Characters
Named "Prince of Cumberland" by Duncan.
Who was Malcolm?
After reading his letter, she worries he won't be able to do what she thinks he must.
Who is Lady Macbeth?
Sleeping, he resembled Lady Macbeth's father.
Who is King Duncan?
No more shall the Thane of Cawdor deceive
Our Bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,
and with his former title greet Macbeth.
-King Duncan
How would Shakespeare say:
The Thane of Cawdor will never again betray me.
Go announce that he will be executed, and tell
Macbeth that Cawdor's title will be given to him?
Lesser than Macbeth and greater.
Who are the Witches?
Historically, this character was an ancestor to King James I.
Who was Banquo?
He is told that he will never be king, but that his descendants will be.
Who is Banquo?
Macbeth sees this hovering in the air in front him shortly before he goes to murder Duncan.
What is a dagger?
Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great,
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it.
-Lady Macbeth
How would Shakespeare say:
I worry about your character;
You are far too kind
To take advantage of the easiest way: You want power,
You have the ambition, but do not have
The ruthlessness to use it well.
Doubtful it stood,
As two spent swimmers that do cling together
And choke their art.
Who is the Captain?
The nobleman who first discovers the bloody body of King Duncan.
Who is Macduff?
This character reveals that King Duncan has made Macbeth the new Thane of Cawdor.
Who is Ross?
The only reason Macbeth has killing King Duncan.
What is his "o'ervaulting ambition"?
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
How would Shakespeare say:
I hope no light may see the terrible desires I have
I cannot let my eye look at what my hand does
But I really want what I fear to do so I hope I can do it, anyway.
My hands are of your color but I shame to wear a heart so weak.
Who is Lady Macbeth?
Banquo's son, a ten-year-old boy.
Who is Fleance?
Assisted by the treasonous Thane of Cawdor, he is the second enemy Macbeth defeats in battle.
Who is King Sweno (or the King of Norway)?
After this event, the night turns bizarre with dangerous winds, deathly screams, and terrifying voices whispering in strange accents.
What is the murder of King Duncan?
Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men
May read strange matters. To beguile time,
Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue. Look like th' innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't.
-Lady Macbeth
How would Shakespeare say:
Your face shows your strange thoughts, my lord,
and people will read you like a book. To trick them, you must look as they expect you to look.
Be warm and friendly in your look, your touch, and your words.
Try to look like a harmless flower, but secretly be the dangerous snake underneath it.
...oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray's
In deepest consequence.
Who is Banquo?
They are Graymalkin and Paddock.
Who are the witches familiar spirits (demon helpers in animal form)?
This is the name of the rebel leader whom Macbeth "unseamed... from nave to th' chops." Later, Macbeth spikes his severed head on the castle walls.
Who is Macdonwald?
Fearing they will be blamed for Duncan's murder, one of them flees to England while the other runs away to Ireland.
Who are Malcolm and Donalbain?
You do unbend your noble strength to think
So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
-Lady Macbeth
How would Shakespeare say:
You make yourself weak when you think
About horrible (cowardly) things. Get water,
And clean the blood off your hands.
...I have spoke
With one who saw him die, who did report
That very frankly he confessed his treasons,
Implored your highness' pardon, and set forth
A deep repentence.
Who was Malcolm?