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Macbeth: A Detailed Analysis of Themes and Characters, Schemes and Mind Maps of English

English

A comprehensive analysis of william shakespeare's macbeth, exploring key themes, character development, and significant plot points. It delves into the play's exploration of ambition, guilt, fate, and the supernatural, offering insights into the complexities of macbeth's character and the consequences of his actions. The document also includes exercises and quotes to enhance understanding and encourage deeper analysis.

Typology: Schemes and Mind Maps

2013/2014

Uploaded on 02/07/2025

sumaya-shafiq
sumaya-shafiq 🇬🇧

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1:1 The
Witches are
introduced
1:2 Duncan
talks about
the battle
1:3 Macbeth
meets the
Witches who tell
him he’ll be King.
1:4 Macbeth
starts to think
about killing
Duncan.
1:5&6 Lady Macbeth
learns of the Witches’
prophecy. Duncan
arrives at Macbeth’s
castle
1:7 Lady Macbeth
persuades
Macbeth to kill
Duncan
2:1 Macbeth
goes to kill
Duncan
2:2 Lady
Macbeth
covers up the
murder
2:3 Macduff
finds Duncan’s
body
2:4 An old man
talks about
weird events.
Macbeth is
crowned King
3:1-3
Macbeth
realises that
Banquo’s a
threat so has
him killed
3:4 Macbeth
sees
Banquo’s
ghost
3:5 Hecate
plans to ruin
Macbeth
3:6 Lennox is
told of a plot
to overthrow
Macbeth
4:2&3 Macbeth has
Macduff’s wife and son
killed. Malcolm tests
Macduff and Macduff
learns of the murders
4:1 Macbeth visits
the Witches, and is
shown three
apparitions that
predict his future
5:2-4&6 The English
army advances,
disguised as Birnam
Wood
5:1 Lady
Macbeth
sleepwalks
5:5&7 Lady Macbeth
kills herself and
Macbeth kills young
Siward.
5:8 Macduff
kills Macbeth
5:9
Malcolm
becomes
King
Macbeth
- Easily manipulated
- Fair but foul
- Corrupted by ambition
- Violent throughout
- Final downfall = hubris
Lady Macbeth
- Cruel, ambitious and ruthless
- Initially in control
- Weaker than she thinks?
- Insomniac
- Insane with guilt
Banquo
- Macbeth’s foil
- Macbeth obsessed by his
prophecy
- Loyal and noble
- Terrifying ghost
- Sceptical of Witches & Macbeth
The Witches
- Deliberately vague
- Instruments of fate
- Enjoy causing trouble and
chaos
- Manipulate Macbeth’s
ambition
- One entity?
Duncan
- Macbeth’s antithesis as King
- Popular and fair
- Emotional
- Far too trusting
- His sons are good men
The Macduffs
- Macbeth’s antithesis as a man
- Wife contrasts LM
- Country > family
- Loyal and strong
- Sirrah’s death = ruthless Macbeth
Supernatural
- Witches are deliberately confusing
- Vision of dagger
- B’s ghost = guilt
- Apparitions and prophecies
- LM’s bloody hands
Fate vs Free Will
- M’s choices?
- M doomed from the start?
- M believes his fate
- B doesn’t act on prophecy
- M loses control of life
Reality vs appearance
- ‘Fair is foul’
- Hiding true thoughts
- Harder to hide (LM)
- Too trusting of appearances? (D)
- Audience see ‘true’ characters
Ambition
- Motivates M & LM
- M’s fatal flaw
- Corrupts M & LM
- Macduff ambitious for Scotland
- Banquo doesn’t act on ambition
Good vs Evil
- M initially good
- Women = evil?
- Constant battle
- M overcome by evil desires
- Religious conflict (Heaven and Hell)
Loyalty/Betrayal
- B & Macduff loyal
- M & LM pretend to be loyal
- Loyalty to Scotland
- Betraying God
- Macbeth doesn’t earn loyalty as
King
Characters
The play has a
cyclical structure.
Macbeth begins
and ends in battle
(ironically with a
beheading too).
Blank verse:
- Used by majority of characters
- Lines don’t usually rhyme
- 10 or 11 syllables per line
- Typically iambic pentameter
- Regular rhythm of the lines =
characters sound well spoken
Prose:
- Lower class characters use prose
- Speech sounds more natural with
no set rhythm
- Porter speaks in prose
- Lady Macbeth speaks in prose when
she sleepwalks = insanity.
Symbolism:
Light = good
Dark = evil
Nature = correct order
Health / disease = state of Scotland
Blood = guilt
Water = innocence
Masculinity = aggression / courage
Themes
pf3
pf4
pf5
pf8
pf9
pfa
pfd
pfe
pff
pf12
pf13
pf14

Partial preview of the text

Download Macbeth: A Detailed Analysis of Themes and Characters and more Schemes and Mind Maps English in PDF only on Docsity!

