Macbeth Review Acts I and II FeracoSFHP 14 January 2008

Quiz Tomorrow  10 questions Themes Themes Characters Characters Plot Plot  No plot summary today

Characters  Macbeth Nobleman (Thane of Glamis) Nobleman (Thane of Glamis) Brave and loyal, but ambitious and power-hungry; a conflicted figure Brave and loyal, but ambitious and power-hungry; a conflicted figure  Can be swayed by the words of others  Lady Macbeth Hungers for power Hungers for power Loves influence Loves influence Convinces Macbeth to follow through Convinces Macbeth to follow through

Characters  Duncan King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth Places his trust in people he shouldn’t be trusting Places his trust in people he shouldn’t be trusting  Malcolm & Donalbain Duncan’s sons Duncan’s sons Malcolm is Prince of Cumberland (heir to the throne) Malcolm is Prince of Cumberland (heir to the throne) Both flee the country after Duncan’s murder Both flee the country after Duncan’s murder  This casts suspicion on them

Characters  Macduff Another nobleman Another nobleman Honorable and principled Honorable and principled Will play a bigger role by play’s end Will play a bigger role by play’s end  Banquo Macbeth’s brother-in-arms Macbeth’s brother-in-arms Is told he will sire a line of kings Is told he will sire a line of kings  Thus representing a threat to Macbeth’s power Fears the witches’ prophecies, which seduce him in his dreams Fears the witches’ prophecies, which seduce him in his dreams

Characters  Ross Yet another Scottish noble; like Macduff, someone who plays a larger role once Macbeth seizes the throne Yet another Scottish noble; like Macduff, someone who plays a larger role once Macbeth seizes the throne Informs Macbeth of his promotion Informs Macbeth of his promotion  The Weïrd Sisters The witches who greet Macbeth and Banquo on the heath The witches who greet Macbeth and Banquo on the heath  “Weïrd” actually is a form of wyrd, which means “fate” or “destiny” in Old English

Themes  Betrayal vs. Loyalty Macbeth Macbeth  Betrayal of king  Betrayal of self  Loyalty to self  Loyalty to wife (copyright Dean)  Ambition Source of strength Source of strength Source of weakness Source of weakness

Themes  Good vs. Evil Is Macbeth good or evil? Is Macbeth good or evil? What defines good in this world?> What defines good in this world?>  Fate and Control Does Macbeth have control of his actions? Does Macbeth have control of his actions? Are the witches controlling him? Are the witches controlling him? What separates influence from control? What separates influence from control?

Themes  Fear Macbeth Macbeth  Afraid to go forward (murder)  Afraid to ignore destiny  Fearful of Banquo and his offspring  Paranoia consumes him  Abuse Abuse of power/position (T of C) Abuse of power/position (T of C) Abuse of trust Abuse of trust

Themes  Truth “To thine own self be true” – a good Shakespeare quote (albeit from a different play) “To thine own self be true” – a good Shakespeare quote (albeit from a different play) Is Macbeth “true” to himself? Is Macbeth “true” to himself? Disguises and betrayal tie into truth Disguises and betrayal tie into truth  Identity See Shakespeare quote above See Shakespeare quote above Position defining person (name replaced with rank) Position defining person (name replaced with rank)

That’s All!  No study session online  PPT from today posted on blog  Good luck!