1. What is the opening situation?
  2. Essentially, Macbeth has successfully defeated an enemy in war, and is basking in the king’s thanks. Due to prophecies made by witches, however, Macbeth is considering murdering his king. Scene one consists of an introduction of the three witches, who suggest that a war is raging. In scene two, King Duncan learns of Macbeth’s successes in the battle. Apparently, Macbeth leads his men valiantly and defeats Macdonwald, while Mark, King of Scotland, takes advantage of the situation and attacks. Again, Macbeth proved himself by defeating Mark. The king, impressed, bestows the title of "Thane of Cawdor" on Macbeth. A meeting between Macbeth and the witches occurs in scene three, and the witches suggest that Macbeth will soon own the titles "Thane of Glamis," and king. Macbeth’s imagination is sparked, and he acquires an ambition to murder King Duncan and claim the title for himself. Macbeth is personally commended by the king in scene four, and scene five introduces Macbeth’s wife. Lady Macbeth reveals her evil by letting her approval of Macbeth’s evil intent known. King Duncan visits Macbeth’s castle in scene six, and, while he dines, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband that to hesitate in the assassination is to accept weakness. The act ends as Macbeth resolves to kill his king.
  3. Which characters are introduced?
  4. Scene one introduces the three witches, and scene two includes King Duncan, his sons Malcolm and Donalbain, the nobleman Lennox, Ross, and Angus, and a bleeding officer who relates Macbeth’s heroic exploits. Macbeth is first seen in scene three, as is the nobleman Banquo. Finally, scene five introduces the vile Lady Macbeth.
  5. What is the tone of Act I?
  6. Apparently, King James I, patron of Shakespeare, doubled the theater’s funding shortly before the appearance of Macbeth. Shakespeare, pleased with the increase in performances, wrote this play to repay James, including the king’s favorite elements such as demonology. Thus, a mysterious tone is developed throughout Act I, beginning with the witches in the first and third scenes. Prophecies are usually brief and cryptic, and the witches’ are not different. Macbeth is not sure whether or not to accept the witches’ suggestions of his impending promotions. In scene three, the witches apparently completely vanish from sight, which also adds to the puzzle. The final scene entrances the reader, who is anxious to discover whether Macbeth will choose the path of murder. Finally, at his wife’s encouragement, Macbeth decides to commit the assassination, but the Act ends before the reader discovers whether he carries out his plan.
  7. What are the predominant images?
  8. One predominant image in the first Act is that of the weather. Scene one includes the witches’ reference to "thunder," "lightning," and "rain," while Macbeth himself says "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." (Act I, Scene iii, line 38) Both of these appeal to various senses, moods, and feelings enticed by weather. In scene two, the captain uses a vivid image (of two swimmers who drown each other by clinging together) to describe an apparent deadlock in battle. Lady Macbeth uses several images in scene five, when she reveals her intent to encourage the murder of King Duncan. "That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, / And chastise with the valor of my tongue." (Act I, Scene v, lines 26-27) She also calls on spirits to thicken her blood, and enshroud her in the darkest smoke of hell. Later in the scene, she uses imagery to refer to a hoarse raven announcing the arrival of Duncan. When Banquo and King Duncan arrive at Macbeth’s castle in scene six, Banquo uses an image of a martlet to describe the atmosphere around, while the king simply describes the air by referring to its sweet recommendation.
  1. Cite examples of psychological, supernatural, and political elements.

PYSCHOLOGICAL

"Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be / What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great. / Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst / highly. / That wouldst thou holily: wouldst not play false, / And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou’dst have, great / Glamis, / That which cries "Thus thou must do" if thou have / it; / And that which rather thou dost fear to do / Than wishest should be undone. Hie the hither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, / And chastise with the valor of my tongue / All that impedes thee from the golden round / Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem / To have thee crowned withal." (I, v, 15-30)

"I am settled, and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. / Away, and mock the time with fairest show: / False face must hide what the false heart doth know." (I, vii, 79-82)

SUPERNATURAL

"The earth hath bubbles as the water has, / And these are of them. Whither are they vanished?" (I, iii, 79-90)

"Into the air, and what seemed corporal melted / As breath into the wind. Would they had stayed!" (I, iii, 81-82)

"Were such things here as we do speak about? / Or have we eaten on the insane root / That take the reason prisoner?" (I, iii, 83-85)

"This supernatural soliciting / Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, / Why hath it given me earnest of success, / Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: / If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, / Against the use of nature? Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings. / My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical / Shakes so my single state of man that function / Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is / But what is not." (I, iii, 130-142)

POLITICAL

"Sweno, the Norway’s king, craves composition; / Nor would we deign him burial of his men / Till he disbursed, at Saint Colme’s Inch, / Ten thousand dollars to our general use." (I, ii, 5962)

"No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, / And with his former title greet Macbeth." (I, ii, 63-65)

"The King hath happily received, Macbeth, / The news of thy success; and when he reads / Thy personal venture in the rebels’ fight, / His wonders and his praises do contend / Which should be thine or his." (I, iii, 89-93)

"The service and the loyalty I owe, / In doing it, pays itself. Your highness’ part / Is to receive our duties: and our duties / Are to your throne and state children and servants; / Which do but what they should, by doing every thing / Safe toward your love and honor." (I, iv, 22-27)