Ambition - Act 5

Ambition:

By: Cameron, Victoria, Eric and Anika

(Act 5, scene 3, line 32-34)

Macbeth decides to fight in the battle no matter what the concequence because he is confident no one will kill him.

Ambition in this act is shown through the English soldiers and their short seige of Macbeth’s castle. The drum and colors also show their ambition.

(Act 5, scene 8, line 60-75)

Malcolm explains his ambitions to be a great king for Scottland.

(Act 5, scene 6, line 3-6)

Malcolm says that they are going to battle and that his cousin will lead them to victory.

Apparition and Light vs Darkness - Act 4

Apparition and Light vs Darkness

By: Victoria, Cameron, Eric and Anika

Apparition 1:

(Act 4, scene 1, line 71-73)

An armed head appears and tells Macbeth to beware of MacDuff.

Apparition 2:

(Act, IV, scene i, line 78-81)

Bloody child: No man woman born will ever harm Macbeth

Apparition 3:

(Act 4, scene 1, line 89-93)

A child crowned with a tree in his hand: Macbeth will be vanquished when Great Birnam Wood to High Dunsinane Hill.

(Act 4, scene 1, line 112-124)

Macbeth also sees the future lineage of kings. This means that Macbeth will die and give the throne to Banquo’s sons.

The witches are in this act in scene 1. Therefore it is dark.Moreover, the lightning is bright.

Tree pounch boom DED, Macbeth = nope

Nature - Act 3

Nature

By: Eric, Cameron, Victoria and Anika

(Act 3, scene 1, line 48-51)

“To be thus is nothing,... Which would be fear.”

Macbeth is talking to the murderers and is trying to convince them that Banquo is sooooo evil he has power over nature.

(Act 3, scene 1, line 92-99)

“As hounds and greyhounds,... Hath in him closed”

Macbeth is explaining to the first murderer how men are like dogs. There are various kinds of men just like there are various types of dogs. He uses this analogy to point out the murderer’s worth and how he can make him more powerful if the murderer does his bidding.

(Act 3, scene 4, line 28-31)

There the grown serpent lies… hath nature that in time will venom bread”

This aside by Macbeth explains how one can maniplate a serpent to do ones bidding just as one can manipulate humans to do the same.

(Act 3, scene 4, line 143-144)

“ You lack the season of all natures, /sleep.”

Lady Macbeth is telling her husband to go sleep because he is going nutts.

(Act 3, scene 5)

In the beginning of scene 5, thunder sounds in order to add an eerie and ominous atmosphere for the witches.

act 5 fate and freewill

Act 5

Fate and free will

Through out the whole act, Macbeth depends on fate for his destiny and Macduff takes his actions into his own hands

Act 5, scene 2, line 19-20.

Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love. This means that the people have no free will and live in fear of Macbeth.

Act 5, Scene 4, Line

Malcom: Let every soldier hew him down a bough and bear ‘t before him. Thereby shall we shadow the numbers of our host, and make discovery err in report of us.

Explanation: Malcom is ordering his soldiers to cut the trees and make them move in front of them. Just like the apparitions said to Macbeth, the forest would move.

Scene 5:

Macbeth: She would of died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word. Line 15

His wife was bound to die anyways so he’s not suprised. We also learn that she is suicidal and took her own fate in her hands

Scene 8, Line 95

Macduff: Despair thy charm, and let the angel whom thou still hast served tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.

Expanation:

Macduff is saying that he wasn’t born directly from his mother because she had a C section. Just as the apparitions said to Macbeth, no man born from a woman could kill him. Macduff could.

