Celine Wang EN 11-05

Juhyun Shin
Macbeth: Act I Questions

Scene 1

1) One purpose the scene seems to serve is that it shows the witches discussing
when they should meet. The second witch says that they should meet when the
battle is over, and the third witch predicts that a certain winner between the two
countries will be determined before sunset.

Another function of this scene is to also show the readers that the witches plan to
meet Macbeth. It shows that they are plotting something evil and emotionally
distressing for him that will ultimately lead him to his demise.

The setting of the scene with the deserted place and the storm also contributes
to the mood. It prepares readers for the tragedies and the dramatic turmoil that
will take place.

The last function and probably the most important function of this scene is to set
the hideous images of the witches. Here, the readers are supposed to imagine
the witches as foul and ugly hags. This way, the image of Satan is also set and
readers can extrapolate that Satan is on the bottom and what Satan does is
despicable and evil. The images of the witches are supposed to arouse uneasy
and even hateful feelings towards the witches, and it is established that the same
feelings are supposed to felt by the readers when they encounter the devil.

2) The last contradictory lines mean that for the witches, everything that the
humans think is fair is foul to them, and what the humans think is foul is fair.
This serves to show the readers that the witches plan on doing evil things. For
their own satisfaction, they will make things foul for a human. This concept
applies to both physically and morally. So if a human has become corrupt and his
mind is filled with foul thoughts, then all is fair for the witches. They are happy to
see a humans suffering and their next target is Macbeth. The witches are
pleased to hover through the fog and filthy air because being immersed in evil is
what makes them happy. Its a sick and twisted pleasure theyll gain to see
Macbeth go through the emotional turmoil theyll put him through.




Scene 2

1) With the repeated use of the word blood, Shakespeare has set a dark and
unsettling atmosphere for the rest of the story. Readers can only predict that
such a bloody beginning will only result in a bloody end. Also, the word blood
might evoke fear, and readers will feel that something dark and sinister will
happen during the story. The repeated use of the word blood also foreshadows
what will come during the next Acts.

2) Macbeths fellow soldiers regard him as a strong and valorous warrior whose
heroism is emphasized. They describe him as a man who seemed unfazed by
the enemy and they praise his agility and his skills. When new challenges were
brought to him during battle, Macbeth was not scared and kept his composure.
The soldiers also claim that Macbeth fought like a canon with double the
ammunition and that it seemed like the protagonist actually wanted to bathe in
the blood of his enemies. His ruthlessness and how efficient he was at defeating
the opposing soldiers showed off his skill as a fighter.

3) In this scene, Duncans character seems very trusting and reactive. Also, we
learn that he is able to make smart and respected decisions very quickly when he
learns about the Thane of Cawdors betrayal. However, we also learn that
Duncan is too trusting of whoever seems to be on his side and he quickly makes
a judgment of a person only based one aspect of that person. This is a fatal flaw
because kings should always be cautious when choosing whom to trust and it
foreshadows Duncans demise.

Scene 3

1) When the witches first greet Macbeth, they take turns to say, All hail,
Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane / of Glamis! (I.3.46-47), and All hail, Macbeth! hail
to thee, / Thane of Cawdor! (I.3.48-49), and lastly, All hail, Macbeth! That shalt
be king / hereafter (I.3.49-50).

This is significant because the witches are now setting their plot to corrupt
Macbeth into action. Macbeth is already the Thane of Glamis, but he is not the
Thane of Cawdor at this time and he is definitely not the king. But what the
witches say to him not only evokes his curiosity, but it stirs his greed for power as
well. The witches are targeting his greed, which makes him venal; they are taking
advantage of him. What the witches say also foreshadows what is to come next.

2) Banquo regards the witches with suspicion and continues to be suspicious and
wary of them as they predict his and Macbeths futures. Unlike Macbeth, who at
first seems to want to believe what the witches say and eventually does believe
what the witches prophesize, Banquo is held back and is not convinced that what
the witches predict will bring prosperity into their lives.

