STUDY QUESTIONS
MACBETH
ACT I
Setting establishes the moodOpening with witchesEerie moodAtmosphere permeated with evilThough human initiative brings forth the evil,
the witches personify that evil and give it substance
Animals are “familiars”
1. What mood is established at the beginning of the play?
A favorable portrait is displayed regarding his exploits in defeating the rebellion
Main character introduced by Duncan: “What bloody man is that?” – shows a wounded soldier but also foreshadows what he becomes later and establishes the importance of blood
Duncan’s loyal subjectHas defeated a rebellion led by MacdonwaldDuncan declares the thane of Cawdor a traitor to be
executed and his title bestowed upon MacbethCreates dramatic irony: Cawdor’s treason, as well as his
title, are passed to his heirDuncan: “What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won.”
2. How does Scene 2 introduce the absent Macbeth?
Superstition played an important role in Renaissance thinking
Added excitementCreated suspense, irony, and horror
3. Were the witches intended to be real?
Macbeth“So foul and fair a day.”Macbeth echoes the witches line, which links
him to the powers of evilReflects his moral problem: when good and evil
are combined, it is hard to distinguish one from the other
Prophecy of good fortune may carry with it undertones of doom
BanquoNotes they look unearthly and seem
hallucinatoryEmphasizes the ambiguity of evilSeem wicked, even though their prophecies
seem true
4. How do Banquo and Macbeth react to the witches?
MacbethThinks the witches’ prophecy may come true
entirelyWitches’ thane of Cawdor prophecy is true,
perhaps the one about being king will come true as well
Shows concern and fearFear that he will not just allow fate to thrust it on
himFear that he must grasp it for himselfReasons that if destiny would have him king,
destiny can accomplish it without his own actionAt this point, he is content to wait and let fate
take its course
5. How do Macbeth and Banquo receive the news from Ross and Angus?
BanquoSees Macbeth liking the new title Wonders if there will be consequencesFears that the announcement of the title was
arranged to tempt Macbeth to rash actionEven though he is included in the prophecy, he
deliberately refuses to heed the witches’ promise of power
5. How do Macbeth and Banquo receive the news from Ross and Angus?
Speaks of what he owes Macbeth, which is more than he can repay
Duncan names his son Malcolm heir to the throne, which denies Macbeth complete fulfillment of the witches’ prophecy
Gives Macbeth a motive for murderSeals his fate by proposing to visit Inverness
as a guest
6. What images do Duncan’s words in Scene 4 conjure up?
Learns of the witches’ prophecy through her husband’s letter
Very ambitious and more action-orientedSpeaks of murder in a trifling mannerShe rejects her femininity Had to urge herself to the ruthlessness
necessary to carry out the murder of Duncan
7. How is Lady Macbeth characterized in Scene 5?
Genuine loveEven in the contemplation of murder,
Macbeth addresses her as the “dearest partner”
The act of murder is a gauge of their closeness
She wants what she thinks is due himHe is carrying out her apparent desires
8. What is the relationship betweenMacbeth and his wife?
In Act 1, she is the dominant personality and knows it
She loves him dearly, but she is able to make a clear evaluation of him
He wants the crownHe has ambitionBut wants it without effortHer attitude is that if he wants to be king,
then he must do anything to achieve itShe is willing to commit any act to help him
attain his apparent destiny
9. What is Lady Macbeth’s evaluation of her husband?
Creates dramatic ironyHis compliments on the castle and his regard
for Macbeth contrast the fact that the castle will be the scene of his death
10. What is the effect of Duncan’s wordsin Scene 6?
He is conflictedFaces what he intends to doAdmits he has no real motive but ambitionAdmits Duncan is an able monarch and has
treated him wellConsiders eternal damnation, but would
endure Hell if he could safely accomplish his crime in this life
11. What is the attitude of Macbeth’ssoliloquy in Scene 7?
Brings Macbeth back to the situation at handDetails the plan they have madePrepares her household to entertain DuncanPrepares her husband for murder
12. What is Lady Macbeth’s functionin Scene 7?
She again denies her femininity because it will make her weak
13. Why is the topic of Lady Macbeth’swomanliness raised again?
ACT II
The conversation functions as a calm before the storm
Fleance’s presence drives home the point that Banquo has an heir, which spells ruin for Macbeth
