macbeth

KEY QUOTE

“I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er”(Act 3, Scene 4)

TRANSLATION

"I've committed so many terrible acts that stopping now would be just as hard as continuing. There's no turning back."

METAPHOR OF BLOOD:

1. Blood is a recurring symbol throughout the play, representing guilt and violence. Here, it metaphorically portrays Macbeth’s entrapment in his crimes.

2. This suggests that his hamartia (his tragic flaw) of unchecked (uncontrollable) ambition—has driven him past the point of redemption.

KEY WORDS

• MetaphorDirect comparison

• HamartiaA flaw or error in a character that leads to their downfall.

• UncheckedSomething that is unrestrained or allowed to continue without limits.

• REPRESENT: MICROCOSM

  1. Shakespeare has constructed Macbeth as a microcosm of self-destructive ambition, trapped in a cycle of violence symbolised by the blood metaphor. His downfall reflects the corrupting nature of unchecked power.

  KEY WORDS

  • MicrocosmA smaller representation of something

KEY QUOTE

"Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other." (Act 3, Scene 1)

MODERN TRANSLATION

"Ambition that jumps too high and ultimately trips itself up."

PERSONIFICATION

1. Macbeth personifies his ambition as a force that can leap and fall, suggesting it possesses a life of its own. This speaks to its irresistible allure (pull).

2. This technique elevates ambition from a mere desire to a powerful entity that influences his unchecked (uncontrollable) thoughts and actions.

3. This personification reveals the internal struggle within Macbeth, illustrating his awareness of ambition as a corrupting influence that transforms his formerly innocent mindset into one driven by moral decay and ruthless pursuit of power.AMPLIFY: FOIL

   1. Macbeth’s awareness of ambition’s dangers acts as a foil to Lady Macbeth’s unrelenting drive, highlighting his inner conflict versus her relentless manipulation. Their dynamic amplifies ambition’s seductive power.

   KEY WORDS

   • FoilContrast

   • UncheckedSomething that is unrestrained or allowed to continue without limits.

   • AntagonistA character who opposes the protagonist, often working against their goals.

   • METAPHOR

     1. The metaphor of "vaulting ambition" illustrates ambition as a physical leap, suggesting that Macbeth's aspirations are not only lofty but also fraught with danger.

     2. When he acknowledges its eventual "fall," it indicates Macbeth's awareness that his all-encompassing ambition is his hamartia (fatal flaw that leads to his downfall) destined to lead to his mental and physical decline.

     KEY WORDS

     • MetaphorDirect comparison

     • UncheckedSomething that is unrestrained or allowed to continue without limits.

     • HamartiaA flaw or error in a character that leads to their downfall.

     • DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS

       1. Macbeth’s admission that his ambition overreaches itself shows an awareness of the moral transgression (bad behaviour) he commits against the divine order (Holy order).

       2. By pursuing power through illegitimate means, Macbeth disrupts the Great Chain of Being, leading to chaos in Scotland. This aligns with the belief in the divine right of kings, emphasising the tyrannical (cruel/oppressive) consequences of defying the natural and divine order.

       3. DAEMONOLOGIE

          1. Macbeth's ambition aligns with the moral decay (decline of good) discussed in James I’s Daemonologie, where excessive desires and actions contrary to divine will are seen as sinful. Macbeth’s tragic hero (experiences a downfall) status and his eventual fall serve as a warning against the perils (dangers) of succumbing to such desires, reinforcing the ethical implications (bad side-effects) of unchecked ambition.

KEY QUOTE

"With Tarquin’s ravishing strides towards his design." (Act 2, Scene 1)

CONTEXTUAL LINK

1. Roman tyrant Tarquin, infamous for his heinous (vile) act of raping his wife, Lucrece.

2. This comparison underscores Macbeth's escalating moral decay and his willingness to embrace tyranny (oppressive leadership) in his pursuit of power.