When addressing the sisters, Macbeths tone is hopeful and ambitious and it is
evident that he wants to hear more of what the sisters will say. On the other
hand, Banquo is incredulous and does not seem to be easily affected by the
witches predictions because he knows that the devils usually tell half-truths to
harm humans and their relationships. Therefore, Banquo holds their predictions
with a grain of salt.

3) Yes, the witches treat the men differently. They treat them as if they were only
primarily talking to Macbeth and only talked to Banquo because he asked
questions. They talked to Macbeth mainly and prophesized about his future more
because they could sense the greed and ambition in Macbeths heart. They paid
more attention to Macbeth because they knew that Macbeth was more likely fall
for their predictions and become corrupted and evil.

The witches reply to Banquo with a series of paradoxes like Lesser than
Macbeth, and greater (I.3.65), which means that Banquo will be less powerful,
but when he dies, he is greater because he is not corrupted like Macbeth.
Another paradox is Not so happy, yet much happier (I.3.66). This one means
that Banquo will not be as happy as Macbeth (so it seems), but is more fulfilled
when he dies because his integrity prevents him from being as despicable as
Macbeth. Lastly, the third witch says that, Thou shalt get kings, though thou be /
none (I.3.67-68), which indicates that Banquos children will be kings, but he
wont be one. This is significant because it foreshadows Banquos fate and how
hell be more a person than Macbeth when he dies.

4) Macbeth is more impressed by the witches words because he is more
ambitious and he has more greed than Banquo. Banquo is not as impressed
because he is suspicious and he is already content with his life. Unlike Macbeth,
Banquo does want to take the risk of believing an unreliable source and is
humble with his position already and is not as venal as Macbeth.

5) The image that Macbeth imagines is the image of him murdering Duncan. This
image appears in Macbeths imagination after he is named the Thane of Cawdor
because he starts to truly believe what the witches have told him.

If I were directing this scene, Macbeth would react to this image with horror and
castigate himself for having such a terrible thought. However, after a while
Macbeth would be surprised by how much evil and greed he has inside of himself
and he will let those feeling direct his actions. His ambitions would control how he
acts and I would make sure that the audience could witness how evil can
consume and destroy a character.

6) By the end of the scene, Macbeth decides to wait for chance to crown him and
he concludes this is possible because he believes that no matter what, hell
become king anyway because its his fate. At this point, Macbeth is already lured
in by the witches words and will continue to accept what they have said. Thus, if
fate wants him to become king, then hell become king anyway without having
him to do anything. He also states that one way or another what is going to
happen will happen.

Scene 4

1) One example of dramatic irony in this scene is when Malcolm tells Duncan
that someone says the Thane of Cawdor died valiantly and with honor. Malcolm
praises his dignity and people address him as a hero. Also, the Thane of Cawdor
died as one who was happy to die. This is dramatic irony because the readers
know that Macbeth and the Thane of Cawdor share parallel paths. The Thane of
Cawdor was a powerful and wealthy man with a great deal to lose, and he made
the decision to lose everything he had. Macbeth is alike in a way that he is also a
gifted hero who is very talented warrior but he makes a similar mistake by
betraying the king. In addition, Macbeth is not satisfied with what he has and
craves for more.

Another example of dramatic irony is when Duncan says, Theres no art / To find
the minds construction in the face: / He was a gentleman on whom I built / An
absolute trust (I.4.11-14). The irony here is that Duncans trust is appearances
will be shown to be a fatal mistake. He trusted Cawdor, but did not learn from his
mistake because he trusts Macbeth too easily. The audience knows that just like
Cawdor, Macbeth will betray Duncan and this time, Duncan could have
prevented it by being more cautious.

When Duncan greets Macbeth with words that show that he cannot pay
Macbeth enough for his loyalty and performance in the battle, there is dramatic
irony because the readers know how Duncan will repay Macbeth. In fact,
Duncan will pay with his life and his throne when Macbeth kills him!

When Duncan says to Banquo I have begun to plant thee, and will labor / To
make thee full of growing (I.4.28-29), Banquo replies formally with There, if I
grow, / The harvest is your own (I.4.31-32), it foreshadows that Banquo will
share Duncans fate. This means that like Duncan, Banquo will also be murdered
by Macbeth because of his loyalty to Duncan. Duncans words also imply that
what he plants will kill him, thus making the seedling kill the plant.

