Provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of Macbeth. Perfect for anyone studying Macbeth
FEATURES
- over 140 quotes + analysis
- character analysis
- theme analysis
- symbols analysis
- scene by scene plot summary + analysis
- flow chart with a 1 sentence summary of each scene
THEMES
● Fate and free will
● Ambition and power
● Violence
● Supernatural
● Reality v appearance
● Loyalty v betrayal
● Guilt
SYMBOLS
● Blood
● Sleep
● Light and darkness
● Weather
LANGUAGE
,ANALYSIS + SUMMARIES
ACT 1
SCENE 1
● The play begins with three witches meeting in a deserted place during a storm. They
agree that they will meet with Macbeth after the current battle
● They speak in rhyming, paradoxical couplets
○ makes them seem inhuman, ominous and paranormal, and make them seem
like they are casting spells, reinforcing their evil nature
○ The contrast of their rhyming speech and that they speak in trochaic
tetrameter rather than iambic pentameter to the other characters sets them
apart
SCENE 2
● A wounded sergeant reports his knowledge of the battle to King Duncan of Scotland.
He recounts that the battle looked doubtful for the King’s army until Macbeth and
Banquo overcame the enemy. The Thane of Ross arrives with news that Norway had
taken advantage of the situation and, assisted by the Scottish Thane of Cawdor,
invaded Scotland. They were also defeated by Macbeth. King Duncan orders Thane
of Cawdor’s execution and awards his title to Macbeth
● King Duncan demonstrates the opposite of personal ambition as he rewards and
trusts his subjects and how he values loyalty
● Ironically, he gives the title of a traitor to Macbeth who will become an even worse
traitor
SCENE 3
● The Witches talk as they wait for Macbeth. They greet Macbeth as the Thane of
Cawdor and predict he will become the King of Scotland. They also predict that
Banquo’s descendants will be kings. When Macbeth seeks further information, the
Witches disappear. Angus and Ross arrive with the news that Macbeth is now Thane
of Cawdor. Macbeth is troubled by the Witches’ predictions and agrees with Banquo
to discuss it further in the future
● When Macbeth hears the prophecy about being King it peaks his interest and
ambition and he becomes fixated on it, and wants to know what they mean
● Macbeth’s first thought on how to be king is to murder the King though at this stage
that thought makes him fearful
SCENE 4
● King Duncan is told about the Thane of Cawdor’s execution. Macbeth enters and
Duncan praises him highly, promising future rewards. Duncan proclaims his eldest
son, Malcolm, the next in line for the throne, and announces his intention to stay
that night at Macbeth’s castle. As Macbeth leaves to make preparations for the king,
he reflects that Malcolm is another obstacle preventing him from obtaining the
crown
● The fact that Shakespeare put this in the scene right after Scene 3 where Macbeth
and Banquo receive their prophecies and Macbeth thinks of murdering the King is
ironic as in this Scene they are praising King Duncan and showing off their loyalty to
him. This shows how people aren’t always what they seem
, ● Duncan speech at the very end is full of dramatic irony as he praises and
compliments Macbeth, as Macbeth in the paragraph above thinks of killing Duncan
● At Macbeth last’s speech in this scene we see some of his humanity as he struggled
with himself about his thoughts of killing Duncan
SCENE 5
● Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth, informing her of his meeting with the
Witches and of his new title. Lady Macbeth reflects that Macbeth has the ambitions
to be king but lacks the ruthless nature to make it happen. A messenger brings news
of Duncan’s visit. Excited by the news, Lady Macbeth calls the spirits to suppress her
feminine instincts. When Macbeth enters, they begin plotting King Duncan’s
murders.
● Macbeth’s letter to Lady Macbeth is written in prose rather than verse which adds a
more personal touch to the letter and shows their close and intimate relationship
● Lady Macbeth is quickly established as power hungry and ambitious based on how
quick she turns to the idea of murder
● Lady Macbeth rejects everything to do with femininity and motherhood, calling on
the spirits to “unsex” her, replace her breast milk with poison, and thicken her blood
so that she can no longer menstruate.
SCENE 6
● King Duncan and his men arrive at Macbeth’s castle, commenting on the pleasant
surroundings. Lady Macbeth courteously welcomes them and takes them inside
● Macbeth is nowhere to be seen at Duncan’s arrival at Macbeth’s castle → it
highlights Lady Macbeth’s treachery as she can deceptive on her own + dramatic
irony as the audience knows Macbeth is off preparing for Duncan’s murder, while
Duncan believes Macbeth is busy preparing for his visit
● This scene showcases irony and deception through Duncan and Banquo’s
description of the setting (they describe it as beautiful), which will eventually
become a place of an unnatural act of murder
SCENE 7
● Macbeth leaves the banquet to wrestle with his conscience. When Lady Macbeth
enters, he tells her that they should not kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth criticises his lack
of courage and quickly persuades her husband with a plan to murder the King while
he sleeps
● In a soliloquy, Macbeth wrestles with his ambition and conscience about murdering
Duncan, and his conscience wins as he knows killing Duncan will only lead to more
bloodshed and ruin his honour. Shakespeare contrasts the evil nature of the
assassination and Duncan’s innocent character
● When Macbeth asks Lady Macbeth what will happen if they fail, she assures him
they won’t if they have courage → this is tragic for Lady Macbeth as she doesn’t
realise Duncan’s murder will torment and ultimately destroy her
● Unlike Lady Macbeth who can’t see the terrible impact that killing Duncan will have,
Macbeth does know and still decides to give into his ambition
, ACT 2
SCENE 1
● Outside in the castle courtyard, and tries to pray. Macbeth enters and talks uneasily
with Banquo. After Banquo and his son Fleance leave, Macbeth experiences a
hallucination of a dagger. He sets off to commit the murder
● Macbeth does a soliloquy when he sees a floating dagger → it builds dramatic
tension before the murder and add a supernatural element
SCENE 2
● A nervous Lady Macbeth awaits her husband’s return. Macbeth enters, clearly
disturbed by the murder he has just committed. Lady Macbeth is horrified that he
still has the bloody daggers with him, and when he refuses to return them to
Duncan’s chamber, she goes instead. While she is gone, Macbeth reflects on the
consequences of the murder and on his guilt. The scene ends in tension with
insistent knocking at the castle
● There is a short and snappy dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth on line 16
- 19
○ This shows their panic
● Macbeth is much more erratic then Lady Macbeth who is more calm and collected
● As Macbeth brings the murder weapon back this shows his panic
● This is many mentions of blood and sleep
● The knocking at the end of the scene builds the dramatic tension about the
discovery of Duncan’s murder
SCENE 3
● The knocking from the previous scene continues, awakening Porter, who is very
drunk. He humorously imagines himself as the porter of hell, letting in all sorts of
sinners, and he continues his joking as he lets in Lennox and Macduff. Macbeth
greets them and shows them to the King’s bedchamber. Lennox and Macbeth are
discussing the roughness of the night, when a horrified Macduff returns with the
news of the King’s murder. Macbeth reveals that he has killed Duncan’s two guards,
whom he claims are responsible. Fearing for their lives, the King’s two sons, Malcolm
and Donalbain, decide to flee the country
● This scene breaks up the high drama and tension with comedy (this is a rare
moment of comedy in the play
● This scene shows how Macbeth is deeply troubled by what he has done
SCENE 4
● Ross and an Old Man discuss the various unnatural events that have taken place.
They are joined by Macduff, who brings the news that Macbeth is to be the new King
of Scotland
● This scene show the impacts on nature of Duncan’s murder
● The elizabethans believed that when the King is killed the whole natural order is
disturbed, which is what is shown in this scene
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