Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

[ Macbeth background]
William Shakespeare
• born and raised in Stratford upon Avon, England
• believed to be born on 23rd April 1564
• At the age of 18 he married a 26-year-old, Anne Hathaway
• Belonged to acting company called Lord Chamberlain’s men,
they built the globe theatre. When Queen Elizibeth I died and
King James I took over the name changed to the King’s men.
• Macbeth was written for Kind James
• Shakespeare became a director, actor, playwright and
shareholder in the company, and became quite wealthy
• He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets
• In 1611 retired to Stratford upon Avon
• In 1616 he died on 23rd April (his believed birthday)

Entertainment in Elizabethan times

• Very different form today
• Only boys and men were allowed to act on stage. There was a law that ladies were not
allowed to act

The globe theatre

• Shaped like an enormous ring doughnut
• Sometimes called the “Wooden O”
• 3 Storeys, open air area in middle called ‘the pit’
• Bricks and timber
• Burnt down in 1613 due to a canon that was set
off, thus setting fire to the roof. It happened
during a performance of henry VIII, the globe
was rebuilt immediately
• 3000 people could be held inside and 1000 people
could stand outside
• Was on the south bank of the river Thames in London, England
• Outside city = could not be controlled by officials who disapproved of theatres
• 1642 – The puritans got the globe closed down
puritans – a group of people who condemned theatres as evil as it showcased
scandals
• Plays had to be performed in the day, because there was no artificial lighting
• Plays were only staged in the summer, because there was more daylight than in the
winter

The Pit:
• Common Folk paid 1 penny to stand in the yard.
• Cheapest tickets.
• 500 max.
• Audience was called groundlings/ stinkards.
• Kept it lively by throwing fruits+ nuts etc.
• Known to be aggressive+ violent.