Also, when Duncan announces that From hence to Inverness, / And bind us
further to you: (I.4.42.43), he is saying that he and his entourage will honor
Macbeth with a visit to Macbeths castle. This is dramatic irony because the
readers know that Macbeth will kill Duncan in his castle and know that Duncan is
delivering himself to his murderer. In this way, Duncan is making it easier for
Macbeth to kill him and walks right into where hell be killed without any
suspicion. It is almost as if he is volunteering to die.

An evident case of dramatic irony in this scene is when Macbeth says, Ill be
myself the harbinger, and make joyful / The hearing of my wife with your
approach (I.4.45-46). Yes, Lady Macbeth would be thrilled to hear about the
kings visit, but instead of being honored, she is happy because Duncans visit is
a perfect opportunity for them to murder the king. Lady Macbeth is the happiest
because she is the one who will push her husband to do what is needed to do for
them to become the king and queen.

The last example of dramatic irony is when Duncan says, True, worthy Banquo;
he is full so / valiant (I.4.53-54). The audience knows that in fact, Macbeth will
murder Duncan in his sleep, which is very cowardly and hardly valiant at all! This
also contributes to Duncans character as being too trustworthy, which is a fatal
mistake for a king.

2) Duncans shortcoming for a man in his position is that he is too trusting and
emotional. He tends to exaggerate his thanks towards his subjects, which is not a
good trait of a king. Its not good because he should still keep his composure and
have a sense of nobility. But because he shows so much emotion (ie. When he
has tears in his eyes while hugging Banquo in front of Macbeth), it creates the
image of him being on the same level as his subjects.

Quotes that show his shortcomings are when he says, O worthiest cousin, / The
sin of my ingratitude even now / Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before / That
swiftest wing of recompense is slow / To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less
deserved, / That the proportion both of thanks and payment / Might have been
mine! Only I have left to say, / More is thy due than more than all can pay
(I.4.14-21). Here is making a great deal of this thanks to Macbeth and his words
can even be considered as dramatic. As a king, he should be composed and
have a sense of class and royalty to him.

When Duncan says, That hast no less deserved, nor must be known / No less to
have done so, let me infold thee / And hold thee to my heart (I.4.30-32), he is
being too compassionate towards Banquo. In fact, he is actually hugging
Banquo, which is something that a king shouldnt do. Also, he shows too much
benevolence when he states, My plenteous joys, / Wanton in fullness, seek to
hide themselves / In drops of sorrow (I.4.33-35). In this moment, Duncan
actually has tears in his eyes, which makes him seem to kind and also a bit
weak.

3) When Duncan names Malcolm Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth is there to
witness the scene. This comes as a shock for Macbeth as he was expecting him
to be named the next king because he believed that witches predictions would
come true. Macbeth realizes that he cannot become king unless he takes matters
into his own hands. This is a significant moment because it almost finalizes that
Macbeth will have to kill Duncan to fulfill his ambition to become king.

Scene 5

2) When Lady Macbeth says, Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o the milk of
human kindness (I.5.15-16), she is claiming that Macbeths heart is too kind to
do something as evil and inhumane as murdering a person. She also asserts that
Macbeth is not lacking in ambition, but lacks in doing what is needed to be done
to achieve something when he says thou wouldst be great, / Art not without
ambition, but without / The illness should attend it. (I.5.17-19).

She is basically saying that what the witches have prophesized will come true,
but they can only come true if Macbeth does the unthinkable and kills Duncan.
She expresses that hes too kind, too softhearted to perform such a task. And
although Macbeth is ambitious and is sure of what he wants, he doesnt want to
play dirty and do it with his own hands. He doesnt want to cheat, but what he
desires requires him to cheat. If someone else kills Duncan for him, hell gladly
take the position as king. She implies that he wants someone else to take the
responsibility of killing Duncan. She then goes on to say that shell persuade him
to do what needs to be done in order for him to attain the crown. After all, she is
certain that fate and the witches want him to be king.

