‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

Scene

and Key quotation/ details Notes and comments

episode

 ‘Thunder and lightning’  eerie, chanting tones

 use of tetrameter – strangely hypnotic

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 ‘When shall we three meet again?’  use of paradoxical language - equivocal truths
Introductio
 pathetic fallacy creates a sense of dread and foreboding

n to the  ‘When the hurly-burly’s done,  dark mood and atmosphere from the outset

witches When the battle’s lost and won.’  Supernatural abilities of the witches highlighted at the start of

the play

 ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair  Mention of eponymous char – creates link between M and the

Hover through the fog and filthy air’ witches

 ‘merciless Macdonwald/ Worthy to be a rebel’  Scene quickly shifts to a military camp

 ‘And fortune, on his damnèd quarrel smiling/Showed like a rebel’s  We hear that Macbeth and Banquo fought with great courage
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‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

Duncan whore’. and violence

 ‘But all’s too weak/ For brave Macbeth’  War is presented in a gruesome way and the captain relays
hears of
 ‘Disdaining fortune’ scenes of horror and carnage
Macbeth’s
 ‘Like Valour’s minion carved out his passage/ Till he faced the slave’  Foreshadows the violence that is about to unfold (but in this

bravery  ‘he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops/And fixed his head scene, the violence is celebrated and consequence-free’)

upon our battlements’  Introduces the theme of treason

 ‘valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman’ (Duncan about Macbeth)  Scotland is clearly presented in a vulnerable light (threats from

 In response to question of whether Macbeth showed fear: ‘Yes, as other countries, treason etc), which in turn helps to present

sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.’ M+B as heroes

 ‘Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,/Or memorize

another Golgotha’

 ‘No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive/Our bosom interest: go

pronounce his present death,/And with his former title greet

Macbeth.’

 A drum beats to signal Macbeth is coming – think about how

sound contributes to mood and atmosphere and the role it

 ‘So withered and so wild in their attire,/ That look not like th'
3
plays in creating tension
inhabitants o' th' Earth,/ And yet are on ’t?—‘
 Macbeth and Banquo respond in different ways to the witches’
Macbeth
 ‘Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear/ Things that do sound
prophecies. B is more cautious and understand their words
and
‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

Banquo so fair?’ may be intended to entrap

 M is confused (he is yet unaware of his new title) but also

 ‘rapt’
meet the
captivated/ intrigued by their words (he fixates on the details of
 ‘You are lesser than Macbeth but also greater’
the prophecies).
witches
 ‘Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.’
 The witches continue to speak in riddles – implying their

 ‘What, can the devil speak true?’ duplicitous nature

 Dramatic irony as audience are already aware of king’s decision

 ‘The thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me/ In borrowed
to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor
robes?’
 When Macbeth and Banquo hear this news, it seems to validate
 ‘But ’tis strange./ And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/ The
the witches’ words

instruments of darkness tell us truths,’  Macbeth already considers the possibility of becoming king and

what that might involve, but is still hesitant and horrified

 This supernatural soliciting/ Cannot be ill, cannot be good/ If good,
 Audience have ambivalent feelings about Macbeth who initially
why do I yield to that suggestion/ Whose horrid image doth unfix my
seems brave and honourable, but now seems ambitious and
hair/ And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,/ Against the use of
malevolent

nature? Present fears/ Are less than horrible imaginings.’

 ‘When I burned in desire to question them further, they made

5  Lady Macbeth’s ruthless and decisive nature contrasts with
themselves air, into which they vanished’
LM hears news Macbeth’s earlier uncertainty
 ‘my dearest partner of greatness’
of prophecies  Arguably, it is her strength of conviction that will drive the
 ‘Yet do I fear thy nature;/ It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness

and prepares  ‘thou wouldst be great,/Art not without ambition, but without/ The action forward

illness should attend it’

for D’s visit  Speech explores the theme of gender and what it ‘means’ to be
 ‘What thou wouldst highly,/That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play
‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

false,/ And yet wouldst wrongly win’ , a man/ woman. She very much resents the limitations her

 ‘That I may pour my spirits in thine ear’

gender presents
 ‘fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crowned withal.’
 Her dark and terrifying soliloquy, where she calls upon the
 ‘The raven himself is hoarse /That croaks the fatal entrance of
spirits of darkness to empower her, is full of disturbing and
Duncan /Under my battlements’

 ‘Come, you spirits … unsex me here,/ And fill me from the crown to sinister thoughts and imagery

the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood’

 ‘Come to my woman’s breasts, /And take my milk for gall, you

murd’ring ministers, ‘ ‘Come, thick night’

 ‘Bear welcome in your eye,/ Your hand, your tongue. Look like th'

innocent flower,/ But be the serpent under ’t.’

 ‘Leave all the rest to me.’ (LM)

 ‘If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well/It were done quickly’  M’s soliloquy is reflective and analytical – very controlled in

 ‘Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return/To plague th' comparison to LM’s earlier soliloquy
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inventor: this even-handed justice/ Commends the ingredients of our  Clearly uncomfortable with the idea of killing D – use of
Macbeth
poisoned chalice/To our own lips.’ conditional sentence at start demonstrates his lack of

debates  Duncan - ‘his faculties so meek’, ‘his virtues will plead like angels, commitment/ certainty

whether or trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking-off’  M understands his deeds will eventually come back to haunt

 ‘Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the him and that this action will lead to further sinful behaviour
not to kill
wind.’ (cycle of violence). He also appreciates moral repercussions
Duncan
 ‘I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting  Use of euphemism throughout suggests his distaste at the

ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th' other’

 ‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

 ‘Golden opinions […] which would be worn now in their newest gloss’ prospect of murder at this stage

 ‘to look so green and pale’  Theme of what it is to be a good and virtuous king or leader is

 ‘Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would” like the poor cat i' th' explored and the notion of Great Chain of Being is also alluded

adage?’ to

 ‘I dare do all that may become a man’  LM enters and mocks his cowardice, questioning his masculinity

 ‘I have given suck, and know how tender ’tis to love the babe that (and thus his courage)

milks me.I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my  The power of her words (as well as his own desires) are

nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so highlighted in his swift change of mind

sworn as you have done to this.’  She disregards his rational, moral arguments

 ‘False face must hide what the false heart doth know.’  By end of Act 1, audience are deeply concerned and disturbed

by the inevitable violence that is about to unfold

Notes Revised Revised Revised Confident

completed
The witches meet for the first time

King Duncan hears of Macbeth’s bravery

Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches (prophecies)

 ‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

Lady Macbeth hears news of the prophecies and prepares for

Duncan’s visit

Macbeth debates whether or not to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth

enters and accuses him of cowardice

The witches meet for the first time King Duncan hears of Macbeth’s bravery

Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches (prophecies) Lady Macbeth hears news of the prophecies and

prepares for Duncan’s visit

Macbeth debates whether or not to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth enters and
 ‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

accuses him of cowardice

The witches meet for the first time King Duncan hears of Macbeth’s bravery

Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches (prophecies) Lady Macbeth hears news of the prophecies and

prepares for Duncan’s visit

Macbeth debates whether or not to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth enters and
 ‘Macbeth’ Revision – Act 1

accuses him of cowardice