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Flashcards in fate vs free will Deck (11)
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1
Q

Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? act1 scene3

A
  • verb “unfix my hair” shows how shocking the act of treason is and emphasizes the horror that Macbeth has with himself and his thoughts as he has gone against fate and created an immoral path.
  • The personification “my seated heart knock at my ribs” once again depicts the increasing fear that Macbeth experiences as his heart is not “seated” with its connotations of calmness and steadiness but “knock(ing)” which is associated with alarming fear.
  • “Against the use of nature” links to the Jacobean belief that the act of regicide was an act against the natural order and therefore an act against God. also, Macbeth has gone against his predestined path and created his own. This would have stirred up fear and anticipation in the audience as they wonder in excitement about the decisions Macbeth is going to take.
2
Q

Macbeth 1.4 “This service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it pays itself”

A
  • Here Shakespeare displays Macbeth’s duplicitous nature through the use of dramatic irony as the audience are highly cognisant of the murderous thoughts that Macbeth was having in the scene just before
  • The fact that he knows how he should behave but deliberately transgresses makes his downfall more tragic as this is a man that could have been a hero.
3
Q

“for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell.” 2.1

A
  • The use of rhyming couplets shows his subconscious connection to the witches who also use this structure while speaking. This also indicates that within Macbeth evil is taking control of him and the meaning of this declarative statement demonstrates how he is now certain that he will kill the king - he has made up his mind.
  • This also conveys his further disintegration as he sees everything now as a symbol to murder the king - even a bell, which could be interpreted as a warning but he sees it as a sign to kill the king which depicts his further downward spiral (caused by his ambition) from a hero a tragic hero.
  • The use of euphemism however, heightens his denial of what he is doing is wrong and shows how he thinks he is destined to kill the king.
4
Q

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, 3.1

A
  • The metaphor “fruitless crown” is a direct reference to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth not having heir to the throne
  • The semantic field of their childless state is heighten by the reference to “fruitless” and “barren spectre” which highlights Macbeth’s bitterness towards the possibility to passing his crown to Banquo’s sons.

• The possessive pronoun “my” demonstrates how Macbeth is becoming more authoritative and also highlights how his ambition is now leading him to plot murders by himself compared to the previous acts where Lady Macbeth planted the deed in his head. This foreshadows his tyrant-like behavior that grows as the play progresses. The use of singular first-person conforms to the patriarchal idea that everything belongs to men - including children.

5
Q

“come fate into the list and champion me to the utterance!” 3.1

A

By challenging fate to a battle to manipulate his destiny shows how desperate he has become to keep the crown and is an act of defiance which results in him in killing Banquo
This also highlights his arrogance and also emphasizes his controlling nature.

6
Q

‘In the great hand of God I stand’ (2.3

A

Following the murder of Duncan Banquo says he will fight for justice from this position with God on his side
• Metaphor emphasizing his moral purity in contrast to Macbeth

  • Image of the hand implies he has God’s blessing or protection wrapped around him
  • Or it could be read as he is acting as God’s hand – God’s tool via which the sacrilege of regicide can be challenged.
7
Q

“They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, but bear-like I must fight the course” 5.7

A
  • Macbeth’s evil nature and association with the supernatural is conveyed through the words ‘stake’ and ‘fly’, commonly associated with the punishment and activity of witches. Shakespeare uses this as a metaphor for justice being enacted, as Macbeth feels he will be punished for the murderous and sly deeds he has committed.
  • Macbeth recognises that he’s without options and the he will die, as displayed through “stake” which has connotations of death. His determination to still “fight the course” displays high levels of braverly linking back to how he was presented as a warrior in Act 1.
8
Q

Bleed, bleed, poor country! Great tyranny! 4.3

A
  • The personification of Scotland being wounded emphasizes the pain that Macduff feels for Scotland thus convey the strong emotional bond he has for his country and displays his devotion towards the nation
  • The country is suffering as a result of poor leadership thus displaying the importance of the divine right of kings and following the natural order
9
Q

She should have died hereafter 5.5

A

Macbeth’s fatalistic view of his wife’s suicide reflects his state of mind : numbed, hardened and miserable due to everything he has wanted falling apart.
• His lack of care towards the situtation highlights the contrast between the love he had for LM at the beginning of the play (“dearest partner of greatness”) to now where he he is totally distant .

• This could also be seen as the cause of embracing evil and the supernatural causing him to lack basic human emotions

10
Q

“brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name”, Valour’s minion “ (captain)

“valiant cousin , worthy gentleman” , “noble Macbeth “ (Duncan)

“Bellona bridegroom” (Ross)

A

In Act 1 scene 2 Macbeth is described through the use of positive epithets such as “brave Macbeth” and “valiant” which gives the audience a different narrative perspective and provides an alternative insight regarding Macbeth’s character that harshly contrasts with the evil that he is associated with due to the witches in the scene before.

Through the use of the personification “Valour’s minion” the captain implies that Macbeth is the living embodiment of bravery which further highlights Macbeth’s heroism and gallantry. This is reinstated through “Bellona’s bridegroom” which implies that not only is he brave but he is also superior to his opponents. However, it also foreshadows that he will be a barbaric tyrant since he isn’t afraid of what is thrown his way. This links to Macbeth’s character later on in the play because it shows that his audacity will cause him to oppress and exploit others whilst his determined nature will cause everyone around him to suffer.

11
Q

“Yes, as sparrow eagles, or the hare, the lion” (captain) 1.2

A

Macbeth’s reputation on the battlefield is enhanced by the similes of the Captain’s second report: ‘As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.’ In this quote Macbeth and Banquo, are compared to ‘eagles’ and ‘lions’ unafraid of the timid Norwegians, who themselves are likened to ‘sparrows’ or ‘a hare’. The fact that Banquo and Macbeth are compared to “eagles” and lions” suggests how brave and powerful they are. Moreover, symbolically, the lion appears on the royal coat of arms of the kings of Scotland this foreshadows Macbeth becoming king.