3. The reference to Tarquin reveals not just Macbeth's unchecked (uncontrollable) ambition, but also the sinister nature of his aspirations, as he seeks to emulate a figure synonymous (associated with) with oppression and brutality.

4. REPRESENT: ALLEGORY

   1. Shakespeare has crafted Macbeth as an allegory of tyrannical masculinity, likening his ambition to Tarquin’s violent dominance.

   2. This mythological parallel symbolises his descent into oppressive cruelty.

   3. CONNOTATIONS OF DESIGN

      1. The term "design" carries connotations of intention and meticulous planning, suggesting that Macbeth’s ambition is not a mere impulse but rather a coldly calculated scheme.

      2. This calculated approach to his quest for power highlights the inherent danger in his character—his ambition is as irresistibly alluring (pull) as it is destructive.

      
      PATRIARCHY

      1. The patriarchal context of Macbeth’s time influences the dynamics of ambition and power. Lady Macbeth’s manipulation of Macbeth’s masculinity plays a central role in fueling his ambition. By invoking Tarquin, a figure of male dominance and tyranny, the quote reflects not only Macbeth’s desire for power but also the gendered expectations of masculinity and authority.

      2. By emulating the Roman tyrant Tarquin, Macbeth subverts the divine order that James I championed. Tarquin’s defiance of moral order parallels Macbeth’s rebellion against the God-given right to rule. This quote reflects the dangers of unchecked (uncontrollable) ambition and tyranny (oppressive), highlighting how Macbeth’s desire for power leads to the disruption of the political and moral order.

KEY QUOTE

"I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep’" (Act 2, Scene 2 )

MOTIF OF SLEEP

1. Macbeth’s inability to sleep after Duncan’s murder reflects the profound psychological and moral consequences, marking his status as a tragic hero (experiences a downfall)

2. Sleep, traditionally a restorative state, becomes an unattainable luxury for Macbeth, signifying his irrevocable loss of innocence and the inner torment that will plague him.

3. By "murdering sleep," Macbeth not only disrupts his own peace of mind but also violates the natural order, marking the point of no return in his moral degradation.

4. When Macbeth murders King Duncan, he violates this sacred order, committing a grievous sin against both God and the natural hierarchy. The line "Macbeth does murder sleep" reflects this disruption.

5. By murdering a divinely appointed king, Macbeth has shattered the natural order, and in doing so, he loses his peace of mind—represented by the motif of sleep. His hubris (excessive pride) has also been to his detriment.

1. By murdering King Duncan, Macbeth breaks this chain, throwing the natural world into disorder. The voice that cries "Sleep no more!" reflects this cosmic disruption.

2. Sleep, a natural, restorative process, is now unattainable for Macbeth, symbolising the wider disorder in both the human and natural worlds. This manifests as a consequence to Macbeth’s tyrannical (oppressive) pursuits

1. EXCLAMATIVE SENTENCE

   1. The exclamatory phrase "Sleep no more!" highlights the intensity of Macbeth's guilt, the carcass of insanity (descent into madness).

   2. The exclamation adds emotional weight to his realisation that peace and innocence, symbolised by sleep, are lost to him forever.

   3. USE OF ELISION

      1. WOW: Shakespeare uses elision (omitting events offstage) to increase dramatic tension and maintain the fast pace of Macbeth's rise and fall. For example, we never see Duncan’s murder happen onstage.

      2. Example sentence: In Macbeth, Shakespeare deliberately chooses to have certain key events occur offstage, a technique known as elision.

      3. One of the most significant examples is the murder of King Duncan, which is not shown directly to the audience.

      4. Instead, the aftermath is revealed through Macbeth’s psychological unravelling, highlighted in the line "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep."

2. AMPLIFY: FOIL

   1. Macbeth’s sleepless torment acts as a foil to Lady Macbeth’s initial emotional detachment, highlighting his immediate internal collapse. Their contrasting reactions intensify Macbeth’s portrayal as a guilt-ridden tragic hero.