Macbeth Acts III-V

Literally and symbolically, why are Macbeth's crown and scepter "fruitless and barren"?

"Fruitless" b/c he doesn't have a bloodline for kids to be kings. Fruits have seeds to reproduce

What is the significance of the witches' statement, "Double double toil and trouble?" How does it relate to the rest of the play? (IV,1)

-2 murders, 2 trips to witches Macbeth's 1st concern was will he become king and 2nd will he stay king

What two predictions of the witches does Macbeth take comfort in? (V,3)

1. Birnam woods moving upon castle 2. nobody can kill him

What does the new king promise to do? (V,8)

1. Thanes and kinsmen will be earls (new class) 2. bring home exiled friends 3. seek out agents of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and punish them

A servant brings him a count of the English forces. How many are there? (V,3)

10,000

What startling news does the messenger bring Macbeth, shaking his confidence? (V,5)

10,000 people were coming

What occasion is Macbeth planning? (III,1)

A banquet and Banquo's murder

Whom does the second apparition represent? What is its message? (IV,1)

A bloody child. No man born of woman shall harm Macbeth (nobody can kill Macbeth)

What does Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth will be done that evening? (III,2)

A dreadful deed

What is the first apparition and what does it tell Macbeth? (IV,1)

A head w/ armor. Beware the Thane of Fife (Macduff)

Why does Macbeth keep a servant in Macduff's house? What does this tell you about Macbeth's state of mind? (III,4)

As a spy. It tells that he's paranoid and doesn't trust Macduff

Why is the reference to sleep in (III,4) significant?

B/c Macbeth hasn't been sleeping, he has been hallucinating and acting crazy

Why has a doctor been observing Lady Macbeth? (V,1)

B/c she's been sleep-walking (writing a letter) and rubbing her hands

Why can't Macbeth do the murder himself? (III,1)

B/c they're friends, people would be upset and suspicious

What are the conditions in Scotland? (III,6)

Bad

What prevents Macbeth from sleeping? (III,2)

Bad dreams (scorpions in his head)

What does Macbeth ask Lady Macbeth to do for Banquo that evening? (III,2)

Be nice to Banquo

Whom does the third apparition represent? What is its message? (IV,1)

Child crowned w/ a tree in his hand. You're safe until Birnam march to Dunsinmane

Who is the old man Lady Macbeth refers to in the beginning of V,1?

Duncan

Where has Macduff gone? Why? (III,6)

England to persuade Malcolm to come back

Who does Lennox suspect of Banquo's murder? Why? Is he serious? Who does Lennox really suspect? (III,6)

Fleance did it but he really knows Macbeth did it

What does Lady Macbeth encourage Macbeth to do at the start of Act III, scene 2?

Get over the murder. What's done is done

What does Macbeth and only Macbeth see at the banquet? Why does he see this? (III,4)

Ghost of Banquo. Symbolic of the level of guilt he feels/he is the only one responsible for Banquo's murder

What does Macbeth say he will miss out on having in old age? (V,3)

Happiness, troops of friends, obedience, honor, love

From where does Ross arrive? Why? (IV,3)

He has come to give a message to Malcolm. Scotland. Macduff's family has been killed

Why is Macduff not there for his wife? Is this justified? (IV,2)

He is in England to get an army

Why is Macbeth envious of Duncan? (III,2)

He sleeps fine but Macbeth can't

How does Macbeth explain Banquo's absence? (III,4)

He suggests nothing bad happened

Why doesn't Macbeth tell her all the plans? (III,2)

He wants to be a man and in control, not Lady Macbeth

How does Malcolm represent himself to Macduff? Why? (IV,3)

He will get men, overthrow Macbeth and show his bad habits and be worst b/c of his lust. He will do whatever he wants

Why does Ross hesitate to tell Macduff the news of his family? (IV,3)

He's afraid it will make him so angry enough to fight or be distracted

Why does Macbeth fear Banquo? (III,1)

He's an honorable guy and he knows of the prophecies

In Macbeth's famous soliloquy, what is he saying about life? (V,5)

He's saying life is quick and meaningless

Characterize/describe Macbeth at the close of act V scene 5

He's scared b/c the witches tricked him

Who is the head witch? (III,5)

Hecate (greek goddess)

What is the doctor's diagnosis? What does he fear concerning her health? (V,1)

Her soul needs help, but no drug can heal her. He fears she could kill herself

Is Macduff more loyal to his family or his country?

His country

What is the poetic makeup of the witches speeches? How is it different from the other speeches in the play? (IV,1)

Iambic pentameter usually but they speak in eight syllables (AABBCC)

Where does (IV,1) take place? Is the setting a fitting introduction to the scene? Why?

In a cavern. Yes b/c its showing the witches are evil

With regard to the plot (and predictions) of the play, why must the murderers fail? (III,3)

It's part of the prophecy: Fleance is to be king someday

Why is the murder now being planned considered to be the climax of Macbeth's crimes? (IV,1)

Its more elaborate, there's no guilt w/ the murder and its not as planned out as Duncan's murder. The woman and children are also innocent

Whose murder has Macbeth ordered? (III, 1)

Kill Banquo and Fleance

What do the murderers succeed in doing? (III,3)

Killing Banquo

Explain Banquo's attitude toward Macbeth at the start of Act III scene I

Kind towards Macbeth, but suspicious / why has Macbeth benefited from prophecies, but not Banquo

What happens at the beginning of V,5 marked by the cry of the women?

