In Act 1, Sc. 3 the witches discuss their spiteful treatment of a sea-captain ad are distinctive as soon as they start talking and the audience know that they are of an importance because they are on their own in the scene. The witches are somehow awaiting the arrival of Macbeth before he actually comes. From the opening scene Shakespeare creates ambiguity and an air of mystery with the witches by using rhythm rhyme to set them aside from the other character. In the first scene the audience are given evidence that the witches do have hidden supernatural powers, this is shown when they chant,
‘fair is foul and foul is fair’
They are implying that good is evil therefore evil is good. This language and the witches’ perception would confuse Macbeth. More proof of the witches’ immortality is shown when they say;
‘When the battle is lost and won’
The audience are not yet aware of what the witches’ intend to mean by this until later on in the play when their predictions come true as Macbeth kills Macdonwald in the battle meaning that Macbeth and Banquo has won the battle for Scotland. Here the witches’ true powers are indemnified. If they did not have these powers they would never have been able to predict the outcome of the battle.
All the scene’s that include the three witches contain some importance, Shakespeare tries to make each scene they appear in, interesting so to keep the audiences attention through the play. It is the scene’s that contain the witches that the audience would have been waiting for as that is when most dramatical events occur.
In Act 1, Sc. 1 (the first scene) it is very short, but full of impact. The thunder and lightning alone give it a dramatic opening, which grabs the interest of the audience, as it is representative of evil. These dramatic sound effects help to set the eerie and supernatural atmosphere that Shakespeare wanted to create along with the witches. Instead of seeing Macbeth, Shakespeare’s audience is faced with three weird-looking women. The witches introduce us to a dark, dangerous play, in which the theme of evil is central. The witches say little but we learn a lot about them.
The mood of the play is set here, although the action doesn’t start until the next scene. The presence of supernatural forces in the opening of ‘Macbeth’ provides for much of the play’s dramatic tension and the mounting suspense. ‘When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or rain?’ This is the opening line. It immediately draws the audience and captures their imagination, as the supernatural world fascinated people in Elizabethan England. At the time the play was first performed and at the time that Shakespeare was writing it, witchcraft was a great enemy, people became captivated by these peculiar, suspicious witches. Witch – hunts took place and many people were convicted of being witches and were executed. The witches fit in with the stereotypical perception of witches of that time, including use of familiars like Graymalkin and Paddock.
The use of the paranormal occurs at the beginning, with three witches explaining that they will meet Macbeth. ‘When the battle’s lost and won.’ The audience have yet to find out what the battle is, however they know that the battle is won by one side and lost by another. Macbeth’s fate is that he will win the battle, but will lose the battle for his soul. We have come in at the end of the witches meeting, just as they are arranging their next appointment before their familiar spirits call them into the fog and filthy air.
From the beginning we can tell that the witches can foretell the future, and are creating some unpleasant magic, which is to involve Macbeth. This creates suspense for the audience, wandering what is going to happen next. The fact that the witches want to meet Macbeth should raise some suspicion in the audience. The witches first mention Macbeth in the eighth line, when they explain that they will meet Macbeth upon the heath. This shows the audience that the witches must know of Macbeth and leaves them assuming that Macbeth will be greatly influenced and affected by these three witches throughout the play.
Perhaps the most chilling part of the opening, is when the witches overturn the values in which we believe: ‘ Fair is foul, and foul is fair’, this basically seems like a warning that things are not what they appear to be, as if they are referring to people, explaining that not everybody should be trusted. This adds to our fear about what will happen to Macbeth.
In Macbeth the witch’s lines are extremely short and cryptic, this adds and indicates tension and excitement. The whole section is written in rhyme, with short seven or eight syllable lines, which are suggestive of a chant. The fact that Shakespeare uses very short lines and varies the rhythm in a number of ways helps to interest the audience. It is obvious to them that the witches are chanting a magical spell throughout their brief encounter. This creates a bleak and mystical atmosphere, together with suspicion as to why they are using their magical powers.
