MACBETH – ACT I NOTES

1. MACBETH – ACT I NOTES Scene i: • Depicts the witches who discuss when they are going to meet again • The weather is stormy, symbolizing disruption in the natural world and corruption of morals  Scene ii: • Duncan finds out that Macbeth killed Macdonwald and praises him as a loyal and brave soldier • The captain then tells Duncan that the Norwegian king is sending more troops • Ross, Lennox and Malcolm (Duncan’s son) come onto the scene and tell him that the Thane of Cawdor (a traitor) has been captured and that since he’s a traitor he’ll be executed. • Duncan decides to appoint Macbeth Thane of Cawdor for his bravery in battle.

2. MACBETH – ACT I NOTES Scene iii: • Again, it’s storming and the witches meet when they said they would and wait for Macbeth. • They discuss a sailor they have placed a curse of sleeplessness on and a storm they create to punish a woman who did not share chestnuts with one of the witches. • Macbeth and Banquo come to the heath and meet the witches who greet his first as Thane of Glamis (which he is), Thane of Cawdor (which Duncan has appointed him, but he doesn’t know yet) and tells him he’ll become king. • Macbeth starts wondering what they mean; Banquo recognizes this and tells him not to be deceived by the witches. • The witches tell Banquo that his sons will become kings even though he, himself, is not a king. • The witches disappear leaving the men with their riddles. • Ross and Lennox come and tell Macbeth that he has been named Thane of Cawdor and Macbeth starts contemplating whether or not and how he should become king.

3. MACBETH – ACT I NOTES Scene iv: • Duncan and Malcolm greet Macbeth and praise him for his bravery and valor; Macbeth honors Duncan and pledges his loyalty to him. • Duncan tells Macbeth that they will all come to his castle (Inverness) for dinner that night. Scene v: • Lady Macbeth gets a letter from Macbeth explaining what the witches have said and that their first prophecy came true. • She then worries that although Macbeth is ambitious, that he’s too loyal to Duncan and too compassionate of a person to commit cold-blooded murder. • She prays to evil spirits that they should “unsex” her; or take away her femininity and compassion so that she can plan the murder. • She convinces Macbeth that murdering Duncan is the only way he can become king.

4. MACBETH – ACT I NOTES Scene vi: • Duncan and Banquo come to the castle and comment on how welcoming it is; Banquo even makes a comment on the martlets nesting there (birds that typically nest in churches). • Lady Macbeth greets Duncan very kindly and with great hospitality; making it seem like she cares for him. Scene vii: • Macbeth’s famous soliloquy where he debates whether or not to commit the murder; he eventually talks himself out of it because Duncan is a good king and has been kind to him. • Lady Macbeth sees the weakness in Macbeth and makes him feel like a coward and like he’s not a real man—she is trying to manipulate him into going through with the murder. • They decide that she will get the guards drunk and when they pass out Macbeth should take on of their daggers and kill Duncan so they can frame the guards for the murder.

5. MACBETH – ACT II NOTES Scene i: • We meet Banquo’s son, Fleance, this lets you know that Banquo has heirs and that the Witches’ prophecy has the potential to come true. • Macbeth and Banquo briefly talk about the Witches’ prophecy and Macbeth denies having thought about it much at all; most likely because he doesn’t want to be implicated in the Kings’ upcoming murder. • Macbeth sees the vision of the dagger. This is either a real hallucination or he is simply talking about the dagger he’s about to use. Either way, it symbolizes his feelings of guilt. Scene ii: • Lady Macbeth makes comments about the owl hooting and the bell clanging—these are both indicators of a death therefore we know that Macbeth has killed Duncan. • When Macbeth returns he’s covered in blood and he’s feeling incredibly guilty. He’s unable to pray and he says he’ll never be ale to sleep again. • Lady Macbeth tries to calm him down and tells him to wash off the blood and to make all the accommodations for framing the guards—smear them with blood and plant the daggers with them.

