Act 1, Scene 7 – The Macbeths Plan the Murder
Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to murder Duncan so that he could be king of Scotland.
“If it were done when ‘tis done”
Macbeth is trying to decide whether to kill Duncan which reveals his hesitation
immediately to the audience. It also suggests Macbeth has a conscience.
“Return to plague th’inventor” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Macbeth comments that murderers themselves get killed, so if he kills Duncan he is
likely to end up being killed himself. This foreshadows his death at the end of the play.
“Poisoned chalice”
When you desire something and get it but then realise it is not what you really wanted.
“He’s here in double trust”
Macbeth believes that as Duncan’s ‘kinsman’ and as Duncan is his ‘guest’, it is his duty to
protect him.
“So clear in his great office” – Theme: Kingship
Macbeth recognises that Duncan is a good king. Duncan’s righteousness makes Macbeth
feel even more guilty about his plan to murder Duncan.
“His virtues will plead like angels”
Macbeth is afraid of the religious consequences of killing an innocent man as his murder
won’t be justified in the eyes of God and heaven.
“Vaulting ambition”
Macbeth’s strong ambition wins against all the arguments he gives. He has no power to
control his ambition to become king but it might be the Witches controlling him.
Macbeth has no reason to kill Duncan except for his own ambition where he knows it
will be his downfall.
Macbeth reveals a whole series of conflicting thoughts and feelings by talking loud to
the audience (soliloquy).
“This business”
Macbeth uses a euphemism and not ‘murder’ as he is hiding the truth so that he is
encouraged. He says the complete opposite to Lady Macbeth but the audience knows he
wants to murder Duncan.
“Be so much more than man”
Lady Macbeth is forceful as she bullies and persuades Macbeth to go through with the
murder by questioning his masculinity. By killing Duncan, Macbeth will be more of a man
and he will also be king.
“Dashed the brains out” – Theme: Good and Evil
Lady Macbeth rejects her femininity by telling Macbeth that she would kill her own
child, emphasise how evil she is. It also suggests that the evil spirits has come over her.
“If we should fail”
Macbeth’s decision to not fully argue against Lady Macbeth shows he truly wants to
murder Duncan.
Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to murder Duncan so that he could be king of Scotland.
“If it were done when ‘tis done”
Macbeth is trying to decide whether to kill Duncan which reveals his hesitation
immediately to the audience. It also suggests Macbeth has a conscience.
“Return to plague th’inventor” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Macbeth comments that murderers themselves get killed, so if he kills Duncan he is
likely to end up being killed himself. This foreshadows his death at the end of the play.
“Poisoned chalice”
When you desire something and get it but then realise it is not what you really wanted.
“He’s here in double trust”
Macbeth believes that as Duncan’s ‘kinsman’ and as Duncan is his ‘guest’, it is his duty to
protect him.
“So clear in his great office” – Theme: Kingship
Macbeth recognises that Duncan is a good king. Duncan’s righteousness makes Macbeth
feel even more guilty about his plan to murder Duncan.
“His virtues will plead like angels”
Macbeth is afraid of the religious consequences of killing an innocent man as his murder
won’t be justified in the eyes of God and heaven.
“Vaulting ambition”
Macbeth’s strong ambition wins against all the arguments he gives. He has no power to
control his ambition to become king but it might be the Witches controlling him.
Macbeth has no reason to kill Duncan except for his own ambition where he knows it
will be his downfall.
Macbeth reveals a whole series of conflicting thoughts and feelings by talking loud to
the audience (soliloquy).
“This business”
Macbeth uses a euphemism and not ‘murder’ as he is hiding the truth so that he is
encouraged. He says the complete opposite to Lady Macbeth but the audience knows he
wants to murder Duncan.
“Be so much more than man”
Lady Macbeth is forceful as she bullies and persuades Macbeth to go through with the
murder by questioning his masculinity. By killing Duncan, Macbeth will be more of a man
and he will also be king.
“Dashed the brains out” – Theme: Good and Evil
Lady Macbeth rejects her femininity by telling Macbeth that she would kill her own
child, emphasise how evil she is. It also suggests that the evil spirits has come over her.
“If we should fail”
Macbeth’s decision to not fully argue against Lady Macbeth shows he truly wants to
murder Duncan.
