B ANQUO

Macbeth’s Foil / Antithesis

 Begin the play similar to each other
 Fight alongside each other
 Described as "our captains" – collective – group them together as two of a kind
 Linguistically tied by "noble Macbeth" and "noble Banquo"
o Both respected and trusted by Duncan
 Evidence that the witches can be resisted
 Both meet witches and receive promising prophecies Banquo proves that the witches
can be resisted Summary
 If he had not been present for the predictions, it could be concluded that Macbeth Introduced – 1.7
was completely controlled by the witches
o Banquo proves it is possible to resist them and still choose good over evil Doubt Macbeth – 3.1
o Equally, Duncan linguistically echoes the witches "what he has lost, noble Macbeth Macbeth plot his murder –
has won" and is the epitome of morality (the king) 3.1
 Thus Macbeth is not a victim of the witches, but of his own moral weakness and Banquo murdered – 3.3
ambition Banquo’s ghost – 3.4
 Banquo’s dramatic function is to demonstrate to an audience that the temptations of
the witches may be successfully resisted
o that Macbeth therefore acts from free will
o Banquo argues the case for Macbeth as a villain, and his actions as the result of free will
 Contrasting responses to the prophecies
 Macbeth is "rapt withal" – entranced and absorbed
 Banquo will "neither beg nor fear your favours nor your hate" – he is indifferent
o Doesn’t trust them so views their prophecies with scepticism
 "the earth hath bubbles" - "have we eaten on the insane root"
o Recognises them as supernatural from the start "Neither beg nor fear
 Banquo distances himself from the witches whilst Macbeth aligns himself with your favours nor your
them
hate"
o Audience would recognise witches as a force of evil and thus favour him
o Macbeth was first mentioned by the witches -"there to meet with Macbeth"
o Know he is the focus of their intent – control him – Macbeth is aligned and connected to the witches
 Banquo is a source of guilt for Macbeth as he falls from grace
 He fears Banquo’s "royalty of nature"
 Banquo has been through the same things as him but has responded as he should do
o Serves as a constant reflection of how Macbeth should have acted
o Constant reminder of the morality he started with and is losing
 Role as foil emphasised by the juxtaposition of his prophecies with Macbeth’s
 "lesser" and "greater"
 "happier" "not so happy"
 Shakespeare’s use of antithesis in his phrasing hints that Banquo serves as Macbeth’s antithesis
 Banquo – a morally strong and virtuous character who resists evil – provides contrast to Macbeth – a morally weak,
innately flawed and evil character who gives in to temptation.

Ambitious
 Banquo is interested by the prophecy – shows ambition
 Not as strong as Macbeth (or he tries to hide it)
o Asks them to "speak then to me"
o Wants to know what the "seeds of time" have in store for him
 BUT he remains composed and in control
o "neither beg nor fear your favours nor your hate"
o He is not desperate like Macbeth - "Stay, you imperfect speakers" – commanding them betrays his desperation
 He won’t allow himself to trust them or value their words
o Has recognised them as unnatural and evil
o So has Macbeth - "imperfect speakers" – but he ignores this because he wants to believe their prophecies
 He is also haunted by ambitious thoughts and plans
 Why does Banquo save his son?
  Tells Fleance to “fly” – but also “thou mayst avenge”
 Wants Fleance to avenge his death – kill Macbeth? Take crown? Fulfill prophecy?
 Earlier in the play, their relationship is not depicted as being close or loving
o “boy” and “sir” – very formal language
 Makes the audience question whether his sacrifice is out of love, or out of ambition
o Knows from the prophecy the importance of Fleance living to form a new dynasty
 Had been thinking of the witches / knew of them before they met
 "I dream’d last night of the three weird sisters"
 This is still the same night as they met the witches
o Could just be an oversight on the behalf of Shakespeare – wouldn’t be the first" (thane of Cawdor being killed…then
executed?!?)
o Or it could be evidence that Banquo is not entirely unconnected to the supernatural either
o Like Macbeth, he is connected to the witches
o Sign of his ambition – dreamt of something bringing him greatness
 It is necessary for Banquo to be faced with temptation and ambition
 Proves that he is morally strong
o Strength doesn’t come from an easy path, but from resisting temptation
 All humans have flaws and temptations and desires
o Macbeths is a hamartia – a fatal flaw – because he is too weak to resist it
o Too weak to resist witches and LM
 This is a message to the audience
o All capable of evil – must resist it – resist temptation of disrupting natural order even if tempted
 Suspects Macbeth but doesn’t speak out
 "I fear thou played’st most foully for’t"
o He suspects Macbeth because he can identify evil as a moral person
o OR suspects Macbeth because it’s what he would have done in Macbeth’s
position
 Had "cursed thoughts" himself "I fear thou played’st
 Doesn’t speak out against injustice and corruption most foully for’t"
o He is tempted by the promise of being "the root and father of many kings"
o Won’t reveal the evil prophecy that promises him attracting things
o He wants it to come true too / also has the flaw of ambition
 But his flaw is not a hamartia – he can resist it
 Ambition is an inherent part of human nature
o We must learn to resist it to live as good people

