1. Macbeth
Act I

2. Scene 1 Setting: a deserted heath It is thundering and lightening
Foreshadowing
Indicates evil to come
Three witches
“fair is foul, and foul is fair
paradox

3. Scene 2
Situation: Rebels Macdonwald and Cawdor have allied themselves with Norway
Macbeth is leading the Scottish army
Setting: Battle encampment
A wounded soldier brings news from the battlefield

4. Scene 2 Macbeth has killed the traitor Macdonwald
The traitor Cawdor has been captured and sentenced to death
King Duncan gives the title Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth as a reward

5. Scene 3 The three witches great Macbeth Hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis
This is his current title
Hail Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor
He does not know that Duncan has conferred this honor on him yet
Hail Macbeth, king hereafter

6. Scene 3 The witches greet Banquo Statements are paradoxical
Lesser than Macbeth and greater
Not so happy, yet much happier
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none
Statements are paradoxical

7. Scene 3 Banquo is skeptical of the witches greetings
Macbeth takes them literally
Ross arrives and tells Macbeth he is now the Thane of Cawdor
Macbeth begins contemplating killing the king

8. Literary Terms
Aside: something a character says that only the audience hears
Example: “Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor./ The greatest is behind.”
Theme: the underlying message or central idea the author would like us to learn from the work
“Appearances can be deceiving”

9. Scene 4 King Duncan is too trusting of individuals
Trusted Cawdor and Cawdor betrayed him
Trusted Macbeth and Macbeth is contemplating killing him
He is deceived by outward appearances

10. Scene 4 Duncan names his son Malcolm as his successor
This violates the right of Tanistry
Eldest son may not automatically inherit
Duncan decides to go to Inverness
Macbeth’s castle

11. Tanistry and the Right of Inheritance in Scotland
Inheritance in Scotland was not a simple matter of the eldest son assuming the rights and titles of his father
The Tanist was the heir presumptive and his right to the throne was not conferred by the father, but by the mother
Typically the Tanist would be the son of the reigning king’s sister rather than a son of the king

12. Tanistry This might appear to be unusual or unfair
Remember they were living in troubled times
The grown child had to be an adult who was capable of waging war if required
The eldest child may have been sickly
Caused rivalry which resulted in murders
Duncan ignores this law when he appoints Malcolm his successor

13. Scene 5
Macbeth sends a letter to his wife to tell her his good news plus the witches predictions
She begins to plan the murder
Shows support of his quest to be king

14. Scene 6 Duncan and company arrive at Inverness This is ironic
Macbeth is planning to kill him
Duncan thinks Macbeth plans to honor him

15. Scene 7 Macbeth begins to have second thoughts
Lady Macbeth talks him into it
Her part in the plan will be to drug the king’s guards and smear them with Duncan’s blood
Frame them for the murder