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Posh folk:
• Tickets around edge of pit cost 2
pennies.
• Seating for 1500 people.
• To the left+ right of musicians’ area,
above stage were most expensive
seats.
• 5 pennies.
• Rich nobles paid to sit on side of stage
on cushioned seats- they did this to be
seen.
The heavens and the hell:
• Painted ceiling= heavens.
• Angels/ fairies would fly around by
swinging with ropes.
• Hell located under the stage+ located
under the trapped door.
• Characters associated with evil
entered the stage like this.
The balcony:
• Gallery above the stage was
sometimes required by musicians.
• Sometimes used to enact other
scenes like Romeo+ Juliet.@ the
balcony scene.
Playhouse flags:
• Black= tragedy. [ Macbeth/ Hamlet]
• White= comedy. [ Merchant of Venice]
• Red= historical. [ Henry VIII/ Julius
Caesar]
The divine right of kings:
• Kings were seen as God’s
representatives on earth thus they
were the supreme upholder of order
on earth.
• If this position was violated [ killed] it
would destroy the perfect order in
the universe and bring chaos to the
world.
• Any act of treason or treachery
against king was considered a mortal
sin against God.
• Penalty was death.
Macbeth 13 April 2023
The great chain of being:
During the middle age people believed
everything was arranged in certain
order.
The Celestial world:
1. God
2. Angels
Human world:
1. King
2. Pope
3. Men in all positions placed above
female counterparts like Dukes, Lords
and Thanes.
4. Slave or savage
The Sublunary world:
1. Man
2. Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish+
insects.
3. Oysters then unmoving animals.
4. Trees, flowers, grass.
5. Inanimate objects: gold above silver,
metals above stones, soil above clay.
Satan and the fallen angels were not
part of the great chain of being coz
Satan’s crime was to challenge this
hierarchy and continues to try undo it.
Violations of hierarchy such as killing the
king or adopting animalistic behavior
were associated with chaos and
unravelling God’s plan. EVIL.
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Scotland:
• M is set during the Medieval times
around the +-11th century in Scotland, in
the northernmost region of what is
known as the UK.
• Due to the location far north,
Scotland is often damp, dark and
dreary, which creates perfect setting
for a play of witchcraft+ evil deeds
done under the cover of darkness.
• In scene 2 of play, 2 battles are
mentioned:
- A rebellion led by Macdonwald- a
Scottish traitor. He has raised an
army of Irish mercenaries. [
Western Isles] to fight king Duncan.
- Sweno, the King of Norway, has
invaded and landed in Fife with large
army. The Thane of Cawdor, a
Scottish nobleman turns traitor as
well and allies with Sweno.
• Most scenes take place in Scotland.
• King Duncan’s headquarters are at
Forres.
• Much of the action takes place around
Macbeth’s castle at Inverness.
• Closing battle takes place at his castle
at Dunsinane.
• For an Elizabethan audience, the play
would have been frightening because it
was set at both a time and place that
had wild reputation.
Macbeth:
• Ideas for his plays were found in in
historical sources.
• Lives of great rulers with their
dramatic conflicts provided excellent
plots for plays.
• Did not follow his sources closely, he
messed with the facts.
• He took the most interesting parts
and sometimes added new material to
make it exciting on stage.
• For Macbeth he used Holinshed’s
Chronicles of England, Scotland, and
Ireland as his source.
• A number of alterations.
• Macbeth was written in 1606 during
Elizabethan era.
13 April 2023
Witches and witchcraft:
• Shakespeare drew on the popular
traditions of his time and used them
for his own purposes.
• Popular beliefs about witches+
witchcraft:
• Associated with the dark+ death.
• In Christian countries they were
thought to be the agents of Satan
going about their business at night.
• They were believed to gather near
graves to conduct their evil rites and
make potions+ poisons.
• Frowned upon by society.
• If people were accused of witchcraft
they were tried and if found guilty,
executed.
• 2 common ways of killing witches were
by burning at the stake and drowning.
• King James 1 was a devout believer in
witchcraft, and he even published a
book on the subject- he advocated
that witches should pursued. [ he
hates witches]
• Witches were supposed to be capable
of doing all the things that the three
weird sisters are said to perform in
Macbeth.
• Believed that they could see into the
future, that they could create
storms, hail, thunder and lightning.
• Believed to be able to sink ships, dry up
springs, stop the sun and change night
to day and day to night.
• Cause death of enemies and could
make themselves invisible, it was
believed.
• Open graves and steal parts of the
bodies to make potions.
• Could call up the dead and converse
with spirits.
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Shakespeare’s language:
• Language has 3 different forms-
blank verse, verse with rhyme, and
prose. [ noble- blank; witch- rhyme;
normal- prose]
• Each of these is significant and is used
by Shakespeare and other playwrights
of his time to give particular effects.
• They help to indicate to the audience
the social status or nature of person
who is speaking.
• All the noble spoke in blank verse.
• The chanting sound of the witches’
speech opens the play immediately
signals to audience that these are
strange beings different from
ordinary country folk.
• His use of form varies and is flexible
for a purpose.
Blank Verse:
• Verse without rhyme with definite
rhythmic pattern.
• Iambic pentameter which means that
rhythmic pattern of line is made up of
five iambs or beats.
• Most of play is blank verse coz M is
predominantly about the upper
classes.
• Blank verse is mostly preferred form
coz it’s close to natural speaking
rhythms of English, but its formal
rhythmic structure elevates it above
ordinary speech and thus leads an
element of distinction to the speech
of nobles.
• Lack of rhyme is significant coz
rhyme would bring a sing-song effect
destroying the impression of natural
speech.
• Sharing of a line of blank verse by 2
speakers.
• Gives an impression of urgency to the
dialogue- that the 2nd speaker is
rushing to respond to the 1st.
Macbeth 13 April 2023
Rhymed verse:
• Witches speak in trochaic tetrameter
[ chanting speech]
• Lines made up of 4 feet or 8 beats
with emphasis on 1st syllable.
• Weirdness of witches and their
horribly capricious brand of evil are
brought to life by the combination of
this childlike- seeming chant with its
simple language and their gleeful
descriptions of their evil pastimes.
Prose:
• Refers to ordinary speech with no
regular pattern of accentual rhythm.
• Text does not all have same number
of syllables.
• Flexibility of prose allows Shakespeare
to produce widely different effects is
clearly demonstrated in M.
• Prose is form of speech used by
common and often comic people in
Shakespearean drama.
• The porter’s drunken ramblings are
set in prose.
• Important characters can also speak
in prose.
• In her sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth
loses the customary controls of
verse and talks ‘straight’ for the 1st
time in the play.
Understanding Shakespeare’s use
of pronouns:
• Modern English uses only four
pronouns for addressing a person’s
you, your, yourself, and yours.
• Used ten pronouns: thou, thee, thy,
thyself, thine, ye, you, yourself and
yours.
• Use of these pronouns were
grammatical and cultural.
• Their application depended not only on
syntax but also on social status of
the persons addressed.
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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

[ Act 1 scene 1: ]
Setting:
An open place. Heath or bar wasteland,
Scotland
Themes:
natural vs. supernatural:
Line 2: what happens in society is
mirrored in nature. The witch’s intent is
to create disturbances. Troubled an
ominous atmosphere.
The witch’s evilness is emphasized by
lightning and thunder
Chain of being:
Line 3: ‘when the hurly-burly’s done’
Fighting noise+ confusion is over. These
are consequences of the power
struggles involving traitors.
Winning and losing:
Line 4: “when the battle’s lost and won”
One side will lose+ the other will win. Even
the side that has won has lost some
soldiers during battle.
Fate vs free will:
Line 7: “there to meet with Macbeth”
To meet with Macbeth whom is
corruptible.
Appearance vs reality:
Line 11: “fair is foul and foul is fair”
Appears to be good, but turns out to be
evil+ the other way around. What is evil
will be corrupted to look good by
witches.
Figures of speech:
Paradox
• “Lost and won”
• Even if they won the battle, they
would still have lost the lives of their
soldiers
Paradox and pun
• “Fair is foul and foul is fair”
• Witches’ motto
• Good is evil and evil is good
Important quotes:
• “Fair is foul and foul is fair” – things
aren’t what they seem
• “When the battle’s lost and won” –
Paradox – soldiers are lost on both
sides of the lines
Summary:
• Play opens with a storm in the heath.
• 3 witches are discussing when they will
meet again.
• Mention M’s name + the battle.
• Their evil comes to show.
• Arrange to meet with M.
• Know M is corruptible.

