00Drama-classnotes

Act I, scene i “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” (1.1.1) – paradox (SDE) - good/evil; appearance vs. reality – dichotomy/2-layeredness - “hurly burly” (1.1.__) – SDE: weather reflecting story: pathetic fallacy - “battle’s lost and won” – Plot: antecedent – reveals the battle in session - “hurly burly” – SDE: in medias res – play begins in the middle of the action - Plot: Off stage info: “thane of Cawdor” report from soldier - “[Macbeth] unseamed him from nave to the chops” - Character of Macbeth as ruthless, merciless, gruesome soldier - “the ends always justify the means”

- Shakespeare was educated in Classical myths (Greek/Roman) – explains allusions to mythical figures. “Bellona’s bridgegroom” (1.2.62)

- Biblical allusion (serpent = devil in Eden)

- 1.2 – act I scene ii

- “As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.” (1.2.39)

>>analogy – using animal motif

“Go pronounce his present death,/And with his former title greet Macbeth.” (1.2.72-3)

- rhyming couplet – signals end of scene (Globe theatre – open air)

1.3 – Witches’ prophecy: inciting incident

- 3 prophecies (Macbeth: Thane Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, Hail King).

- Banquo: happy but not much happier (seeming contradictions, paradoxical; beget kings, though thou be none)

- Two ways a character reveals thoughts: aside (other characters are present); soliloquy (character is alone) 1.3.154-155

- “absolute trust” – shows Duncan’s naïveté, ignorance, oblivious

1.5.40 – L. Macbeth calls on evil spirits to “unsex” her. Ref. to raven. (motif: black animals).

“Look like th’innocent flower, /But be the serpent under’t.(1.5.64-65)

Macbeth exhibits guilty conscience before “the deed”

Act 2 scene i+

Macbeth’s soliloquy “Is this a dagger which I see before me (2.1.33 - …); dagger: motif of weaponry.

“The bell invites me./ Hear it not, Duncan, for it is knell/That summons thee to heaven or to hell.” (2.1.63-64) – rhyming couplet signals end of scene.

41:59 in dvd

Murder of Duncan:

- consider the “Chain of Being” (hierarchy) – God > King > Courtiers > soldiers > merchants … By removing the key link in the chain, the universe is put into state of chaos.

- Macbeth refuses to return to the crime scene because he is too racked with guilt.

- Motif: insects, animals: crickets, owl

- Sleep: symbolizes? ..insomnia

- Porter scene: comic relief (SDE); rude, brass - (2.3.160) - (3.1) Banquo expresses his doubts about Macbeth using “foul play” to get the crown; he realizes that if Macbeth’s prophecies come true, his own predictions must also follow. - Macbeth Solil (3.1.54 - ) - Macbeth begins to doubt Banquo’s loyalty and realizes his own “fruitless crown”. - Metaphor: (3.2. 15, 40). - Snake; scorpions