Act 5 - Blood and Sleep

Act 5

• Act 5, Scene 1 : In this first scene, Lady Macbeth’s gentlewoman calls over a doctor to cure her of her weird night habits, She’s sleepwalking and sleep talking around the castle every night, and they don’t know why. Lady Macbeth is feeling very guilty about the murders and is hallucinating. By seeing blood everywhere, it indicates that she feels guilt and alludes to the fact that she will later on commit suicide for her actions.
• Lady Macbeth : «Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?--Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.» (p.82, lines 38-43).
• Act 5, Scene 5 : In this scene, Lady Macbeth, supposedly, commits suicide because of all the guilt she feels surrounding the murders she has forced Macbeth to commit.
• Seyton : «The Queen, my lord, is dead.» (p.90, line 16).   
• Act 5, Scene 5 : In this scene, Macbeth does not have enough men to go to battle but is confident he can not be defeated. He does prepare himself to fight until he can not anymore.
• Macbeth: “ If thou speak'st false,

Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,

Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth,

I care not if thou dost for me as much.

I pull in resolution, and begin

To doubt the equivocation of the fiend

That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood

Do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood

Comes toward Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out!

If this which he avouches does appear,

There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.

I gin to be aweary of the sun,

And wish the estate o' the world were now undone.

Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack!

At least we'll die with harness on our back.” (p.91, line 38-52)

• Act 5, Scene 8 : The last scene of this play is where Macbeth is killed by his former friend Macduff. His head is chopped off and Macduff enters carrying it. This is somewhat ironic seeing that Macbeth once did the same to a man he had killed. This scene scene represents the death Macbeth could not escape.  

Enter Macduff, with Macbeth’s head. (p.96, between line 53 and 54)

Act 5 Nature and the unnatural

Act 5 Nature and the unnatural

(5.1.76-83) “ Unnatural deeds, Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds, To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets…My mind she has mated and amazed my sight: I think, but dare not speak.” The doctor is saying that unnatural acts will cause supernatural things to happen.

(5.5.35) “Punish me if it’s not true. Three miles from here you can see it coming, a moving forest”.

The messenger is telling Macbeth that three miles from the castle you can see a moving forest. This signifies that Macbeth is going to die in the near future.

(5. 1. 10) ‘’A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching! " The doctor is saying that it is unnatural to be asleep and act as if you’re awake.

Act 5 - Violence

Macduff: “Why should I play the Roman fool, and die/ On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes/ Do better upon them.” (A5, S8, L1)

“The Queen, my lord, is dead.” (act 5, scene 5, line 16)

Pretty straight forward here.

“Hail, King! for so thou art: behold, where stands/ Th’ usurpers’s cursèd head.” (A5, S8, L53) He’s literally saying Hey guys, look at this guy’s head.

Macbeth duels with young Siward. (Scene 7, line 11)

Macduff enters with Macbeth’s head (scene 8)

Macbeth Act V- Light vs Dark and Visioins

Lady Macbeth only has terrors and nightmares about the murder of Duncan (guilty conscious at night (during darkness).

Gentlewoman: "Why, it stood by her. She has light by her continually. 'Tis her command." (p82 L25) When Lady Macbeth starts going crazy, she asks to always have a light (candle) by her bed to hopefully protect herself against the evil forces.

Macbeth: " [...] And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!"

Lady Macbeth has a light that has been extinguished by her death. The candle is a metaphor for her short life and her sudden death.

Lady Macbeth: “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One: two: why, then ‘tis time to do ‘t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow’r to accompt? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (p.82 L38)

Lady Macbeth has hallucinations and sleep terrors. She believes there is blood on her hands from the murders she has helped plan. It is a symbol of her guilty conscious.

Act 5 - App. vs Reality

Moving forest - Since the soldiers cut down trees from the forest and moved them towards the kingdom, it seemed as if the whole forest was moving, just as one of the apparitions had warned MacBeth about.

Act 5 - Scene 3, line 61-63
Doctor helps MacBeth, but actually wants to leave

Act 5 - Scene 2, line 19-20
Guards fight for Macbeth but no love

Act 5 - Scene 1
Lady MacBeth, who usually appears strong about the whole situation, actually feels guilty about the murders.