Characters:
Witches:
Weird sisters.
Interested in MB
Evil and foul weather.
Macbeth:
Might be tempted to do evil.
Corruptible.
Gray Malkin:
1st witch’s familiar [cat].
Paddock:
3rd witch’s familiar [toad]

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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

[ Act 1 scene 2: ]
Setting: Figures of speech:
• Camp near Forres. Simile
• Forres is King Duncan’s military camp • line 8+9: “2 spent swimmers”
• during the battle the two armies were
Themes: compared to 2 tired swimmers holding
Betrayal: onto each other, as one is above
Line 65-66: “Our bosom interest. Go water then the other is under, and so
pronounce his present death, and with his the motion continues, this shows that
former title greet M.” it was unclear who would win the
Former TOC loses title to M+ also loses battle.
life
Personification
Winning and losing: • line 14-15:
Line 18: even the winning side loses • Macdonwald thought that fortune
soldiers. was on their side, but in reality, it
seems like fortune was on Macbeth’s
Appearance vs reality: side.
TOC seemed to be loyal to KD but
turned out to be traitors. Metaphor
• line 17: “brandished steel”
Characters: • meaning a sword.
Duncan: Personification
Too old to fight.
• line 17: “disdaining fortune”
2 sons Malcolm+ Donalbain. Malcolm is • -M pays no attention to fortune.
oldest. Donalbain is the youngest
Metaphor
Wounded Sergeant: • line 18: “smoked bloody with execution
Gives account of battle and M’s like valour’s minion”
bravery. • many deaths+ M is like a servant for
bravery, it almost looks as if the
Ross: sword were causing the damage not
Brings news M has defeated the
the person wielding the sword.
enemies.
Personification
Macbeth: • “My gashes cry for help”
Mighty and brave.
• His injuries cannot cry or ask for help,
Macdonwald: only the person experiencing the pain
Rebel. can cry for help

Thane of Cawdor: Metaphor

Secret traitor. • line 25-28
• just when they thought the battle
Lennox+ attendants: was over new threats arrived.

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Simile
• line 35: “as sparrows eagles, or the
hare the lion.”
• M+ B are as afraid of the new threat
as an eagle is afraid of a sparrow. This
simile shows their fearlessness on the
battlefield. They were not afraid of
the threat.
Simile
• line 37:
• M+B are like cannons filled with twice
number of explosives. Thus, showing
that they are ready for a new battle
to begin.
Metaphor
• line 54: “Bellona’s bridegroom.”
• M fought so bravely that it seemed
he could be the husband of the roman
goddess of war.
Important quotes:
• “The victory fell on us”- Ross with
news of M’s victory. Winning+ losing.
• “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall
deceive our bosom interest, go
pronounce his present death.” – refers
to KD. Deception.
[ Act 1 scene 3: ]
Setting:
• A heath near the Battlefield.
• Setting suits, the characters [ foul
weather and evil witches]
Themes:
Ambition:
M is eager to become King + puts beliefs
in witches as their prophecy echoes his
desire.
Equivocation/ deception/ good vs evil:
Witches say 1 thing + mean another. Hide
the truth and lure M with words that
sound good.
Macbeth 13 April 2023
• “What he hath lost, noble M hath
won.”- KD repaying M for his loyalty
and bravery. [irony] Winning+ losing.
Summary:
• KD waiting for reports from the
battlefield.
• Wounded sergeant tells him of M’s
bravery.
• Also, of Macdonwalds betrayal.
• Ross arrives with news that king of
Norway [Sweno] + Cawdor [traitor] are
defeated.
• Duncan orders death of TOC and
promises to reward M with his title.
Two battles:
• M+B fight Macdonwald+ Irish
mercenaries.
• Battle is undecided.
• M kills Macdonwald.
• Irish flees.
• Sweno behind Macdonwald.
• Attack M from rear.
• M defeats Norwegians.
• M is hero and kills many. [ valor’s
minion]
• Sweno begs for peace.
Reversal of natural order/ kingship vs
Tyranny:
Regicide is punishable by death// even
the mere thought of it is.
appearance vs reality:
Witches have beards that prevents B
from correctly identifying them.
Clothing image
is used to refer to titles. He says the
title is not his therefore he is borrowing
a robe since TOC is still alive.
Fate vs free will
“If chance may have me king, why
chance, may crown me without my stir”
M chooses that he will become king in
good time and to not intervene with
fate.
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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

