Fear

Question 1

Macbeth - Fear

Answer 1

-Brave in battle. Macbeth is first introduced through other characters who portray him as immune to fear: ‘valour’s minion’ ‘Bellona’s bridegroom’ A1S2

-Fear and paranoia motivate Macbeth: He is given the first mention of power when the witches say that he ‘‘shalt be king hereafter’. Banquo notices that Macbeth ‘seems to fear things that sound so fair’. Possibilities of power torture his mind and leads him to murder

-After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth becomes terrified of being found out. The fear manifests itself as paranoia where he tries to kill anyone who threatens him.

-Fears Banquo’s lineage: A3s1
Macbeth tells the murderers that ‘there is none but he whose genius I do fear’. A3s3: ‘never shake thy gory locks at me’

-Apparitions A4s1: he is afraid of the Apparitions’ prophecy of Banquo’s lineage

-A5s8: ‘I will not yield’: In his final moments he can be recognised as a tragic hero again; his words have hints of bravado.
- fears “even-handed justice” that he will receive if he goes through with the regicide

Question 2

Lady Macbeth - Fear

Answer 2

Fears that Macbeth is too weak: A1s5: ‘I fear thy nature is too full of the milk of human kindness’. Milk is mild and white. Associate this with innocence. Views M as a hindrance, and fears that he will ruin her ambitious plans

-Brief moment of fear A2s2 after Duncan’s murder: ‘I heard the owls scream and crickets cry’ -worried, bad omens. Plosive allt. Stichomythia used after this which emphasises her fear.

A5s1: Overcome with guilt

Question 3

Macduff - Fear

Answer 3

-Fears Duncan’s death when he first sees Duncan’s body: ‘O horror, horror, horror, tongue nor heart cannot conceive’ -Affected. Triple used

-Feels grief intensely and fears about how he will cope with our his family. A4s3: ‘All my pretty chickens?’ -repeats ‘all’ 4 times

-Confronts Macbeth and kills him bravely A5s8: ‘yield thee coward’ ‘My voice is in my sword. Causes Macbeth to fear after telling him that he was ‘untimely ripped’ and not of woman born. A stark contrast in bravery is formed as Macbeth experiences anagnorisis.

Question 4

Audience - Fear

Answer 4

Witches - 16th century audience were scared of the supernatural and stage directions such as “thunder and lightning” portray a dark image of these witches from the first moments they are seen on stage. This, in addition to the use of troachiac tetrameter creates an eerie, unnerving image of these otherworldly beings that possess the power of foresight. “when shall we three meet again?”

LM - her rousing speech calling upon the spirits is dramatic and tense to watch. repeated use of “come” (“come, you spirits” “come, thick night”) puts emphasis on this speech and her need for power. A woman’s role was generally not to be involved with ruling, but LM subverts this expecation of the audience and replaces it with an idea of a femme fatale, who can threaten other characters and the natural way of being

Regicide happens off stage

Question 5

Scotland - Fear

Answer 5

After the act of regicide is committed, Scotland is plunged into a state of fear, shock and panic. As time goes on, the fear felt increases as the public realise M is an irrational, tyrannical king.
“unnatural deeds do breed unnatural trouble’s.”
“I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry, Did not you speak?” - these were seen as heralds of death in Shakespere’s time, showing how the whole country is getting a sense of dread due to M’s acts.