Macbeth Aspects of Setting

Macbeth: Setting According to the reference book named "Biography," Macbeth "was king of Scotland from 1040 to Therefore the play is believed to be set at this time, 11 th Centaury Scotland.

Macbeth: Setting The physical landscape is incredibly bleak. The highlands of Scotland are vast, barren and bleak during the harsh winter. “Hover through the fog and filthy air” – (I. i.12)

Macbeth: Setting Heath n.(British) a tract of level wasteland; uncultivated land with sandy soil and scrubby vegetation The heath on which Macbeth meets the weird sisters, is infertile, hostile, violent. The witches appear and vanish on the heath, predict the future and fondle with the supernatural. This natural, physical environment extends into the supernatural and superstitious.

Macbeth: Setting The physical landscape in Macbeth mirrors the psychological landscape of the central characters. The physical nature becomes an allegory for human nature. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. (I.i.38).

Macbeth: Setting As in other Shakespearean tragedies, Macbeth’s grotesque murder spree is accompanied by a number of occurrences in the natural realm. From the thunder and lightning that accompany the witches’ appearances to the terrible storms that rage on the night of Duncan’s murder, these violations of the natural order reflect corruption in the moral and political orders.

Macbeth: Setting Macbeth is a terrifying play, less because of the physical violence inflicted on others and actions outside of the central character, but more so because of the violence that lies within, the internal conflict inside Macbeth. …We still have judgement here, that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th’ inventor: this even-handed justice Commends th’ ingredients of our poisoned chalice To our own lips. ( I.vii. 8-12)).

Macbeth: Setting As Macbeth commits or is at least responsible for each murder – he continues to kill apart of himself; he kills his morality, his sense of humanity and as the murders increase he descends, as does Lady Macbeth into a psychological landscape that no longer contains reason or logic, merely guilt and self loathing: I have supped full with horrors: Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts, Cannot once start me. (V.v )

Macbeth: Setting As with Lady Macbeth her doctor also realises that her infliction is one of the soul not of the body: Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician. (V.i.67-70)

Macbeth: Setting The setting of castles could also receive this allegorical treatment. As the deceit and deception deepens and Macbeth’s power as King continues to strengthen, Macbeth literally builds walls around himself. The isolation feeds on itself through his paranoia and fear. Also, the building represents the inside of Macbeth. After the murder of Duncan his palace is parallelled with hell in the porter’s monologue ( II.iii. 1-21).

Macbeth: Setting This physiological space that Macbeth inhibits symbolically represents ideas associated with hell. Macbeth I have done the deed. –Didst thou not hear a noise? Lady Macbeth I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry. Did not you speak? Macbeth When? Lady Macbeth Now. MacbethAs I descended? (II.ii.15-17). Here the meaning of descended is loaded. It literally means descending down a staircase, but symbolically it also alludes to his descent into hell for committing the murder.

Macbeth: Setting The four elements feature heavily in Macbeth. The elements represent the essence of the natural world. “-Thou sure and firm-set earth, hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my where-about, And take the present horror from time, Which now suits it.’’ (II.ii )

Macbeth: Setting As Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s folly is based on ideas associated with prophecy and the supernatural, they seem to constantly be at odds with the elements; the washing of the hands, the references to fire in relation to hell, the filthy air. Macbeth is in a constant battle with the natural elements as his whole being has been corrupted by the idea of the supernatural. -Blow, wind! Come, wrack! At least we’ll die with harness on our back. (V.v ).

Macbeth: Setting This idea of Macbeth’s clash with nature is fully realised in the climax of the play, as the Birnam Wood destroys him. Ironically, this ending is foreshadowed as Macbeth upon hearing the prediction of the event, initially dismisses such an idea: That will never be: Who can impress the forest; bid the tree Unfix his earth bound root? Sweet bodements! Good! Rebellious dead, rise never, till the wood Of Birnam rise; our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath To time and mortal custom. (IV. i ).

Macbeth: Setting At the end of the play the Macduff’s army disguised in the foliage of the Birnam forest attack the Dunsinane castle. This playful equivocation illuminates Macbeth’s battle against nature. At the end of the play he is left with nothing. His physical and psychological landscape have been invaded and destroyed. However, this fate has been self penned by acting on insinuation, and the desire for ambition. …It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. (V. v ).