Macbeth Flashcards
(18 cards)
Facts on shakespeare (context)
Born in stratford upon avon 1564
Married aged 18
He wrote over 30 plays
Tried to flatter the king
Popularity of macbeth
Tale of ambition
Witchcraft was very important in 1600’s
Play is considered unlucky
Plot
Act 1- prophecies, witches begin manipulation of macbeth
Act 2- lady macbeth convinces macbeth to kill the king, which he immediately regrets
Act 3-macbeth kills anyone who tries to threaten his position
Act 4- murder macduffs family
Act 5- downfall both macbeth and lady macbeth die
In what act is banquo killed?
Act 3
Key themes
Guilt
Supernatural
Ambition
Theme of guilt
Blood =guilt
Illustrates terrible consequences of killing a king
Macbeth cannot say “amen”
Takes visual form when macbeth hallucinates and sees a dagger
Can no longer sleep (repeated with LM)
Blood cant be washed away “a little water clears us of the deed”- irony
“Whats done is done”-> “whats done cannot be undone”
Theme of supernatural
Dagger
All prophecies proven true
Banquos ghost
LM summons evil spirits so she feels no human pity
Witches- predict future, like a drug, speak in pattern, thunder and lightening, foul atmosphere, exposes evil
Contemporary audience storn believers in witch craft
Theme of ambition
Banquo doesnt act upon ambition
Macbeth acknowledges his vaulting ambition
Macbeths greatest weakness leading to his death
Fate or ambition?
Malcoms ambition overthroughs macbeths
Macbeth becomes greedy and selfish once hes had taste of power
Key ideas
feminist : LM subcerts the jacobean stereotype of a weak woman. Never holds position of power but challenges social norms. Dominant ideologies
Psychologist: macbeths ego takes over with his plan of power. LM Superego in act 5 and guilt takes over
N vs N: both show guilt so evil is not innate
MACBETH QUOTES
“Brave macbeth”
“Stars hide your fires”
“I have no spir to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition”
“Is this a dagger which i see before me”
“Macbeth shall sleep no more”
“We have scorched the snake, not killed it”
“Will all great neptunes oceans wash this blood clean from my hands”
“Black and deep desires”
“Out, out bried candle
“Turn the green one red”
“Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye”
“If we should fail?”
“Would they had stayed?”
LADY MACBETH QUOTES
“It is too full o’th’milk of human kindess”
“Unsex me here”
“Come thick night”
“Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark”
“Look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpend under’t”
“Fair and nobel hostess”
“She has light by her continuously”
“All the perfumes of arabia will not sweeten this little hand”
“Out! Out, damned spot”
BANQUO QUOTES
“Why do you start and fear things that do sound so fair”
“Can the devil speak true”
“Nobel banquo”
WITCHES QUOTES
“None of woman born shall harm macbeth”
“Fair is foul and foul is fair”
“Filthy air”
“Thunder, lightening or in rain”
Macbeth character
Protagonist: everything about him Begins as brave and couragous Easily persaudes by wife Often appears weak, role reverse Not a brutal character, LM thinks too soft Tempted by ambition Had hallucinations Changed througout play unlike witches Between to forces, evil and god opposing
Lady macbeth character
Ambitious Invokes power of evil Could be a passenger of evil Trustful and welcoming M compliments her by saying her strength is like a mans Malcolm compares her to devil Guilt snd isolation lead to her death Sleepwalks Dominant, cunning, determined Doesnt follow typical gender norms Agent of supernatural Start didnt want light end wanted light
Banquo character
Lesser than macbeth and greater
Suspects something before and after murder
Keeos quiet as good friend
Son escapes
Sceptical- doesnt trust witches
Dies in act 3
Returns as ghost “could be macbeths imagination”
Was best friend, M would do anything for power
Brave and loyal
Macduffs character
Family killed Man of destiny Kills macbeth Loyal, risks life for his country Brave Passionate and true man Impulsive Set up english army Suspects macbeths guilt "Bleed bleed, poor country. Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure"
Witches characters
Provide info but dont give orders Evil/demonic Supernatural, give info on future Message conpelling and attractive Foul and fair, illusion and reality Male or female? Beards Controlled by higher powers 1st prophecies instantly comes true, easily trusted Dont change Introduce the play speaking of fog and filthy air
