Macbeth Flashcards
(46 cards)
Why does Shakespeare open the start of Macbeth with the witches?
He decides to open the play with the witches suggesting that they will take a significant role in Macbeth`
First line of play and what it means
“When shall we three meet again?” - prompts curiosity on what the witches meeting was about.
Why do the witches talk in rhyming cuplets?
Emphasise on how different they are compared to the rest of the characters who speak normally- this creates mystery and adds power
How is the weather when the witches appear?
“thunder and lightening” - pathetic fallacy, makes the atmosphere dark and frightening
How do the witches prompt MB to kill Duncan?
They predict he will be the king after Duncan which pushes him to murder Duncsn
How do the witches keep control of MB?
They confuse him using paradoxes, not being clear of what the future will hold
quote to show macbeths fatal flaw (hamartia)
“i have no spur, only leaping ambition” - his spur is encourages by LMB
How does Macbeth use LMB to his advantage
he knows he needs her to reach his ambition, so he entices her by telling her the prophecies
what does MB say to LMB to entice her with the prophecies?
“what greatness is promised thee”
what does MB call LMB and why?
“dearest partner in greatness” - shakespeare killed them both bc they are just as responsible as eachother
how does banquo show ambition?
“speak then to me” wants the witches to talk directly to him.
he also tells MB he had a dream about the weird sisters before they met them.
what is Shakespeare implying with Banquos ambition?
all good men can be destroyed by their ambition
how do the witches show ambition
through love by macbeth. but hecarty reminds them hes in it for himself
what does Hecarty say to the witches about macbeth
“Loves for his own ends, not for you.” - he only cares for himself not the witches showing cowardice
how does LMB show masculinity and neocrmancy
“come you spirits, unsex me here” - literally taking away her woman hood
how does LMB show masculinity and neocramancy #2
“come to my womans breasts, and take my milk for gall” - suggesting she wants to turn her milk to poison. This is a metaphor for what society does to woman
how did men act
a strict patriarchy forces men to act in a more ruthless way
how does macbeth contridict his masculinty
“i dare do all that to become a man.” showing he doesn’t want to go as far as regicide
how is kingship shown through Malcom
he criticises Macduff after he hears about the murder of his family. tells him to man up
what does King Malcom say to macduff after he hears about his family being killed
“dispute it like a man.” - pull yourself together.
how does Macduff react to Malcom telling him to man up?
he replies saying “i shall do so, but i must also feel it as a man.” which teaches Malcom about masculine role models
how can we tell king malcom has become more masculine?
he responds to siwards death “hes worth more sorrow and ill spend for him”
why does shakespeare make king malcom turn from critising masculinity to showing it?
because he is giving a message to king James that this is what a king should be like.
what is one of shakespears motives
great trouble in the country in the time with catholics, SP doesnt want king james to turn into a tyrant like macbeth.