Honourable or Strategic?
 Banquo is repeatedly referred to as being noble and honourable
 "noble Banquo" ""worthy Banquo" "no less deserv’d" "wisdom that doth guide his valour" "royalty of nature"
 Make it clear that he is widely regarded as such
 Also show he started in same position as Macbeth
o He remains in favour, Macbeth falls from grace
 He is "lesser than Macbeth and greater" "Lesser than Macbeth,
oIn status, he is lesser (sir) but he is morally superior – stronger will and greater"
oHe remained loyal to the kind and obedient to God and GCOB
 He will have a greater afterlife
 BUT is he loyal or strategic
 “keep my allegiance clear” – is this allegiance to the past king (Duncan) which would make him a threat to Macbeth, or
allegiance to any king (which could make him an ally)
 He speaks in terms of business
o “my allegiance” – loyalty and commitment – “my” – almost like he’s selling it
o “augment” – make something greater / increase
o “franchised” – a privilege or authorisation granted by a governing power
 Gives the sense of him playing strategically – carefully chosen, non-committal language
o Reserving his judgement so he can choose to support whichever side will best benefit him
 Willing to advised and tempted by Macbeth - "I shall be counselled"
 Franchised – wants to retain the privileges he has gained from loyalty to the king
 May change to new king
 Says "my duties" are "forever knit" to Macbeth "My duties are with
a most indissolvable
tie forever knit"
 o He has shifted his loyalties and allegiance to Macbeth rapidly
o His loyalty is not fixed – to any king
o He is loyal only to serve himself

Resists Evil
 It is his response to evil that separates him from Macbeth
 They are exposed to the same influences – witches and promises of greatness
o Both ambitious and think about how they could speed up the prophecy
 BUT Banquo turns to God, asking for help in resisting evil
 Banquo doesn’t act on his ambitions
o Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream
 Banquo recognises they are a force of evil – suspicious from the start
 Suspicious from the start - "are you aught that man may question"
o Recognises them as supernatural and untrustworthy
o Not desperate to hear their predication because he doesn’t trust them
 When he finds that the prophecy is coming true he responds with "what, can the devil speak true"
o This implies that he views them as agents of the devil – sees them for what they are
o Supports James’ view in Daemonologie that witches are controlled by the devil – do his work
 Macbeth ignores the evil of the witches because their prophecies appeal to his ambition (wants them to come true)
o Also shows that their words are the words of the devil
o They are words of temptation
o Banquo knows that the witches are a route of temptation to sin so he is able to resist them
 Widely believed that the devil existed on earth – walked amongst humans trying to tempt them
o "seeking whom he may devour" (bible)
o Thus the witches can be seen as a symbol of temptation to sin that Banquo, as a moral superior, is able to resist
 Macbeth being crowned as the thane of Cawdor gives credibility to the witches prophecy
o Makes it seem like they will come true
o Macbeth responds with additional ambition - "yield to that suggestion"
o Banquo recognises it is a trick
 "the instruments of darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles to betray’s in deepest consequence"
 Recognises that this is temptation, and giving into it will have severe (religious) consequences
 His suspicion doesn’t protect him from death, but it protects him from moral and religious disgrace
o Will still die in god’s favour –resisted sin
 The audience knows that it had been decided that Macbeth would be thane of Cawdor before the witches predicted it
o Provide evidence for the theory that Macbeth acted out of free will
o Self fulfilling prophecy – in being told it gave Macbeth the idea to act in order to bring
it about "Merciful powers,
 Banquo is subject to temptation and evil thoughts… restrain in me the
 Before Duncan’s murder he speaks of his "cursed thoughts" cursed thoughts that
 …but he rejects them nature gives way to in
 Yet instead of trying to hide from God to fulfil his ambition (Macbeth "yield(s) to that repose"
suggestion" and asks for "stars hide your fires") he calls upon God for help in resisting
temptation
o "merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to in repose"
 Weakened to resist ambition when he sleeps
 Knows that "I dream’d of the three weird sisters last night" – he knows he is susceptible to the temptation of trying to
make his prophecy come true
o Instead of trying to hide this, he confesses to God and asks for help in remaining moral and virtuous
 Macbeth accepts and embraces the temptation of the witches and LM
 Resists the temptation of Macbeth
 Macbeth asks him to "cleave to my consent"
o Banquo vows to "keep my allegiance clear" – will not go against king even if it benefits him
o He places his loyalty and respect for the GCOB before his ambition! THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE!
 Macbeth tells him to "repose the while"
o Sleep in the meantime BUT echoes Banquo’s worries about losing his resolve against evil in sleep
o Highlights that this has been another example of him resisting temptation
 Third time he resists temptation
o First is when meeting witches, second when he learns of partial fulfilment, third is "But still keep my
resisting Macbeth bosom franchis’d and
o Biblical – Jesus was tempted three times by the devil - resisted allegiance clear"
 Recognises the witches as evil and is suspicious of them
 Suspicious of the witches from the start
o Suspects them of not being human –


