Macbeth - Notes and Quotes
Act I sc i
Three witches arrange to meet Macbeth after a battle. They end
with: "Fair is foul and foul is fair..." Who is Macbeth? Why
the meeting? The scene establishes the themes of the supernatural
and evil.
sc ii
A sergeant reports the battle: Macbeth fought against enormous odds
to beat the Norweyan invaders. Macbeth and Banquo are not alarmed
when reinforcements appear. Rosse brings news that the Norweyans
have finally been defeated. Duncan honours Macbeth with the title
of the traitorous Thane of Cawdor.
sc iii
The witches talk of the evil they have been doing. Macbeth enters
with Banquo. Macbeth says: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen."
which links him with witches and evil in the play. The witches greet
Macbeth with "hail to the, Thane of Glamis ... Thane of Cawdor.. (he) that
shalt be King hereafter". Macbeth cannot speak to them (has Macbeth
been thinking evil thoughts already, or does he fear the witches because
they are evil and have power over someone evil such as he is?) -
but Banquo asks them to foretell the future, pointing out the he is one
who "neither beg, nor fear, your favours nor your hate." ( Unlike Macbeth,
Banquo questions the witches out of curiosity and the knowledge that nothing
evil can have hold over him as he's not evil himself).
The witches tell him: "Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none".
(line 67). Macbeth cannot understand how he can be given the title
Thane of Cawdor when Cawdor still lives - but the witches vanish.
Angus and Rosse enter and tell Macbeth that he's now Thane of Cawdor - and that Cawdor is to be hanged for treason. Macbeth asks Banquo if things will turn out well for him too, and Banquo warns: "oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths; Win us with honest trifles, to betray's in deepest consequence" (line 123) ie they try to do him harm by predicting small advantages, winning him in the process to harm.
Macbeth considers: "This supernatural soliciting/ Cannot be ill; cannot
be good" - he's blind to the fact that things are either good or bad, and
he refuses to listen to Banquo's advice. Nevertheless, Macbeth asks
himself "Why do I yield to that suggestion / whose horrid image doth unfix
my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs / Against the use of
nature?" (line 134) That suggestion is the murder of Duncan. Here
"nature" is a reference to the natural order (The Great Chain of Being).
Murder of the King would break the natural (and God-given) order and even
the thought of this causes Macbeth's heart to beat unnaturally. He dismisses
the thought of murder: "If Chance will have me King, why, Chance may crown
me." (line 144)
sc iv
News of Cawdor's death: he dies well, almost pleased to die (Compare
with Macbeth's death where "Life is a tale told by an idiot" ie meaningless.)
Duncan greets Macbeth and Banquo, heaping praises on Macbeth. He
makes Malcolm (his son) his heir. Macbeth says: "That is a step /
on which I must fall down, or else o'erleap / For in my way it lies." (line
48) This stirs his pride, jealousy, and ambition: he decides to kill
Duncan, Malcolm - whoever is in his way.
sc v
Macbeth has written to Lady Macbeth telling of the witches and their
prophecy. She thinks he's "too full of the milk of human kindness,/
To catch the nearest way" (line 17) - ie to kill Duncan to be king.
Although he's ambitious he's without "The illness (that) should attend
it" (line 20) ie he is not prepared to be evil. Lady Macbeth decides
to nag him till he does what she wants.. As soon as she hears news
that Duncan is to stay she invokes all that is evil and unnatural: "unsex
me here / And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full / of direst
cruelty ..." (line 41) When Macbeth arrives, Lady Macbeth works
on him, telling him to be deceitful (evil) "look like th'innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't." (line 65) She is masterful (and
therefore unnatural) and takes full control: "Leave all the rest to me."
(line 74)
sc vi
Duncan arrives and Lady Macbeth greets him, pretending to be pleased
to see him and serve him.
sc vii
At the beginning of this scene, Macbeth shows little conscience at
the prospect of murder. His only doubt is that he might be found
out. He's also worried because: "Bloody instructions, which, being
taught, return to plague th'inventor..." (line 9) ie one murder will lead
to others. Macbeth's conscience starts to trouble him , for
he realises Duncan's there "in double trust" as Macbeth is his kinsman,
subject and host." (line 12) He also realises that Duncan is a good
king, and his murder would be an outrage. He therefore realises he
cannot do it, despite his "vaulting ambition, which o'everleaps itself"
(line 27) - an image of somebody who shows of by vaulting into the saddle
- only to go too far and fall off. Lady Macbeth enters, and Macbeth
tells her to forget the murder, and that they will do quite nicely in their
new found glory. Lady Macbeth launches her attack, accusing him of
being a coward, knowing how to manipulate him and that the soldier in Macbeth
will resent the insult. She says that if she'd made a promise even
to kill her own child, she'd do it, if she promised it, as Macbeth promised
to kill Duncan. (She is appealing to Macbeth's sense of honour to do something
dishonourable!) Macbeth agrees - and Lady Macbeth is to drug the
King's grooms' drinks.