The language reflects on the fact that Macbeth is a dark play about evil, death, murder and ambition. The witch’s language manages to reveal their personalities as sinister, mysterious and untrustworthy.
Although the first scene is exceptionally short, it manages to tell the audience that the witches will meet again, ‘When the hurlyburly’s done’, after the battle, on a heath, and there they will confront Macbeth.
In Act One Scene Three the audience also learn how the witches will affect Macbeth’s life as they tell the story of another man (a sea captain) who died due to them. When the witches’ say who is destined to be King there is a crossover between the supernatural’s fault and Macbeth. Macbeth is in disbelief to what the witches are predicting. When they start talking about titles it is that that triggers Macbeth’s greed. The witches go out of their way to cause him harm. This scene is emphasised by Shakespeare using a classic rhythm and rhyme spell, thunder and other elements to create an impact and show that this scene is important.
Act Two, Sc. Two has to be the most violent and intense part of the play although we do no actually witness the murder of King Duncan. It is interesting that Shakespeare chooses to have Macbeth kill Duncan offstage. We can only guess why he wrote the scene that way, I think that Shakespeare wanted to focus not on the murder but on Macbeth’s reaction to it; the bloody details supplied by the audiences imaginations will be much worse than anything that could be done onstage. It is also the most crucial part of the play; it is the first of many murders. This scene takes place at night; I feel the darkness represents what is unnatural, cruel and evil. Everything that happens within the play appears to revolve around this particular scene. Not only is this important because it contains the murderous act, it also conveys to the audience the rapid disintegration of the relationship between the two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
In Act 2, Scene 2, the murder of Duncan takes place. The audience should be on the edge of their seats by now, wondering if Macbeth will actually have the nerve to murder his king.
The tension increases dramatically when we see Lady Macbeth pacing about in a nervous but excited state, awaiting Macbeth’s return increases the tension dramatically. We get a peek at Lady Macbeth’s softer side. She says that she would have killed Duncan herself, but the old man looked too much like her father. This small reminder of Lady Macbeth’s humanity will be important to our understanding of what happens to her at the end of the play.
As she waits she decides that she heard a screech owl, and she takes that as a good omen, because the screech owl is nature’s own ‘fatal bellman’. A ‘fatal bellman’ would emphasize the idea of death/ execution in the audience’s minds, which makes it all the more eerie, ‘He’s at it’. This particular part of this scene has to be the climax of the play. When Macbeth and his wife are re-united they are both highly charged with nervous energy and excitement. Macbeth and his wife at first do not speak in sentences. Their speech is syncopated and highly charged emotions tell the audience all is not well. The fact that Macbeth still has hold of the daggers intensifies the tension felt in the scene. His hands would be covered in blood, which would make the drama explosive. Macbeth however, describes the horrors of the murder and cannot seem to believe he has committed such an evil crime, ‘This is a sorry sight’.
Thoughts of the murder plague his mind. He appears transfixed and very troubled by his deeds. Whilst Lady Macbeth in a way mocks him, she remains steadfast and tells him to ‘Go get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand’. Macbeth does not agree with her. He knows he will never be cleansed of this vile deed. Macbeth says, ‘Not all great Neptune’s ocean can wash then clean’. Lady Macbeth mocks her husband for dwelling upon the murderous act.
Macbeth and his wife seem to lose their rapport; Shakespeare makes it obvious to the audience that Macbeth has the weaker spirit and that the relationship is rapidly falling apart. He shows this via the nervous ramblings of Macbeth, he appears to have lost all insight, whereas Lady Macbeth appears to have become more evil, calculating and in control. Tension is increased by the thought of the words heard by Macbeth, whilst committing the murder, ‘Glamis hath murther’d sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more’. Is this yet another of the witches prophesies?