Characters: Important quotes:

Witches: • “So foul and fair a day I have not
• Evil. seen”- M. Ironic that such a brave,
• Want M’s soul. loyal soldier should repeat the witches’
• Persuading. words.
• Manipulative. • “…why do you start and seem to fear
things that do sound so fair”- Banquo
Macbeth: repeats words.
• Corruptible.
• “What, can the devil speak true? –
• Trusts witches.
Banquo immediately recognizes the evil
Banquo: in the witches. He doesn’t put his trust
• Not trust witches. in them.
• Thoughts are pure + warns M about • “Why do you dress me in borrowed
witches. robes?” – He is unknowledge about
becoming TOC – [clothing image]
Ross:
Angus: Summary:
• Witches meet again to prepare for M.
Figures of speech: • Tell about their evil deeds+ suffering
Dramatic irony of captain.
very words of the witches under the
• Banquo sees them 1st and they do not
spell- they name M TOC.
respond to him, since he is not evil, he
Metaphor and clothing image cannot be corrupted, on the other
• “Why do you dress me in borrowed hand they only speak to MB thus
robes” showing us again that MB is not pure,
• Titles are compared to clothes he is already being corrupted
• M’s new title is compared to the • They call Macbeth Thane of Glamis,
previous owner of the title, he says Thane of Cawdor and future king.
that it is a borrowed title since the • They tell Banquo lesser than MB but
previous ToC is still alive greater, not so happy yet much
happier, not king but father of kings…
Irony/pun/alliteration/paradox - all lies.
• “So fair and foul a day” + “fear… that
• Ross+ Angus tell M that he is TOC + he
do sound so fair”
must go to Duncan.
• It’s the witch’s motto
• 1st soliloquy- ambition= he has already
• It is ironic that such a loyal soldier
thought of murder - fate vs free will.
repeats their words
• Foul = weather, fair = victories of the
battle

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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

[ Act 1 scene 4: ]
Setting: Characters:
Forres. Duncan’s palace Duncan:
Oblivious + unaware of the evil deeds
Themes: being planned against him
Appearance vs reality:
• Line 11-14: “There’s no art to find the Fair, rewards everyone.
mind’s construction in the face.”- M is
Malcolm:
trustworthy in looks but he is plotting Becomes PoC
a murder.
• Line 23: “In doing it, pays itself.” – M Donalbain:
talks about his loyalty when planning a Greedy+ angry.
murder. Macbeth:
• Line 44-45: M says that everything • Shocked because he thought he will be
done by him, that is not done for the named prince of Cumberland.
king, is hard work. • Greedy+ jealous.
• Ambitious.
Ambition:
Wants to be king and is willing to get rid • Appears to be loyal but isn’t
of any obstacles in his way • Insincere and corruptible
• Duncan’s cousin
Good vs evil: • Chooses to take him becoming king
Asks for darkness to cover evil deeds. into his own hands, wants to kill D and
Because he knows what he’s doing is M
wrong
Ross+ Angus+ Lennox:
Fate vs free will:
Makes conscious decision to kill the king.

Summary:
• Malcolm- Tells KD TOC confessed+ died
noble death.
• Duncan thanks M for role in battle.
• Malcolm= prince of Cumberland
[Duncan’s heir].
• M sees this as an obstacle.
• Starts taking matters into his own
hands to make sure the prophecy
comes true.
• Duncan says they will go to celebrate
the victory at INVERNESS M’s castle.
• M goes ahead to tell Lady M.