Purpose
 his death as the peripeteia
 this would have been more interesting to James than the death of Duncan
o has personal connection and interest in Banquo
o will care about his death at the hands of Macbeth
 change from the original
 original source material of Macbeth (Holinshed Chronicles) has been changed
o had Banquo as the co-conspirator of Macbeth – involved in murder
 Shakespeare alters this to flatter Banquo and thus James (believed he was the descendant of Banquo)
 By presenting Banquo favorably, Shakespeare is showing support and praise for James
 Needed to make the play enjoyable to the king
o Win him as a patron – support his play company
o Win his political support against Puritans trying to ban theatre
 Also needed to present himself as a loyal supporter of the king
o Demonstrate his belief in James’ claim to the throne and the divine right of kings
o Show he is not a threat to James post gunpowder plot
 Connected to the plotters – William Catesby (father of main plotter Robert Catesby) close friends with
Shakespeare’s father
 People had been executed for lesser connections
o Actors / playwrights were naturally suspected of crimes – moved around a lot and no fixed home or workplace –
not accountable for
 Banquo serves as a dramatic device – to act as Macbeth’s foil and highlight his
moral weakness through juxtaposition – but also as a political device to
simultaneously entertain the king, and ascertain him of Shakespeare’s loyalty “I am in blood stepp’d in so
and support far that should I wade no
further, returning were as
The Problem of Banquo
tedious as to go o’er”
 Banquo suspects Macbeth
 He could prevent a challenge to Macbeth’s power – reveal him as a tyrant with
no claim to the throne
 "royalty of nature"
o Literally royal in nature – prophesised that "thou shalt get kings"
o Also royal in terms of virtue – he is honourable and virtuous
 Thus he will disapprove of the murder, fight for justice and remain loyal to the king (Duncan) - as warned by
"keep my bosom franchised"
 Duncan’s murder could be linked to Macbeth if Banquo tells them of the prophecy
 Evidence that Macbeth had an incentive
 views his death as “we have scorch’d the snake”
o irony of reference to snakes and serpents – Macbeth was the “serpent under’t”
o he is the true source of his evil and evil acts
o not the witches – it is himself – the snake – that he is afraid of
 has to keep killing and doing evil because of his innate weakness and so
he doesn’t realise what he has already done “I am in blood stepp’d in so
far that should I wade no
His Death
further, returning were as
 Banquo’s death is the peripeteia of Macbeth tedious as to go o’er”
 marks the breakdown of Macbeth’s relationship with Lady Macbeth
 start to distance from one another
o lady Macbeth disapprove of Banquo’s murder – “you must leave this”
 so he stops involving her in his plans
o Macbeth start acting independently of his wife
 She is no longer necessary – redundant (he doesn’t need tempting – has seen how easy evil is – strengthened by
past evil)
 Lady Macbeth has lost her reason to be evil and powerful – can’t support her husband – no purpose of role
 Gives in to guilt – conscience starts to take over – goes insane
  Macbeth and lady Macbeth develop in reverse directions
o Macbeth becomes more like how LM was, LM becomes more like Macbeth was
 Reversal of (gender) roles
 point at which Macbeth cannot return to virtue
 "I am in blood stepp’d in so far that should I wade no further, returning were as tedious as to go o’er"
 Before, he had committed a sin but as a reluctant killer, tempted by LM and the witches
o He felt regret and recognised the injustice of Duncan’s death - "wake Duncan with thy knocking, I would thou
couldst"
 Before, he was killing only to speed up the prophecy
o Now he is killing despite it – trying to change it (so he can have a lineage)
 Portrays his greed – what he has will never be enough, he will never feel secure
o Thus he will keep doing evil because "things bad begun make strong themselves by ill"
 transition from victim to villain – Macbeth is definitely responsible for his actions
 killing friend out of paranoia rather than king as direct consequence of ambition
o there was justification for Duncan’s death > fulfil prophecy
o arguably under control and influence of LM and witches
 BUT lady Macbeth is excluded from Banquo’s murder – doesn’t temp Macbeth (not her fault)
 Witches prophesised against this – Macbeth is trying to prevent the prophecy
 This is the point at which it becomes clear Macbeth is a villain, killing out of ambition rather than as a victim to greater
powers
 Before Banquo’s death he is rising in status
 after it he starts to fall in status
 breakdown on barrier between public and private life
o can no longer continue hiding – been unhinged by killing his best friend
o significant fall from grace
 transition from legal to moral crimes
o morally speaking, killing someone close to you – a friend – is more condemnable
o loyalty to a friend is chose – loyalty to king is required
 also marks transition from ambition to greed
 not happy with what he has – “fruitless crown”
 “my more having would be but a sauce to make me hunger more” (Malcolm)
o He cannot turn back now – ambition can be fulfilled but greed is unquenchable

