Macbeth Act 1 Review

Macbeth is not held in high regard amongst his fellow soldiers

False.

The witches do not look human

True.

Macbeth reacts negatively to the witches’ prophesies.

False.

Banquo’s decedents will be future monarchs

True.

Lady Macbeth thinks that her husband is too weak to kill Duncan

True.

Lady Macbeth thinks that Macbeth lacks ambition

True.

Lady Macbeth feels as though she needs to be more manly in order to kill Duncan.

True.

Macbeth thinks Duncan is an authoritarian aggressive king

False.

Macbeth does have doubts about killing the king.

True.

Lady Macbeth would even kill her own children if she had promised Macbeth

True.

Lady Macbeth instructs her husband to put on a fake show

True.

3 reasons Macbeth gives for not wanting to kill Duncan

• He had honored Macbeth.

• Duncan had carried his powers kindly, and had been so pure.

• His double trust as Duncan’s kinsman, his subject and as his host.

3 Witches

Tell Macbeth that he will be the future king, and call him Thane of Gladis /Thane of Cawdor. Tell Banquo he will be lesser than Macbeth and greater, not so happy, yet so much happier and should get king but not be one. In scene 1, they want to go meet up with Macbeth at his castle.

King Duncan

The King of Scotland. Lady Macbeth plans to murder him, so Macbeth could become the next heir to the throne. Makes his oldest son Malcolm, Prince of Cumberland.

Malcolm

King Duncan’s eldest son. Is given the title: Prince of Cumberland. Becomes an obstacle in the way of Macbeth becoming heir to the throne.

Captain

Fought against Macbeth’s captivity. Gives news to King Duncan that Macdonwald had gone against Macbeth. Let King Duncan know that Macbeth had killed a slave and chopped off his head and put it on their battle fields.

Lennox

Nobleman of Scotland.

Ross

Nobleman of Scotland. Told King Duncan that the Thane of Cawdor had begun a dismal conflict. And, told him that they had won against him. Tells King Duncan that he will see the Thane of Cawdor’s death be done.

Macbeth

Scottish general and nobleman. Wants to become the next heir. Is hesitant to kill King Duncan, because he starts thinking of potential consequences that could occur after doing so. Is heavily influenced by his wife to kill King Duncan.

Banquo

Friend of Macbeth and fellow noblemen. Calls the witches withered and wild in their attire. And, calls them not human like. As well as, hairy. Is unsure if the witches prophesies are honest and true.

Angus

Scottish nobleman.

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth’s wife. Has a plan to kill King Duncan at night when he is asleep, and frame his two chamberlains for killing him by putting blood on their daggers. Attacks Macbeth’s character to try to make him agree with her, and assist her with killing King Duncan.

When will the witches meet with Macbeth?

Before sunset, when the battle is lost and won.

Fair is foul, foul is fair meaning

Something pretty looking is also ugly, and something ugly is also pretty looking.

What type of soldier/ person is Macbeth reported to be by the Captain in Act 1 scene ii?

Macbeth is reported to be a brave soldier by the captain in Act 1 scene ii. “For brave Macbeth— well he deserves that name— Disdaining Fortune with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution” (I.ii. 16-18).

The Thane of Cawdor is reported as a traitor.  What does Duncan’s comment, “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest” mean?  

His comment means that the Thane of Cawdor will not be able to betray their trust anymore. Leading to King Duncan telling Ross to go pronounce his death, and give the title to Macbeth.

At the end of Act 1, what is Macbeth’s final decision about murdering the king?

Macbeth decides to assist his wife with killing King Duncan, with a false face and a false heart. Hiding, his actual feelings about killing the king.

Reread the witches’ discussion of their attempt to take revenge on the sailor’s wife. Why would Shakespeare include this conversation in the scene?

Shakespeare includes this conversations to show the evilness behind the witches.

Macbeth’s entry is interesting because his first words echo those of the witches in scene i, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” Explain why Macbeth says this line and what purpose it serves. 

The line is used to link the line the witches had said in scene 1 of the play “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” He uses it describe the rainy weather as foul, and ugly. However, fair and exciting because he had won a battle.

How does Banquo describe the witches upon first glance? What does he think of the witches?

He describes them as “so withered and so wild in their attire”. And, calls them inhuman like, and have skinny lips with fissured skin. He thinks the witches are not honest and true of predicting his and Macbeth’s futures.

Banquo’s 3 prophecies in order. What literary device is used here?

-Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

-Not so happy, yet so much happier.

-Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.

Literary device being used: Paradox.

Macbeth’s 3 prophecies in order

-Thane of Glamis.

-Thane of Cawdor.

-King hereafter.

What warning does Banquo give to Macbeth about the witches?  What does Banquo seem to understand about the witches that Macbeth is …ignoring?

Banquo warns Macbeth that the witches are instruments of darkness (associated with evil). Banquo seems to understand that the witches are untrustworthy, and will lead to negative outcomes.

What does Macbeth mean when he says, “If chance will have me king, why, chance will crown me without my stir” (143)?  What decision has he made?

He means that if he is destined to be king, then he will allow himself to become king. He has decided to make himself become king.

Describe King Duncan as a king so far.  Why would he have said, “There’s no art/Find the mind’s construction in the face”?

He would have said this, because the Thane of Cawdor had gone against him. He said this, because he had been unable to see his true intentions, and had too much trust in him.

In scene 4, what announcements upsets Macbeth that makes him feel “black and deep desires”?

Malcolm receiving the title of Prince of Cumberland.

After Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter, what does she want?

She wants him to become the next future king, and murder King Duncan.

What does Lady Macbeth mean of her husband when she says, “Yet do I fear thy nature.  It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.”(I.v.14-16)?

She means that her husband is too kind of a person.

What does Lady Macbeth want Macbeth to do?

She wants Macbeth to assist her with the murder of King Duncan She wants him to appear innocent, but inside be evil. “Look like the innocent flower, “But be the serpent under’t” (I.v. 63-64).

What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says “Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?  Hath it slept since? And wakes it now to look so green and pale?” (I.vii.35-37).

She means that her husband has changed to becoming cowardly, and hesitant on killing the king. Highlighting, that her husband has turned weak.

In what ways has Lady Macbeth influenced Macbeth’s decision.

Lady Macbeth has influenced Macbeths decision by attacking his character. Such as, calling him a coward. “Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem” (I.vii. 39-43).

List the steps of the plan to murder the king

-When Duncan is asleep soundly invite him— his two chamberlains.

-Lady Macbeth, would convince the brain of the guard to be a vapor.

-Lady Macbeth would mark Duncan’s chamberlain’s swords with Duncan’s blood.

-Lady Macbeth would frame his chamberlains, that they had killed Duncan.