Macbeth Flashcards
Act 1 summary
Act 1 : The play opens with three witches chanting on a bleak moorland. In the next scene we hear a battle report in which a soldier Macbeth bravely fought in a battle to defend Scotland. On a bleak Scottish moorland, Macbeth and Banquo, two of King Duncan’s generals, discover three strange women ( witches ). The witches prophesy that Macbeth will be promoted twice to Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Banquo’s descendants will be kings, but Banquo isn’t promised any kingdom himself.
Macbeth and Banquo want to know more but the “weird sisters” disappear. Soon afterwards King Duncan names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor as a reward for his success in the recent battles. The promotion seems to support the prophecy. The King then proposes to make a brief visit that night to Macbeth’s castle. Lady Macbeth receives the news from her husband about the prophecy and his new title. She vows to help him become king by whatever means are necessary.
Act 2 summary
Act 2 : Macbeth returns to his castle, followed by almost immediately King Duncan. The Macbeths plot together to kill Duncan and wait until everyone is asleep. At the agreed time, Lady Macbeth gives the guards drugged wine so Macbeth can enter and kill the King. He regrets this almost immediately, but his wife reassures him. She leaves the bloody daggers by the dead king just before Macduff arrives. When Macduff discovers the murder, Macbeth kills the drunken guards in a show of rage and retribution. Duncan’s sons, Malcom and Donalbain, flee, fearing for their own lives, but they are, nevertheless blamed for the murder.
Act 3 summary
Act 3 : Macbeth becomes King of Scotland but is plagued by feelings of insecurity. He remembers the prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will inherit the throne and arranges for Banquo and his son Fleance to be killed. In the darkness, Banquo is murdered but his son escapes the assassins. At his state banquet that night, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo and worries the courters with his mad response. Lady Macbeth dismissed the court and unsuccessfully tries to calm her husband.
Act 4 summary
Act 4 : Macbeth seeks out the witches who say that he will be safe until a local wood, Birnam Wood, marches into battle against him. He also need not fear anyone born of a woman. They also prophesy that the Scottish succession will still come from Fleance. Macbeth embarks on a reign of terror, slaughtering many including Macduff’s family. Macduff had gone to seek Malcolm, one of Duncan’s sons ( who fled ), at the court of the English king. Malcolm is young and unsure of himself, but Macduff, pained with grief, persuades him to lead an army against Macbeth.
Act 5 summary
Act 5 : Macbeth feels safe in his remote castle at Dunsinane until he is told that Birnam Wood is moving towards him. Malcom’s army is carrying branches from the forest as a camouflage for their assault on Macbeth’s stronghold. Meanwhile an over-wrought and guilty Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep and tells her secrets to her doctor. She commits suicide. As the final battle commences, Macbeth hears of Lady Macbeth’s suicide. In the midst of a losing battle, Macduff challenges Macbeth. Macbeth learns Macduff is a child of caesarean birth ( foreshadowing ) and realises he is doomed and submits to his enemy. Macduff triumphs and brings the head of the traitor Macbeth to Malcolm. Malcolm declares peace and goes to scone to be crowned king.
Context Setting
The play is set in Scotland ( only one of Shakespeare’s plays to be set here ) and isn’t historically accurate
Context Real Macbeth
- Macbeth was king of Scotland during the 11th century although bears little resemblance to Macbeth within the play.
- It followed the same line of succession ( Duncan, Macbeth and Malcolm )
- Macbeth was a good king and he owned his kingship through rightful claim, instead of witches.
- No history records show Banquo existing in Macbeth’s lifetime.
Context James 1
- When James ( Elizabeth’s cousin ) took the crown as Elizabeth I died with no children, the Jacobean era began. This is the first time Scotland, England and Ireland was ruled by a single monarch.
- James I had an interest in plays
- Was a descendant of Banquo.
- He also hated witches and witchcraft, which led to him writing a book called Daemonologie.
Context Jacobean England
- The society was very hierarchical. It was a society organised as a pyramid : at the top being the king and royal family: a little lower, the aristocrats; then the ministers; finally, the popular classes.
- Religion had an important role in society at this time. In England, most of the population was of Anglican religion and was intolerant against the Catholics, as they were in the time of Elizabeth I. On the other hand, besides practising the official religion, the majority of the population had numerous superstition.
Context The Gunpowder Plot
- The gunpowder plot was an attempt by seven Catholics conspirators to blow up the new King and his parliament in 1605.
- The most famous of these plotters was Guy Fawkes, although he was not the leader
- Treason was against the monarchy and people were killed as traitors.
- A coin was issued to commemorate the failure of the plot - with a serpent and flower on the one side.
Context The Supernatural
- In Shakespeare’s time, the powers of evil were thought to be real; Hell was a actual place and the Devil a constant threat to their souls.
- It was believed that witches signed pacts with the devil, and, in return for their loyalty, the devil gave them powers. They could inflict misfortune on people if they so choose to.
- Hundreds of innocent people ( mostly women ) were executed as suspected witches.
- In Deamonologie, James I detailed how witched physically appear. James I said that witches had beards, moles and were evil beings. It also encouraged witch hunts and trials.
- When Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, he knew his audience would find the theme of evil and the supernatural very interesting.
Context ‘Tragic hero’ as defined by Aristotle
TO BE DONE
Context The Great Chain of Being
God -> Angels -> King/Queen -> Aristocrats -> Men -> Women -> Animals -> Devil and hellish beings
Elizabethans believed that God set out an order for everything in the universe. On Earth, God created a social order for everybody and chose where you belonged. In other words, the king or queen was in charge because God put them there and they were only answerable to God ( The Divine Right of Kings ( monarchs had been chosen by God and were his representatives on Earth ) ). This meant that disobeying the monarch was a sin, which was handy for keeping people in their place! Love and obey your monarch and you would go to heaven. Defy or betray your monarch ( treason ) or kill a king ( regicide ) and you were killing God, and you would surely go to Hell.
Context Gender expectations
Jacobean Men
- Men assumed a dominant position in society
- Apart from being the sole bread earner of the family, the eldest male member was the head of the house. Everyone had to obey him and do as was being told
- Men were expected to be loyal to the king and country and fight for them if needs be
- Jacobean men had property rights as well as voting rights.
- Boys were given preferences as far as education was concerned
Jacobean Women
- Jacobean women continued to live a life that was a sub-ordinate to men
- They were supposed to obey what was told to them
- The main responsibility of married women was to take care of the household matters and raise children
- Women were made to depend on their male relatives throughout their lives
- They were expected to be entirely pacifist and against violence
Context Kingship an the Basilikon Doron
The Basilikon Doron is a treatise written by King James 1 in 1599. Basilikon Doron means “royal gift” in Ancient Greek and was written in the form of a letter to his eldest son, Henry. After Henry’s death, James gave it to his second son, Charles.
The document is split into three books, which serve as a general guideline to follow to be an efficient and effective monarch
Book 1 ( Religion ) : - Love, respect and fear God - Study the Bible - Pray often and be thankful Book 2 ( Being a good and just ruler ) : - Be well acquainted with subjects - Choose old but good captains to lead armies - Surround yourself with loyal people - King’s wife should not meddle in politics - Kingdom should be left to the eldest son - He should study the laws of his kingdom - Be acquainted with maths, the military and world history Book 3 ( Daily life ) : - Eat meat and be strong - Do not drink or sleep excessively - Clothing should be clean and proper. Tidy appearance. - Should use honest and plain language in writing and speech.