Lady Macbeth is dead

When Ross questions Macbeth about the "sights," what advice does Lady Macbeth give? (III,4)

Lady Macbeth says that he's stressed and should ignore him

Malcolm makes the third apparition's prediction come true when he orders his troops to do what? (V,4)

Let every guy chop down branches to disguise how many troops there are

What is the next vision? What is the significance of this image? (IV,1)

Line of kings. Banquo's future sons to be kings

Who is behind the murder of Lady Macduff's son?

Macbeth b/c he wanted to kill Macduff's family

How is the image of the third apparition related to Malcolm? (V,4)

Macbeth is fine until Birnam wood marches to Dunsinane

As revealed in the soliloquy, how has Macbeth changed? (IV,1)

Macbeth will kill anyone related to Macduff and him

Who is Lady M addressing? What does this behavior tell you about her? (V,1)

Macbeth. Their reactions are flipped and now she's nervous

There is some speculation that the third murderer is one of the main characters from the play. Who could it be? (III,3)

Macbeth/Lady Macbeth

Who seems to be winning the battle? (V,7)

Macduff

What living person does not attend the banquet? Why? (III,4)

Macduff b/c he's suspicious

What information does Lennox bring? (IV,1)

Macduff fled to England

Is Macduff assured of anything? How? (IV,3)

Macduff says thats bad but is still better than Macbeth's reign of tyranny but is willing to sacrifice his family for Scotland

How does the ghost's arrival affect Macbeth? (III,4)

Makes him crazy and scared; upset

Who will lead the second battle? (V,6)

Malcolm and Macduff

How does Macbeth react to Seyton's news? (V,5)

Not upset. Bad timing if she had died tomorrow, he could better mourn her death

How does Macduff display his victory? (V,8)

Puts Macbeth's head on a pole

What is Macduff's mission to Malcolm? (IV,3)

Recruit him as king

What form does Macduff's grief take? (iv,1)

Revenge

Based on the prediction of the bloody child, Macbeth is confident that no man can harm him. How does Macduff disprove this? (V,8)

Says that he was born by C section. He was a bloody child from his mother's womb

Explain the significance of the lines regarding Fleance? What image is repeated here? What does the use of this imagery reveal about Macbeth (III,4)

Scorched the snake-not totally dead. Fleance could still come back to Macbeth

How does Lady Macbeth explain Mac's strange behavior (III,4)

She says he's in a temporary fit and has had them since he was young

What does the Doctor say is wrong with Lady Macbeth? What does Macbeth request of him? (V,3)

She's disturbed mentally. Fix her

How does Lady Macduff feel about her husband's flight to England? Why? (IV,1)

She's unhappy b/c he left her alone w/ the kids, house, etc while murderers are around

Who will lead the first battle? (V,6)

Siward and young Siward

Macbeth's lords are deserting him to meet with whom? Who are the 3 leaders of the english army? Who is not there? (V,2)

The English army at Birnam wood. Seward son, Malcolm, Macduff. Donalbain is not there

Explain the dramatic irony at the end of Act III,1

The audience knows that Banquo and Fleance are going to be killed, no characters are aware

What do people think about Macbeth? (V,2)

They don't like him anymore b/c he's a tyrant

What do they fail to do? Why might this be considered the turning point of the play as the action moves downward to its tragic conclusion? (III,3)

They failed killing Fleance, Fleance could possibly become king

Explain the meaning of the lines, "We have scorched the snake, not killed it/She'll close and be herself"

They only wounded the snake but it will still be a snake. There is still someone out there to overthrow Macbeth

Why do the murderers agree to kill Banquo? (III,1)

They're enemies to Banquo and they're poor because of him

Why does Lady Macbeth keep rubbing her hands together?

To seem to wash her hands b/c they were stained w/ blood from the murder

What do the witches plan to do to Macbeth? (III,5)

Trick him w/ spirits to make him confused. He'll feel safe and confident so he will lose

Who does Macbeth plan to visit? (III,4)

Visit the witches to get more prophecies

For what is Macbeth preparing? (III,6)

War

How does Shakespeare compliment King James I in (IV,1)?

When the Dr. stated King Edward can heal others (King Edward is in King James bloodline)

Who does Macbeth kill in battle? How does he show overconfidence in doing this? (V,7)

Young Siward. Refers to the prophecy: no man woman born

What area is Macbeth fortifying? (V,2)

area around Dunsinane

How does Macduff say Macbeth will be immortalized? (V,8)

he will have his head on a pole w/ the words "Here may you see the tyrant"

Who will now be crowned king of Scotland? (v,8)

malcolm

Where is Macbeth and what is he doing? (V,7)

on the battlefield

How has Banquo been murdered? (III,4)

stabbed 20 wounds in the head

What warning does the messenger bring? (IV,2) Does she heed the warning? What are the consequences?

that danger approaches. No. The murderer kills her son

What do Malcolm and Macduff decide to do? (IV,3)

they will go to scotland and kill Macbeth