Quotes
If you can look into the seeds of time…speak then to me
thou shalt get kings, though thou be none#
win us with honest trifles, to betray's in deepest consequence
so I lose non in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear
Here's our chief guest
I fear thou played'st most foully for't4
To be thus is nothin, but to be safely thus
Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature
 T HE W ITCHES
Structural Significance
 Introduced in the first scene
 The play opens with witches
 Immediately interests the audience and James
o
Contemporary audience interested in, believed in and
sacred of witches
o Makes the play exciting and threatening
o Witches would be seen as a real threat to
contemporary audience – greater effect than on modern
 Weïrd Sister
 Weïrd from "wired" meaning fate (old English) Summary
 The witches could represent the three fates from classical mythology Introduced – 1.1
o E.g. Greek Morrai
Meet with Macbeth – 1.3
o 3 fates representing past, present and future
 Reflects the three predictions they give Witches meet with Hectate – 3.5
o Spin the threads of life Second meeting with Macbeth (+
o One spins, one measures, one cuts apparitions) – 4.1
o Suggests they are in control of events – controlling and deciding on the
fates and destinies of men

Language
 Trochaic tetrameter
 Shakespeare reserves trochaic tetrameter for his supernatural characters
o E.g. fairies in midsummer’s night dream
 Makes the witches stand out as different and other-worldly
o Marks them as supernatural and dangerous
 Rhyming couplets
 Gives their speech a spell-like sound
 It is as if they are casting spells and bringing things into existence through their words
o Hence are they controlling events?
 Makes their words rhythmic and like a chant
o Implies their words have power
 Used as a reference point by Shakespeare to connect other characters to the supernatural
o Macbeth and Lady Macbeth also speak in rhyming couplets at times when they are expressing evil OR controlled by
supernatural
o M - "stars hide your fires // let not light see my black and deep desires"
o M - "fairest show // false face must hide what false heart doth know"
o LM - "only look up clear // to alter favour ever is to fear"
o LM - "tis safer to be that which we destroy // than by destruction live in doubtful joy" – also oxymoron
o LM - "noughts had, alls spent // where our desire is got without content"
o M- Last four lines of 3.3
o M – 8 lines after apparitions
 Paradoxical language – oxymoron’s
 Shows that they cannot be trusted – their words are meant to deceive
o Hence Macbeth trusting them and placing faith in them is a sign that he is not as noble as he seems
o Is aware that they are "imperfect speakers" but listens anyway because he wants what they say to be true
o They speak in riddles that are meant to be misunderstood
 Hence they are not controlling but allowing people to gain validation of the desires they already have
 There words are vague and ambiguous because they are not a source of control but a source of temptation
o Words can be interpreted to suit the pre-existing desires of the listener
 Macbeth interprets the prophecies in a way that suits his desires
 Twists them to suit him
 Establishes them as a source of chaos and disorder
o Their interference causes the reversal of order
o Things that shouldn’t be able to coexist begin to occur – reverses
 “Fair is foul”
o "fair is foul" "lost and won" "lesser than Macbeth and greater" “Lost and won””
 Also links to the devil, snake and temptation
o Using language to tempt and control
o They are female – this is the only way women can have power – “valour of my tongue”
