Macbeth Assignment Questions Luke Bent. The witches predict that Macbeth will be the future king. As for Banquo, they predict that he will not be a king, but father a son who will be king one day. Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan. Macbeth gives her 8 reasons why he should not kill King Duncan. Macbeth is King Duncan’s kinsman as well as his subject which makes him very reluctant to carry out such a deed.
Lady Macbeth vaguely taunts him and eventually convinces Macbeth to build up enough confidence to do it. Macbeth compliments Lady Macbeth by saying “ bring forth men-children only for undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males”. This I find to be a compliment, although rather sexist, it implies that Lady Macbeth has the courage of a young man. My understanding is that Macbeth finds his wife to be a rather courageous lady and would be honoured for her to have his male children. (Q. 3) The character “ the Porter” explains to Macbeth that alcohol brings on certain things.
He says “ marry, sir, Nose painting, sleep and urine. Lechery sir, It provokes and unprevokes; it provoked the desire. ” The drunken Porter’s quote concludes that the effects of drinking in excess can take away performance, from which I concluded that if you drink too much it can elude sexual activities. (Q 4) The quotation asked to find in question 4 is, “ Whence is that knocking? How is’t with me, when every noise appals me? What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in incarnadine, Making the green one red. ” (Q 5) The fear of Macbeth is that Banquo’s children will end up with the throne. He doesn’t want this to happen at all. (Q 6) I am a thane of the west. This is a wonderful feast for my lord Macbeth. Everyone is seated and awaiting the lord’s speech. Macbeth is walking towards the door to meet an unknown man, this is rather inappropriate. The men exchange words which is quickly ended by the unknown man departing soon after. I notice something different about my lord after this man made an appearance; he is looking unsettled.
I dare not ask my lord what troubles him, but he is missing from the banquet table. Lady Macbeth exchanges words with my lord, obviously trying to calm him down for the feast. Whoever that man was, and whatever news he delivered, it did not sit right with my lord. The strangest things are happening. My lord is muttering under his breath; “ Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with! ” – (3, 4, 90-95) – Macbeth My lord looks as if he has seen a ghost.
I am not the only one who notices this. Lady Macbeth is trying to settle him, but his paranoia grows even greater. Questions are being thrown towards Lord Macbeth, but this infuriates him further. Lady Macbeth has abruptly ended this banquet by telling us to depart in fear of his mental health. I worry about my lord’s health. As I am going I overhear Lady Macbeth trying to offer Macbeth some bed-rest. (Q 7) “ Fillet of a Fenny Snake, In the Cauldron boil and bake; Eye of Newt, and Toe of Frogge, Wool of Bat, and Tongue of Dogge, Adder’s Fork, and Blind-worm’s Sting,
Lizard’s leg, and Howlet’s wing, For a Charm of powerful trouble Like a Hell-broth boil and bubble. ” – (4, 1, 15) – Second Witch A fillet of a fenny snake along with a Newt’s eye and a Frog’s toe. Bat’s wool and a Dog’s tongue and a Lizard’s leg are six of the ingredients used in the Cauldron to make the magic potion. (Q 8) 1. The witches warn Macbeth of Macduff; that he should fear him. Macbeth is thankful for this warning. 2. The second apparition conjured by the witches appear. It tells Macbeth that he should not fear anyone woman born. This makes Macbeth rethink he previous fears of Macduff. . The third piece of advice simply states that he will never be killed until the “… Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him. ” This basically implies that Macbeth will not be defeated by anything other than natural cause. (Q 9) While the doctor is assessing Lady Macbeth’s condition, she begins to sleepwalk. Whilst she is sleepwalking, she mutters information that otherwise should not have been told to anyone. “ Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale. –I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave. ” – (5, 1, 60) – Lady Macbeth
This above quotation reveals to the Doctor and the Gentlewoman about the secrets that Lady Macbeth is aware of. After revealing her secrets, she is gone to bed. The Doctor and the Gentlewoman exchange words about the incident but dare not tell anyone. (Q 10) “ She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. ” – (5, 5, 15-30) – Macbeth Is my understanding that after hearing the tragic news of his wife’s death, Macbeth comes to a realisation that he has lost everything. With his loving wife dead, he has nobody to comfort him. He realises that he will have to fight for his crown and his life, and the odds are stacked against him. This above speech is an expression of his loyalty towards his wife and how he will cope without her.