Act 4 :Violence

Act 4

Violence

Act 4, Scene 1, Line 150-153

Macbeth: The castle of MacDuff I will surprise, seize upon Fife; give to th’edge o’ th’ sword  his wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.

Explanation:

Macbeth wants to to take over MacDuff’s castle and kill his family and servant.

Act 3, scene 2, Line 94-95

Son of Lady MacDuff: He has killed me, mother: Run aways, I pray you!

Explanation:

A murderer assassinated Lady Macduff’ son

scene 3, line 60

Malcom: But there’s no bottom, nonen in my voluptunousness. Your wives, your daughters, your matrns, and your maids could not fill up the cistern of my lust, and my desirer all continent impediments would o’rbear that did oppose my will.

Explanation: he is a violent and malicious person and is not scared to use anyone essecially the wifes and daughters.

Act 4 - Ambition

Act 4 - Ambition

The definition of ambition is defined as being a strong desire to do or achieve something, which requires hard work and determination. This is a major theme in the fourth act of Macbeth, as many characters plan revenge and murder.

• Act 4, scene 1 : After meeting with the witches in Hades, Macbeth is determined to secure his future as king for as long as he lives. That is why he’s determined to get rid of all his enemies, including one of his former friends, Macduff. The ghost summoned by the witches warn Macbeth of Macduff and to stay clear of him. That is why he later ambitions to kill him, no matter what the cost.
• First Apparition : «Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff!» (p.63, line 71).
• Macbeth : «The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword. His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls, That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool.» (p.66, lines 150-153).

• Act 4, scene 2 : Although this scene doesn’t contain a specific action relating to ambition, the violent murder of Lady Macduff and her children, prove how Macbeth is driven by his own ambition. He will kill innocent people to become king.  

• Act 4, scene 3 : In this scene, Macduff arrives in England in search of Malcolm, who is clueless to the events surrounding Macbeth. Macduff explains what the situation is, but Malcolm finds himself wondering if he should trust him or not. He then fabricates a story in order to get a reaction from Macduff, telling him if what’s said is really true. Malcolm is ambitious to discover the truth.
• Malcolm : «Macduff, this noble passion, Child of integrity, hath from my soul, Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts, To thy good truth and honor» (p.75, lines 114 - 117).

Macbeth Act IV - Fate and Free Will

Macbeth: “Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate*[...]” (p.63, L.82)

*take a bond of fate: get a guarantee from fate (i.e., he will kill Macduff and thus will compel fate to keep its word)

He assures his fate by his free will (to kill Macduff).

Third apparition: “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” (p.64, L.92)

The apparitions told Macbeth his future, in other words his fate. However, Macbeth’s fate will be changed by his actions (free will).

Act 4, Apperance vs reality

(4.1.71-72) “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me enough”.

(4.1.78-81) “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn The pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”.

(4.1.89-94) “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”.

The issue of appearances vs. reality in Act 4 is most pressing when it comes to considering the role of the witches in the play and their relationship with Macbeth. Some of the questions that Shakespeare raises about that relationship are: can the witches be trusted? Are they telling Macbeth the truth (what the apparitions tell the murderous King turns out to be true, but in a very misleading way) or are they influencing how the events of the play unfold? Moreover, why are they interested in helping Macbeth? Considering the context of the play and Shakespeare’s motives in writing it, it would make sense that the witches are devilish beings who are interested in causing trouble for Macbeth for random purposes. Or for revenge, given that they only invoke the apparitions once they are scolded by Hecate.

(4.3.61-65) “In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, your matrons and your maids, could not fill up. The cisterns of my lust, and my desire. All continent impediments would o’erbear, That did not oppose my will

Shakespeare incorporates the theme of appearance vs. reality in Malcolm's dialogue to test Macduff's loyalties. Malcolm put on an appearance of unbecoming traits that would make for an awful king, however in reality, Malcolm is an honest man perfectly fit to rule the country. Malcolm's false appearance is an attempt to test Macduff's allegiance to the country. The appearance vs. reality theme is shown to apply in not only the domestic and supernatural spheres, but also in politics.