Banquo’s inability to sleep because of the witches’ prophecies
14. What is the significance of Banquo’s talk with Fleance in Scene 1?
1st of many apparitions that Macbeth has to deal with
Macbeth sees the scene which lies aheadInterestingly, he sees a dagger, not the throneSince the killing takes place offstage,
Shakespeare put this in to foreshadow the deed
15. What is the significance of thedagger in Scene 1?
Needs to take a drink, but remains in controlMentions that the sleeping Duncan reminds
her of her fatherShows a slight inability to cope with the guilt
and stress
16. Describe Lady Macbeth’s composure in Scene 2?
Returns literally dripping with bloodEven though the deed is done, the nightmare
is not overBabbles on about the killing, the words of the
grooms, and his inability to prayIntended to intensify the gruesomeness of
driving a knife into a living being
17. What is the effect of Macbeth’sentrance after the murder?
She soothes her husbandYet her sleep will be interrupted by nightmaresHer bloodstains will impossible to removeprove
19. What is the function of the porter in Scene 3?
Knocking shows the total isolation of Macbeth and Lady MacbethHave drawn a boundary between themselves and
the rest of humanityAlso provides a bit of comic relief
18. What is the irony of Lady Macbeth’s comfort?
He talks to the porter so that the dramatic spotlight includes him
After Macbeth names the servants (grooms) as the killers and that he (Macbeth) has taken the grooms’ lives, Macduff asks directly, “Wherefore did you so?”
**Why did you take their lives?
20. How is attention focused on Macduff?
Sign of human weakness or a tactical maneuver
22. Why are there unnatural omens during the night?
Renaissance philosophy: cosmos a pattern of interwoven planes; each element must function correctly; if disorder erupts at one level, chaos will occur throughout the universe
Political obedience was paramount in Elizabethan Age
If a subject kills a king, disruption would occur at all levels of the chain
21. Why does Lady Macbeth faint?
He suffers tremendous guiltAll went as plannedHe was not discovered during the actNo one has contradicted his explanation of
Duncan’s deathHe expects to get the throne
He wishes at this point that he could undo his actions
23. Why does Macbeth comment that he wishes himself dead?
Stunned and sense dangerMalcolm goes to England; Donalbain goes to
Ireland
25. What is the effect of the old man’s talk in Scene 4?
Affirm the belief in the chain of beingMacbeth’s act has disrupted the entire
cosmos
24. How do Duncan’s sons react?
Does not attend the banquetSets him apart from allegiance to MacbethDoes not overtly show any suspicion of
MacbethSpeaks with an undertone of uneasiness
What is the significance of Macduff’s comments?
ACT III
27. In Scene 1, how does Macbeth react to success?Realizes that to be king is meaningless unless
he can relax his fearsCan never be “safely thus” Has created a world of his own against which
every man is a threatDoes not enjoy his positionTension, anxiety, and fear pervadeHis reign depends on the need to carry out
another murder and yet another
Enflames them with lies about Banquo
29. In Scene 2, is Lady Macbeth enjoying her new position?
No, maybe even less than MacbethShe is saddened because her husband doesn’t
enjoy itIs eventually overwhelmed by guilt
28. How does Macbeth arouse the murderers?
In previous murder, she was instigator and planner, alibi, and accomplice
He has moved beyond herHe no longer needs her supportEvil has become so much a part of him that
his cunning surpasses even her
30. Why does Macbeth keep his attack on Banquo a secret from his wife?
Night is the power of darknessHe allied himself with it with Duncan’s murderEvil is symbolically associated with darkness
32. Who is the third assassin at Banquo’s murder?
Much debatedSome scholars suggest that it may have been Macbeth
himselfHis surprise about Fleance’s escape would be a show to
disguise his involvementThe text just suggests that Macbeth sent a third man
31. Why does Macbeth invoke the night?
Understands immediately what is happeningSuspicions of Macbeth satisfiedBecomes creator and protector of FleanceTells Fleance to run
33. How does Banquo react to the attack?
Is the turning point in the playAll of Macbeth’s murders are futileThe prophecy will come trueBanquo will beget a dynasty of kingsDestroys Macbeth’s own hope for the future
34. What is the importance of Fleance’s escape?
Since the prophecy, he has felt just one murder away from contentment
Has believed that if only he can silence one mouth, eliminate one threat, he will be at ease
