Macbeth Act 1 Analysis

Macbeth’s simple ambition for power and status quickly turns into greed and obsession as his desires become more controlling. When he learns of his fate, Macbeth patiently states“If chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (315). However, he grows restless after swiftly becoming Thane of Cawdor. Furthermore, Macbeth’s impatience grows as he takes matters into his own hands. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight, or art thou but a dagger of the mind, and false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?” (328). Macbeth’s imagination becomes troubled as he finds his thoughts consumed with murdering Duncan, the current king of Scotland. Specifically, these thoughts influence his actions by prompting him to acquire the strength to ultimately kill the King, although he feels guilty about his crime. “I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare not” (330). Macbeth’s guilt is further reflected through this quote and his refusal to associate with the consequences of the crime he commits. Additionally, Macbeth’s actions and thoughts portray paranoia as he becomes closer to obtaining his predicted future. “ Oh full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives” (348). Out of his ill mind’s motivations, Macbeth kills Banquo, but his digression as a character shields the guilt he felt after Duncan’s death. Through this, Macbeth begins to recognize the evil consuming his thoughts and

Macbeth is confused as he is arguing with himself on what he should do. He states reasons not to kill Duncan, because Macbeth is his noble kinsmen and the act would bring dishonor. However, he also states reason why he should kill him, because Macbeth will then become king and fulfill the witches ' fortune. Lady Macbeth, who appears in the beginning as the driving force for the murder of King Duncan, also develops internal conflict. At first, Lady Macbeth seems to be a woman of extreme confidence and will. But, as situations become more and more unstable in the play, guilt develops inside her. For instance, she exclaims; "Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. / Look not so pale. I tell you again, Banquo 's / Burried; he cannot come out on 's grave" (Shakespeare V, ii, 65-67). Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and frets about her evil wrongdoings because she is extremely guilty of her influence on Macbeth to commit the murder. Lady Macbeth reacts emotionally and dwells on her actions as guilt eats at her soul.

In the play ‘Macbeth’ written by William Shakespeare a dramatic scene in the play is act 3 scene 4. In this scene Macbeth and lady Macbeth hold a banquet with the royalty of Scotland. Macbeth hears news of Banquo’s murder and Fleance’s escape and is approached by Banquo’s ghost causing confusion within the guest and fear in Macbeth. Through the use of Language, irony, stage direction and the contrast between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Shakespeare is able to powerfully create dramatic scene.

at this exact point as in the previous scene Macbeth is on his way to

1. In Act 1, Scene 3 the witches prophesied that Macbeth will first become the Thane of Cawdor, and then will be crowned King of Scotland and though Banquo himself won't be king, he will be father to a line of kings and, in some sense, will be greater than Macbeth. 2. Oedipus gets in a fight with a stranger and later realizes it King Laius of Thebes. What Oedipus also doesn't know is that King Laius is his father. Since Oedipus was abandoned as a bay he never knew who his parents were.

At the very beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is provoked by the letter she receives by Macbeth and starts plotting the murder of Duncan. She also wishes she were a man such that she could commit the murder all by herself saying so in Act 1 Scene 5, “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty” (Macbeth 1.5.36-52). She appeals to these spirits to remove all aspects of her femininity and seeks to gain power through the prophecy of the witches. Her fear about the ability of her husband to commit the murder is subdued in her designated gender. Lady Macbeth manages her feminine power through her sensuality and pretended weakness through her fainting streak at the notice of Duncan’s death. Manipulation, usually through sexuality is often depicted as the source of women’s power still Lady Macbeth uses this power of hers to commit murder, a masculine demonstration of power. Lady Macbeth in her soliloquy about the planning of Duncan’s death refers to her husband as an individual who plays honestly and does not engage in wrongdoing.