6. MACBETH – ACT II NOTES Scene iii: • The Porter comes in and provides comic relief; he talks about the things that drinking causes (nose-painting, sleep, lechery and urinating). • Macduff discovers Duncan’s dead body. • Macbeth kills Duncans two chambermen—he claims he does so out of loyalty and rage, however, we know he does it so that they cannot defend themselves if accused and they will be blamed for the murder. • Malcolm and Donalbain fear they will either be killed as well or they will be suspected of murder so they run away from Scotland—Malcolm goes to England, Donalbain to Ireland. Scene iv: • Ross and the Old Man discuss the unnatural occurrences that have been taking place—the owl killing the falcon (which represents Macbeth killing Duncan) and Duncan’s horses killing and eating each other. • Ross states that with Duncan’s two sons gone Macbeth will be named king.

7. MACBETH – ACT III NOTES Scene i • Banquo becomes Macbeth’s next target because he suspects that Macbeth had something to do with Duncan’s death • Macbeth also targets Banquo because according to the witches, his sons will take over as kings of Scotland which is threatening to Macbeth • To celebrate his kingship, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are holding a feast at Inverness where all the lords of Scotland have been invited • Macbeth meets with three men he’s hired to kill Banquo

8. MACBETH – ACT III NOTES Scene ii • Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both discuss their inability to sleep and feelings of guilt • Lady Macbeth reminds Macbeth to put on a happy face so that the lords do not suspect he’s had anything to do with Duncan’s death or Banquo’s disappearance • Macbeth doesn’t tell Lady Macbeth of his plans to kill Banquo and makes several references to dark imagery—these images reflect his darkness of character

9. MACBETH – ACT III NOTES Scene iii • The three murders kill Banquo in the forest on his way to Macbeth’s feast • Fleance, Banquo’s son, escapes the murders Scene iv • Macbeth greets the lords at the feast and sees Banquo’s ghost sitting at his place at the table and begins to act insane • Lady Macbeth tries to cover for him, but he continues to see the ghost • Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he’ll go back to visit the weird sisters

10. MACBETH – ACT III NOTES Scene v • Hecate chastises the witches for not inviting her to help in giving Macbeth the prophecies and then dooms Macbeth to suffering and ruin Scene vi • Lennox voices his suspicions of Macbeth and mentions that he isn’t sure whether Malcolm and Donalbain are the murders or if perhaps there was someone else who was responsible

11. MACBETH – ACT IV NOTES Scene i • The witches are making a strange potion at the beginning of the scene when Macbeth goes to see them • The witches make four apparitions appear to Macbeth— • Armed Head = “Beware Macduff” • Bloody Child = “None of woman born shall harm Macbeth” • Child Crowned = “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” • 8 Kings & Mirror = Banquo’s heirs shall rule

12. MACBETH – ACT IV NOTES • Macbeth hears that Macduff has gone to England to join Malcolm; the prophecy told him to beware of Macduff so he decides to have Macduff’s wife and children murdered Scene ii • Ross goes to Lady Macduff Scene iii • Macduff goes to Malcolm who tests him to see if he is a traitor • Macduff passes Malcolm’s “test” and they discuss the benevolence of King Edward for giving them safe refuge in England and for lending his army to them to battle Scotland • Ross delivers the news to Macduff that his family has been murdered and Malcolm convinces Macduff to save his rage for revenge against Macbeth • They decide to lead the English army against Macbeth to regain control in Scotland

13. MACBETH – ACT V NOTES Scene I • Lady Macbeth has been suffering from horrible nightmares and has been sleepwalking and talking in her sleep • She dreams of having blood stains on her hands that she cannot wash away • She pretty much admits to the doctor and a nursemaid that she was responsible for Duncan’s death Scene ii • Menteith, Angus and Caithness explain that they are aware Macbeth murdered Duncan and all of Scotland is suffering under Macbeth’s rule

14. MACBETH – ACT V NOTES Scene iii • Macbeth doesn’t worry about the advancing English forces because of the prophecies Scene iv • Malcolm directs the English armies to cut down trees and walk with them so they are covered = looks like the trees are “walking”; Birnam Wood is literally moving towards Dunsinane • Macbeth meets Macduff in battle

15. MACBETH – ACT V NOTES Scene v • The doctor comes and tells Macbeth that Lady Macbeth is dead • A messenger tells Macbeth that the woods are “moving” and Macbeth realizes he was tricked by the witches Scene vii • Macduff explains that he was not born naturally of a woman; he was born through a C-section • Macduff and Macbeth meet in battle; Macduff kills Macbeth • Malcolm takes his rightful place as king of Scotland