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Act 1,

Scene 1-7

Use this tutorial for Act 1

Pre-reading Guiding Questions -

 Brief Summary -

Prior to reading the play, consider the following questions.  Keep a record of your answers as you need to refer to them later in teh course. 

 

  1. How much control do you think you have over your own future?

  2. Do you believe fate has played in a role in your current situation?

  3. Does evil exist or is evil a human creation?

  4. Is someone who has committed evil act inherently evil? 

Summary –The play opens with 3 witches talking about Macbeth. Scene 1 sets the tone for the play in that the witches, or  fates as they are,  are plotting amid two battles: one that rages on the battlefield where Macbeth is fighting and the other rages in the lightening and the thunder of the storm.  This setting acts as foreshadowing for the rest of the play.

 

In the second scene, we are introduced to Duncan, the king of Scotland, Malcom his son, and some other Noblemen who have come from battle.  They are discussing Macbeth’s great prowess on the battlefield where he has won two battles for his Duncan. For his strength, loyalty and victories in battle, Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor; a title that he is granted by the king after the first Thane was found to be a traitor.

 

We do not meet the titular character, Macbeth, until act 3 of the play.  Macbeth’s first words are “so fair and foul a day I have not seen”.  He is referring of course to the battle fought and the victories he has won but the audience has heard those words before when the witches spoke them at the end of act III. The witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo as they are returning from the battlefield. They tell Macbeth that he will be named Thane of Cawdor, and later, king.  They tell Banquo that he will never be king but he will be the father of kings.  The witches disappear and Angus and Ross, two of the king’s noblemen come enter and tell Macbeth that Cawdor is being executed for treason and Macbeth has won his title. Macbeth, realizing that the witches prophesized this, begins to ponder how he can become king and make the second prophesy come true. Immediately Macbeth begin to plot the King’s murder, a concept which causes Macbeth great inner turmoil, a theme that becomes constant within the play.

 

To reward his noblemen after the battle, Duncan gathers everyone and begins giving titles.  He names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor and his son Malcolm as the new heir to the thrown.  Macbeth sees this as a challenge to the prophesy and so once again begins to plot murder in order to gain the title of king.  He offers Duncan a room in his castles and throws a feast in his honour.

 

In Scene V we are introduced to Lady Macbeth as she reads a letter from her husband about his encounter with the witches.  Upon reading his letter she knows that Macbeth does not have the strength needed to kill Duncan and so resolves to persuade him to do so.  When she hears that Macbeth is bringing the King to sleep and dine in their castle, she asks that the spirits “unsex her” and take away those feminine emotions that would prevent her from commit the acts that she must in order to make Macbeth king.

Themes and Important Quotes - 

Foreshadowing: Three witches meet in the middle of two raging: the storm (Natures Battle) and the battle that Macbeth is fighting in for his king.  How does this affect the mood of the play?

 

The witches exit saying “Fair is foul and foul is fair” (1.1.12)". Macbeth’s first words in the play echo this directly. What might this tell us about the role of fate in the play? What can the audience predict here?

 

Character Development: In Scene 2 we hear news of Macbeth’s prowess on the battlefield as he swayed the tide of battle in favour of his King, Duncan.  Hey is referred to as “Bellona’s Bridegroom” in I.2.61 by Ross during the battle against the invading Norwegians. We learn that he has fought and won two battles that pushed Duncan’s Army to victory.

 

We are told, in Lady Macbeth’s reading of her husband's letter in 1.v. 17-19 that she deems Macbeth to be too soft to do what is necessary to become king. She says:

 

“yet do I fear thy nature;   

 It is too full o' the milk of human kindness    

 To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;”

 

Irony –Duncan’s brief speech (1.iv. 12-13) about the former Thane of Cawdor who has just been executed, he speaks about the great trust he had in hi and the pain he suffered because of his betrayal. The irony exists because Macbeth, who is the new Thane, is Duncan’s ultimate betrayer.

 

The Devine Right of Kings –During the period in which Macbeth is set, as well as in Shakespeare's England, it was believed that kings were appointed by divine right (appointed by God). Macbeth wants to become king in divine right but by murdering Duncan, he will forfeit that right and thus the act is even more “evil” because it goes against the will of God.

 

In Act 1.vii. 18-24, Macbeth describes what will happen if Duncan dies.  He says:

“…that his virtues   

            Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

            The deep damnation of his taking-off;         

            And pity, like a naked new-born babe,  

            Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed        

            Upon the sightless couriers of the air,  

            Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

            That tears shall drown the wind.”

 

This denotes moreover, Duncan’s divine right to the throne by suggesting that hte heavens will be greatly saddened by horrific crime he is about to comit.  Macbeth is sinning against God if he murders Duncan.

 

Good vs. Evil: In this act we observe Macbeth struggle with "evil" but Evil is taking many forms.  Consider how other characters and/or elements are contributing to this inner struggle. This theme of good vs. evil is refelected in several lines in the play. For example in Act I.i.11 when the witches all say "Fair is foul, and foul is fair", and again when this phrase is reiterated in Act I.iii.30 when upon entering the scene, Macbeth states "So fair and fould a day I have not seen".  There are other examples of a sort of duality of nature in the titular character of Macbeth himself who is praised in Scene ii for his relentlessness on the battle field but who is deemed by his wife to be "...too full o' the milk of human kindness" (Act I.v.19).

Mini Assignment - 

Create a meme that you feel explains one or more of the themes and/or events that you have encountered in the play up to this point.  Make sure you read the success criteria to ensure you are meeting the requirements of the meme. Post your meme assignment to the Padlet drop box below.

Success Criteria -

Based on “9 Universal Principles of Viral Media Sites”

  • The meme uses image and text

  • The meme reflects a simple presentation of the selected content

  • The meme accurately summarizes the theme(s)/event(s)

  • The meme should evoke a response from the viewer

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

Act 1 Submission Padlet

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

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