What particular characteristics make someone a positive leader and/or role model? What makes Duncan a good king? What makes Macbeth a tyrant?


 * 4).** Reflect upon Macbeth’s visions and hallucinations. What role do they play in the development of his character?

8) Historical/Social/Philosopical Influences on text (include relevant author biography):

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 to a successful middle-class glove-maker in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He attended grammar school, but had no other formal education. In 1582 he married an older woman, Anne Hathaway, and had three children with her. Around 1590 he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright. Public and critical acclaim quickly followed, and Shakespeare eventually became the most popular playwright in England and part-owner of the Globe Theater. Wealthy and renowned, Shakespeare retired to Stratford and died in 1616 at the age of fifty-two.

Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy. It was most likely written in 1606. Macbeth most clearly reflects the playwright’s close relationship with James I. In focusing on Macbeth, a figure from Scottish history, Shakespeare paid homage to his king’s Scottish lineage. Additionally, the witches’ prophecy that Banquo will found a line of kings is a clear nod to James’s family’s claim to have descended from the historical Banquo.

Macbeth is not Shakespeare’s most complex play, but it is certainly one of his most powerful and emotionally intense. Whereas Shakespeare’s other major tragedies, such as Hamlet and Othello, fastidiously explore the intellectual predicaments faced by their subjects and the fine nuances of their subjects’ characters, Macbeth tumbles madly from its opening to its conclusion. It is a sharp, jagged sketch of theme and character; as such, it has shocked and fascinated audiences for nearly four hundred years.