Act 4

Blood and sleep

Second apparition: bloody child

“Be bloody, bold, and resolute!/Laugh to scorn/The pow’r of man, for none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth”

The apparition of a bloody child may represent a child Macbeth killed or a representation of his brutality. The apparition tells Macbeth that no matter how cruel he is, no one will take him down.

The murder of Macduff’s child:

“He has killed me, mother: / Run away, I pray you! / [Dies]”

“This time goes manly./Come, go we to the King. Our power is ready;/Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth is ripe for shaking, and the pow’rs above”

Malcom tells Macduff that it’s time for them to take matters in there own hands. With the help of the King of England, they will kill Macbeth

Act 4 - Nature

Act 4 - Scene 1 - Witches making potion

Lots of references to natural ingredients added into the potion.

The witch use natural ingredients (such as bats..) to make the suppernatural possible (witchcraftt).

Act 4 -Scene 2 - p.67 line 9-11

Lady MacDuff

"...

Lady Macduff. He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren,

The most diminutive of birds, will fight,

Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.

..."

Metaphor of MacDuff abandonning his defensless family against a Tyrant (MacBeth)

Act 4 - Scene 2 - p.68 line 30 - 35

Lady MacDuff and her son speaking about what they will do without MacDuff. They make references to birds once again.

Act 4- Scene 2- p.70. line 82

Murderer ''What you egg''

The murderer is reffering to the son of Lady Macbeth as a newborn.

Act 4 - Scene 3 - p.73 top of page

Malcolm

"...

That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth

Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state 

Esteem him as a lamb, being compared

With my confineless harms."

When Malcom is tricking MacDuff, he says that MacBeth, as bad as he is, looks like a Saint compared to him. 

Act 3: Ambition

(3.1.116-119) So is he mine, and in such bloody distance
That every minute of his being thrusts. Against my near'st of life. And though I could
With barefaced power swep him from my sight
and bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
for certain friends that are both his and mine,
whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Who I myself struck down. And thence it is, that I to your assistance do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.
-Macbeth

Macbeth is very ambitious in Act 3, scene 3. His drive to kill Banquo grows stronger because he is fearful of Banquo's noble qualities.

(3.4.119-122) Lady Macbeth: I pray you, speak not: he grows worse and worse; Question enrages him: at once, good night. Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once.

Lady Macbeth is ambitious in the fact that she wants Macbeth to stay quiet. If he keeps talking about Banquo’s ghost, their cover will be blown.

Act 3

Light and Darkness

Hecate and the Witches

“to the weïrd:/ More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know/ By the worst means the worst. For mine own good/ All causes shall give way. I am in bloood/” (Act 3, Scene 5, Line 134-137)

Macbeth explains how the witches changed him into something worse, caught in a murderous cycle.

Banquo and MacBeth

“O, treachery! Fly good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!/Thou mayst revenge. O slave!” (Act 3, Scene 3, L17-18) Banquo explains how he was betrayed secretly by a friend, even though he was innoncent.

Visions

Banquo’s ghost

Line 33, scene 3, “Enter the ghost of Banquo”

Bad dreams

line 17, scene 2 “ Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly: better be with the dead…”

Macbeth is still thniking about Duncan’s murder and feels guilt

The dagger

Line 63, scene 3 “This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, led you to Duncan

The dagger was a vision.

Macbeth Act III-Blood and Sleep

Throughout this act, Macbeth has trouble sleeping because he has a guilty conscience. His soul  is haunted by Banquo’s ghost. The blood represent the numerous murders that have taken place. Blood is a symbol for their guilty conscience.