Act II sc i
Banquo and his son Fleance, are going to bed after the celebrations.
Despite being tired, he says he'd rather not sleep as something is troubling
him. He reaches for his sword at Macbeth's entrance. He tells
Macbeth he dreamt last night of the witches and their prophecy (perhaps
this is what is worrying him). Macbeth pretends he's not thought
about them, asking for Banquo and himself to talk about it, saying it will
be to Banquo's advantage. Banquo says he will do so only if everything
is above board.
Macbeth asks "Is this a dagger, which I see before me" (line 33): his
senses are deceiving him, just as he's deceived Duncan - which shows how
deceit can turn back on those who use it. It is also used to create
an atmosphere of horror and suspense. Macbeth realises the night
is the time when evil is about, and goes off to kill Duncan.
sc ii
Lady Macbeth says she's drugged the grooms. She says she'd have
killed Duncan, but for the fact that he looked like her father (so she's
not all bad, and does have a conscience?). Macbeth returns from the
murder. He worries that he could not say "Amen" to the grooms' prayer,
realising he has damned his soul everlastingly. Macbeth is so upset
he's forgotten to leave the daggers with the grooms and cannot face taking
them back. Lady Macbeth goes off with them. When she returns
she is still determined and unafraid by what they've done, saying: "A little
water clears us of this deed." (line 66) Macbeth is not so happy:
when he hears a knocking at the gate he can only say: " Wake Duncan with
thy knocking: I would thou couldst!" (line 73) - he already regrets what
he done only minutes previously.
sc iii
The Porter pretends he's the porter of hell-gate - which he is, after
what the Macbeths have done. This is a comic interlude about how
people have been doomed to hell by their own deceit (which is a major theme
of the play). Lennox says how strange and unruly a night it has been.
Macduff returns from going to wake Duncan, finding him murdered.
The alarm is raised. Macbeth says he killed the two grooms in a moment
of anger and Lady Macbeth pretends to faint. Malcolm and Donalbain
decide to escape
a) because they cannot show such emotion (being too shocked)
and the blame might fall on them and
b) the murderer might choose them as the next victims.
sc iv
Rosse and an old man outside the castle: the old man cannot remember
such strange and unnatural events. A falcon was killed by an owl
(a falcon was a prince among birds, and more prized than an owl - a mirror
image of what Macbeth has done to Duncan.) Rosse says how Duncan's
horses ate each other - an indication that something evil has been at work
and symbolic of one noble killing another. Macduff enters.
Blame has been put on the sons, so Macbeth is to be crowned king.
Act III sc i
Banquo in soliloquy says Macbeth has all the witches promised but:
"I fear / Thou play'dst most foully for't'..." (line 3) Macbeth finds
out that Fleance and Banquo are to go riding. Macbeth reveals that
he feels insecure. He fears Banquo's "royalty of nature"(line 48),
resenting the fact that the witches said Banquo's children would be Kings.
Macbeth realises he has murdered Duncan for Banquo's and his descendants'
advantage. Macbeth engages two murderers. He lies, telling
them that Banquo is the cause of all their troubles.
sc ii
Lady Macbeth says: "Tis safer to be that which we destroy / Than by
destruction dwell in doubtful joy." (line 6) - she also feels insecure
- and is wishing herself dead. When Macbeth enters, she asks "Why
do you keep alone" (line 8) so their close relationship is no more.
She then tries to be supportive, telling him not to worry "Things without
all remedy / Should be without regard: What's done is done." (line 12)
yet she is only putting on a brave face. Macbeth says he's worried
about Banquo and Fleance but when Lady Macbeth asks what he's planned for
them, he refuses to tell her. The scene ends with the invocation
to evil: "Come seeling Night, / Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful Day,
/ And, with bloody and invisible hand, / Cancel, and tear to pieces, that
great bond / Which keeps me pale..." (line 46)
sc iii
Banquo is murdered - but Fleance manages to escape. Who is the
third murderer?
sc iv
The murderers tell Macbeth at his feast that Banquo is murdered, but
that Fleance has escaped. During the feast Banquo's ghost appears
- but only to Macbeth. Macbeth is very shocked and calls out.
Again the ghost appears and Macbeth again raves. Lady Macbeth tries
to smooth things over by saying this is not uncommon, an illness which
she hopes they'll ignore. All is in vain and she says to Macbeth:
"You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting / With most admir'd
disorder." (line 109) He has also similarly disrupted things in Scotland
by murdering Duncan, throwing over the good order. Macbeth realises
Macduff has not attended his feast. Macbeth decides to revisit the
witches. Macbeth decides there is more murder ahead of him,
but there is no turning back: "I am in blood / stepp'd in so far, that,
should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er" (line
135) - he has to continue, and there is no turning back.
sc v
The witches meet with Hecate. She tells them Macbeth has had
it his own way for too long.
sc vi
Lennox and another Lord speak about events. It is now common
knowledge that Macbeth has been up to trickery. There's news that
Malcolm has gone to England and is raising an army. Macduff has also
gone to England.
