Macbeth

Macbeth Study Guide by Josh Hyde


 * //Title-//** Macbeth


 * //Year of Publication-//** Sometime between 1604-1606


 * //Author-//** William Shakespeare

"about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems". His best work by many critics is said to have come between 1589 to 1613. Along with Macbeth: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello are said to be his best works. Married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18 and had three children. After he left his family to write, he was critically acclaimed by the monarchs. King James I even gave Shakespeare and his company (part ownership of the Globe Theater) the title of King's Men.
 * //Author Bio-//** William Shakespeare was an english poet and Playwrite who is looked at as one of the greatest writers of all time. His number of works include, but not limited too,


 * //Setting and Time Period-//** The setting of the play took place in various places in Scotland and England during the Middle Ages.

The //**genre**// of the play is a Tragedy
 * //Central Themes and Questions -//**
 * Corruption as a result of power-** In Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the two main characters, both are corrupt in there attempts to gain power and notoriety. Macbeth, despite having courageous morals and character, kills Duncan in a lack of judgement which results in his guilt and Paranoia after the fact. Lady Macbeth, while more determined in her ambition, cannot stomach the results in the aftermath. When one attempts to stop there violence, it ends in futility. Further than that, more violence is needed because in there minds there is always a threat to the throne (Macduff, Banquo, etc.)


 * //Violence as it pretains to Manhood-//** In the play, both Lady Macbeth and her husband uses questions about ones manhood to goad them to commit acts of violence. Lady Macbeth does this to Macbeth to get him to kill Duncan, in turn Macbeth uses the same method to get the murderers to kill Banquo, this shows a blur in the lines as it where in the Middle Ages as to what being a man truly means.

A tragic hero, Macbeth looks to be a character who posseses all the natural qualities of a great protagonist. Courageousness, a sense of duty and loyalty, and the want to do the right thing. However, his tragic flaw comes from his ambition to be king,even while he shows his great traits even while committing these atrocities. Even when he is looked at as a villian, he does not look comfortable in that particular role.
 * //Major Characters-//**
 * Macbeth-** The main character of the story. A General in King Duncan's Army, Macbeth rose up the ranks to become the Thane of Glamis and eventually Thane of Cawdor. After this, his thirst for power has him kill Duncan and eventually the King of Scotland. However, guilt and paranoia would lead to more violence and eventually his death on the battlefield.


 * Lady Macbeth-** Arguably the main antagonist in the play, Lady Macbeth is the wife of Macbeth and is the catalyst for the murders of Duncan and Banquo in her own quests for ambition and power. She seems to be in control of the relationship even though they both seem to deeply love one another. She also seems to have a strong sense of will and persistance when she manipulates Macbeth to kill. However, she slides into a sense of guilt and madness that can even rival that of her husband's. This would result in her committing suicide.

‍**Banquo** - General whose children, according to the witches’ prophecy, will inherit the Scottish throne. ‍**King Duncan** - King of Scotland whom Macbeth, in his ambition for the crown, kills. ‍**Macduff** - A Scottish nobleman who rejects Macbeth as king. He eventually becomes the leader of a group to go against Macbeth. ‍**Malcolm** - The son of Duncan. ‍**Hecate** - Lead witch ‍**Fleance** - Banquo’s son, who survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him. ‍**Lennox** - A Scottish nobleman. ‍**Ross** - A Scottish nobleman. ‍**The Murderers** - A group of killers used by Macbeth to murder Banquo, Fleance (whom they fail to kill), and Macduff’s wife and children. ‍**Porter** - The drunken doorman of Macbeth’s castle. ‍**Lady Macduff** - Macduff’s wife. ‍**Donalbain** - Duncan’s son and Malcolm’s younger brother.
 * //Secondary Characters-//**
 * The Three Witches** - Three “black and midnight hags” who plot against Macbeth using charms and prophecies.

Figurative Language and Imagery is used heavily to describe aspects of the character traits of those in the play.


 * //Symbols-//** Blood- Used as a symbol of violence throughout the play. From the murder of Duncan to the final battle, blood is always present throughout.

Hallucinations- Used as Symbols of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's guilt as well as their 'body count'

The Weather- Used as a Symbol when horrible atrocities are occuring to show a rift in the natural order of things.


 * //Tone-//** The play has a Dark and ominous tone that reflects the horror of the environment surrounding the play and the tragic flaws of its main characters.

//**Conflicts-**// Macbeth's ambition for power versus his sense of right and wrong. This is resolved through Macbeth's death at the end of the play.

[]
 * Macbeth after the murder of Duncan**

The evil of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth versus the good by the crusade against him. This is also resolved with the deaths of the antagonists.


 * //Rising Action-//** Macbeth and Banquo's encounter with the three witches. This ignites the conflicts that are present throughout the play. (Act 1, Scene 3)

[|Macbeth & Banquo Meet the Witches] Lady Macbeth's speeches to Macbeth that propel him to kil. ( Act 1, Scene 7) (Act 2, Scene 2)

[|Lady Macbeth Speech]

//** Climax- **// Macbeth’s murder of Duncan in Act 2 represents the ultimate conflict, after which Macbeth is forced to dispose of others to not pay for his acts. (Act 2, Scene 2)


 * //Falling Action -//** The killings of Banquo, Lady Macduff, and Macduff's son prompt the rebellion against him as well as displaying Macbeth's paranoia and guilt. (throughout the second hal of the play)
 * //Resolution-//** The Final Battle between Macbeth and Macduff resolves the conflicts in the play.

"The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty." ( Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 5, pg 318). This Represents Lady Macbeth's thirst for power and surprisingly manhood.
 * //Important Quotes-//**

"Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against The deep damnation of his taking-off" (Macbeth, pg.322). Macbeth possibly trying to rationalize the murder of Duncan as the play reaches its climax.

"Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red." (Macbeth, pg. 330) This represents Macbeth's Eternal guilt of murdering Duncan.

"She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time." (Macbeth, pg. 382) Macbeth mourning over the loss of his wife as the play starts to reach its resolution.


 * Foreshadowing** is perhaps the largest componet of this play has it relates to the setup of the entire plot from the climax to the resolution. **Symbolism** is also heavily utilized in order to understand the complexity and dynamics of the main and upper-secondary characters.

This is perhaps one of the greatest plays and horrorific tradegies of all time, and it lives up to its billing. the archaic and cryptic language may appear difficult at first, but it is throuoghly enoyable once you read past it.