He can never escape the guiltAfter killing Banquo and now that Fleance
has escaped, he now believes Macduff is that one threat to be eliminated
35. How does Macbeth delude himself in Scene 4?
His visualization of Banquo’s ghost reveals his sense of guilt
36. What is the importance of Banquo’s ghost?
Intercedes to hide his guiltAs she acted to prevent his exposure of
Duncan’s murder, she now acts to persuade the guests to ignore him
37. How does Lady Macbeth respond to Macbeth’s outburst?
The country has become a brutal police stateAssassins are hired by those in powerMacbeth keeps paid informers to spy on his
subjects
38. What is revealed about conditions in Scotland?
Foreshadows Macbeth’s confrontation with the witches
Some Shakespearean writers believe it was added by some later writer
The rhyme scheme and length of line differ from those used in other scenes
39. What is the purpose of Hecate’s interview with the witches?
Conversation provides exposition about conditions in Scotland
Appearance of the first mention of organized opposition to Macbeth’s rule
40. What is the purpose of Scene 6?
ACT IV
41. In Scene 1, why is the witches’ chant given in such detail?Provides “good theater” with its emphasis on
the grotesque and the spectacularConjures up an image of he inferno itself
Each apparition provides comfort for Macbeth, but Hecate instructed the witches to construct his doom
So the comfort is couched in riddlesThough Macbeth thinks he understands each
apparition, their real meaning isn’t given until later
42. Explain the paradox of the apparitions.
Scene 2 reveals political terror on a personal level
She has no one to protect herShe has nowhere to runHer death is unnecessary
44. What attitudes emerge from Lady Macduff’s characterization?
Probably someone who cannot bear Macbeth’s barbarism
His warning reflects the growing unrest in Scotland
Some scholars have suggested that the messenger is Lady Macbeth
45. Who is the messenger?
Foreshadowing and ironyMalcolm and Macduff do not realize they are
dealing with something that will become personal
They discuss the state of Scotland just before Macduff’s personal disaster
Irony is present in Malcolm’s thought that Macduff might be Macbeth’s spy
46. What dramatic elements emerge at the beginning of Scene 3?
Accuses himself of kingly vicesSays he would bring disorder to the landMacduff says he is not fit to rule as a
responseMalcolm realizes Macduff’s sincerity
47. How does Malcolm test Macduff?
Were intended to honor King James, patron and benefactor of Shakespeare’s theatrical company
48. Why do the men discuss the king of England?
He is unable to comprehend the scope of the tragedy and responds numbly
49. How does Macduff receive the news of his loss?
ACT V
50. What is Lady Macbeth’s mental state in Scene 1?Deeply depressedIs suffering extreme reaction to the horrors
which she has created and shared with her husband
War is imminentScottish thanes have revolted against
MacbethMalcolm stands ready to launch his forces
with the aid of the EnglishForeshadowing: Macbeth is fortifying
Dunsinane while Malcolm gets his army ready at Birnam Wood
51. What are conditions in Scotland?
Seems like a member of the living deadUnable to feel joy or painMaintains a purely physical braveryBut it is obvious he would welcome death
52. What is Macbeth’s mood in Scene 3?
Witches’ prophecies’ hidden meaning is now revealed
Malcolm’s army moves camouflaged with the trees of Birnam Wood to Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
A new and contradictory interpretation is suggested
Macbeth believed that the prophecies ensured his success
Now a different outcome is indicated
53. What is the importance of the camouflage in Scene 4?
Suggest two interpretationsHe has no time to mourn for her in a proper
wayHis words indicate acceptance
54. How does Macbeth receive the news of his wife’s death?
Places Macduff in the forefront for his role in the final scene
Malcolm stresses the significance of British support
55. What is the importance of Malcolm’s speech in Scene 6?
Is a synonym for butcherContrasts the earlier scenes when the name
was associated with admiring words
56. What is Young Siward’s reaction to the name “Macbeth”?
He refuses to take his own life as a means of preventing his enemies’ full triumph, just as Brutus did
Will face his enemies bravely
57. Why does Macbeth speak of playing “the Roman fool”?
Divulges the facts of his birthReveals the hidden riddle of the propheciesDelivered in a Caesarian section was “not of
woman born”
58. How does Macduff reveal Macbeth’s doom?
Order is restored to ScotlandRenewed operation of moral order: the
powers of evil have been overthrown and the forces good are triumphant
59. What is the significance of Malcolm’s ascension?