Show:
Act I
Act II
Act III
Act IV
Act V
100
Scene 1 The natural disturbances that occur in the presence of the witches suggest that they are (or will be) the cause of political and moral corruption.
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches Stage directions (1.1)
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Scene 1 The imagery used here is that the wolf's howl. Wolf howling is used for communication and signalling. In this passage, the howl is basically the alarm that tells Macbeth it's time to commit the murder.
And wither'd murder, ?Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, ?With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design ?Moves like a ghost. (2.1.60 – 64)
100
Scene 2 Macbeth has a fear of Banquo as the Witches had said that Banquo will be the father to a line of kings. This puts Macbeth into unease as his spot on the throne is not secure.
Macbeth: O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou knowest that Banquo and his Fleance lives. 3.2. 42-43
100
Scene 1 Witches listed all strengths of different kind of animals which resembled to Macbeth’s power. And all those are wicked and unnatural.
Act 4 scene 1 Second witch: Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake: Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble
100
Scene 8 Hell-hound is refering to Macbeth, as saying he is a bloody beast that must be tamed.
MACDUFF: Turn, hell-hound, turn! 5.8.4
200
Scene 5 Lady Macbeth urges her husand to appear innocent and unaware, as a flower, in order not to arouse suspicion. Yet under his flower-like appearance is the snake: which represents teh cruel action of plotting Duncan's murder
look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under it. (1.5.72-73)
200
Scene 2 In this imagery Lady Macbeth is comparing the owl's shrieking to that of a 'fatal bellman'. The owl is a bellman because, according to superstition, the hoot of the owl portends death.
" It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, which gives the sterns't good night." (2.2,4-5)
200
Scene 2 The snake represents the whole situation, as Macbeth had killed Duncan, there are still other people who stands in the way of Macbeth's secure spot on the throne.
Macbeth: We have scorched the snake, not killed it. 3.2.15.
200
Scene 1 The head symbolized either Macduff’s rebellion or Macbeth ‘s fate.
Thunder. First Apparition, an armed Head. Macbeth: Tell me, thou unknown power---- First witch: He knows thy thought. Hear his speech, but say thou nought. First Apparition: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff, Beware thane of file. Dimiss me. Eough. (Page 77 line74-79)
200
Scene 7 Macbeth is saying that he is stuck in a position where he cannot flee like a bird. So with stregth and bravery like a bear, he must fight.
Macbeth: They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course. 5.7.1-2
300
Scene 5 Ravens are often associated with bad news and death. In this scene, the messenger is being compared to a hoarse raven because he announces the arrival of King Duncan: the arrival that will lead to his death
The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan (1.5.42)
300
Scene 3 The nature and animals become unusual during the night when Duncan is murdered, which symbolizes the cruelty of Duncan’s death.
The night has been unruly. Where we lay, our chimneys were blown down, And, as they say, lamentings heard I’ the air, Strange screams of death, ?And, prophesying with accents terrible ?Of dire combustion and confused events, ?New hatched to the woeful time, The obscure bird clamor'd the livelong night. Some say the earth was feverous And did shake. (2.3.51 – 60)?
300
Scene 1 Using different species of dogs to represent different people, whether they are fast or slow, or brave or coward.
Macbeth: Ay, in the catalouge ye go for men, As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept All by the name of dogs. The valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him closed, whereby he does receive 3.1.106-113
300
Scene 1 The bloody child symbolizes Macduff’s birth by caesarian section.
Thunder. Second Apparition, a bloody child. Second Apparition: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!?Macbeth: had I three ear, I’d hear thee. Second Apparition: Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. (page 77 line 83-88)
300
Scene 2 Weeds refer to Macbeth's tyranny, as it needs to be drowned (killed).
LENNOX: Or so much as it needs, To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. Make we our march towards Birnam. 5.2.35-37
400
Scene 7 Macbeth's wife has been urging him to "man-up" and kill Duncan. Macbeth replies that anyone who would do such a cruel thing is not a man at all. In this passage, Lady Macbeth then ask what kind of animal he was when he suggested murdering Duncan in the first place, since apparently a man would do no such thing.
What beast was it, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? (1.7.52)
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Scene 4 The imagery used here is relating the murder of the kind to that of a hawk killing a falcon. These are being related because Shakespeare is trying to give readers an image of how odd people found the murder of Duncan to be, he used a hawk killing a falcon because that is unusual to see as well.
On Tuesday last ?A falcon towering in her pride of place ?Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed. (2.4.13 – 15)
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Scene 4 Macbeth was talking to Banquo's ghost, saying that Banquo could come in any form (Russian bear, rhinoceros, Hyrcan tiger) and Macbeth would not fear. Just as long as Banquo does not come in his true form.
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. 3.4.118-122.
400
Scene 1 The child with crown and tree symbolizes Malcolm.
Thunder. Third apparition, a Child crowed, with a three in his hand. What is this, that rise like the issue of a king, And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty? All: listen, but speak not to it. Third Apparition: Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. (page77-78 line 90-103)
400
Scene 3 Macbeth is comparing his life to that of a leaf, as it lives in the spring and summer and withers in the fall. Macbeth is saying that he had lived his life and is starting to grow old.
MACBETH I have lived long enough: my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf; 5.3.25-26
500
Scene 4. Stars and their fires represent the power to reveal Macbeth's desire to become king. Light symbolizes everyone else, Macbeth does not want anyone else to see his dark ambition.
Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. (1.4.58-59)
500
Scene 2 Macbeth is saying that not even the water of Neptune's ocean can wash him clean (rid him of his crime), this murder is enough to turn even the great sea red with blood.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. (2.2.72-75)
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Scene 4 Grown serpent represent the now dead Banquo and the worm represents Fleance, who in time will become a threat to Macbeth.
Macbeth: There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’s fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present. 3.4.34-36
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Scene 1 The air is contaminated by the witches; as saying air's role is to hold the spirit of whoever is in it.
Infected be the air whereon they ride (4.1.153)
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Scene 4 Using the woods as a protective mechanism, to sneak up to Macbeth's castle
Malcom: Let every soldier hew him down a bough, And bear it before him 5.4.6-7