Lady Macbeths relationship with Macbeth is very strong and they love each
other greatly. But it seems like she desires the position of her husband being on
top more than Macbeth and that she is more aggressive in taking action. She
seems more emotionally detached from the world and is the one who pushes
Macbeth to murder Duncan. If Macbeth did not have Lady Macbeth, then he
might have hesitated when the chance to kill Duncan was presented to him.

Scene 6

1) Lady Macbeth is very humbling and grateful when she greets Duncan. She
claims that All our service, / In every point twice done and then done double, /
Were poor and single business to contend / Against those honors deep and
broad wherewith / Your majesty loads our house (I.6.14-18). What she means is
that everything that Duncan has done for her and Macbeth cannot be paid back
and that she is more than grateful to have Duncan as her guest. There is verbal
irony in her statement because she knows that Duncan will pay with his life and
the throne when Macbeth kills the king. Also, she alludes to Duncans death
when she says, For those of old, / And the late dignities heaped up to them, /
We rest your hermits. (I.6.18-20). There is dramatic irony in her greeting
because the late dignities heaped up to them will be the title of the king which
will be given to Macbeth.

2) Macbeth does not greet Duncan because Macbeth is aware that he will kill
Duncan that night. Macbeth is probably filled with emotions of guilt and thus
facing Duncan is unbearable for him. Also, Macbeth knows that the plan is for
him to kill the king in his sleep, which is a very cowardly act. Facing the king
would bring him even more guilt and shame for Macbeth knows that his future
actions are unjust.

Scene 7

1) In the opening soliloquy, Macbeth is saying that if the murder could be
committed without any consequences, then he would quickly get it over with. But
he knows that with any crime comes a punishment and he is afraid of what
consequences face him when he has killed Duncan. Also, he notes that by doing
violent crimes, he only teaches other how to be violent and that the violence
people will learn from him will eventually come back to harm him. He says that
justice is equal to everyone and will force him to drink from the poisoned cup he
has serves to others. In addition, Macbeth knows that Duncan trusts him in two
ways. Firstly, Macbeth is Duncans subject and is supposed to protect the king
from any harm. Secondly, Macbeth is hosting Duncan at his place and should be
offering a nice environment to stay in, not a dangerous and mordant one.
Moreover, Duncan is a humble and respected leader and that even the heavens
will mourn his death. Duncans subjects will all cry due to the loss of their king
and Macbeth would not be able to do something that would devastate so many
people. The only reason why Macbeth should kill Duncan is his ambition alone. It
is a never-ceasing fire that cannot be ignored or wiped away. Macbeths ambition
overpowers his integrity and loyalty to Duncan.

There are four reasons in total to why Macbeth should not kill Duncan. One is
because Macbeth knows the consequences killing the king might bring, another
is that he knows hell face some sort of punishment for doing such a despicable
deed. Also, he knows that betraying Duncans trust is shameful and that the
whole country would be at a loss because of the humble kings death.

2) Lady Macbeth is first questioning whether Macbeth was drunk or not when he
seemed so hopeful of obtaining the crown. She inquires this because she wants
Macbeth to know that he was in control of all his senses when he made his
resolution and that nothing had stopped him from making the decision to murder
Duncan. She also asks if Macbeth had woken up from a dream and was too
afraid of murdering Duncan. She mentions that because of Macbeths tendency
to vacillate between decisions, shell also think that Macbeth is unfaithful in loving
her. All of her rhetorical questions are aimed to make Macbeth realize that he
has man up and capitalize his decisions. She tells him not to be afraid of what
desires and to not say I cant- when he actually wants to be the king.

3) Readers learn that Lady Macbeth is sure of what Macbeth is going to do and is
very persuasive when she argues with him. They also learn that she is very
headstrong and when she wants something, she does not think about all the
consequences attached to it and just wants to get the job done. Shes able to put
aside human emotions in order to obtain what she wants. For example, she says
that I would, while it was smiling in my face, / Have plucked my nipple from his
boneless gums / And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you / Have done
to this (I.7.56-59). This shows how ruthless she can be when she wants
something.