MACBETH

Question 1

What makes the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth so memorable?

Answer 1

• the way that LM influences M- “your face my thane is a book where men may read strange matters” (1.5), “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it” (2.2), “consider it not so deeply”, “these deeds must not be thought”, “a little water clears us of this seed”, “be so much more the man”, “a woman’s story at a winters fire”
• public vs private presentations- “look like the innocent flower…”, “make our faces vizards to our hearts”, “suffering country under a hand accursed”, “dead butcher and his fiend-like queen”
• increasing distance apart- “be innocent do the knowledge”, (Lady macbeth joins the words) (3.4), “thane of wife had a wife”, “by self… took her life”, “she should have died hereafter… tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow”
• role-reversal- “a little water clears us of this deed”, “these deeds must not be thought… it will make us mad”, “i shame to wear a heart so white”, “better be with the dead”, “will these hands never be clean”, “i could not say Amen”, “cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale”, “something wicked this way comes” (4.1), “i have almost forgotten the taste of fears”

Question 2

To what extent is gender an important theme in the play?

Answer 2

• LM’s influence on M’s manhood- “be so much more the man”, “i fear thy nature is too full o’th’milk of human kindness” (imperative), “are you a man?” “a woman’s story at a winter’s fire” “i am a man again” (questioning)
• LM’s manliness- “unsex me here”, “make thick my milk for gall”, “go and carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood…i’ll go no more… ill fold the faces of the grooms withal” later loses it- “take forth paper, fold it, write upon it… while in a most fast sleep” +confesses
• Malcolm and Macduff’s conversation- “dispute it like a man” “but i must also feel it as a man”, “your wives, your daughters, your matrons, and your maids couldn’t fill the cistern of my lust” (polysyndeton)

Question 3

Compare and contrast the representation of King Duncan and Macbeth

Answer 3

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Question 4

How significant is the presence of ghosts and witches in the play?

Answer 4

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Question 5

How does Shakespeare use setting to create drama?

Answer 5

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Question 6

Discuss the importance of sleep and madness to the play?

Answer 6

• after murder of Duncan- “macbeth doth murder sleep… macbeth shall sleep no more”, “innocent sleep” “the sleepy grooms”
• LM and M wishing they could be like Duncan (3.2) “sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly”, “on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy”, “better be with the dead, who we, to gain our peace, have send to peace”, “Duncan is in his grave… he sleeps well”, “Banquo’s safe” (3.4)
• country want sleep- “give us sleep to our nights” (3.6)- Lord and Lennox about M
• LM’s sleepwalking- “when was it she last walked”, “a great perturbation in nature”, lack of control reading letter in 1.5, to confessing in letter in 5.1- “what will these hands never be clean” compared to “a little water clears us of this deer” (2.2)

Question 7

How does violence contribute to the atmosphere of the play?

Answer 7

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Question 8

Discuss the dramatic importance of Macduff and Malcolm to the play

Answer 8

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Question 9

To what extent is Banquo the hero of the play?

Answer 9

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