Sunday, April 15, 2012

Notes for Macbeth

-play begins with a trip of witches preluding to the superstition and dark mood of the play
-next scene is in a military camp where King Duncan finds out that Macbeth and Banquo have defeated two armies: Ireland and Norway
-Macbeth comes across the witches; they tell him he will become thane of Cawdor and later on, King of Scotland
-Banquo will beget a line of kings without becoming king himself
-Macbeth and Banquo skeptical of witches until Macbeth hears the news of him becoming the thane
-later on, Macbeth plans to have dinner with King Duncan at his castle
-Macbeth writes home to his wife, Lady Macbeth about all of his good fortune
-Lady Macbeth has an evil mind; she wants her husband to become king by killing Duncan
-she is known for "wearing the pants" in the relationship
-she is a symbol for masculinity between all of the other male characters for her violent thoughts
-she persuades Macbeth to go for it and kill Duncan
-when Duncan falls asleep, Macbeth stabs him to death
-Macbeth also kills the chamberlains out of complete need for power
-Duncan's sons flee to England to make sure their father's murderer isn't out to get them as well
-Macbeth ends up killing Banquo in order to make sure he won't take over the throne
-he also attempts to kill his son, Fleance, who escapes from the violent scene alive
-at dinner, Macbeth talks to Banquo's ghost and the conversation weirds out the other Scottish guests; Lady Macbeth tries to distract them but with no luck
-Macbeth goes to talk to the witches who tell him three important facts:
-he must beware of Macduff, a Scottish man who opposed Macbeth
-he is incapable of being harmed by any man born of woman
-he will be safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Castle.
-Macbeth orders Macduff's family dead
-when Malcolm, son of Duncan, hears the news, he decides to take his army from England to beat Macbeth's Scottish army
-Lady Macbeth has killed herself randomly; Macbeth becomes pessismistic and deeply depressed
-also finds out that Birnam Wood is coming to his castle
-during the fight, Macbeth and Macduff encounter each other
-Macduff ultimately beheads and kills Macbeth 
-Malcolm is declared King of Scotland due to the defeat of Macbeth, like the witches claimed

Other Facts
-written in 1606 by Shakespeare
-tone is dark, violent, depressing, intense at times
-takes place in Scotland and England (occasionally)
-themes: the connection between cruel acts and masculinity; corruption of power
-foreshadowing: the battle in the first scene portrays the violence throughout the play; the witches' predictions
-symbols: blood; the weather; the dagger used to kill Duncan
-the supernatural qualities make a big point in how the events are carried out; the witches influence the important aspects of the play
-Lady Macbeth and the witches symbolize how the women in the play are more masculine and violent than the men; they all predict/persuade the vicious attacks and moments in the play
-the supernatural parts of the play are included for the entertainment King James I would have enjoyed
-supernatural also holds a chorus for the play and holds foreshadowing prophecies
-Macbeth is known to be very bloody and violent
-King Duncan is known to validate the other characters' personalities
-Banquo is really a relative to the king in real life
-motifs: hallucinations, violence, masculinity

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