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Act I, Scene 1
Act I, Scene 2
The scene is set on a
battlefield where Macbeths
army has been fighting the
army of the traitor
Macdonwald.
The King, Duncan, asks a
brave soldier to comment on
the course of the battle. This
sergeant has proved his valor
by fighting to save the
Kings son, Malcolm, from
capture by the rebel
Macdonwalds forces.
Act I, Scene 2,
cont.
Act I, Scene 2,
cont.
Act I, Scene 2,
cont.
Act I, Scene 3
Act I, Scene 4
The King says to Macbeth that there is no way he can
fully repay him both for helping to save his eldest son
Malcolm from capture and for driving-off the traitors
Macdonwald and Cawdor.
Duncan then announces that he has an important
announcement to make regarding an official declaration
as to who will inherit his throne.
Could it be?......
Yes! Malcolm has been named Prince of Cumberland
and next in line to the throne! Why would Macbeth have
any hopes that he would be elevated even ahead of the
Kings own son? What is Macbeths reaction to this
announcement?
Freytags Triangle
In Technique of the Drama (1863), Gustav Freytag outlined what he
considered to be the most successful structure for a play, based on the
writings of Aristotle, Shakespeare, and other he considered to be
outstanding playwrights. Briefly, Freytag believed the action of the play
could be organized in the shape of a triangle, stressing that there should
be five distinct parts: http://www.english.uiuc.edu/lit_resources/english%20102/miscellaneous/freytag.htm
3. Climax
2. Complication
1. Introduction
(exposition)
4. Falling action
5. Conclusion
(dnoument)
Macbeth
Act I, Scene 5
Act I, Scene 6
Duncan arrives at Macbeths castle (Inverness) and comments on its
pleasantness and good vibe. Dramatic Irony.
Dramatic Irony happens when the audience knows more about what is
going on in a drama/comedy than one or more of the characters
know. Dramatic irony is a staple of horror movies. we the
audience know that the psycho-killer is hiding with his machete in
the basement where the cute girl and her obnoxious boyfriend are
about to go make-out.
Lady Macbeth welcomes him cordially, giving no hint of her real
intentions.
Duncan remarks on how happy he is to be with Macbeth and his
wife: I love him greatly, and will continue to show him favor.
Act I, Scene 7
Macbeths first soliloquy: If it were done when it is done, then it is
better it were done quickly.
He is here in double-proof, Macbeth says, reminding us that
Duncan is not just Macbeths sovereign, but his cousin as well.
In the same speech, Macbeth comments that as Duncans host he
should lock the door against any murderer not bear the knife
himself. Macbeth continues to observe that Duncan has been a good
and benevolent king, not worthy of any treachery against him.
Macbeth decides that he and his wife will make no more plots
against Duncan: We will proceed no further in this business.
She calls him a wuss. When you dared to do the deed, then you
were a man now that [our opportunity] has presented itself you
[are] impotent. [1, 7, 50ff.]
She also reminds Macbeth that had she promised so, she would
dash the brains out of a baby even in the act of nursing the infant.
Act 2, Scene 1
Act 2, Scene 2
Macbeth murders the King while his guards are drunk
asleep.
Lady Macbeth observes that she would have done the
deed herself If Duncan hadnt looked so much like
[her] father as he slept. (She has a weakness, but acts
tough this is a borrowed robe example).
Macbeth botches the job. He returns to his chamber
bloody and with the murder weapons, which he was
supposed to plant on the guards.
Lady Macbeth, after chastising her husband as a weakwilled creature, plants the dagger and returns now
just as bloody as her husband.
Remember: 1. Macbeth has murdered sleep.
2. Can all great Neptunes ocean wash
this blood from off my hand?
Act 2, Scene 3
In most of his tragedies, Shakespeare balances scenes of
intense drama or action with lighter scenes which
often contain crude, offensive humor. Macbeth is no
different. Act 2, scene 3 immediately follows Duncans
murder and Macbeth and Lady Macbeths unexpected(?)
admission that they feel guilt. This scene is commonly
called the porter scene.
The persistent knocking of Macduff and Lennox (two of
Duncans very loyal thanes) wakens the castles porter,
who shuffles toward the gate still a little drunk from
the night before to admit the knocker.
Why does the porter take so long to open the gate?
Act 2, Scene 4
Outside Macbeths castle, an Old Man and Ross
(another thane loyal to Duncan) talk of the strange
occurrences of the night before. The heavens [were]
troubled by mens sins, punishing this bloody world.
