Macbeth English Review

Macbeth

a valiant Scottish general who receives a prophecy from 3 witches predicting he will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. His ambition, spurred by his wife, leads him to murder King Duncan and usurp the throne, spiraling into tyranny and paranoia

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth’s ambitious and strong willed wife who ruthlessly urges him to murder King Duncan. She later descends into madness and sleepwalking due to overwhelming guilt, eventually taking her own life

The Three Witches (The Weird Sisters)

supernatural entities who manipulate Macbeth with ambitious prophecies about his future. They represent fate, deception, and the chaotic forces of evil

Banquo

a brave Scottish general and Macbeth’s close friend who also receives a prophecy from the witches, that his descendants will inherit the throne. He is later murdered by Macbeth to prevent this lineage but returns as a haunting ghost

King Duncan

the benevolent, virtuous, and respected King of Scotland whom Macbeth assassinates in a betrayal of both loyalty and hospitality

Macduff

the loyal Thane of Fife who grows suspicious of Macbeth’s rise to power early on. He eventually leads the crusade to overthrow Macbeth and seeks personal vengeance after his entire family is slaughtered

Malcolm

King Duncan’s eldest son and the rightful heir to the Scottish throne. He flees to England after his father’s murder, raises an army, and embodies the restoration of moral order

Fleance

Banquo’s young son who survives Macbeth’s assassination attempt, leaving the witches’ prophecy about Banquo’s line intact

Unchecked Ambition

the destructive psychological and political consequences that occur when an individual lets the desire for power override moral boundaries

Appearance vs. Reality

the deceptive nature of evil, summarized by the iconic phrase “Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair,” highlighting that people and situations are rarely what they seem

Guilt and Paranoia

the inescapable mental torment following a heinous act, physically manifested throughout the play by hallucinations, phantom bloodstains, and sleeplessness

The Supernatural

the disruptive influence of cosmic and demonic forces; witches, apparitions and omens that mirror and accelerate the chaos in the mortal world

What three titles do the witches greet Macbeth with in Act 1 Scene 3

Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King

How does Lady Macbeth react to Macbeth’s letter about the prophecies, and what does she fear about her husband’s nature?

She is determined to see him take the throne but fears he is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” to catch the nearest way (murder). She calls upon spirits to “unsex” her and strip her of remorse

What specific reasons does Macbeth give in his Act 1 Scene 7 soliloquy for not wanting to kill King Duncan?

He is Duncan’s kinsman and his subject (loyalty), he is Duncan’s host (hospitality), and Duncan has been a virtuous, humble, and beloved ruler whose murder would cause deep grief

What famous hallucination does Macbeth see right before he murders King Duncan, and what does it symbolize?

He sees a floating dagger leading him toward Duncan’s chamber, which eventually becomes covered in spot of blood. It symbolizes his intense guilt, anxiety, and the psychological weight of the deed he is about to commit

Why does Macbeth decide to hire murderers to assassinate Banquo and his son, Fleance, in Act III?

He fears Banquo’s wisdom and valor, but more importantly, he is paranoid about the witches’ prophecy stating that Banquo’s descendants will inherit the crown, meaning Macbeth wears a “fruitless crown”

What chaotic event disrupts Macbeth’s royal banquet in Act III, Scene 4, and how does Lady Macbeth cover for him?

The Ghost of Banquo appears and sits in Macbeth’s seat, causing Macbeth to react with visible terror and outburst. Lady Macbeth tells the guests that her husband has suffered from similar brief fits since his youth and urges them to ignore it

What are the 3 main apparitions shown to Macbeth by the witches in Act IV, and what warnings or prophecies do they give?

An Armed Head, A Bloody Child, A Child Crowned

What does Lady Macbeth do and say while sleepwalking in Act V, Scene 1, and what does this reveal about her state of mind?

She rubs her hands together as if washing them, crying “Out, damned spot!”, and speaks of the murders of Duncan, Lady Macduff, and Banquo. This reveals that her cold exterior has entirely broken down under the unbearable weight of her guilt

How are the witches’ final two prophecies fulfilled in the final act?

Malcolm’s army camouflages themselves with branches cut from Birnam Wood as they march on the castle, making the forest appear to move. Macbeth then reveals he was “from his mother’s womb untimely ripped” (C-Section), meaning he was not technically born the natural way