1:1 The Witches are introduced 1:2 Duncan talks about the battle 1:3 Macbeth meets the Witches who tell him he’ll be King. 1:4 Macbeth starts to think about killing Duncan. 1:5&6 Lady Macbeth learns of the Witches’ prophecy. Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle 1:7 Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan 2:1 Macbeth goes to kill Duncan 2:2 Lady Macbeth covers up the murder 2:3 Macduff finds Duncan’s body 2:4 An old man talks about weird events. Macbeth is crowned King 3:1- Macbeth realises that Banquo’s a threat so has him killed 3:4 Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost 3:5 Hecate plans to ruin Macbeth 3:6 Lennox is told of a plot to overthrow Macbeth 4:2&3 Macbeth has Macduff’s wife and son killed. Malcolm tests Macduff and Macduff learns of the murders 4:1 Macbeth visits the Witches, and is shown three apparitions that predict his future 5:2-4&6 The English army advances, disguised as Birnam Wood 5:1 Lady Macbeth sleepwalks 5:5&7 Lady Macbeth kills herself and Macbeth kills young Siward. 5:8 Macduff kills Macbeth 5: Malcolm becomes King Macbeth

  • Easily manipulated
    • Fair but foul
  • Corrupted by ambition
  • Violent throughout
  • Final downfall = hubris Lady Macbeth
  • Cruel, ambitious and ruthless
  • Initially in control
  • Weaker than she thinks?
  • Insomniac
  • Insane with guilt Banquo
  • Macbeth’s foil
  • Macbeth obsessed by his prophecy
  • Loyal and noble
  • Terrifying ghost
  • Sceptical of Witches & Macbeth The Witches
  • Deliberately vague
  • Instruments of fate
  • Enjoy causing trouble and chaos
  • Manipulate Macbeth’s ambition
  • One entity? Duncan
  • Macbeth’s antithesis as King
  • Popular and fair
  • Emotional
  • Far too trusting
  • His sons are good men The Macduffs
  • Macbeth’s antithesis as a man
  • Wife contrasts LM
  • Country > family
  • Loyal and strong
  • Sirrah’s death = ruthless Macbeth Supernatural
  • Witches are deliberately confusing
  • Vision of dagger
  • B’s ghost = guilt
  • Apparitions and prophecies
  • LM’s bloody hands Fate vs Free Will
  • M’s choices?
  • M doomed from the start?
  • M believes his fate
  • B doesn’t act on prophecy
  • M loses control of life Reality vs appearance
  • ‘Fair is foul’
  • Hiding true thoughts
  • Harder to hide (LM)
  • Too trusting of appearances? (D)
  • Audience see ‘true’ characters Ambition
  • Motivates M & LM
  • M’s fatal flaw
  • Corrupts M & LM
  • Macduff ambitious for Scotland
  • Banquo doesn’t act on ambition Good vs Evil
  • M initially good
  • Women = evil?
  • Constant battle
  • M overcome by evil desires
  • Religious conflict (Heaven and Hell) Loyalty/Betrayal
  • B & Macduff loyal
  • M & LM pretend to be loyal
  • Loyalty to Scotland
  • Betraying God
  • Macbeth doesn’t earn loyalty as King Characters The play has a cyclical structure. Macbeth begins and ends in battle (ironically with a beheading too). Blank verse:
  • Used by majority of characters
  • Lines don’t usually rhyme
  • 10 or 11 syllables per line
  • Typically iambic pentameter
  • Regular rhythm of the lines = characters sound well spoken Prose:
  • Lower class characters use prose
  • Speech sounds more natural with no set rhythm
  • Porter speaks in prose
  • Lady Macbeth speaks in prose when she sleepwalks = insanity. Symbolism: Light = good Dark = evil Nature = correct order Health / disease = state of Scotland Blood = guilt Water = innocence Masculinity = aggression / courage Themes

Ambition (noun) A strong desire to do or achieve something. Chivalry (noun) Bravery, military skill, courtesy to women Cowardice (noun) Fear and self-concern leading to putting yourself first. Duplicity (noun) Deceitfulness; being two- faced. Eminence (noun) High status importance due to superiority. Emasculate (verb) Make a male weaker or less effective. Hamartia (noun) A fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero. Hubris (noun) Excessive pride or confidence. Machiavellian (adjective) Being cunning, evil and sly. Monarchy (noun) The king, queen and royal family of a country. Paranoia (noun) A worry that you are being persecuted or victimised Patriarchal (adjective) A social system where men hold the power and influence. Prophecy (noun) A prediction of the future. Regicide (noun) The killing of the king. Superstition (noun) A belief in supernatural influences which there are no evidence for. Soliloquy (noun) A speech given to the audience. Turmoil (noun) A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty. Tyranny (noun) An unfair, unjust and cruel government or rule. Treason (noun) A crime that undermines the government or ruler. Unsanctified (adjective) Not holy due to impurities or defilement. Usurp (verb) To take someone else’s place illegally or by force. Villainy (noun) Wicked or criminal behaviour. Valiant (adjective) Having or showing heroism or courage. Vengeance (noun) Harming someone in retaliation for something they have done

Macbeth - 2 Score:^ /

Act 3 – Macbeth

‘never shake thy gory locks at me’

Act 3 – Macbeth

‘Blood will have blood’

Act 4 – The Witches

‘beware Macduff’

Act 4 – The Witches

‘none of woman born shall harm Macbeth’

Act 4 – The Witches

‘Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him’.

Act 4 – Ross to Macduff

‘Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes savagely slaughter'd’

Act 5 – Lady Macbeth

‘Out, damned spot!’

Act 5 – Macbeth

‘Life's but a walking shadow’

Act 5 – Malcolm

‘What’s more to do, Which would be planted newly with the time’

Act 5 – Malcolm

‘This dead butcher and his fiend-like Queen’

Macbeth - Ambition Score:^ /

Macbeth (1.4)

“Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires”

Banquo (1.3)

“Look how our partner’s rapt”

Macbeth (1.4)

“If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir”

Macbeth (1.4)

“The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap”

Macbeth (1.3)“Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, and make my seated heart knock

at my ribs, against the use of nature”

Lady Macbeth (1.5)

“I do fear thy nature; it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness”

Lady Macbeth (1.5)

“Unsex me here”

Macbeth (1.7)

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition”

Macbeth (2.1)

“Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand?”

Banquo (3.1)

“Thou hast it now- King, Cawdor, Glamis, all…yet I fear thou played’st most foully for it”

Macbeth - Gender Score:^ /

Lady Macbeth (1.5)

“Yet I do fear thy nature; it is too full o’the milk of human kindness”

Lady Macbeth (1.5)

“Unsex me here”

Lady Macbeth (1.5)

“Take my milk for gall”

Lady Macbeth (1.5)

“Leave all the rest to me”

Lady Macbeth (1.7) “Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself? And wakes it now

to look so green and pale”

Lady Macbeth (1.7)

“I would have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out”

Lady Macbeth (1.7)

“When you durst do it, then you were a man”

Macbeth (1.7)

“I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more, is none”

Lady Macbeth (2.2)

“My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white”

Macduff on his family’s death (4.3)

“I shall do so, but I must also feel it as a man”

Macbeth – Supernatural Score: /

The Witches (1.1)

“Fair is foul and foul is fair”

The Witches (1.1)

“When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain”

Banquo (1.3)

“What are these, so withered and wild in their attire?”

Banquo (1.3)

“These instruments of darkness”

Banquo (1.3)

“Look how our partner’s rapt”

Lady Macbeth (1.5)

“Come you spirits…unsex me here”

Macbeth to Banquo’s ghost (3.4)

“Never shake thy gory locks at me”

The Witches (4.1)

“Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble”

Macbeth (4.2)

“Secret, black and midnight hags”

The Witches (4.2)

“For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”

Macbeth Context and Act 1 Plot summary Act 1 scene 1 – The three witches gather to in a thunder storm to meet Macbeth Act 1 scene 2 – Duncan hears reports of the battle in which Macbeth proves himself a hero and also of the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor. Act 1 scene 3 – Macbeth & Banquo meet the witches and hear the predictions that he will be Thane of Cawdor and the next king. Ross arrives to confirm that Macbeth is the new Thane of Cawdor. Act 1 scene 4 – Duncan decides to make his son Malcolm the heir to his throne and tells Macbeth that he will visit his castle. Act 1 scene 5 – Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband about the events so far and makes up her mind to murder Duncan. Act 1 scene 6 – Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle and is welcomed by Lady Macbeth. Act 1 scene 7 – Macbeth decides he cannot go through with the plot but Lady Macbeth persuades him to change his mind. Key Terms: supernatural – a force beyond the laws of nature pagan – non-religious monarch – king or queen Thane – Scottish Lord prophecy – a prediction of the future paradox/ical – a contradictory statement patriarchal – society in which women are considered inferior contemporary – belonging to the present time ambition – strong desire to achieve something cowardice – lack of bravery Key Literary Terms tragic hero – protagonist of a tragedy dramatic irony – the audience knows more than a character does couplet – two lines hamartia – fatal flaw that leads to the downfall of the tragic hero soliloquy – character speaks his or her thoughts direct to the audience semantic field – a set of words related to one theme Quotes: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair hover through the fog and filthy air” “…his brandish’d steel which smoked with bloody execution” “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” “that shalt be King hereafter” “Lesser than Macbeth and greater” “…Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires:” “…yet do I fear thy nature” “…unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!” “I am his kinsman and his subject…” “When you durst do it, then you were a man” Context: The plays Shakespeare wrote during the reign of King James( such as Macbeth) were cynical and dark reflecting the insecurities of King James. Macbeth is known as one of Shakespeare's most strong and forceful plays. The play was written in 1606, a time in history that was called the Elizabethan era.

Macbeth Act 2

Plot summary:

Act II scene i – Banquo feels uneasy

about what might happen in the

night. Macbeth makes his way to

Duncan’s room to kill him and sees a

ghostly dagger floating in the air

before him.

Act II scene ii – Macbeth forgets to

leave the bloody daggers in Duncan’s

room after the murder and Lady

Macbeth is forced to take charge and

put them back.

Act II scene iii – The next morning

Duncan’s body is discovered by

Macduff; Macbeth conveniently kills

the servants in pretend rage; Duncan’s

sons, Malcolm & Donalbain, flee the

castle.

Act II scene iv – Macduff reports that

suspicion for the murder has fallen on

the king’s sons; Macbeth has travelled

to Scone to be crowned.

Key Terms: signifies – means proclaims – announces treason – murdering someone to whom you owe loyalty flee – run away anticipate – expect allude – refer to heighten – make stronger justification – reason coronation – crowning ceremony feigning – pretending chamberlains – officers who serve in the King’s household regicide – to kill a monarch Quotes: “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?” “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” “The multitudinous seas in incarnadine, Making the green one red.” “My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white… A little water clears us of this deed:” “Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building!” “Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, loyal and neutral, in a moment?” “I'll to England.” “To Ireland, I; our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer: where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles:” “…this sore night Hath trifled former knowings.” Context: It was believed that kings were appointed by ‘divine right’ and were anointed by God. To kill a king was considered the worst sin and a terrible crime.  Macbeth is a tragedy and the character of Macbeth is a tragic hero

Macbeth – Act 4 Plot summary: Act IV scene i – The witches tell Macbeth he cannot be harmed by anyone ‘born of a woman’ and that he will be safe until Birnam Wood moves to the castle at Dunsinane. Macbeth decides to murder Macduff’s family. Act IV scene ii – Macbeth’s murderers kill Lady Macduff and her children. Act IV scene iii – Macduff discovers his family’s murder and, with Malcolm, leads an army to attack Macbeth. Key Terms: apparition – a ghostlike image descended – related to orb – spherical shape sceptre – ornamental stick glass – mirror hubris/hubristic – excessive pride chaos – disorder and confusion massacre – killing many people depravity – moral corruption epic – remarkable allusion – reference to Quotes: “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife.” “for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” “Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.” “shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom?” “And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more; “ “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. “ “Not in the legions Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn’d In evils to top Macbeth.” “Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men, Already at a point, was setting forth. Now we'll together;” “Alas, poor country!” Historical Context: The play pays homage to the king’s Scottish lineage. Additionally, the witches’ prophecy that Banquo will found a line of kings is a clear nod to James’s family’s claim to have descended from the historical Banquo. The play was first performed not long after the Gunpowder Plot. Shakespeare shows the murderers of a king tormented by their own guilt and driven to their doom.

Macbeth – Act 5 Plot summary: Act V scene i – Lady Macbeth is sleep walking and trying to wash an imaginary blood spot from her hands. Act V scene ii – Malcolm’s army is at Birnam Wood and hear reports that Macbeth’s supporters are deserting him. Act V scene iii – Macbeth is besieged but puts his trust in the witches’ prophecy. Act V scene iv – Malcolm orders his army to cut down branches from Birnam Wood to disguise the number of soldiers. Act V scene v – Macbeth is told of his wife’s death and about the news that Birnam Wood seems to be approaching. He resolves to die fighting. Act V scene vi - ix – Macbeth is killed by Macduff (who reveals he was delivered by caesarean and so not properly ‘born’). Malcolm becomes the new king of Scotland and order is restored. Key Terms: dramatic irony – when the audience knows something that the character/s on stage does not equivocation – double dealing camouflage – hiding by blending with the surroundings vanquished – defeated hubristic – excessively self- confident illusion – false idea tyrant – a cruel ruler exiled – expelled from your country fiend – evil spirit Quotes: “Out, damned spot!” “who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.” “Some say he's mad; others that lesser hate him Do call it valiant fury.” “Let them fly all: Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane, I cannot taint with fear.” “I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack’d.” “Let every soldier hew him down a bough And bear't before him:” “Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn“ “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more:” “Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night, Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight.” What's he that was not born of woman? Such a oneAm I to fear, or none.” “Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripp’d.” “This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,”