TEXT: Macbeth THEMES TO CONSIDER: Gothic, unnatural, gender roles, fate, power, occult CHARACTERS TO COVER: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, witches, Banquo Quotation Technique Who said When Social context LINKS/THEME Fair is foul and foul is fair The alliteration, oxymoron foreshadows the gothic unnatural deeds to come The witches speak in a different rhythm form the rest of the characters in the play. Instead of ten syllable pentameter, the speak in six of seven syllable lines. The use of three feet in their rhythm is symbolic of their witchcraft as three was seen as a “magic number”. Witches Act 1 scene1 James I was obsessed with witches, wrote Daemonologie. Gothic, unnatural, fate “For brave Macbeth – well he deserved that name” The adjective “brave” shows the high status and respect shown to Macbeth t the start of the play – in keeping with Aristotelian tragic heroes Sergeant Act 1 scene 2 In Aristotelian tragedies, The hero should begin the play in a position of and his tragic flaw leads him to a tragic descent. Bravery, Manly virtues
“unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps” The violent imagery highlights the violence of the society and that Macbeth is capable of inflicting on others Sergeant Ac 1 scene 2 The violence is fitting with his role as a warrior and a man. The violence also has suggestions of the violence exhibited in the Civil war of the 1400s in England where family members murdered each other for power. Violence, Manly virtues “New honors come upon him,. Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold.” The metaphor of titles being ill-fitting clothing infers how fate can place humans in uncomfortable situations which are impossible to escape. Banquo Act 1 Scene 3 The concept of and fate would have been debated in Shakespearean times as the Renaissance had stimulated questions about divine predestination and whether fate exists. Fate “The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it pays itself” The language used reveals the loyalty Macbeth wishes to show his king, which is ironic as he will soon be disloyal. Dramatic irony. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 4 Such loyalty was expected in Shakespearean times, especially by James I, as he believed that Kings were appointed by God, and wrote this in his “Divine Right of Kings”. Power, “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires:” Dark and light imagery, alliteration emphasising the sinful intentions of Macbeth to kill his king. The gothic transgression is highlighted by the use of natural imagery, suggesting the “dark desires” are unnatural Macbeth Act 1 Scene 4 The imagery is poignant as the Shakespearean audience would see regicide as a sin against god. Gothic, power, occult, unnatural
“The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements.” The dark animal imagery highlights the unnatural dark intentions of Lady Macbeth. The possessive pronoun “my” infers Lady’ Macbeth’s position of control in her relationship. Lady Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 A Shakespearean audience would not expect a female to be dominant in a relationship as they lived in a very patriarchal society Gothic, power, occult, gender “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,” The imperative verbs used in this soliloquy suggest that Lady Macbeth is delivering an incantation, which is reminiscent of the witches. Lady Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 The use of witchcraft language wuld shock the audience and be at odds with the growing Puritanical culture in Jacobean society. The desire to reverse gender expectations would surprise the Shakespearean audience, who lived in a society where gender roles were strictly divided between men and women: women were expected to be child-carers and men were expected to be more ruthless and violent. The idea of a women becoming ruthless, violent and evil could allude to Elizabeth I. As Shakespeare wrote the play with the desire to win favour with James I, creating an evil woman character, who leads others to murder in order to gain power, would lead to comparisons with Elizabeth I. The queen even gave a speech to her troops where she said, “I know I have the body of a Gothic (transgression), power, occult, gender, The command to “unsex me here” highlights Lady Macbeth’s desire to be given more manly attributes and lose her female qualities.
weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king”. Furthermore such a negative portrayal of Elizabeth I, would prove popular with James, whose mother was imprisoned and executed by Elizabeth to solidify her claim to the throne. “Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall,” The juxtaposition of “milk” and “gall” emphasise the gender role reversal that Lady Macbeth desires. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 5 The desire to lose womanly virtues and take on violent virtues expected only from men would go against the Shakespearean gender expectations where women were expected to be nurturing and caring. The refuting of nurturing qualities could allude to Elizabeth I who was childless and therefore showed no mothering qualities. Gothic (transgression), power, occult, gender, “you murdering ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances” The alliterative “m” sounds and sibilant “sightless substances” both connote sexual desire, revealing the excitement of Lady Macbeth as she delivers her incantantion. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 5 The desire to lose womanly virtues and take on violent virtues expected only from men would go against the Shakespearean gender expectations where women were expected to be nurturing and caring. Gothic (transgression), power, occult, gender, “look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't.” The juxtaposition of “innocent flower” and prelapsarian “serpent” emphasises the deviousness of Lady Macbeth’s intended plan. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 5 The reference to “flower” and “serpent” is apt as the Dutch government in 1606 produced a coin in celebration of the foiling of the gunpowder plot in England (where Guy Fawkes attempted to overthrow the Gothic (transgression), power
bring uncontrollable consequences “Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips” The metaphorical language highlights Macbeth’s concerns that murdering Duncan will cause awful consequences. Macbeth Act 1 scene 7 The doubts Macbeth exhibits fit with the views of James I that regicide was a grave sin, as he wrote in The Divine Right of Kings that Kings were appointed by God Gothic (transgression), power, occult, gender, fate “Prithee, peace: I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.” The alliteration emphasises how Macbeth is insulted by Lady Macbeth insulting his manliness Macbeth Act 1 scene 7 The questioning of Macbeth’s manhood again forces the audience to consider the gender roles in the play and society power, gender, “When you durst do it, then you were a man;” The monosyllabic line and alliterative plosive phrase “durst do it” emphasises Lady Macbeth’s insulting accusation. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 7 Shakespeare has Lady Macbeth skilfully manipulate her husband through questioning his masculinity as women in Jacobean society would rarely voice their disgust at their husbands as they were expected to obey their husbands. power, gender, “I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash'd the brains out” The horrific juxtaposition of nursing a child and violently killing id (emphasised by the onomatopoeic “dash’d”) demonstrates the psychotic nature of Lady Macbeth and her determination to have her murderous plan enacted. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 7 SEE earlier Elizabeth I comparisons. power, gender, violence
a cursed and illegitimate position. stimulated questions about divine predestination and whether fate exists. “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day” The repetition of tomorrow and the plosive alliteration of “petty pace” highlight Macbeth’s regret and disgust at fate and his inescapable position. Macbeth Act 5 scene 2 The concept of and fate would have been debated in Shakespearean times as the Renaissance had stimulated questions about divine predestination and whether fate exists. Fate, violence, power, occult, gothic