Summary Key Analysis of the Minor Characters in Macbeth
4 views 0 purchase
Course
English
Institution
GCSE
Ensure you have an excellent understanding of the minor characters within Macbeth to make your answers stand out, learn about Ross, Macduff, Malcolm, Lennox and more. Their key quotes, why Shakespeare crafted them the way he did and their key structural moments.
● Binary opposition to Macbeth
● Renaissance man
● Static Character
● Archetype of the avenging hero, not simply out for revenge but with a good
and holy purpose.
“What, all my pretty chickens and their dam. At one fell swoop?”
● Macbeth thinks that masculinity is about ruthlessness + cruelty - Macduff
subverts gender stereotypes - shows that men can have emotions
● an affectionate and loving husband + father as well as a powerful warrior -
everything Macbeth cannot be
● The sense of immense grief foreshadows him avenging this by killing
Macbeth
Key Moments: knocks at the gate of Macbeth's castle in Act II, Scene 3 - allusion to
Christ, who before his final ascension into Heaven, goes down to release the souls
of the damned from hell - cements Macbeth’s fate - Harrowing of Hell
“Macduff cries out, "I have no words; my voice is in my sword."
● In the final combat between hero and anti-hero, Macduff’s wordlessness
contrasts with Macbeth's empty rhetoric
● feminine character - Shakespeare may be suggesting that femininity is a
strength + criticises patriarchy and how it denies women their own nature in
order to acquire power
“new widows howl, new orphans cry”
● Parallelism + zoomorphism - Macduff shows the dangers in Macbeth’s reign -
holistically - Macduff acts for the good of others + his allegiance to Scotland
unlike Macbeth whose allegiance is to himself
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller truthgbolaru21. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R164,65. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