o Serpent used untrustworthy language to tempt eve – twisted what God had said – claimed he didn’t want them to
become like him – wasn’t really forbidden
 Also confuses reader
o Can’t understand the oxymoron’s
o Makes it intriguing and builds tension – how does it work?
o E.g. fair and foul – rest of the play explores how this oxymoron can exist because what was fair becomes foul
 Things accepted as foul seem fair to Macbeth
 Macbeth who was fair becomes foul
o Also fear – fear of the unknown and unfamiliar

Links to Macbeth
 they are reliant on Macbeth to carry out their own aims
 unable to kill men – witches could only control, not kill “Though his bark
o “though his bark cannot be lost” cannot be lost”
 The devils work is to kill the king because this goes against the will of God –
(DRK)
o The witches can’t fulfil this themselves
o Have to achieve it through humans – Macbeth
 Macbeth is doing the devils work through the witches
 Can be seen as a greater force of evil than the witches
 Can do the evil they cannot “Something wicked
o yet Macbeth is more than capable of murder – a powerful sign of his this way comes”
unredeemable fall from grace and towards sin.
 witches’ recognition of Macbeth’s evil as evidence that he has even become more
sinful than the very symbol of evil in the play.
 They recognise "something wicked this way comes"

Links to Lady Macbeth

 Can be interpreted as a fourth witch
 lapses into rhyming couplets when trying to persuade Macbeth
o
this connects her to the witches
o
she uses language to persuade Macbeth, just as they used slippery ambiguous language to encourage his evil and
give false security / ambition
o potentially a fourth witch – uses same techniques as them
o “only look up clear; to alter favour ever is to fear”
o “alls spent” “without content” “that which we destroy” “doubtful joy”
 She defies gender roles – often all the justification needed to convict a woman of witchcraft
 lady Macbeth is the pervading influence of the witches
o the proxy of the witches to maintain their influence over Macbeth
 greets him in the same way as the witches did
o "Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor, greater than both by the all hail hereafter"
o Mirrors the witch’s "hail Macbeth thane of Glamis/Cawdor/thou shalt be king hereafter"
 Suggest a form of connection to the witches
 She is their maintained influence over Macbeth
 This is why he cannot resist their influence (like Banquo)
o Their influence never ends – continues through LM
o Macbeth has many moments when he is decided to resist evil and not murder Duncan – reluctant murderer
o Tempted back by LM
“What he hath
Links to other Characters
lost, noble
 Duncan also echoes the witches
Macbeth hath
 “what he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won”
o Linguistic echo of “when the battle’s lost and won” won”
 Shows how the witches exert control over all aspects of the world – even the king
 Alleviates responsibility from Macbeth as his susceptibility is not necessarily due to innate evil
 o
Duncan is presented as the pinnacle of virtue – “so clear in his great office” – yet he is still susceptible to the
witches control
o Not just that Macbeth is evil and ambitious already – they are powerful
 Banquo dreams of the witches
 "I dreamed last night of the three weird sisters"
o This occurs on the same day that they met them – had he been thinking of them before they met?
o Were Macbeth and Banquo already connected to the supernatural?
o Shows that they have influenced him too
 Necessary as he serves as the foil
 Evidence that the witches can be resisted – not complete control