The tension is increased yet again by the loud knocking on the door. Macbeth in his highly anxious state knows now, weather is crime is found out or not, he will never be cleansed of this murderous act. He says, ‘Not all great Neptune’s ocean can wash them clean’. A midst all this tension, Lady Macbeth keeps her head. In her highly nervous state, she is aware that it is still possible; that their evil acts may be discovered. Lady Macbeth returns the bloodstained daggers to Duncan’s grooms. Shakespeare makes the audience aware of how much more confident than Macbeth she is by taking control of the situation. Macbeth is still in turmoil after the murder of Duncan.
Shakespeare makes it known that the relationship between Macbeth and his wife is beginning to disintegrate almost immediately. Macbeth appears to be losing his mind, whilst Lady Macbeth remains evil, cold, calculating and in control.
The repetition of knocks increases the tension more so, Lady Macbeth appears agitated and ushers her disturbed husband to his chamber, where they can rid themselves of the signs of their horrific acts.
Shakespeare’s use of language and structure manages to create tension right up to the murder of King Duncan. He manages to gradually build it up and then release it a little, and then increase it until finally the act of regicide takes place. His use of dramatic irony, the supernatural and indecision all combine to keep the audience on the edge of their seats throughout these scenes. His use of the right language in the right places helps the characters and the play to become really believable.
Throughout the play, the supernatural plays a major role. A wise choice by Shakespeare at the time and it still works today
In Act Three Scene Five the stage directions are quite similar to before to show the audience the basic plot of the scene. The spell/curse, which the witches are chanting show the witches true power and that they are a force not to be reckoned with.
Later in the play, when Macbeth returns to the witches for consultation due to his noticeable change in character and hallucinations he asks the witches questions. Despite the face he asks he doesn’t get an adequate answer. They say, ‘speak, demand, we’ll answer’ yet they don’t. They use apparitions to mess with his mind and confuse him, creating powerful images so that he cannot argue with what they are predicting. The witches use image because the know Macbeth won’t know as well as them. Macbeth is then left once again to work out what these apparitions mean. He went to them in the first place because he could not cope with his feelings and conscience and he needed to know what he should do next.
The audience reactions are very important, we don’t believe in the apparitions therefore we feel Macbeth will be safe as, in our opinion, the trees from Birnam wood cannot move.
In Act Three Scene Four Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at the table. This ghost is put in by Shakespeare to convince the audience that the supernatural is still working and to let them know that he is losing his mind.
The play is based around imagery of appearance and reality and is at least partly based on the ideas of deception. Examples of imagery here include Lady Macbeth's advice to Macbeth, "look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't" (Act One,Sc.Five) and Macbeth's words, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know." In Act Three, Sc. Two, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they are,
"Unsafe the while that we Must have our honours in these flattering streams, And make our faces wizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are." In Act One, Sc. Three, when he has been told that he is now Thane of Cawdor, he comments, "nothing is but what is not.
"After the murder of Duncan, Malcolm whispers to Donalbain, "To show as unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy." (Act Two, Sc. Three) In the following scene Ross tells the Old Man of the strange upset in Nature, "...by the clock 'tis day And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp (i.e. the sun)." In the Ghost scene (Act Three, Sc. Four) Lady Macbeth points out to Macbeth that this Ghost (which she cannot see) is the "very painting of your fear" and "O, these flaws and starts" are just "Impostors of true fear." In Act Four, Sc. Three Malcolm observes to MacDuff, "Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell." He is pointing out that, although people may appear to be virtuous, they may in reality be vicious.
There is also shadow imagery when Macbeth hears of the death of Lady Macbeth, (Act Five, Sc. Six), Macbeth uses the image of the shadow to describe life. A shadow is an imitation of reality and he possibly means that he has been cheated by a life that promised so much. These are just a few examples of this imagery, which is often associated with dramatic irony. In fact this type of imagery is in itself ironical.
