Macbeth Act 1 and 2 Study Guide

Hettinger, also pair with the Act 1 slides in the announcement about the test

Macbeth (Characterization)

Strong, loyal, stereotypical masculine hero

Insecure about his masculinity, easily manipulated

Lady Macbeth (Characterization)

Manipulative, ambitious, breaks from traditional feminine roles

Duncan (Characterization)

Kind, noble king

Too trustful of others, which leads to his downfall (Previous Thane of Cawdor was a traitor, Macbeth murdered him)

Banquo (Characterization)

The ‘anchor’ to Macbeth

Heroic, but humble

Dedicated to his loyalties and morals

Not easily compromised (unlike Macbeth)

Quick summary of Act 1

Three witches plot to deceive Macbeth

Macbeth, a heroic warrior, wins another battle for his King

The three witches tell him and his partner Banquo of a prophesy that says that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and the King

Macbeth is initially skeptical, but once he is given the Cawdor title by the King, he tells his wife, Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth interprets this as a call to murder Duncan (the King), and manipulates Macbeth agreeing

Quick summary of Act 2

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to murder Duncan by making his guards drunk and then killing him in his sleep

Macbeth hallucinates a floating dagger, which leads him to reflect on his choice. He is interrupted by Lady Macbeth’s bells, which means it is time to execute the plan

Macbeth kills Duncan and his guards, and he immediately regrets it and is overwhelmed with guilt

Lady Macbeth dismisses his guilt as “non-noble thoughts”

Nature is ‘upset’ by the murder and strange events (owl kills a falcon and the King’s horses eat each other) begin to occur

The King’s sons flee the country out of fear for their lives, thus making them suspects

Due to the absence of Duncan’s children, Macbeth is proclaimed King

Surmise (definition)

To make a claim without evidence

Cleave (definition)

To break apart or bring two things together

Harbinger (definition)

A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

Undaunted (definition)

Not intimidated or discouraged in the face of danger

Equivocates (definition)

To use ambiguous language in order to conceal a truth

Soliloquy

The speaking of one’s thoughts aloud when alone (or disregarding any hearers)

Aside

A brief remark or passage that is meant to be heard by the audience by left unheard by the other characters,

*like a soliloquy but shorter*

Paradox

Absurd self-contradictory statement

“Fair is foul and foul is fair”

Motif of Violence

Macbeth gains his glory from his bloody victories in battle

Lady Macbeth surmises that the best way to make Macbeth king is through killing Duncan

Blood is commonly shown/said, especially after Duncan’s murder

Motif of Guilt

Macbeth is manipulated into killing the king, he feels remorseful about it

Lady Macbeth is shown to be in the absence of guilt, ridicules Macbeth for his lack of masculinity for showing guilt

Guilt is an everlasting consequence for Macbeth actions, as he states himself by saying to Lady Macbeth that he was warned he will “never sleep again” or be relieved of the mental torment resulting from his actions

Motif of Ambition

Ambition, as admitted by Macbeth himself, was the only motivation for Duncan’s murder; Done only to secure a position of power

Ambition drives Lady Macbeth into ruthless manipulation

Can be positive, but can also be a source of temptation or be taken too far as one becomes desperate to achieve his goals

Motif of Gender

Gender roles are often brought up or muddied

The witches have both feminine and masculine characteristics that confuse the people who look upon them, evil has no gender

Lady Macbeth requests to have her gender stripped of her so she can plot the murder of Duncan (Stereotype that females are soft, incapable of such planning)

Macbeth is the strong, manly hero, yet he is partially driven to his actions in order to uphold that image

Mettle

Resilience, ability to cope