Macbeth notes

The great chain of being: world order in which the closest to god was the king then down the social class list

The breakage of this brings about chaos 

"Fair is foul and foul is fair." Paradox, chiasmus, 

Witchcraft is really heavy in Macbeth. It represents the darkness of evil 

The devil was really real to the people of this time and they took the witches very seriously

"Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day. "

We get a lot of foreshadowing and exposition from the witches. We have information about the rest of the play and how it will all play out. 

The witches, to the audience, are intimidating and scary. At the time, witches were a symbol of evil and darkness and so people were very fearful of them. 

Macdonwald was a foil to Macbeth. One who was a weak and lesser individual than Macbeth. 

We learn from Ross and Angus that Macbeth is the actual thane if Cawdor. This surprised Macbeth because it's wacky and unexpected. 

Macbeth showed no remorse for the death of the previous thane of Cawdor. 

Macbeth has not been 100% truthful with his wife. He told her that the "sisters" weren't witches. Lady macbeth says if Macbeth wants to be the king then he needs to kill the king

Lady macbeth's description of Macbeth does not match what image the reader was given of him. Does lady Macbeth have her own unique image of her own husband? 

She's not intimidated by the witches or anyone, she's absolutely fearless. She's telling him go kill him and don't be a coward.

LadyMacbeth is in charge and superior to her husband. She acts as a coach to the man in which she instructs him how to go about killing the king. 

Lady Macbeth goes insane.

The dagger is a symbol of betrayal, violence, murder, etc. 

ACT 2 SCENE 4

1. The function of the dialogue between Old Man and Ross is to discuss the strange happenings that have been occurring such as how an owl killed a falcon, the horses went wild and are one another, and several other things.  This wicked behavior symbolizes and foreshadows the promotion of Macbeth to the thrown. 

2. Macduff tells us from the castle that Macbeth has been made king by his fellow lords and that he will travel to Scone to receive the promotion and get crowned. He tells us that Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected of the murder of Duncan. They are suspected because they fled the scene. 

MACBETH CHARACTER MAP

While making a character map, I thought it would be beneficial to make mine and then compare it to some on the internet. Because we haven't even gotten to Act II yet, we don't know all of the characters. Although, while rummaging through google and other websites I found a few maps that helped me greatly! Here they are...

• http://www.anoisewithin.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/01/ANW_Macbeth_Character_Map.pdf
• http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/m/macbeth/character-map
• gcsemacbeth.blogspot.com
• Blogs from previous years

WHAT ABOUT MY MASTERPIECE?

As of today, I have a handful (5 people) who are going to accompany me in my trip to the Irvine St. Jude's Hospital. I'd say that is a decent amount of us who are going to go down and make those kids' days. Next week, I am going to get together the goody bags we are going to take with us and handout to all of the kids. As the event gets closer and closer, my excitement keeps increasing and increasing. I cannot wait to finally make some time for myself and others to enjoy and not be swamped with the stress and burden of the things and duties we do everyday!

If anyone is reading this and thinks they'd want to join the group let me know! The more the merrier!! :))

LOVE IS BLIND

Macbeth sees his wife as the women he loves, someone who he can account on and to be there for him no matter what the circumstance. Lady Macbeth is a very influencial character. Her husband will do whatever it takes, even murder, to make his lovely wife content even if the task is absurd or against his morals. The reader's image of  Lady Macbeth is one of an evil character who is very demanding of her husband. The woman is power hungry, demanding, and very manipulative to her husband for forcing him to kill the king. She is the bark and bight while Macbeth is the chew toy she "plays with." 

ACT 1 Study Questions: Macbeth

Act 1 Study Questions

I-1

1) Beginning the play with a dialogue between the witches sets the mood to be dark, evil, and mysterious. This foreshadows the plot, theme, and mood for the future of the story in the same manner. In comparison of Shakespeare's other plays, Macbeth requires more ambiguity and the syntax and diction used needs to be more bleak. For example, Hamlet highlighted the themes of betrayal and complexity of relationships and power. Even though, the theme falls in the same ballpark with Macbeth, the gloominess of the plot of Macbeth overpowers that of Hamlet. In the beginning of the play, the witches were going to meet Macbeth at the "ere of sunset." Line 10 was "Paddock calls" and line 11 was "Anon." The phrase paddock class means a toad, which symbolizes transformation. The word anon means soon or shortly. The "toad" and it's transformation could metaphorically be compared to Macbeth and his evolving and transforming to be a completely different person or even having a transformation in his status and power. The witch's response as anon signifies how Macbeth will shortly have a transformation - to be declared a thane. 