Besides the nights storminess, the two also observed
that the sun was dark snuffed out by the darkness of
night and that Duncans beautiful and well-bred
horses killd each other and became cannibals.
Macduff and Ross seem to agree that Malcolm and
Donalbains quick departure from Scotland makes them
look guilty.
Macbeth, says Ross, is in Scone for his coronation.
Macduff makes it clear that he has no intention of
attending.
Act 3, Scene 1
Macbeth invites Banquo to be the guest of honor at a
feast. Banquo says he will attend he has been ordered
to, after all, but that hell be a few minutes late. He
wants to go riding with his son, Fleance.
Macbeths 3rd soliloquy:
To be king is nothing but to be safely kingMy
immortal soul I have given to the devil to make the
children of Banquo kings!
By convincing them that Banquo is the cause of their
misfortunes, Macbeth persuades two seedy characters to
assassinate Banquo and Fleance in the evening as they
return to the castle for the feast.
Act 3, Scene 2
Like her husband does, Lady Macbeth says (to herself)
that We gain nothing and sacrifice everything when we
get what we want without achieving happiness.
Lady M notices that her husband is upset and
preoccupied. She presumes that he is still distracted by
Duncans murder. He tells her that he has something
awful and infamous planned but will not reveal any
other details of his plan to murder Banquo.
Could Macbeths distraction and upsetment be that he is
not comfortable with having hired men do his own dirty
work? Could he be upset that he has chosen a cowards
way to kill his once-best friend?
Act 3, Scene 3
Banquos murder.
Fleance escapes!
Who is the third murderer? If its Macbeth, why
dont the other two assassins recognize him?
Could it be that hes in disguise? Remember:
Borrowed robes. Could Macbeth be disguised
(i.e. wearing borrowed robes) so that the other
two guys dont spot him?
Act 3, Scene 4
Act 3, Scene 5
Act 3, Scene 6
I, vi, 1-28: If it were done when tis done, then twere well it were
done quickly.
II, I, 33- 63: Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle
toward my hand?
III, 1, 48-72: To be thus [king] is nothing, but to be safely thus
Act 4, Scene 1
Macbeths returns to the witches and demands more
information. They agree to reveal to him three
apparitions:
1. A helmeted head. This apparition warns: Beware
Macduff; beware the Thane of Fife.
2. A bloody baby. The second illusion delivers this
warning: Macbeth cannot be harmed by any man
born of woman.
3. A crowned child holding the branch of a tree. This
third apparition promises that Macbeth will not be
defeated until Birnam Wood (a forest near his castle)
comes to Dunsinane hill (the hill on which Macbeths
castle is built).
Act 4, Scene 2
Act 4, Scene 3
Macduff meets with Malcolm in England. Malcolm
confides in Macduff that he (Malcolm) is lustful and
greedy. Malcolm wonders if Macduff could support
his right to the throne knowing that his evils would
make Macbeth look white as snow and innocent as
a lamb.
At first, Macduff reassures Malcolm, suggesting that no
one can be as evil as Macbeth has been in his short
reign. Soon, though, Macduff admits that not only is
Malcolm not fit to be king, hes not fit to live! (103-4)
Malcolm confesses that he was only testing Macduffs
loyalty. Malcolm is pleased that Macduff has shown
himself to be loyal to Scotland, NOT JUST to
whoever happens to be on Scotlands throne.
Act 5, Scene 1
Lady Macbeths maid has summoned a doctor to try to
cure Lady Macbeth of sleepwalking. The doctor
observes that Lady Macbeths seeming wakefulness
but absolute unawareness of anything happening
around her is quite unnatural (Remember: Macbeth
has murdered sleep II, ii, 35).
Lady Macbeth mentions the murders of Duncan, Banquo,
and Macduff. All the while she scrubs her hands,
trying to wash away imaginary blood that her guilt
causes her to see. Out, damned spot!( V, i, 27). This
reminds us of what Macbeth says in Act II (Can all
great Neptunes ocean wash [Duncans blood] from
my hands? (ii, 58-9). Lady Macbeth replies
(ironically) that A little water will clear us of this
[bloody] deed. (II, ii, 66-7).
Act 5, Scene 2
Act 5, Scene 3
Act 5, Scene 4
Act 5, Scene 5
Act 5, Scene 6
Act 5, Scene 7
Act 5, Scene 8