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Figures of speech:
Metaphor:
• “I have begun to plant thee, and will
labor to make thee full of growing”
• Duncan compares his people and
servants to children who are obedient
to him
Simile
• “… signs of nobleness like stars”
• Nobility is compared to the stars
Metaphor
• “That is a step on which I must fall
down, or o’erleap for in my way it lies.”
• Macbeth sees D and M as
stones/obstacles he need to remove
from his path in order to become king
Personification:
• “Stars hide your fires.”
• MB is talking to the stars, he is asking
them to not shine, he wants to hide his
evil desires from everyone.
[ Act 1 scene 5: ]
Setting:
Inverness M’s castle
Irony:
• Line 14-21: LM describes
characteristics that she sees as
weakness, audience knows that M has
already begun to plan the murder.
• Line 57: LM wants to know when KD will
leave again but she has already
decided to kill him.
• Line 65: LM is going to “take care” of
KD- she’s going to kill him.
• “Wouldst not play false, and yet
wouldst wrongly win.” M is plotting KD’s
murder.
Macbeth 13 April 2023
Important quotes:
• “There’s no art to find the mind’s
construction in the face.”- Duncan/
TOC. [appearance vs reality]
• “There if I grow the harvest is your
own.” -Banquo is sincere+ loyal to
Duncan.
• “That is a step on which I must fall
down or o’erleap, for in my way it
lies.”-[ambition/ fate vs free will]
• “Stars hide your fires, let not light see
my black and deep desires.” [good vs
evil]
• “It is a something Kingsman.” -M=
plotting KD murder.
Themes:
Good vs evil/ light vs dark:
• M is inherently good; ambitious which is
also his downfall.
• LM asks power of darkness to help
her.
• LM uses power of words to influence
M negatively.
Deception:
M should appear innocent before the
king and everyone else but should also be
prepared to commit the murder.
Appearance vs reality:
“Look like the innocent flower…” MB
must look innocent but he must be like a
serpent
Reversal of natural order:
Regicide (to kill your king)
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Characters:
Lady Macbeth:
• Stronger.
• Ambitious – but more determined
• Cruel.
• Influence over M.
• In control.
• Ruthless.
• Manipulative – pressures MB into
taking the crown
• Doesn’t want inner conflict like MB
Macbeth:
• Too Kind, not evil enough
• Indecisive, he wants to become king
but cannot decide if they should leave
it up to fate or if they should kill
Duncan
• Moral.
• Ambitious+ not wicked, he is a man of
conscience
• Wants to gain achievements
legitimately.
• Won’t do anything evil, but if
something falls into his lap that was
achieved through evil, he will gladly
accept it
• “My dearest partner of greatness” –
They have a very loving relationship, in
which they can share secrets.
Summary:
• LM reading M’s letter about witches’
prophecies.
• He is too gentle to achieve greatness.
• She will have to sacrifice her humanity
to help him get the crown.
• Messenger arrives to announce
Duncan’s visit.
• LM decides Duncan must die.
• M arrives and they discuss their plans.
Macbeth 13 April 2023
Figures of speech:
Metaphor
• L23-28
• poison his thoughts with her words.
Metaphor and personification, also
symbol of death.
• L36-38: “the raven himself is hoarse.”
• Messenger has foretold the murder
of KD without realizing it.
Personification
• L50: “that my keen knife does not see
the wound it makes”
• the knife is an inanimate object that
cannot see but can inflict wounds.
Personification
• L48-50: “Come thick night and pall thee
in the dunnest smoke of hell.”
• heaven must not be able to see
through his darkness to stop her.
[good vs evil/ ambition] They know
what they’re planning is wrong and evil
Simile
• L60-61: “Your face, my thane, is as a
book where men may read strange
matters”
• M’s face is compared to a book that
can be read easily. He must learn to
hide his emotions to appear innocent
Simile
• L62-64: “Look like innocent flower but
be the serpent underneath”
• M must look innocent but he must be
ready to strike like the serpent
Metaphor
• “O never shall sun that morrow see
the next light of day.”
• KD will not see the next light of day,
since he will be killed in the castle at
night. [reversal of natural order]
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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

Important quotes:
• “Yet I do fear thy nature. It is too full of the milk of human kindness.”- LM about M.
• “Unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the…” – LM calling on evil forces to help
her to guide M. [ goof vs evil/ destruction of natural order/ ambition]
• “Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters.”- LM telling
him to hide his true feelings [appearance vs reality]
• “Only look up clear. To altar favor ever is to fear.” -LM is telling M to change the
expression on his face coz it could be interpreted as fear. [appearance vs reality]
• “My dearest partner of greatness” – LMB and MB shares a loving relationship in which
they can share secrets and confide in each other.

[ Act 1 scene 6: ]
Setting: Characters:
Inverness. - Outside. Duncan:
Fatal flaw = Too trusting.
Themes:
Good vs evil: Rewards those loyal to him
KD awarded M + he plans to do more Cousin of M.
which justifies KD’s goodness + fairness
as a king, while LM + M is plotting evil. Trusts M= good relationship.

LM echoes the witches. Malcolm:

Donalbain:
LM welcomes Duncan but is planning his
Banquo:
murder.
Macduff:
Duncan is good and LMB is evil Ross+ Angus:
Appearance vs reality/ equivocation: Lady Macbeth:
Appears to be loyal.
Castle looks pleasant+ peaceful, but
inside M + LM acts the gracious hostess
to hide her betrayal + limit suspicions.
Figures of speech:
• Simile
LM doesn’t feel any loyalty towards KD • L23-24: “And his great love sharp as a
even if she says so. (She says what she is spur.”
supposed to feel but in reality, she does • M’s love for LM is compared to a
not) horse that runs very fast to reach
its destination. He has hurried home to
Kingship vs tyranny: see his wife/ plan KD’s murder.
Duncan is fair+ kind, giving- thanks LM
for hospitality
Summary:
• KD and his followers arrive outside
Important quotes: Macbeth’s castle.
• “This castle hath a pleasant seat”-
• Banquo+ Duncan talks about the
KD.
beauty and serenity of the scene.
• “And his great love sharp as his spur.”
• LM comes to greet them and acts as
-KD.
the perfect hostess.