Act IV sc i
The witches prepare a special spell. Enter Macbeth and a witch
says: "By the pricking of my thumbs, / Something wicked this way comes."
(line 44). The first apparition appears to Macbeth. An armed
head tell him to "beware Macduff". The second apparition (a bloody
child - born of a caesarean) tells Macbeth "laugh to scorn / The power
of man for none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth" The third apparition
(a child crowned, with a tree in his hand) tells him: "Macbeth shall never
vanquish'd be until / Great Birnham wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall
come against him." The final apparition is a show of 8 kings, with
Banquo following. This is the line of kings descended from Banquo.
These all have the opposite meaning from that which Macbeth chooses to
see in them; he is still blind to the witches. After the witches
disappear, Lennox tells Macbeth the news of Macduff going to England.
Macbeth decides to kill the whole of the Macduff household.
sc ii
Macduff's household is murdered. Macduff did not realise the
lengths to which Macbeth would go - just like his wife who asks "Wither
should I fly? / I have done no harm" - and she is then murdered.
sc iii
Macduff tires to persuade Malcolm to return to Scotland. Malcolm
fears that Macduff may have been sent by Macbeth as a trap.
Malcolm says if he were king it would reel under his vices. Malcolm
says he's a voluptuary (a sex-fiend). Macduff says it is a vice -
but one which Malcolm could practice secretly. Then Malcolm says
he's avaricious (greedy for gold) too. Macduff says there's enough
wealth in Scotland for him to indulge himself. Then Malcolm
says he has no Kingly virtues to counteract all these vices. At his
Macduff says he's hardly fit to live, yet alone rule the country.
Malcolm then believes Macduff and says he was testing his honesty.
Rosse brings news of the slaughter of Macduff's family.
Act V sci
Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and a doctor takes notes. She rubs
her hands together, re-living the murder and trying to clear her hands
of Duncan's blood (and her guilt). She says "all the perfumes of
Arabia will not sweeten this little hand" (line 48) She also mentions
Banquo's murder. The doctor comments: "unnatural deeds / Do breed
unnatural troubles." (line 69)
sc ii
News comes that Malcolm and the English are advancing towards Birnham
wood. We are told Macbeth has no one genuinely loyal to him, and
many are fleeing from him. "now does he feel his title / Hang loose
about him, like a giant's robe / Upon a dwarfish thief." (line 20) which
touches on the themes of appearance / reality . (Clothing is
an important image in the play and is used to develop this theme.
e.g. Just because you wear a King's crown does not mean you are a king!)
sc iii
Macbeth feels secure, because of the prophecies given by the witches.
Just then (for maximum effect) news comes that 10,000 soldiers are advancing.
Macbeth's state of mind is shown in: "I have lived long enough; my way
of life / Is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf; / And that which should
accompany old age, / As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
/ I must not look to have, but in their stead, / Curses, not loud, but
deep." (line 22) The doctor enters, and talks of Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth says: "If thou couldst, doctor, cast / The water of my land, find
her disease / And purge it to a sound and pristine health, / I would applaud
thee to the very echo." (line 50) which indicates Macbeth's blindness
in not realising he is the illness affecting his country.
sc iv
Malcolm tells every soldier to camouflage himself with a branch of
a tree from Birnham Wood.
sc v
Macbeth tries to raise some kind of enthusiasm for the coming battle.
He hears a cry of women, but is not frightened by it, though he once would
have been, saying: "I have supp'd full with horrors: / Direness, familiar
to my murderous thoughts cannot once start me." (line 13)- he's dead to
what is happening around him. He no longer experiences fear of doing
evil as he did previously. He is told of lady Macbeth's death.
His speech in response shows how little meaning life has for him, saying
life is now: "a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying
nothing." (line 26) Immediately after this calamity, there's news
that Birnham Wood is on the move.
sc vi
The advancing army moves in.
sc vii
Macbeth is worried and feels hounded. He says: "They have
tied me to a stake, I cannot fly, / But bear like, I must fight the course".
(line 1) he is trapped now and has lost all human dignity being reduced
to the level of an animal, baited for others' pleasure (the witches').
The battle commences.
sc viii
Macbeth thinks about suicide. He meets Macduff. Macbeth
is still quite sure he won't die, as he relies on the witches' prophecy.
Macduff tells Macbeth that he was "from his Mother's womb / untimely ripp'd."
(line 15) Macbeth is immediately afraid and realises he's been tricked
by the witches. "And be these juggling fiends no more believ'd /
That palter with us in a double sense, / That keep the word of promise
to our ear, / And break it with our hope ..." (line 19)
sc ix
Macbeth's head is displayed. Malcolm takes on his role as King
of Scotland. He calls Macbeth "this dead butcher", and Lady
Macbeth "his fiend-like Queen." (line 35). She has committed suicide.