Unraveling Macbeth: Paradoxes, Fates, and Characters

1. Macbeth: Act I Paradox Asides, Monologues, and Soliloquies The Fates and the Witches The Great Chain of Being Important Quotes Characters History Lady Macbeth Themes & Symbols

2. Paradox Catch-22 What is a Catch-22? Why is a Catch-22 a paradox? Where are there paradoxes in Macbeth? Back

3. Asides, Monologues, and Soliloquies • What is an Aside (who’s speaking and to whom)? Where can you find one in the text? • What is a Monologue (who’s speaking and to whom)? Where can you find one in the text? • What is a Soliloquy (who’s speaking and to whom)? Where can you find one in the text? Back

4. The Fates and the Witches • Who were the fates? • What do they symbolize in Macbeth? • How are the witches of Macbeth similar to the Fates of Greek mythology? Back

5. The Great Chain of Being • Who was at the top of the Great Chain of Being and why? • Who was the closest human to God? • What happened if a “good” King was murdered? • Where would women be on this chain? • What does this say about Lady Macbeth? • Could Shakespeare be a feminist? Back

6. Important Quotes • Act I, Scene I • Act I, Scene v • Act I, Scene vii Back

7. Characters • Duncan • Macbeth • Lady Macbeth • Banquo • The Witches Back

8. History • Where does the story take place? • Scotland • Ireland • England • Wales • What is the real history of Macbeth? Back

9. Lady Macbeth • “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way” (I.v.17-19). • “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” (I.v.41-44). • “What beast was ‘t then that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man…” (I.vi.48-49). • “I have given suck , and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this” (I.vi.54-58) Back

10. Themes & Symbols • Supernatural • Weather • Sleep • Deception • Demasculinization Back

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12. Duncan • A “Good” King who values Macbeth for his bravery in battle and has anointed him “Thane of Cawdor.” • Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are planning on slaying Duncan. Back

13. Macbeth • Loyal to the King until… • Shows bravery on the battlefield, but shows weakness when it comes to his wife. • Still has a conscience: “The supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth?” (I.iii.130-133) Back

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15. Banquo • Friend of Macbeth • Prophesy from the witches said that he would have children who would be king one day…what does this say about Macbeth’s position as King? • First Witch: “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” • Second Witch: “Not so happy, yet much happier.” • Third Witch: “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (I.iii. 65-68) Back

16. Supernatural • The Witches • Prophesies • Weather Back

17. Weather • Scene i with witches – thunder and lightening. • Scene iii with witches – thunder • Predictor of things to come (gives a sense of foreshadowing and ominous things to come) Back

18. Sleep • First Witch: “I’ll drain him dry as hay: sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid” (I.iii.19-21) Back

19. Deception • Macdonwald towards King Duncan • Macbeth towards King Duncan • Lady Macbeth towards King Duncan Back

20. Demasculinization • Lady Macbeth towards her husband Back