Macbeth: “Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly: better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, (...) Duncan is in his grave; After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well (...)” (p.47 L. 17)

Macbeth: “Come, seeling night scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale! [...]”  (p. 48 L.48)

Macbeth: “The table round. There’s blood upon thy face.” (p.50 L.13)

Macbeth: “ Blood hath been shed ere now, i’th’olden time, ere humane statute purged the gentle weal; ay, and since too, murders have been performed too terrible for the ear [...]”  (p.53 L.76)

Macbeth: “ It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood. Stones have been known to move trees to speak; augures and understood relations have by maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth the secret’st man of blood. What is the night?” (p.55 L.123)

Lady Macbeth: “You lack the season of all natures, sleep.” Macbeth: “Come, we’ll to sleep. My strange and self abuse is the initiate fear that wants hard use. We are yet but young in deed.” (p.56 L. 142)

Act 3 - Fate and Free will

Act 3 - Fate and Free will

Fate and Free will are two different concepts, yet they both come into play in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The difference between Fate and Free Will is that fate is something you expect to happen, where as Free will is choosing what you want to do. This theme plays an important part in this particular act.

• Act 3, Scene 1 - In this scene, Macbeth reveals in a monologue that he’s afraid of Banquo and what he can do. Without it being explicitly stated by the witches, Macbeth decides to kill Duncan in order to become King, (Free will). Yet, he now realises that he has actually murdered Duncan for Banquo’s sons, who are destined to become the next Kings after Macbeth, (Fate). He later on goes to state that he will challenge fate into battle and fight to the death : he wishes to keep his title as King for as long as he lives.
• Macbeth : ‘’For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered.’’ (p. 42, lines 65-66).
• Macbeth : ‘’Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, And champion me to th’ utterance!’’ (p. 43, lines 71-72).

• Act 3, Scene 3 - In this scene, the murderers obey Macbeth’s orders and kill Banquo, yet fail to do the same to his son, Fleance. This adds on to the witches ‘’prediction’’, that Banquo’s sons, will be the rightful kings. (Fate).
• Banquo : “O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!” (p. 49, line 17).

• Act 3, Scene 5 - In this scene, Hecate, Greek goddess of magic, tells off the three witches for revealing to Macbeth a part of his future. She later on instructs them to meet her in Hades, where she will tell Macbeth his true destiny. (Fate).  
• Hecate : “How did you dare to trade and traffic with Macbeth in riddles and affairs of death.” (p. 56, line 5).

Act 3 - Violence

Act 3 - Scene 1 - p.44 line 105-108

MacBeth “Whose execution takes your enemy off,

Grapples you to the heart and love of us,

Who ear our health bu sickly in his life,

Which in his death were perfect.”

**In here, Mabeth is explaining to the Murders why they should kill Banquo. His thoughs are violent, as he influences the thoughts of the Murderes to kill Banquo, by saying Banquo ruined theyre lives.He states that as long as Banquo is alive, he is sick. And therefore, they should eliminate him.**

Act 3 - Scene 1 - p.44 line 116-117

MacBeth “Both of you

Know Banquo was your enemy.”

**This is a direct statement that Macbeth says towards the Murderers. He says that they should murder him as he is theyre enemy for giving the Murderers such a low status.**

Act 3 - Scene 1 - p.44 line 140-143

MacBeth “I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within.

It is conclude: Banquo, thy soul’s flight,

If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.”

**Macbeth now has confirmation of the due date of Banquo’s murder, and when it will occur (Outside the castle, ambush Banquo and his son). As he says this, there is no sign of sympathy. All he thinks of is his death and how it will compensate him by elimanating futur problems.**

Banquo dies…

Third Murderer “Who did strike out the light?”

First Murderer “Was’t not the way?”

Third Murderer “There’s but one down; the son is fled.”
Second Murderer “We have lost best half of our affair.”

First Murderer “Well, let’s away and say how much is done.”

**Here the murderes and discussing Banquo’s murder, and how Fleance -his son- fled. All the murderes are woried about right now is that they wil only get half theyre pay, and do not care that they took a life. This scene is the most violent and evident  throughout the Act III**