Macbeth English notes
➔ Tragedies always end in the death of the protagonist (main
character/heroic) (called tragic hero’s – cause have a tragic flaw)
ACT 1
Scene 1:
3 witches in a storm that are meeting to talk on a battlefield – they make reference
and say they are coming back here to meet Macbeth at this exact same place and
time (the witches can see into the future - magical) → Witches have spirit animals
- Opening scene is very unsettling, secretive, dark (represents evil)
- Setting = Scotland
- Mood and atmosphere = unsettling (storm and lightning represents chaos)
- 3 witches on a deserted field (isolation) – in the middle of the storm (thrive in
chaos)
Scene 2 :
King Duncan = king of Scotland (Scotland is at war and Scotland has won the war)
King Duncans sons – Malcom, Donaldbain
Bloody soldier comes in and tells Duncan that Macbeth was the real hero - “brave
Macbeth, well he deserves that name” – he killed Macdonald brutally (fighting
against MacDonald who turned against Scotland and the Norwegians)
➔ King Duncan refers to Macbeth as brave and worthy
Captain tells them that the Norwegians are winning because there is another traitor –
they take away the title of the Thane because he became a traitor and now Macbeth
will get the title of “Thane of Cawdor”
Scene 3 :
3 witches are together again, and it shows us how much they thrive on chaos and
causing havoc, they have a lot of power – can create storms
Macbeth and Banquo enter and wonder who these 3 people are – the 3 witches are
withered and wild and he says they doesn’t look like humans
- Macbeth asks who they are and is confused because they look like woman
(nurturing and kind), but they have beards (masculine – potential for violence)
- Witches address Macbeth and his new name that he doesn’t know of yet (able to
see the future)
, Banquo also wants to know his future cause they have told Macbeth his, but they say
his is not as good as Macbeth but could be better (he might not get the title, but his
personality is better – he will be happier and not have the pressure)
→Macbeth wants to know more bout the witches and why they are here, but the
Witches just vanish. Banquo is confused because they were once tangible and then
they just disappeared (though it was hallucinations)
- They walk and come across Ross (messenger/nobleman)
- Ross tells them that Macbeth is going to be Thane of Cawdor and him, and
Banquo are confused and shocked because the withes were right
- Banquo is not convinced that that the witches are real
Soliloquy = when the character speaks aloud but none of the other characters can
hear him talk – its just so that the audience can get insight into the characters
thoughts.
➔ Macbeth starts to get worried because he thinks now that he could be king but he
thinks about all the people he has to murder – but he gets worried and says if he is
destined to be king he is going to do nothing, it will just come to him (still a good
guy)
Banquo sees Macbeth thinking and worried and says that he will get used to his new
role
- Theme now = internal conflict
Scene 4:
The old thane of Cawdor was apologetic for turning on Scotland – The kind who chose
Macbeth to be thane now fully trusts him and he says that he could not repay him for
what he has done (saved country) – Macbeth says “The service and the loyalty owe”
- Means Macbeth still must do his duties for the king
- The king says that when he dies Malcom his son will be the king.
Macbeth thinks now that Malcom is the prince of Cumberland so he thinks he could
overleap and kill Duncan to become closer to being king. → he says that the stars must
turn off so he can kill in the dark of night (very secretive)
Scene 5 :
Lady Macbeth is reading a letter that Macbeth wrote to her explaining everything that’s
happened. → Macbeth called her my dearest lady of greatness meaning they have a
good relationship; he really loves her and they do a lot together (partner)
◼ She says to Macbeth that, that is good but she thinks he is to soft and she
believes that he would only do it the hold/right way which might not work but she
does say that she can help him/tell him her spirits and she will give him her
bravery and “evilness” to help him get what he wants.
➔ Tragedies always end in the death of the protagonist (main
character/heroic) (called tragic hero’s – cause have a tragic flaw)
ACT 1
Scene 1:
3 witches in a storm that are meeting to talk on a battlefield – they make reference
and say they are coming back here to meet Macbeth at this exact same place and
time (the witches can see into the future - magical) → Witches have spirit animals
- Opening scene is very unsettling, secretive, dark (represents evil)
- Setting = Scotland
- Mood and atmosphere = unsettling (storm and lightning represents chaos)
- 3 witches on a deserted field (isolation) – in the middle of the storm (thrive in
chaos)
Scene 2 :
King Duncan = king of Scotland (Scotland is at war and Scotland has won the war)
King Duncans sons – Malcom, Donaldbain
Bloody soldier comes in and tells Duncan that Macbeth was the real hero - “brave
Macbeth, well he deserves that name” – he killed Macdonald brutally (fighting
against MacDonald who turned against Scotland and the Norwegians)
➔ King Duncan refers to Macbeth as brave and worthy
Captain tells them that the Norwegians are winning because there is another traitor –
they take away the title of the Thane because he became a traitor and now Macbeth
will get the title of “Thane of Cawdor”
Scene 3 :
3 witches are together again, and it shows us how much they thrive on chaos and
causing havoc, they have a lot of power – can create storms
Macbeth and Banquo enter and wonder who these 3 people are – the 3 witches are
withered and wild and he says they doesn’t look like humans
- Macbeth asks who they are and is confused because they look like woman
(nurturing and kind), but they have beards (masculine – potential for violence)
- Witches address Macbeth and his new name that he doesn’t know of yet (able to
see the future)
, Banquo also wants to know his future cause they have told Macbeth his, but they say
his is not as good as Macbeth but could be better (he might not get the title, but his
personality is better – he will be happier and not have the pressure)
→Macbeth wants to know more bout the witches and why they are here, but the
Witches just vanish. Banquo is confused because they were once tangible and then
they just disappeared (though it was hallucinations)
- They walk and come across Ross (messenger/nobleman)
- Ross tells them that Macbeth is going to be Thane of Cawdor and him, and
Banquo are confused and shocked because the withes were right
- Banquo is not convinced that that the witches are real
Soliloquy = when the character speaks aloud but none of the other characters can
hear him talk – its just so that the audience can get insight into the characters
thoughts.
➔ Macbeth starts to get worried because he thinks now that he could be king but he
thinks about all the people he has to murder – but he gets worried and says if he is
destined to be king he is going to do nothing, it will just come to him (still a good
guy)
Banquo sees Macbeth thinking and worried and says that he will get used to his new
role
- Theme now = internal conflict
Scene 4:
The old thane of Cawdor was apologetic for turning on Scotland – The kind who chose
Macbeth to be thane now fully trusts him and he says that he could not repay him for
what he has done (saved country) – Macbeth says “The service and the loyalty owe”
- Means Macbeth still must do his duties for the king
- The king says that when he dies Malcom his son will be the king.
Macbeth thinks now that Malcom is the prince of Cumberland so he thinks he could
overleap and kill Duncan to become closer to being king. → he says that the stars must
turn off so he can kill in the dark of night (very secretive)
Scene 5 :
Lady Macbeth is reading a letter that Macbeth wrote to her explaining everything that’s
happened. → Macbeth called her my dearest lady of greatness meaning they have a
good relationship; he really loves her and they do a lot together (partner)
◼ She says to Macbeth that, that is good but she thinks he is to soft and she
believes that he would only do it the hold/right way which might not work but she
does say that she can help him/tell him her spirits and she will give him her
bravery and “evilness” to help him get what he wants.