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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023
•

Irony:
• Line 14-20: LM’s language is formal to show her loyalty and obedience towards the
king, but she is not sincere.
• Line 25-28: D could inspect the castle and find it in order- suggests everything is fine
and there is no need to fear, but his murder was plotted in one of the rooms.
• Line 1: [dramatic] D does not know how misleading this atmosphere is and that, behind
the walls, his host+ hostess is planning his murder. Ironic that KD finds the setting
peaceful.
• Line 10-31: KD is totally unsuspecting of the cruel hypocrisy. LM’s welcoming speech.
What she says she feels is what she should feel, but she does not.

[ Act 1 scene 7: ]
Setting:
Inverness- inside.
Themes:
Appearance vs reality:
“False face… false heart.”- M must
pretend to enjoy the feast while hiding
his true feelings.
Good vs evil:
• M decides not to proceed.
• LM manipulates him [negative
influence].
• Calls him unmanly.
Ambition.
• Remains MB’s fatal flaw
• Wants to become king but is too
pleased with his new title
• Does not have enough courage to
stand up to his wife
Kingship vs tyranny:
• Tyrant = someone who only cares for
himself, and will go against the rules to
achieve what he wants – MB
• King = looks after his subjects and is a
good and kind king, rewards those loyal
to him – D
Characters:
Butler and servants:
Macbeth:
• Ambitious. [fatal flaw]
• Inner conflict+ lacks courage.
• Brave outside+ coward inside.
• Indecisive.
• Afraid of going to hell.
• Worries about soul.
• He wants to impress LMB so he
willingly agrees to the plan despite his
morals.
Lady Macbeth:
• Ruthless + cunning. + confident
• Cruel+ manipulative. – calls MB a
coward
• Go-getter, - woman/man of her
word
• Ambitious.
• Admired by MB
Irony:
Line 15-16: as a host your guest’s safety
should be the most important goal. It
would be completely wrong to betray his
trust. LM does betray the trust.
Important notes:
• “I have no spur to prick the sides of
my intent but only vaulting ambition.” –
[ambition/ fatal flaw].

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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

Figures of speech:
Metaphor Summary:
• L6: “But here upon this bank and shoal • Duncan and noblemen at feast.
of time.” • M leaves the feast and is thinking
• M compares his life to a sand bank in about what he should do.
ocean of eternity. • LM persuades him to carry out the
murder.
Metaphor
• L10: “the even-handed justice”
• Justice is compared to a woman
holding a scale

Simile
• L18-19: “that his virtues will plead like
angels…”
• KD’s good virtues will cry out like
angels against murder.
• “But screw your courage to the
sticking place and we’ll not fail.’- LM is
ruthless.
• “Bring forth men children only.” -M
about LM.
• “False face must hide what the false
heart doth know.” M [appearance vs
reality]

[ Act 2 scene 1: ]
Setting:
Inverness- courtyard. (After dinner)
Summary:
• Banquo+ Fleance comment on dark night.
• Surprised to find M still awake.
• Banquo+ M talk about prophecies.
• M lies to Banquo to test his loyalty.
• Banquo sticks to honesty.
• The sergeant exits to tell LM to ring
bell this is the sign that the scene for
the murder is set.
• M hallucinates about dagger.
Important quotes:
• “Is this a dagger which I see before
me, the handle toward my hand?”-
soliloquy guilty conscience.
• “… but still keep my bosom franchised
and allegiance clear, I shall be
counselled!”- Banquo staying loyal to
Duncan+ having clear conscience.
• “I think not of them!”- M lying to B
about witches’ prophecies.
• “Words to the heat of deeds too cold
breath gives!” – M murder Duncan
before his confidence to act cools.
Themes:
Natural vs supernatural and good vs
evil
• Preparing to murder the king.
• Unlike M, B does not give in to the
witches’ prophecies, yet he senses
something is amiss.
Hosting:
A guest raping the hostess (Tarquin) or
a host murdering a guest (MB) are both
foul crimes against hospitality. Hosts
should protect their guests