For our Macbeth Video Project, our group chose to act out Act 4 Scene 2. In our first video, we filmed outside. It is not specifically stated in the text whether or not the scene takes place inside their castle or outside. This is important because it could affect Lady Macduff’s escape; if it was outside, she would have a much better chance of escaping the murderers. If the murder took place inside the castle, she would not have enough time to escape within the confines of her castle and there would be no chance of anyone to witness her murder.

In Act 1 Scene 7 shakespeare presents Macbeth in a very controversial state of mind. This is presented throughout the text but in particular by Furthermore his constant use of the verbs ‘were’ and ‘when’ in his soliloquy ‘If it were done when ’tis done,then ‘twere well it were done quickly’ showing a train of thoughts. In modern day text it means ‘If this business would really be finished when I did the deed, then it would be best to get it over with quickly.’. This shows not only how he is contemplating the deed of killing King Ducan but trying to build the courage to fulfil his terrible desires. By this it shows the themes of greed.

Act four, scene two, is a very important piece of the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. In this scene, Macbeth has Macduff’s wife, children, and others in his castle killed while Macduff is in England. This is the pivotal moment in the play because now Macduff and Macbeth have to fight. By some, this is viewed as the climax because it is essentially the last straw. In this scene, people are exposed to just how awful Macbeth is. For him to kill a man’s wife and children while his castle is unprotected, is the lowest of the low. This is so horrible because Macduff’s wife and child are innocent and are no threat to Macbeth. At this point, Macbeth is killing for amusement. Also, in this scene, Lady Macduff and her son have a conversation. In this exchange, the two say very ironic last words. In act four, scene two, there are three important messages that relate to the rest of the play; manhood, madness, and foul and fair.

“For brave Macbeth disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage till he faced the slave; which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, and fixed his head upon our battlements.” (1.2.18-25) This depiction of Macbeth’s gruesome action towards Macdonwald is so vivid, it shows how vigorous, aggressive, and fierce of a person he is. The intensity that is shown in the quote can be found all throughout William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Shakespeare's concept of desire is displayed when a person has the confidence to act upon it.

Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 7 is facing the reality of what he is about to do. The King is his mentor, and is the person who has gotten him to where he is now. However, Macbeth is obsessed with the witches prophesy about him becoming king. He says that the assassination could be the “be-all & end all-“(1.7.5). Meaning that if the plot goes badly, and he is caught it would be the end of his life, and the end of any dream of wealth or success that he had.

In Act One scene three it opens as the Queen and two Lords are talking about the King and how he has fallen ill. The passage I look at is when Lord Grey says, “In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse; Therefore for God’s sake entertain good comfort, And cheer his Grace with quick and merry eyes.” The two Lords are trying to cheer the Queen up by telling her that he will be okay and that she needs to stay strong so that she can keep the king happy. I am still unsure what brook means in this context because today it means a small stream or a girl’s name.

For my Macbeth culminating, my group and I chose to do a video reenactment of Act 4 Scene 2. The following scene portrayed the murder of Lady MacDuff and her son, and I was supposed to act as both the messenger and the murderer. For our video we chose to incorporate many modern-day allusions pertaining to gender and common memes. Some examples refer to the character Michelle played, as her character was transgender. We also added references to slang such as "yeet" or "gorl".

In the beginning of the play Macbeth and Macduff are very similar in many aspects including rank, leadership, belief, and loyalty. But as the play unfolds, Shakespeare reveals these two characters are as different as night from day. In this essay I will compare and contrast the characters of the murderous Macbeth, and the forthright Macduff. I will consider their status within the Scottish society and the depth of their intelligence. I will also evaluate their actions and their relationships with other characters, including their families and I will discuss their degrees of ambition.

My group and I chose Act I Scene III lines 1-92 for the presentation because it is one of the most important scenes of the play; as the three witches prophesy, Macbeth acts as if he fears his fate. However, he shows interest in the prophecies and commands the witches to tell him more. His reactions illustrate his ambition to be the king. The prophecies later lead Macbeth to commit crimes including the regicide. Thus, causing a change in Macbeth’s life, this scene is significant.