I-2

1. The bloody seargent indirectly characterizes Macbeth by glorifying his actions towards Macdonwald. Macdonwald is a rebel who was executed. He tried to attack them. Macbeth executed macdonwald with his sword. This did not end the fight with the rebels, the Norwegians are still attacking.
2. The traitor was the Thane of Cawdor, as we learn from Ross. Duncan says that its a relief the thane of cawdor was executed and that Macbeth now owns his previous title.

I-3

1. The witches speech gives a first look at Macbeth and his wife without saying who they are. Indirect characterization of the two. Similar to Hamlet where he gives a mini synopsis early in the story. "Weird" in Shakespeare's day meant future seers not weird as we know it, prophecy and destiny. Shakespeare means that Macbeth's wife has him by the balls. They  cast a spell to control his destiny. 
2. Macbeth says something very similar to what the witches said at the beginning of the play. This could be him falling into the destiny the witches set up. Dried, chapped fingers, gender ambiguity, hairy, old, they have literal beards. The witches tell Macbeth that he will thane of Candor and eventually King, right then he finds out he is thane of Cawdor. Banquo asked the witch why they had nothing for him, they told him he is lesser but greater than Macbeth. We knew he was thane before he was thane.
3. Banquo says the witches were a figment of their imagination that they lie or that they are hallucinating. Macbeth learns that he is thane of Cawdor from Ross and Angus. During lines 114-156 he was going over his plan in his head and how everything had just happened to him. He acts very happy and shows no incredulity at being thane. Macbeth's aside shows him rationalizing what happened to him and he begins to think that he is going to be King soon. Macbeth tells Banquo that he is happy and excited and nothing more he explains his behavior by saying he is confused.

I-4

1.Cawdor was executed after openly confessing his treason and pleading for mercy. Malcolm tried to stick up for the thane, but the king responds by basically saying that you can't trust a man according to his face. He doesn't believe the thane was truly repentant.

2.The king greets them by saying that he can never repay them enough for their good deeds, but announces he will leave all his estate and names his son, Malcolm, prince of Cumberland. He then proposes that they go to Macbeth's castle at Inverness. Macbeth tells himself that the only way to be king is to get rid of Malcolm, and even though he'll be appalled at his action, he must do it.

I-5

1. Macbeth was honest with his wife when he informs her of his new title as "Thane of Cawdor." He refers to the witches as "weird sisters" probably because he doesn't want her know that he is associated with the "evil servants."

Lady Macbeth responds by saying that she thinks Macbeth is playng things off as if everything is fine. By saying "but be the serpent under't", she describes him as someone that lies to make everything appear under control. This doesn't really match the characterization of Macbeth so far in the story which implies that there is something the audience doesn't know about him. 

2. The wife was confident about the guests visit. She also seemed prepared and a little cocky about the way her and her husband would handle it.

3. Lady Macbeth. Yes she wants to kill Duncan. No, he isn't sure whether he wants to follow through with Lady Macbeths orders or not. She tells him not to let Duncan see tomorrow. 

4. The question appears to answer itself. 

I-6

1. The opening speeches (1.6.1-10) describe how the surroundings of the castle are "pleasant" and the air is sweet-maybe even too sweet. From the outside, the castle appears to be paradise.
Lady Macbeth's welcome is formal. Her language is totally different from her language in the previous scene which shows how fake and dishonest her welcome was.

I-7

1. "If it were done when 'tis done then 'twere well." If it were done when it was done it was done well. (Meaning if he completed the death quickly and efficiently and with no complications then he did the job well.) Macbeth is determined to kill the king and be done with him but in lines 1-12 he is fearful of how the "inventor" will judge his actions. He's violating the hospitality of his kinship and responsibilities as a host towards his guest by trying to kill his guest instead of protecting them. The motivation that Macbeth attributes to himself in lines 25-28 is the attribute of an Arabic heaven-like God. He will be seen as a "God" and that is his source of motivation to get the job done. 

2. In lines 28-30 she is complaining about him leaving the chamber because it was  almost time for dinner. Macbeth responds to her complaining by saying did he ask for me? And lady Macbeth says don't you know he did? The positions are lady Macbeth is ready for the King to be killed while Macbeth is still hesitant and on the fence about it. Macbeth convinced Lady Macbeth by explaining that he is an respected person and doesn't want to lose his honor while Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth by convincing him to gain the power and kill the king. The stronger person in the scene is Lady Macbeth because  she's more verbally confident in her argument while convincing Macbeth to kill the King. 

Meet Wilbur from Charlottes Web

I finally got my replacement pig and I absolutely love her!!! She's friendly, has great structure and coloration, and smells nice!! ❤️😂😌