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Good vs evil:
• M’s actions in this scene proves
conflict between what is good and evil.
M is moving away from goodness when
having these murderous thoughts.
• B is not associated with any evil or
violence
• “Hold take my sword.”
Equivocation:
“who’s there?” “A friend” MB says he is a
friend but in reality, he is a
murderer/enemy
Deception/good vs. evil/destruction of
natural order
Duncan is at peace unknowing of the evil
being plotted against him
Characters:
Banquo:
• Loyal to KD.
• No violence, does not give into
temptation
• determined to keep his conscience
clear
Fleance:
12-14 years old
Macbeth:
• Lies to B, showing how corrupted he
has become
• Tries to justify his guilty conscience
• Overwrought and hallucinates. (Dagger
resembles the one he must use to kill
D)
• Plans murder. (Takes hallucination as a
sign to go through with murder)
• Becomes the embodiment of murder
Macbeth 13 April 2023
Figures of speech:
Metaphor
• L4: “There’s husbandly in heaven. Their
candles are all out.”
• Heaven seems to be saving its energy
tonight, the stars are compared to
candles
simile+ pun
• “A heavy summons lies like lead upon
me.”
• Summons = calling someone
• Lead = his tiredness is compared to
being as heavy as lead
Irony
• “I think not of them”
• MB says he does not think about the
prophecies, yet it is all that he thinks
about
Soliloquy
• L32: “Is this a dagger which I see
before me?”
• MB’s thoughts before he kills KD, he is
troubled by a guilty conscience thus he
started to hallucinate. He sees a
dagger floating in the air
Irony:
• Line 14: KD gives LM a diamond to
thank her for being a good hostess,
yet she is the one who put murderous
thoughts in M’s mind.
• Line 16: unlike M+LM KD is at peace. He
feels secure even though he should
not.
• Line 20: witches have in fact been the
only thing on his mind.
• Paradox line 49: dreams are supposed
to be peaceful, but wicked dreams
actually refer to nightmares.
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 Danelle Hamman
[ Act 2 scene 2: ]
Setting:
Inside the castle of inverness. A
chamber inside M’s castle.
Themes:
Guilt:
• M feels guilty about killing KD.
• Hallucinates about hands plucking out
his eyes.
Sleep [innocence] and good vs evil
• “M does murder sleep.”
• MB has killed his innocence by killing D
• Not being able to sleep = guilty
conscience
Equivocation and Appearance vs reality
Lie about murder. They put on pj’s to
appear as if they have been sleeping,
they must appear innocent
Characters:
Lady Macbeth:
• Anxious+ does not trust M to
complete the deed.
• Only sign of weakness- D resembled
her father.
• Takes control after M starts falling
apart.
• Ruthless, unfazed by blood
• On edge+ drinking to have courage
• MB failed the plan, she takes action
Macbeth:
• Regrets deed, ill ridden
• Hears voices+ has hallucinations- guilty
conscience.
• Starts falling apart, feels guilty,
unstable
• Feels isolated from God, feels as if he
cannot be reached by God’s mercy
• Failed to stick to the plan, he took the
daggers with him
• He realizes the deed was vile and evil
• No longer a brave and loyal soldier,
now identifies as a murderer
• MB has doomed himself
Macbeth 13 April 2023
Figures of speech:
Metaphor
• L3: “Owl.”
• Owls are thought to be birds of ill
omen+ is compared to the official who
rings the bell outside the cells of
prisoners condemned to death.
Personification
• L7-8:
• Death+ life is struggling to decide
whether attendants live or die.
Metaphor
• L27: “hangman’s hands”
• after people were hanged for treason,
they had to be disemboweled resulting
in bloody hands. Macbeth is the
murderer.
Metaphor
• L38-40: “sleep.”
• M no longer deserves to sleep. Sleep is
also compared to death.
Personification
• L47:
• Blood is personified as a person who
can tell people of M’s crime.
Simile
• L53-54: “sleeping and the dead are but
as pictures.”
• LM accuses disemboweled M of being a
coward when he didn’t want to take
the daggers back.
Hyperbole
• “Will all great Neptune’s Ocean wash
this blood clean from my hand?”
• his bloody hands will rather color the
whole sea red.
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Irony:
• Line 12+13: this is LM’s only sign of
weakness so far. The powers of evil
could not get her to kill the King coz he
resembled her father.
• Antithesis Line 47: refers to the blood
on M’s hands. This is evidence of his
act of killing.
• Line 68-69: M feels so guilty that not
even oceans of water will clear the
deed of his mind.
Important quotes:
• “This is a sorry sight.”- regrets killing
KD.
• “I could not say ‘Amen’.” -M doesn’t
deserve mercy for his treacherous
deed. He is outside of the reach of
God’s grace.
• “You do unbend your noble strength…”
-LM thinks M is a coward.
• “Infirm of purpose.”- she takes
control.
• “I shame to wear a heart so white.”-
LM is ruthless.
[ Act 2 scene 3: ]
Setting:
Inverness, Entry of M’s castle.
Important quotes:
• “Had I but died an hour before this
chance, I had lived a blessed time.”
Dramatic irony.
• “The spring, the head, the fountain of
your blood is stopped.”- pun+
euphemism for death of Duncan.
• “In the great hand of God, I stand.” –
Banquo.
• “Where we are there’s daggers in
men’s smiles, the near in blood, the
nearer bloody.” – metaphor
Macbeth 13 April 2023
Summary:
• LM is waiting for M to return after
murdering Duncan.
• She would have done it herself if he
hadn’t looked so much like her father.
• M returns with blood on his hands and
the daggers of the guards which was
not part of the plan.
• He is appalled that he couldn’t pray.
• LM takes daggers back- M refuses.
• Loud knocking is heard.
• LM tells M to wash the blood from his
hands.
• M wishes KD were still alive.
Themes:
Natural vs supernatural/chain of being
KD’s death was a crack in God’s nature.
Weird winds etc. mature protested
against the murder.
Appearance vs reality:
• LM knows KD was murdered. M knows
what is the matter. LM appears
gentle, but she planned the murder of
KD.
• People’s smiles cannot be trusted
Deception:
• MB must appear sincere, must hide
guilty conscience
• Links with MB’s words – “false face
must hide what the false heart doth
know”
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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

