Show:
Act I
Act II
Act III
Act IV
100
“The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it, pays itself” (Act 1 Scene 4: 25-26) Who is Macbeth appearing to be loyal and honoured to serve when in reality he is planning to kill him?
The King
100
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, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw. Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going; And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools o’ the other senses, Or else worth all the rest; (Act 2 Scene 1 Line 41-53) What is the imagery in this quote? How does it lead to Macbeth's eventual downfall?
The imagery is the dagger that Macbeths sees. The dagger is only a figment of Macbeth's imagination which means no one else can see it. This shows that the thought of having to kill king Duncan is taking over Macbeth's mind and is making him crazy. It is when we first start to see how Macbeth's hallucinations can be troublesome. As we know, Macbeth's hallucinations later make people believe that he is crazy and not trust worthy therefore they abandon him and the castle.
100
What are the causes of Macbeth’s hallucinations? What events lead to this?
Macbeth ordered murderers to kill Banquo, the same time that the Banquet is happening. His guilt for what he’s done turns into hallucinations which cause him to act strangely during the dinner.
100
In scene 3 Macduff visits Malcolm in England, It appears that Macduff is working for Macbeth, so in order for Malcolm to trust Macduff how does he test his loyalty?
Malcolm says he is not fit to be king and suggests Macduff should become king. Macduff quickly denies although he thinks Macduff will not make a great king the title is not rightfully his.
200
“There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust” (Act 1 Scene 4: 12-16) Why do you think King Duncan was saying that you can’t tell the character of a man’s thoughts from his face?
Because you can never actually know what anyone is actually thinking by their facial expressions. The most innocent looking people can be killers.
200
Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures: ‘tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal; For it must seem their guilt. (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 63-68) Why does Lady Macbeth need to smear blood on the faces of the guards? What does this have to do with appearance vs. reality?
Lady Macbeth needs to smear blood on the faces of the guards because she needs to make it appear as if they are the ones who have killed king Duncan. However, we all know that the reality is that Macbeth is the one who killed the king. Therefore, we realize that things aren't always as they seem.
200
How does the theme statement, too much ambition leads to Macbeth’s downfall, relate to this act?
Because of the witch’s prophecies, Macbeth is fearless. He is not afraid to have people killed because he believes that he is invincible. Therefore, he has Banquo killed. This later causes his hallucinations, which lead to his downfall in the end.
200
How is the theme of appearance vs reality demonstrated by Lady Macduff in scene 2?
She thinks Macduff has fled to England, leaving her and their son to fend for themselves. In reality, he has left to save England in hopes of giving the title of king back to its rightful owner Malcolm.
300
“For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eyes wink at the hand and yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see” (Act 1 Scene 4: 58-61) Why wouldn’t Macbeth want people (especially the king) to know what he was really thinking?
Macbeth was planning on killing the king.
300
What does Donalbain mean when he says: Where we are, there's daggers in men's smiles. (Act 2 Scene 3 Line 158) What does this quote have to do with appearance vs. reality?
Donalbain means that men who are smiling at them may secretly want to stab them in the back later. It means that no one can be trusted; therefore, Donalbain wants to escape to Ireland where he thinks it will be safer. It has to do with appearance vs. reality because Donalbain realizes that it may appear as if people are smiling at him however the reality may be that they secretly want him dead like his father.
300
Macbeth: What man dare, I dare. Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The armed rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger, Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble. Or be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword. If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence! How is Banquo’s ghost symbolic to Macbeth’s character?
Banquo’s ghost is symbolic to Macbeth’s character because it shows that he has feelings of guilt and regret. However, his ambition of wanting to be king, overpowers his conscience. The ghost also is a form of foreshadowing because you can see that Macbeth is becoming mentally ill. This leads people to think that something bad will happen in the end.
300
The last two apparitions given to Macbeths have loop holes. In reality, what breaks these apparitions?
Macduff is technically “taken out” of a woman because he was C-sectioned. Macduffs soldiers use trees from Birnam woods to camouflage themselves when they invade Macbeths Castle.
400
“Look like time; bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue. Look like the innocent flower. But be the serpent under it...Only look up clear; to alter favour ever is to fear” (Act 1 Scene 5: 71-73) Why would Lady Macbeth want Macbeth to kill the king? How can she benefit from the death of Duncan?
If Macbeth were to kill the King, he would be become the King.
400
What was Macbeth's EXCUSE for slaughtering the guards before anyone could question them? Why did Macbeth REALLY slaughter the guards before anyone could question them?
Macbeth slaughtered the guards because he wanted it to seem like he was so loyal to Duncan and that he loved and respected Duncan so much that he did it for revenge. However, we know that Macbeth killed the guards so they could not deny killing the king. If even one person believed the guards were telling the truth, it might later be discovered that Macbeth is the murderer and that was a chance Macbeth was not willing to take.
400
Macbeth: Prithee, see there! Behold! Look! Lo! How say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. If charnel houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites Why is appearance vs. reality important in scene 4? What does this reveal about Macbeth’s character?
Appearance vs. reality is important in this scene because Macbeth thinks he is seeing Banquo’s ghost, when in reality, it is just a hallucination. This reveals that Macbeth is heading towards his downfall and that he is becoming mentally ill.
400
What does Lady Macduff mean when she tells her son that he is “fatherless”?
He will not grow up with a father figure since his father has left for England.
500
“This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses” (Act 1 Scene 6: 1-3) Why would the King misinterpret the appearance and feeling of the castle as pleasant?
The castle would appear to look nice and welcoming but in reality, Macbeth was just trying to make the King feel comfortable so that when he kills the King, it would be a surprise.
500
A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it, then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended. How does this passage demonstrate appearance vs. reality? What actually happens to Lady Macbeth later on in the play that proves that water cannot clear them of the horrid deed of killing Duncan?
In the passage, Lady Macbeth says that water can clear her and Macbeth of the deed which was killing Duncan. However, that only clears the physical evidence, the guilt in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's minds will haunt them forever and it eventually leads to Lady Macbeth's suicide and Macbeths death.
500
Ross: His absence, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. Please it your Highness. To grace us with your royal company? Macbeth: The table’s full. Lennox: Here is a place reserved, sir. Macbeth: Where? Lennox: Here, my good lord. What is it that moves your Highness? Macbeth: Which of you have done this? Lords: What, my good lord? Macbeth: Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake. Thy gory locks at me. How is seeing Banquo’s ghost during the banquet, significant to Macbeth’s downfall?
It shows that he feels guilty for what he’s done. Therefore, his hallucinations are a way of showing this. It also shows that he is starting to become mentally ill.
500
In Malcolm’s eyes, why does it appear that Macduff is working for Macbeth?
Because Macduff has left his family back in Scotland during a dangerous time.