Religion
 witches believed to be reagents of the devil

James’ book Daemonologie theorised that the witches carried out the work of the devil and were controlled by him

They are the devil’s influence on earth

Hence regicide is the work of the devil

Act as part of the fall of man – serpent
 Opposite of the trinity
 Always appear in threes – they form a trinity of evil
 This opposes the trinity of good in God
 Macbeth turns to them in times of need (when worried after Banquo’s death) for advice and comfort instead of to God
o He has transitioned from good to evil – from "fair to foul"
o Trinity downstairs rather than upstairs!
 They are the trinity of the devil
o The three persons acting on his behalf

Purpose
 to interest the audience
 contemporary audience were more likely to believe in the supernatural due to the higher prevalence of religion
allowing for a belief in a world beyond what is visible
o Contemporary audience interested in, believed in and sacred of witches
o Makes the play exciting and threatening
o Witches would be seen as a real threat to contemporary audience – greater effect than on modern
 They would be recognized as a force of evil and power
o Seem like a big threat to the audience
 Very strong technique for relieving responsibility from Macbeth
o Already believed witches controlled people to make them do evil
o Audience likely to assign Macbeth’s fall to the witches
 to appeal to James
 James was very interested by witches
o involved in many witch trials – e.g. North Berwick Witch Trials – interrogated witch
o believed they had tried to kill him on the way to the trials
o wrote a book about them – Daemonologie
 by connecting witches to regicide Shakespeare is clearly demonstrating it is evil and thus proving his allegiance to the
king
o dispel any lingering suspicion around his connection to Robert Catesby through father’s friendship
o dispel suspicions of actors (no fixed home/work place)
 wants to make the play interesting to James so that he will support theatre
o ensure patronage – lord chamberlains men to The King’s Men
o had been very reliant on Elizabeth’s patronage previously
o protection from puritans trying to ban theatre
 could be why there are so many religious references
 prove that theatre is not sinful and can actually serve to accompany the messages of the bible – reinforce them
 hence allegory of the fall of man
 to warn against the evil of regicide
 by presenting regicide as inspired or even controlled by the witches, Shakespeare implies it is caused by the devil
o hence regicide will have severe religious consequences
o it is always going against the will of god
 regicide is going against nature
o it aligns you with forces of supernatural evil
 oMacbeth is evidence that association with the supernatural will always result in suffering and severe consequences
 And lady Macbeth – driven insane
 Possible LM and Macbeth both suffer at the hands of the witches
o Link between their lack of sleep and “sleep shall neither night nor day, hang upon his penthouse lid”
o Could be witches preventing sleep – still playing with them
o The witches aim is to play with humans and cause them suffering
 plot device – act as the catalyst for Macbeth’s downfall “Sleep shall neither
 the witches are the catalyst for his downfall, but Macbeth’s ambition and innate night nor day hang
evil provided the momentum upon his penthouse
 their prophecies are what makes him realize his ambition and act on it lid”
 it is their suggestion and temptation that triggers his fall
o like the serpent in the garden of Eden
o had the potential to sin, but needed the suggestion
 Macbeth had the intent all along, but needed validation of it
o The witches provide him with confidence that he could do it and succeed

Are they responsible?

 The witches are only the catalyst for Macbeth’s fall from grace; his ambition and innate evil provides the momentum
 They trigger his ambition – give him confidence and conviction to act upon it
o But the ideas already existed in his mind (rapt/rapid progressing)
o And he sustains it himself
 Shakespeare makes it an exploration of the psychological world of Macbeths mind rather than an exploration of the
supernatural
 It is a mix of internal and external factors
 The key message is that the individual regicide is sinful and flawed though
o Have to be sinful to kill the king
o It is always wrong
 They predicted events rather than caused them
o Duncan had already decided that Macbeth would be Thane of Cawdor, before they told Macbeth
o Suggests that they do not control events but predict and guess them
 Could be like LM – power over temptation and emotion
 They just capitalize on the obvious intentions and ambitions of Macbeth (“your face my thane is like a book”)