Clothing image: Figures of speech:

It looks like Duncan was covered with a Metaphor and allusion
rich garment • L65-66:” With a new Gorgon”
• In Greek Mythology, the Gorgon
Equivocation:
He’s lying, he says he loved KD, that’s why Medusa (snakes for hair) turns every
he killed the guards, but in reality, he man who looks at her into stone.
wanted to make them look guilty Duncan’s body has the same effect, it
shocks people into standing still.
Characters: Metaphor
Porter: • L70: “and look on death itself”
• Comic relief. • Sleep is compared to death; sleep is a
• Porter of hell’s gates. counterfeit of death.
• Drunk and talkative
Metaphor and allusion
Macduff: • L72: “The great doom’s image”
• Good. • They will see a sight like a picture of
• In a state of panic as he discovered the Last Judgement when ghost will
Duncan’s murder rise from their graves. The sight of a
• Places himself in the position of God dead Duncan is compared to that of
Lennox: which will happen to Christians on the
Nature disturbed mirrors society. Last Judgement Day, when Christians
will rise from the dead
Macbeth:
• Equivocator. Simile
• Has gone beyond the plan, killed the • L73-74: “As from your graves rise up,
guards (he admits he killed the guards and walk like sprites, to countenance
out of love for Duncan – lies) this horror”
• Links with note on the last Judgement
Lady Macbeth:
• Acts as if she knows nothing Irony:
(equivocator) • Line 1: Porter doesn’t know he is
• Faints: 1. Shocked by MB going beyond speaking truth.
the plan • Dramatic irony: “but this place is too
2. Tries to cover their tracks cold for hell.”- Inverness is hell- KD
3. Tries to draw all the attention has been murdered here.
away from MB • Irony+ inner conflict: “twas a rough
Banquo: night.”- inner conflict he is the reason
• Good. for his own restlessness.
• Remains loyal to D • Line 36: we know he has not been
sleeping at all.
Donalbain: • Antithesis line 77-80: LM is seen as
Ireland.
gentle but planned the murder, she is
not weak.

Malcolm:
England.

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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023

Summary:
• The drunken+ talkative porter is called to open the gates of Inverness.
• Macduff+ Lennox have come to wake Duncan.
• M takes them to Duncan’s room.
• Macduff discovers the murder- everyone is shocked.
• LM faints when she hears M did not stick to the plan+ killed the guards too.
• The Thanes decides to get dressed+ meet in the hall.
• Donalbain flees to Ireland.
• Malcolm to England.

[ Act 2 scene 4: ]
Setting:
Outside Inverness. MB’s castle
Themes:
Reversal of natural order:
• Nature retaliated against Duncan’s
murder. Strange things happened.
• Things that normally would be
impossible is now possible like an owl
hunting a falcon, Duncan’s horses
returning to their wild state
• What happens in society is mirrored in
nature.
Kingship vs Tyranny/reversal of
values/overthrown or destruction of
natural order
M’s killing KD makes him a tyrant.
Clothing image
MB is not fit to be king
Figures of speech:
Metaphor+ personification
• L7: “By the clock ‘tis day, and yet dark
night strangles the travelling lamp.”
• Metaphor: Sun is compared to a lamp;
Darkness is closing in on the land like a
tomb would enclose a person
• Personification: The night is given the
ability to strangle
Metaphor
• L38: “Lest our old robes sit easier
than our new”
• Duncan was a better king, than MB will
ever be. Previous times under KD
might have been better than the new
role under M.
Irony/contrast
A king is chosen by God and yet MB has
now become king through deceit and lies

Characters: Important quotes:

Old man: • “A falcon towering in her pride of
place, was by a mousing owl hawked at
Ross:
and killed.”- overthrow of natural
Macduff:
• Doesn’t go to Scone for coronation, order.
goes home to Fife • “Lest our old robes sit easier than our
• Does not support MB, suspects him of new!”- time spent under Duncan’s rule
the murder was easier than the future under M.
• He shows his opposition to M.

Macbeth
Will be crowned king

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 Danelle Hamman Macbeth 13 April 2023
•

Summary:
• Ross and old man discuss strange event of previous night.
• Hawk/ owl; horses; day is dark.
• Macduff reports Malcolm+ Donalbain fled- they have been blamed for the murder.
• Macduff was not convinced they did it.
• M is to succeed Duncan.
• On the way to Scone to be crowned.
• Macduff will not attend coronation.
• Duncan was buried in Colme kill.

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