Macbeth+Act+1-3

 ** SUMMARY **   The war is over and Banquo and Macbeth are heading home. During their journey, they are approached by the three witches who tell Macbeth that he is to be king and thane of Cawdor and Banquo that his children shall be kings. Then Angus and Ross come to inform Banquo and Macbeth that the king wants to see them and that Macbeth has become the thane of Cawdor because the previous thane is going to be hanged for treason. Macbeth then has thoughts of murdering the king.   ** QUESTIONS **  Why is Banquo Macbeth’s foil?  Why are the witches intentions never revealed until later in the play?  Why is Macbeth so gullible at this age? Shouldn’t he be more skeptical like Banquo?   ** THE LANGUAGE **  FIRST WITCH  Lesser than Macbeth and greater.  SECOND WITCH  Not so happy, yet much happier.  This paradox shows that Banquo is Macbeth’s foil.  <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> ** THE BIG IDEA ** <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> The supernatural – scene shows that the witches have a great influence on Macbeth’s actions because their predictions cause Macbeth to have a reason to further his ambitions and have thoughts to kill the king. <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> Fate and Free will – Macbeth decides that it is fate for him to become king but how he becomes king he does not know. His decision about what to do with the information he has been given will determine how he attains his fate. <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> ** CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 1 ** <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> Macbeth: is an ambitious man. <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> “happy prologues to the swelling act <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> Of the imperial theme.” 1.3.32-3 <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> “why do I yield to that suggestion <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair”1.3.38-9 <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> ** VOCABULARY ** <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> Thane : A feudal lord or baron in Scotland. <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> Heath: tract of uncultivated, open land with infertile, often sandy soil covered with rough grasses and small bushes or heather <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"> Vantage: a position that provides an advantage

** CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 2 ** Banquo: he receives very similar predictions from the three witches yet he does not act on them. He does not fully trust what the witches are saying and do not believe their intentions are good Kevin Eickholt Period 5 SUMMARY The witches are conspiring and preparing to meet with Macbeth and Banquo. They do so and tell Macbeth he is than of Cawdor and will be King. They tell Banquo his sons will be Kings. Banquo doesn’t want to be involved with the witches prophecy, but Macbeth is enticed by it and wonders if he can have what the witches say while still not committing any sins.

QUESTIONS -Why was Banquo so quick to deny the witches’ help? -Why was Macbeth so quick to accept it? -If the witches caused Macbeth to be king without him needing to do anything, should he be guilty for enjoying his power? -Since Macbeth appears manipulated easily, why didn’t Banquo’s words that “the agents of evil often tell us part of the truth in order to lead us to our destruction” (125) cause him to be swayed from the witches and their ideas?

THE LANGUAGE Macbeth: “make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.” (140) -In this phrase, Shakespeare uses a metaphor to demonstrate Macbeth’s desires challenging his logic. Macbeth’s heart knocking at his ribs shows his yearning for power and how this is consuming him and trying to be expressed. This phrase also uses a comparison between the horrors of the present and future. Macbeth tends to fear the future as it is unknown to him.

THE BIG IDEA Ambition plays a large role in this scene because Macbeth feels a need to gain power in society and is possibly willing to do so by immoral means. The psychological burden of sin plays a large role as it torments Macbeth. He wants power, but he doesn’t want to kill Duncan to gain it. The paranormal is clearly important as well as it introduces the wicked means by which Macbeth would probably be gaining his power. It shows this as unnatural and bad as the witches are known for past evil deeds.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 1 Macbeth: “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair?” (138) -This reveals how Macbeth feels a beckoning to gain power though he passively knows that it isn’t right to trust these supernatural beings. He is focused upon a high status in society, but he is trying to force himself to not ponder the consequences of his actions.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 2 Banquo: “to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths.” (125) -Banquo clearly believes that he and Macbeth should not trust the witches under any circumstances because anything they offer will result in their own downfall as that is how such dark forces work. This shows that Banquo has more strength of mind than Macbeth will probably try to remain virtuous. VOCABULARY 1. Tempest: A violent windstorm. 2. Corporal: Of the human body. 3. Surmise: To think or infer without certainty.

Connection

Macbeth’s lust for power and status in society. Similar to: In // The Crucible //, Abigail lusts for power and wants status in society. She manipulates others to get attention and feel as if she is an important member of the town and to try and become John Proctor’s wife.