Imagery of manliness is also brought into the play at Act One, Sc. Seven, Lady Macbeth, in an effort to persuade him to murder Duncan, urges him, "Screw your courage to the sticking place" thereby implying that he is lacking in courage. After the murder she accuses him of having a white heart. When trying to persuade the Murderer's to kill Banquo, Macbeth uses the imagery of manliness to win them over (Act Three, Sc. One).
One of the most important uses of imagery in this play is the imagery of light and darkness. This imagery is clearly related to the conflict between Good and Evil. It is associated with symbolism because in the play light represents Good and darkness, Evil. The Witches, who also symbolise Evil, set their meeting for the "set of sun" (Act One, Sc. One). Later, in Act Four, Sc. One, Macbeth refers to them as "black and midnight hags". Banquo warns Macbeth against believing the words of the Witches, "The instruments of darkness" (Act One, Sc. Three) In nominating Malcolm as his successor (Act One, Sc. Four), Duncan equates nobleness with the stars and, almost immediately Macbeth, in an 'aside', calls on the stars to hide their fires so that light will not see his "black and deep desires". Again in Act One, Sc. Five, Lady Macbeth calls on "thick night" to wrap itself in a blanket of darkness so that she might not be seen in the act of murder. Before the murder of Banquo, Macbeth calls on the "seeling night" to "Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day" (Act Three, Sc. Two). He says, too, "Good things of the day begin to droop and drowse While night's black agents to their prey do rouse." In Act Two, Sc. One Banquo tells Fleance, "there is husbandry in heaven, Their candles are all out." This suggests that Lady Macbeth's and her husband's call to darkness has been answered, that darkness covers their evil deeds. After Duncan's murder Ross asks the Old Man why "darkness does the face of earth entomb, When living light should kiss it." This may imply that Evil temporarily dominates Good. Macbeth, in Act Five, Sc. Five, speaks of light as a "brief candle" and of life as "a walking shadow", and admits, "I gin to be aweary of the sun". This may be a reflection of his awareness that Good (the sun) is gaining the upperhand in its struggle with Evil. This imagery is not strikingly new, but it is consistently used in the play and aptly emphasises the Theme of Good versus Evil.
All these events are caused by Macbeth’s vaulting ambition. His strive for power affects every aspect of his life, and this motivation eventually leads to his death. Many different factors play a pivotal role in deciding his ill-fated future. With his wife’s cajoling, and the three witches’ foretelling of his future Macbeth, will stop at nothing to gain position as King of Scotland.
However they would not have been cause if it hadn’t have been for Lady Macbeth. The relationship between these two people is important right the way through the play. In the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth shows us that she is supportive to Macbeth. When deliberating the plans surrounding King Duncan's murder she says to Macbeth 'Leave all the rest to me'. Lady Macbeth also regards her husband as ‘too full o'th'milk of human kindness'. She is claiming that her husband is very kind and a worthy gentleman. Macbeth uses affectionate words to Lady Macbeth at the beginning of the play, 'my dearest love'. These statements show that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth dote on each other at the beginning of the play, although this does change as the play progresses. Lady Macbeth knows that her husband's kindness makes him weak and susceptible to guilt that could prevent the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth begins to manipulate Macbeth and challenges his feelings of guilt and pity for King Duncan and replaces them with malicious and spiteful feelings: 'look like th'innocent flower, but be the serpent under't’. Lady Macbeth now instructs Macbeth on how he should act, encouraging him to be deceitful to King Duncan, his loyal and trusting leader. Macbeth becomes so absorbed in his mixed feelings about the murder that he withdraws from the loving relationship that he had with Lady Macbeth in the beginning of the play. 'First, I am his Kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself’. This quote from act 1 scene 7 shows how Macbeth is in conflict with what Lady Macbeth is instructing and his loyal personality is urging him not to fulfil the 'horrid deed'. Towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth is overcome by guilt and becomes patently mad. She hallucinates 'out damned spot! Out, I say!' Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and is speaking to herself; she can see blood and tries to wash it off but nothing will make the blood disappear. I think the blood represents the guilt she feels because of the realisation of her plot to kill King Duncan. Macbeth is still trying to come to terms with his relentless remorse because of his involvement in the killings of King Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macduff and her children. Macbeth doesn't see Lady Macbeth's suffering.