Quotes
When the battle's lost and won
Fair is foul and foul is fair
killing swine
I'll drain him dry as hay
Stay, you imperfect speakers
weÏrd sisters
double double toil and trouble / fire burn and cauldron bubble
by the pricking of my thumbs / something wicked this way comes
Beware Macduff
none of woman born shall harm macbeth
Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him
 M ACDUFF
Structure
 First introduced in Act 1 Scene 6
 Nobles praising Macbeth and his castle
 Macduff is silent
 Macduff doesn’t have many lines in the play – when he speaks it seems important –
listened to
 Macduff is the one to discover Duncan’s murder
 This makes sense as he shows the most devotion to him
 He is the one who will see the sight first – suspect Macbeth
 Macduff refuses to attend Macbeth’s coronation (fife) and banquet (England)
 He seems to suspect Macbeth from the start
 Doesn’t recognize him as the real king Summary
 Kills macbeth after the murder of his wife and children
1.6 – introduced
 He is fighting for his family, but also for all the women and childen in scotland
o "new widows howl new orphans cry" 2.3 – discovers Duncan’s death
4.1 – Macbeth warned of
Discovers Duncan’s Death Macduff
 Demonstrates complete loyalty and adherence to the DRK 4.2 – Macduff’s family killed
 Very emotional reaction to the death 4.3 – Macduff tested by Malcolm
 “O horror, horror, horror” “O horror, and finds out about family
o Shows his distress and also his honour 5.8 – Macduff kills Macbeth
horror, horror”
o Repetition to emphasize the strength of this
emotion
o Important that Macduff is not afraid to embrace emotion as part of what makes him a “man”
 Contrast to Macbeth who’s reaction is one of (fake) violence
o His reaction is very staffed – long hyperbolic speech
 Religious language to show his belief in the Divine Right of Kings
 “most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the lord’s anointed temple” “Most sacrilegious
 Recognizes Duncan as the true, divinely appointed / ordained, king murder hath broke
o He is the “Lord’s temple” - gods work on earth – God’s deputy ope the lord’s
o Kings anointed with holy oil at their coronation to signify this anointed temple”
 Hence the murder is not just a crime (Murder), it is an unforgivable sin against God
o “sacrilegious” – unholy - sinful
o God decided on the king – to try and change this is a sin – going against God
o Mirroring biblical fall of man – disobeyed Go
 Macduff emphasizes this because he knows that the king is divinely ordained – he is loyal to him
 Also associated him with piety and virtue – he is aligned with God
 Also recognizes that the murder will have greater consequences for Scotland “See the great
 “see the great doom’s image” - referencing judgment day doom’s image”
o Suggests that he sees the death of the king as comparable to the end of the world –
complete loyalty and devotion
o The natural order has been disturbed – will cause chaos like at the end of the world
 End of time – time is paused whilst Macbeth is in power
o Stay paused until the correct king is placed back in power – interregnum
 Judgment day for Macbeth – his actions will result in damnation
o Macduff is also acting like judge – he knows Macbeth is in the wrong
o Will act on God’s behalf to bring justice

“Wherefore did
First to suspect Macbeth you so?”
 Questions Macbeth killing the guards
 “Wherefore did you so?”
o There was no reason for Macbeth to kill them – suggests he didn’t want them to wake up
 o
Shows him to be guilt
o
Macduff recognizes this and tries to provoke a response
o
! evidence that Macduff’s recognition is a threat to their safety as LM then faints - “look to the lady”
 Serving as a distraction technique – hence distraction was needed
 Furthers his suspicion when discussing affairs in Act 2 Scene 4
 Discuss the murder with Ross and Old Man
 He refers to the guards as “those that Macbeth hath slain”
o Indicative of his suspicion – why did Macbeth kill them?
o He cannot blame them as he doesn’t’ t believe they did it
 Doesn’t attend the coronation or banquet
 He doesn’t recognize Macbeth as the true king
 Not ordained by god – so he remains loyal to Duncan and his sons – true kings
o His loyalty is to Scotland not the king
o Loyal to whatever maintains the order of Scotland

