Essay: Macbeth Q & As

1. Discuss the significance of the supernatural in Macbeth.
In Macbeth, supernatural plays a significant role. It appears in many different ways in the play, such as through the witch’s prophecies, the floating dagger and Banquo’s ghost. Firstly, supernatural in Macbeth is introduced at the beginning of the play, with the three witches. They tell Macbeth of three prophecies when he encounters them. Ultimately, these prophecies are vital to the plot of the play, as they are the reason behind the actions Macbeth makes. The witches are also there as a symbol of evil, creating chaos and disorder throughout the play.
2. What do we learn about Macbeth and Banquo in Act 1 Scene 2? Make sure you quote specific lines as evidence.
In Act 1 Scene 2, we learn that Macbeth is a heroic warrior, being named ‘brave Macbeth” and “Valor’s minion” after he has helped win a battle for Scotland. Moreover, Macbeth and Banquo despite being fighting for a long time, Macbeth remains ambitious and, killing the enemy by “unseam[ing] him from the nave to th’chops” and then “Fixed his head upon [the] battlements,” Thus, it is learnt that Macbeth is very determined and can be ruthless.
3. Explain the five reasons that Macbeth puts forward for not killing Duncan (Act 1 Scene 7, lines 7 -28)
Firstly, Macbeth realises that killing a king is very serious.
Furthermore, that the act of killing would only teach others to commit violence, and that “bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague th’inventor,” In addition Macbeth realises that as “his kinsman”, he is supposed to be protecting his guest. Furthermore, as “[Duncan’s] subject,” Macbeth is supposed to be showing loyalty to the king, rather than betrayal.
In addition, Macbeth praises Duncan, as he is “so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking-off,” Duncan is viewed as a virtuous leader by everyone in his kingdom, and therefore Macbeth believes he does not deserve death. Moreover, Macbeth claims that if the king were to die, the news “shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tear shall drown the wind,” therefore making everyone very sad due to the loss of a beloved king.
4. Read lines 31 – 79, Act 1 Scene 7. What weakness in her husband does Lady Macbeth play on? What is the clinching argument that persuades Macbeth to murder Duncan?
Lady Macbeth choses to play on Macbeth’s masculinity, challenging the concept of his manhood. When Macbeth decides to not kill Duncan initially, Lady Macbeth claims that when Macbeth “…durst do it, then you were a man,” Implying that changing his mind and not wanting to go ahead with killing the King less of a man than he was when he was going to kill Duncan. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth continues to challenge his masculinity, by implying that if Macbeth “be more than what [he] were, [he] would
Be so much more the man.” However, the argument that convinces Macbeth to commit the murder, is very calculated and persuasive. Despite Macbeth’s worries, Lady Macbeth tells him to “Screw [his] courage to the sticking-place,” then continues with a plan. The plan involves removing all possibilities for them to be caught, including getting Duncan’s “two chamberlains” so drunk, that “memory, the warder of the brain, shall be a fume and the receipt of reason,”. Moreover, Lady Macbeth suggests that the guards will be “drenched nature lie as in a death, what cannot [Lady Macbeth] and [Macbeth] perform upon the unguarded Duncan?” By implying that anything could be done to the king without the guards, Macbeth decides to go through with the murder of king Duncan.
5. In Act 1 we are introduced to all of the main characters. Choose two of them and write half a page on each commenting on their personality traits and their positive and negative characteristics. Make comparisons with other characters and incorporate some quotes.
Macbeth
Macbeth is first introduced as a very strong character, as a warrior and hero, being called “brave Macbeth.” This heroic nature is rewarded as it wins him great honour from King Duncan. Furthermore, he is also a very confident figure in battle “as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion,” However, upon hearing the prophecies from the three witches, Macbeth is terrified by his “horrible imaginings” and his heart is “knock[ing] at [his] ribs,” As Macbeth begins to think more about killing King Duncan, his brave personality seems to disappear. He is very unsettled by the image and though of killing King Duncan. Furthermore, he realises that because the king is his guest, he should be looking after him, and protecting him from danger. This response to murdering Duncan reinforces his morality and undermines his loyalty to the king. However, Macbeth is coerced into killing the king by Lady Macbeth, who challenges his masculinity. Rather than make his own decisions, Macbeth chooses to follow Lady Macbeth, succumbing to the pressure she is putting on Macbeth, by suggesting he will be less of a man for not killing the king. Macbeth chooses to surrender by giving his loyalty to Lady Macbeth, therefore going through with the murder of King Duncan, despite realising how wrong it is. Although Macbeth is initially brave, moral, courageous, the pressure from Lady Macbeth and the temptation and deviousness of the witches makes him lose his morality, and bring upon his downfall.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is presented as a strong and powerful woman by Shakespeare. At the beginning of the play, she is depicted as lacking humanity. She is seen in the opening scene calling upon the “Spirits that tend on mortal thoughts” to deprive her of her maternal feminine instinct to nurture. In fact, this strength is shown to be far greater than that of her husband. While reading the letter Macbeth has written to her, she is determined that the prophecies must be pursued, immediately coming to the conclusion that “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be. What thou art promised.” Furthermore, Lady Macbeth shows power over her husband as Macbeth hesitates about killing King Duncan, whereas Lady Macbeth remains determined to commit the crime, telling Macbeth to “screw [his] courage to the sticking-place” Her determination is understood by Macbeth, who admires it and states that she should “Bring forth men-children only, For thy undaunted mettle should compose Nothing but males.” However, she is not shown to have a complete lack of humanity. After the murder of King Duncan, she says that she could not kill Duncan because he resembled her father. She explains, “Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done’t.” This shows that she still is a human, and therefore does have humanity.
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