MacBeth

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act?

A: They are planning on meeting with Macbeth.

Q: What does the Captain report about the battle to Duncan?

A: He reports that Macbeth has fought bravely and has defeated the enemy.

Q: What title is given to Macbeth for bravery in the battle?

A: Thane of Cawdor.

Q: How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle?

A: They greet him as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and as future King.

Q: What news is brought by Ross and Angus?

A: News that Macbeth has gained the title of Thane of Cawdor.

Q: What happens that causes Macbeth to recalculate his ease of becoming king?
A: Malcolm becomes the Prince of Cumberland.

Q: What has Lady Macbeth schemed to do to the King?

A: She has schemed to have Macbeth murder the king while he is sleeping.

Q: Why does the King come to Macbeth's castle?

A: To be the new Thane of Cawdor's guest and to congratulate Macbeth over
dinner.
How guilty does Macbeth feel after committing the murder?

What does Macbeth wish the knocking could do?

He wishes that it would wake Duncan from death.

What is the first reaction to the King's death and whose is it?
The reaction from Macduff is great horror, almost unconceivable horror.

What does Macbeth do to the supposed murderers and why?

He kills them in fury. He claims that in his great fury he killed them without
thinking.

Why do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee?

They suspect that Macbeth murdered the King and fear that they may be the
next to be killed.

Why does Macbeth have Banquo killed?

Macbeth fears that Banquo's children will end up with the throne and he
doesn't want that to happen.

Why does Macbeth hire murderers to kill Banquo?

He is already guilty enough from killing Duncan and doesn't want to have
more guilt by killing his friend Banquo.

How does Macbeth feel with his new found power?

He is very insecure about having one of his enemies take it from him.

What happens when the murderers try to kill Banquo and his son?
They kill Banquo but let his son Fleance escape.

What does the ghost of Banquo do to Macbeth's paranoia?

It makes him completely insane. He knows that he can never be free of the
guilt connected with the murders of his friends.

How does Lady Macbeth make her husband feel better after seeing the ghost?
She attempts to get him to go to sleep.

What three things does Macbeth learn from the witches and apparitions and
how does he react to them?
1. He should fear Macduff, he is thankful for the warning.
2. He shouldn't fear any man born of a woman, he rethinks his views on
Macduff.
3. Nothing will affect his reign until Birnam Wood moves, he knows that a forest
can't get up and move so he is very secure in the fact that he will reign until he
dies of natural causes.
How does Macbeth react to Macduff's departure?
He decides that he will destroy all that Macduff has so that he won't be
threatened by any of Macbeth's kin.

How does Macduff react to the news that his family has been slaughtered?
He regrets leaving them and not warning them. He feels that he should have
been there to defend them.

What action is taken by Macduff and Malcolm?

They decide that now is the best time to go to battle with Macbeth and they
make moves towards ordering the army to move out.

What significance does the doctor have?

He sees and hears the confession of Lady Macbeth while he is trying to diagnose
her condition.

Why won't the doctor or the gentlewoman tell anyone what they have seen or
heard?
They fear the wrath of Macbeth. If he would find out that they know about the
murder of Duncan he would surely kill them very quickly.

What is Macbeth's current psychological condition?

He is nearing insanity. He finally believes all the prophesies and knows that he is
going to eventually lose the throne.

How is the prophesy of Birnam Wood moving to Dusinane Hill fulfilled?

Each man in the English force cuts down a bough to provide cover so that the size
of the army is not known.

Why doesn't Macbeth put his armor on when he goes out to do battle?
He knows that he can't be killed by a man born of woman. Therefore he has
nothing to fear from mere humans.

What is said that frightens Macbeth before he is killed by Macduff

Macduff tells Macbeth that he was ripped from his mother's womb at an
untimely moment.
Who decides who becomes king and who does he choose?
Macduff decides that Malcolm should be king since he was the next in line for the
throne.