Care for scotland – true patriot “Bleed bleed poor

 He is the one to recognize that Macbeth’s reign brings chaos to Scotland country”
 Describes it using the motif of illness “New widows howl,
o “bleed bleed poor country” new orphans cry”
o Scotland is sick and ill because the GCOB has been broken and disturbed
 “new widows howl, new orphans cry”
o His care is for the whole country – not just those close to hi
o Hence he left his own wife and children to try and save the women and children of the whole country
 Contrast to Macbeth – acts for the good of others, not the good of himself
 Selfless not selfish/
o Macbeth’s allegiance is to himself and his wife
 Macduff’s is to Scotland
 “lest our old robes sit easier than our new”
o Predicting Scotland will change for the worse
o There will be chaos and a divergence from the peace of the past
 Will not accept a ruler who is tyrannous
 Testing of Malcolm (4.3)
o It is when Malcolm changes from character flaws (like greed and lust) to the disruption of Scotland’s order that
Macduff rejects him
 “I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell”
 Macduff declares such a ruler would be “fit to govern? No not to live!”
 Complete loyalty to Scotland
o He is not naïve – he will not accept something that wouldn’t be good for the country
 Shows great emotion towards the well being of the country
o “thy hope ends here” – he would not be able to live in happiness if Scotland was ruled by a tyrant
 He goes to try and save Scotland at the greatest cost – his family
o Ross speaks up for Macduff – “he is noble, wise, judicious”
o “cruel are the times when we are traitor and do not know ourselves” – Macduff is only doing what he thinks is best
for Scotland
o In not being a traitor to Scotland, he is a traitor to his family
 Reverse of Macbeth – obeys wife, traitor to country

Embraces emotion
 His violence is not dangerous like Macbeth’s
 It comes from love and emotion for his country and family
 “grief convert to anger” “He has no children”
 Very emotional reaction to the death of his family “Grief convert to
 “he has no children” anger”
o Only a man without children of his own could kill someone else’s
o It is not natural
o Also the pain that there is no way for Macbeth to receive retribution – no way to deliver a pain equal to having your
children killed
o Nothing Macduff can do will truly pay for this pain – not even killing Macbeth
 Losing family is a greater pain than death
  Passage punctuated with questions
o Repeat questions he has already asked - “all my pretty ones” “my children too” “my wife kill’d too”
o Shows his disbelief that someone could even do that
 Contrast to Macbeth
o “she should have died hereafter”
o Selfish ambition before all else
 Recognizes that to be masculine is to “dispute it “ but to be human is to “feel it as a man”
o Masculinity must be regulated by humanity – violence restricted by what is just and humane
o This is the difference between a good, honourable, brave person and a evil, tyrant
o Macbeth was violent without emotion or goodness – without limit (“very firstlings”

Foil to macbeth
 Represent fight between good and evil
 Biblical scale – a representation of sin being defeated and order restored
 Defeating Macbeth is his destiny
 Suspected him from start
 Prophesized – “man of woman born”
 He has the opposite definition of manhood to Macbeth
 Not the resistance to emotion but the embracing of them
 His bravery is selfless and out of a love for his country
 Violence is for a justified cause (not murder) and it is only proportional to what is needed
 He is confident in facing Macbeth
 “turn hell hound, turn”
 Not afraid to fight him – he has righteousness on his side “Turn hell hound,
 His true bravery exposes Macbeth’s cowardice turn”
o Once the prophecy is proven false - “I will not fight with thee”
o His confidence and bravery came from hubris – pride due to the witches’ prophecies
 Macbeth has been a coward since act 1
o Killed Duncan in his sleep
o Killed Banquo with murderers
 Macduff’s bravery is pure and honourable
o Kills Macbeth in battle

Restores Order
 Needs to be Macduff rather than Malcolm
 So that Malcolm’s reign isn’t tainted by violence – maintain purity
 Macduff has the strongest reason for it – revenge
o Killing from emotion – more acceptable
 Source of Anagnorisis
 Reveals the ambivalence and double sense of the witches’ prophecies
o Forces Macbeth to realize his mistakes in trusting them
o He was warned of Macduff all along but chose to interpret prophecies in the way he wanted them to be
 It is only then that Macbeth realizes the witches were “juggling fiends”
 Bringer of Truth
 He calls Macbeth by what he is – “tyrant” “hellhound” “bloodier villain”
 He brings truth to the deception that has been Macbeths reign
 Exposes him for what he is
 Purge Scotland of illness
 “bleed bleed poor country”
 The blood that must be bled is Macbeth’s

Quotes
See the great doom’s image
O horror, horror, horror
Wherefore did you so?
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the lord’s
annointed temple
Bleed, bleed poor country
New widows howl, new orphans cry
He has no children
Grief convert to anger
Turn hell hound, turn