Lady Macbeth does, however see Macbeth's emotional anguish when they are holding a party. Macbeth sees an apparition of Banquo, his trusty and loyal friend who he ordered to be killed. Macbeth starts to rave at Banquo's apparent ghost 'Prithee, see there! Behold, look, lo! How say you!' Lady Macbeth then tries to excuse her husband’s behaviour to all the guests, 'think of this, good peers, but as thing of custom. 'Tis no other, it only spoils the pleasure of the time.' Lady Macbeth is not necessarily worried about Macbeth and his mental state because of her love for him, she is merely worried about her husband exposing the secret that only her and Macbeth know about, killing King Duncan. After Macbeth's outburst she shows feelings of embarrassment and being ashamed of her husband's behaviour as he was showing that he was weak and not worthy of becoming King. 'You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting with most admired disorder'. This comment was to humiliate Macbeth and make him feel ashamed and guilty of his lack of self-control.
Lady Macbeth is the central character in the play; she provides a mortal link between the unnatural realm of the witches and reality. In the letter, that Macbeth wrote he addressed her as, 'my dearest partner of greatness,' possibly an indication of the influence Lady Macbeth already exerts on his life. Lady Macbeth appears to become the corporeal catalyst for the predictions, the witches may plant the seeds of dreams, desire and destiny but it is the unstinting allegiance of the single-minded Lady that finally cajoles Macbeth into committing an act of regicide.
Lady Macbeth is a woman of single purpose. On receiving word from Macbeth of his great success and his subsequent meeting with the, 'weird sisters,' their prophecy and its partial fulfilment, her mind is instantly engaged by murderous ambition. She is also aware that her husband, despite his heroic exploits on the battlefield, 'is too full o'th'milk of human kindness,' to exploit the situation. Macbeth has already dismissed the thought of claiming the crown by perfidious means, 'If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me Without my stir.' However the impending visit of Duncan offers the Lady the perfect opportunity, 'To catch the nearest way,' to dispose of Duncan. The Lady thinks of nothing but success and is perhaps already aware of the spiritual importance of her role as she urges Macbeth's swift return, 'Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear.' Lady Macbeth is determined to galvanize her weak willed husband into claiming, that which is offered.
She is prepared to sacrifice everything, even her femininity, to fuel her murderous intent. The Lady pays little thought to future repercussions, as she invokes the spirits to assist her. She wishes for the inner strength of man as she invites the spirits to, 'unsex me here,' removing her feminine guile, so she may be possessed with man's ability to perpetrate evil.
'Stop up th'access and passage to remorse
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose nor keep peace between
Th'effect and it. Come to my woman's breasts
And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,'
The Lady becomes the dominant force in the partnership, as she schools Macbeth in the art of deceit, she warns him to hide any thought of their deadly intentions.
'Your face my thane, is as a book where men
May read strange matters. To beguile the time
Look like the time, bear welcome in your eye,’
Her purpose is clear; as she implores Macbeth to, 'put The night's great business into my despatch.' She shows no compunction as she endeavours to bring about what she now desires, urging him, 'Leave the rest to me.'
As she feared, Macbeth's resolve begins to weakens as he protests, 'We will proceed no further in this business,' Lady Macbeth berates her husband for his lack of conviction, she questions his love for her; she mocks him, saying that he is less than a man, accusing him of being drunk and a coward. She speaks of a smiling babe she once nursed and how she would have, 'dashed the brains out, had I so sworn.' Her loyalty to him is unfaltering as he procrastinates.