Macbeth Flashcards
(39 cards)
What era was Macbeth written in?
Jacobean - under the rule of James I of England (a patron of Shakespeare’s acting company - Macbeth reflects their close relationship)
Explain the context behind the real Macbeth
Macbeth = a figure from Scottish history. James was first James VI of Scotland - Macbeth pays homage to his Scottish lineage.
Prophecy that Banquo would found a line of kings nods to James’ family’s claim to have descended from the historical Banquo
How did the theme of Kingship vs Tyranny reflect real life at the time?
Would have resonated at the royal court, where James was developing an English version of the theory of divine right to prove he deserved the throne.
How did James I become king of England and how was he received?
He was a distant cousin of Elizabeth I (“Good Queen Bess”) and succeeded her after her death.
Was not respected due to his fear of black magic (made him seem uneducated even though he was a well-educated man and author of many books)
When did James’ fear of witches start and what did he do about it?
Before his reign he visited Denmark, where witches were actively hunted. His journey back was rough and witches were blamed.
10 years later he wrote “Daemonologie” - an 80 page book about witchcraft to add to the intellectual debate in Europe.
Describe the persecution of witches under James VI (of Scotland)
Evidence suggests he began the persecution - before him, witchcraft was illegal but action against them was limited
Particularly shown in the trial of an allegedly pregnant woman arrested for consulting a witch. He ordered that if the court found she wasn’t pregnant, she would be burned.
When he became king of England he denied this.
Describe the public’s opinion on witches under James in both Scotland and England
Scotland - under him Scotland fully accepted the Christian witch theory , so when one was found, others were hunted
England - the issue of demonic behaviour (Christian witch theory) was never accepted - James quickly dropped his self-imposed expert tag on witchcraft.
Describe the Divine Right of Kings
Kings were appointed by God. Questioning the king was questioning God, amounting to blasphemy. Regardless of what the king did, nobody could criticise him, only God in his own time
Describe the context around treason in Macbeth
In 1590, 300 witches were accused of gathering to plot James’s murder. He had a morbid fear of violent death, so he was specially interested in the trial, heightening his interest in witchcraft
In 1605, Gunpowder Plot was discovered - the plan to blow up the houses of Parliament to kill James and replace him with a Catholic monarch
Describe the theme of corruption of ambition in Macbeth
Shown in Macbeth + LM. LM desperately wants to be queen + convinces Macbeth to commit regicide.
Her ambition leads to complete insanity + death. Macbeth’s leads to arrogance (hubris) and his eventual beheading.
Ambition corrupts their minds, leading to death.
You can argue Macbeth’s is caused by manipulations (LM + witches) but LM’s is self-inflicted
What plot points show the theme of corruption of ambition?
-First + second set of prophecies
-Macbeth’s letter to LM
-LM’s soliloquy explaining her intentions
-Dagger hallucination
-Duncan’s murder
-Banquo’s murder
-Banquo’s ghost
-LM’s guilt and death
-Macbeth’s arrogance and beheading
Describe the theme of the supernatural in Macbeth
Shown through witches, Macbeth, Banquo (+LM?).
Witches manipulate Macbeth by giving him 2 sets of 3 prophecies. Banquo is strong enough to resist but Macbeth is not
A popular theory says that LM is one of the witches
Also presented through the hallucinations
What plot points show the theme of the supernatural in Macbeth?
-First + second set of prophecies
-Dagger hallucination
-Banquo’s ghost
-The witches
Describe the theme of cruelty vs masculinity in Macbeth
LM believes you have to be cruel to be masculine. In Jacobean era masculinity = power so by extension you must be cruel to be royalty - a fairly common belief in 1600s
However Duncan, Malcolm, Banquo + Macduff can be masculine without treachery.
After Macduff’s family is killed he says he must “feel it like a man” = men show compassion too
What plot points show the theme of cruelty vs masculinity in Macbeth?
-Macbeth described as a valiant warrior
-LM questions Macbeth’s masculinity
-LM manipulates Macbeth
-Macbeth murders Duncan
-Macbeth orders Fleance + Banquo’s deaths
-Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff’s family
Describe the theme of kingship vs tyranny in Macbeth
Shown by Macbeth + Duncan (the positive + negative aspects of being a ruler)
Macbeth is the tyrant - acts purely for himself, often at detriment of his own subjects
Duncan was a good, fair king, respected by all (including Macbeth)
What plot points show the theme of kingship vs tyranny in Macbeth?
-Duncan rewards Macbeth for his bravery
-Everyone’s reactions to Duncan’s murder
-Everyone’s reactions to Macbeth’s death
-Malcolm’s coronation as the rightful king + everyone’s reactions
What does darkness symbolise in Macbeth?
Evil. Witches described as “instruments of darkness”. Macbeth describes his evil intentions as “black”.
Macbeth wants to hide his evil thoughts in darkness (“stars hide your fires…”).
Duncan’s murder happens on a dark, starless night.
Light associated with goodness - Duncan compares his loyal lords to “stars” that “shall shine”
What does nature symbolise in Macbeth?
Represents correct order of the world. Duncan’s murder disrupts natural order (horses “turned wild in nature”).
Plant imagery - Duncan says Macbeth + Banquo are like plants he can harvest, but then Macbeth is compared to “weeds” and Malcolm is the “sovereign flower”.
At end of play, natural order is restored when Duncan’s son is crowned. Malcolm says his kingly acts will be “planted newly” - resembles Duncan’s imagery
What does disease symbolise in Macbeth?
Represents the state of Scotland. Macbeth asks the doctor to cure Scotland (ironic because he is the disease).
Macduff sees Macbeth’s reign as causing injury to Scotland (“each day a new gash is added to her wounds”)
Malcolm is described as the “medicine” that will cure Scotland, reinforcing the belief that he is the rightful king
Describe the witches in Macbeth
Have beards = unnatural + evil. Ambiguous and strange. Act out of malice
Pathetic fallacy - usually accompanied by “thunder and lightning”
Take advantage of Macbeth’s ambition by confusing him with paradoxes.
Hecate gives him a false sense of security that leads to his death. However you can argue it’s Macbeth’s insecurity that causes his downfall (needing to kill Duncan = Banquo). Hecate punishes him with apparitions
Describe the Macduff family in Macbeth
Macduff - honest, sincere, brave. Loyal to Scotland. Doesn’t attend Macbeth’s coronation. Puts his country before his family = lack of wisdom. Contrasts with other men when he says he must “feel” his grief “like a man”
Lady Macduff contrasts with LM. When she speaks with her son, they speak in prose not blank verse - makes the scene feel homely
Describe Banquo in Macbeth
Brave, noble, wise (doesn’t trust witches, questions if they are real, cautious but intrigued to hear what they say)
Ambitious - wants prophecies to be true but doesn’t act on them (not corrupted)
Suspects Macbeth of Duncan’s murder but doesn’t act on it - surprised at Macbeth’s betrayal
Describe Duncan in Macbeth
Kind + generous. His flaw = too trusting.
A model king that everyone loves (“most sainted king” -Macduff)
Unselfish, gentle, not aggressive or a soldier + not afraid to show emotion. Not qualities associated with masculinity so audience questions if a good leader has to be a violent warrior
