Macbeth

Lady Macbeth at the start of the play

at the start of the play lady Macbeth is presented as dominant, maticulous, cunning and overpowering

“what cannot you and i perform on the unguarded Duncan” suggests by that word “cannot” that they obtain the ultimate power, even though Duncan is the king and therefore going against the hiarachy, believing she and her husband are omnipotent

“I would wile it was smiling in my face, plucked its nipple from my boneless gums and dashed its brains out.” graphic imagery emphasises her lack of femaninity Instead it reveals her true brutality and lack of empathy

“I call upon the spirits… unsex me here.” Lady Macbeth is assocciating herself with the supernatural by summoning them, almost as if it was a ritual. Therefore, Lady Macbeth disregards any sterotypes of a Jacobean woman as she wants to remove any part that makes her one.

lady Macbeth at the end of the play

Lady Macbeth has fallen into a deep mental decline in result of the guilt she originally thought she could never become a victim of.

“Out dam spot! Out I say!” (act 5 scene 1) has religious connotations through the word “dam” as its implies her regicide is an unforgivable sin. Alongside this the word ‘spot’ has a link to a blood stain, and therefore will never leave.

“all the purfumes of arabia couldnt sweeten this hand.” (act 5 scene 1)reveals the gilt has seeped into her skin that she can never wash away. It will always remain as a constant reminder of her misplaced ambition. Juxtaposes how after Duncan’s death a “little water could clear us of this deed.”(act 2 scene 2)

Macbeth at the offset of the play after the witches

in act 1, scene 4 Macbeth is already portraying a guilty conscience as a consequense of his overdriving ambition; “Stars hide your fires, let light not see your deepest and darkest desires.” -alliteration of “darkest desires”, which reveals Macbeths mind is consumed by his ambition as its deep routed and his innate ambition. -juxtaposition between ‘light’ and ‘dark’ suggests his conflicted between his desires and morality.

Macbeth during the offset before the witches

described as “Nobel” and O’ valiant cousin” who fights for the righteousness of his country in a brutal manner as he was praised for “unseeming him from the nave to the chops.” Macbeth is already presented with a force of brutality and violent nature from the first scene before meeting the character. The graphic imagery reveals that Macbeth is seen as a heroic character, and the damaging behaviour is positively viewed upon as its loyalty towards his country.

Macbeth towards the end of the play

Malcom calls Macbeth “the brutal butcher and his fiend like Queen.” (act 5 scene 9) The metaphor, ‘dead butcher’ dehumanizes Macbeth and suggests he is monstrous and has an evil semantic field. This juxtaposes Macbeth’s praise, “Noble Macbeth” from he start of the play to the tyrant he has transformed into with a deep force of evil and satanic traits inside of him. The simile, ‘fiend like queen’ shows Lady Macbeth still holds her position of power, and therefore was the one with the dominance overall.

How is Duncan presented as naive?

Duncan is shown to be a overly trusting and welcoming king, who overall fell into a scheme of plots and lies, leading to his downfall.

Duncan was killed early on in the place, with overall shows his lack of power.

“In this gentleman on whom I built trust.”

“His virtues will plead like angles.” (act 1 scene 7)

Macduff

• “I have no words; my voice is my sword.”

• “I must feel it like a man”

banquo

• “lesser than Macbeth but greater” (witches act 1 scene he will be lesser than Macbeth in royal ranks but greater than him as his children will be kings and he wont be overcome by greed. Its a PARADOX

• “our fears in banquo stick deep

the witches

 Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
 If I say sooth, I must report they were
 As cannons overcharged with double cracks,
 So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe