Notes On Macbeth Act 1, Scenes I-vii Essay, Research Paper
Notes on Macbeth Act 1, Scenes i-vii Scene 1:? A
Desolate Place-The Witches. Spell-like speech. Form speech we realise Macbeth
is a soldier victorious in battle, and that after the battle he will meet the
witches-so we associate something sinister with him. Key Phrases: ?Fair is foul, and foul is fair?- suggests that the play
will be upside down.Scene 2: King Duncan?s camp near Forres. War beaten
captain returns to bare good tidings to the king, describes how Macbeth
brutally kills Macdonald-doesn?t say anything bad about him. Tells of the
reinforcements for the enemy arriving and how this did not dismay Macbeth and
Banquo. Then Ross tells that Macbeth has won the battle and captured the Thane
of Cawdor, king orders death of Cawdor and gives Macbeth his former title. Key Phrases: ?As two spent swimmers that do cling together/And choke
their art.?-describing the battling armies. ?For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name?-as if
Macbeth?s first name is ?Brave? ?Brandished steel/Which smoked with bloody execution?
describing passage of Macbeth?s sword ?Like Valour?s minion?-describing Macbeth-slave to
valour-posses all Valour?s good qualities-but underneath this higher power ?That Bellona?s bridegroom?-again describing Macbeth-husband
to the Goddess of War? Surely not-more likely a slave to her.Scene 3: A heath-Macbeth and Banquo meet witches
after returning from battle. They tell Macbeth he is T of G, that he will
become T of C and also King-dramatic irony-we already know that the King has
pronounced him T of C. They also tell Banquo that his son?s will be kings. Then
M finds out he is the T of C, he begins to think about how he will become
King-will he have to kill the King? Key Phrases: ?So foul and fair a day I have not seen?-Macbeth?s first
line in the play-immediate link to witches.Scene 4: Duncan?s Palace at Forres-Malcolm tells the
King of T of C?s execution-noble repentant death. M and B return to meet the
King. M declares his loyalty to the King, right after the King saying that it
is impossible to judge someone by their outward appearance- dramatic irony
again. King declares that Malcolm (his son) shall become the Prince of
Cumberland-heir to the throne. Key Phrases: ?There?s no art to find the minds construction in the
face?-King when he realises you can?t judge someone by their outward
appearance-after he has been betrayed by the T of C. A
?absolute trust?.Scene 5: Macbeth?s Castle at Inverness-Lady M reads
M?s letter about the witches and what they tell him. She fears his human nature
believing that he is ?too full o?th?milk of human kindness? to kill the King.
Then an attendant tells her that the King is coming to stay and that M is
returning. Big long soliloquy in which she asks to be rid of her femininity and
compassion-to become a man-so that she can kill the King herself. Calls on evil
spirits. Greets M with thoughts of future greatness and tells him to be nice on
top but nasty underneath. Lady M?s last speech is filled with double
meanings-see book. Key phrases: ?Unsex me here ?-Lady M asking to be made a man. ?Come to my woman?s breasts and take my milk for
gall?-asking for her breast milk to be turned into poison-evil-twisted. ?Look like th?innocent flower/But be the serpent under?t??
telling M to be nice on top by nasty underneath.Scene 6: King arrives at M?s castle. Dramatic
Irony-says it?s a nice castle-looks nice-his is going to be killed there.
Banquo talks about the martlet-in ?The Merchant of Venice?-?martlet? or martin
was also used about a visitor who was deceived by appearances. Also martlet
=fool/dope (slang term). Lady M welcome King being suitably like the innocent
flower whilst being the serpent under it.Scene 7: Macbeth?s Castle ~ Near the Great Hall-M?s
soliloquy, he struggles with his conscience-should he kill the king or not? He
is related to him and one of his subjects therefore he should not kill him.
Also the King is his guest, if anything he should be protecting him from
murderers, not doing the deed himself. Only ambition spurs him on. M tells Lady
M that he has decided not to kill the King, as the king hath ?honoured? him of
late. She says that he is not a man if he doesn?t do it-he is a coward. She
also says that if she had promised like he had, she would kill her own child
rather than break such a promise. Lady M tells M of her plan to drug the
bodyguards of the King-says it will be easy to kill him if he has no guards.
Macbeth praises her, she says that they will make it look like a convincing
murder by being v. surprised when they ?find out?. M says he is ready to do the
job, and that they should hide their true feelings-in their hearts- with false
faces. Key Phrases: ?False face must hide what false heart doth know?-like nice
on top but nasty underneath.