Macbeth: Pg. 227 #1, 4, 5

1. To what specific incidents does Lady Macbeth refer in her sleep? Which incident has affected her the most, and why do you think it has done so? Why is it appropriate that Lady Macbeth suffers from a sleep disorder?

• First Lady Macbeth refers to the killing of King Duncan in lines 32-33, "Yet  who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" Lady Macbeth also refers to the killing of all the people in Macduff's castle, particularly Macduff's wife (Lines 36-37: "The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more o'that, my lord, no more o' that; you mar all with this starting.") Lady Macbeth also refers to the killing of Banquo (Lines 52-54: "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.") 
• I think the killing of King Duncan bothers Lady Macbeth the most. I think this is so because it was the first murder that was committed. Lady Macbeth also helped out a lot and this is the incident that she got blood on her hands. She encouraged her husband to kill King Duncan and now she sees the course of the effects. Her conscience won't let her forget from what event stemmed all the other murders. If she hadn't encouraged Macbeth to kill King Duncan as much as she did, things could have turned out differently for Lady Macbeth and Macbeth.
• It is appropriate that Lady Macbeth suffers a sleep disorder because she is plagued by the guilty conscience she carries around with her everywhere. Even in her sleep it gets to her and will not let her relax. A guilty conscience is not gotten rid of easily. At night it probably effects her even more because it is dark and also spooky at night, Lady Macbeth is probably scared of what she cannot see; which could be apparitions of her past deeds.

4. What reaction does Macbeth display in Scene v, lines 17-28, when he learns of his wife's death? What has been ultimately responsible for his disillusionment with life? What visual imagery in this speech do you consider especially vivid?

• Macbeth's reaction to his wife's death is not really one of surprise. He sounds like he expected it to happen very soon.
• I think that the weird sister's prophesies about Macbeth becoming king caused him to have a disillusioned view of life. Before the prophesies Macbeth was just another soldier about to be honored by the king. He had no desire to be king or to kill anyone for the sake of power and title. After the prophesies however, Macbeth had a burning desire within him to be king. He believed that the weird sister's prophesies would come true, no matter what the cost. After being king, Macbeth thought that all in his life would be okay. He thought that he would live out a satisfying life as ruler and king without anything to worry about. Macbeth could also be disillusioned though because his wife ended up killing herself, no matter how many times she said that the murders would be fine and that it would not affect them after. The one who encouraged him and pushed him to make those decisions has now killed herself over her guilt. 
• I think that lines 24-28 are especially vivid, it says, "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. How does the structure of Act V serve to bring together the country's outer turmoil and Macbeth's inner turmoil? Also, how does this closing speech bring the play to a satisfactory conclusion?

• The structure of Act V goes from Lady Macbeth's inner turmoil, which will affect Macbeth's inner turmoil, to the country's outer turmoil and the preparation for war, to Macbeth's inner turmoil as he is becoming worried of an attack, to more preparation for the war and the idea that the soldiers should disguise themselves as trees, to Macbeth learning about the Queen's death, to the attack of soldiers on Macbeth's castle, to Macbeth panicking about all the soldiers and then meeting Macduff where they begin this long conversation and it ultimately ends up in Macbeth dying. The structure of Act V is done just so that as the turmoil within Macbeth is growing, the turmoil within the country is going until war breaks out and Macbeth is finally killed.
• The closing is wonderfully written and it closes up the question as to what happens to the war heroes after, it also says that those who ran from the tyranny of Macbeth will be welcomed home again, and it also says that whatever else needs be done will be done at the right time and in the right place. It ends with a thanks to the audience and the announcement that the people in the play will be crowned at Scone.

Macbeth: Questions pg. 263 #1,2,3,5

1. How does Macbeth show his desperation in his encounter with the witches in Scene i? Why does Macbeth fail to recognize the duplicity in the apparitions' statements? How does he plan to "make assurance double sure" in regard to Macduff?

• He tells them that he is willing to give up his whole future for only a temporary fulfillment of his evil desires. In lines 58-61 Macbeth says, "though the treasure of nature's germens tumble all together, even till destruction sicken; answer me to what I ask you." 
• He fails to recognize the duplicity in the apparitions' statements because he is too focused on figuring out if Macduff will ever defeat him.
• He plans to "make assurance double sure" by going to Macduff's castle and surprise the Fief. In Lines 150-154 Macbeth says, "The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; this deed I'll do before the purpose cool."

2. Discuss the abrupt change in tone introduced by the word yet in Scene i, line 100. How do you account for this change? Why is Macbeth discouraged by the show of eight kings?

• Macbeth believes that he will live not be killed and that he will live out the normal span of his life until he dies of time and old age. However, when he says yet Macbeth is still worried that Banquo's heirs shall kill him and inherit the kingdom. After Macbeth says yet he seems to be worried about his future and the possibility that he will not live out his life as long as he would like to.
• Macbeth doesn't want to believe that an heir from Banquo can kill him but the weird sisters did prophesy that Banquo's heirs would take over the throne. Macbeth is worried that sometime soon the weird sister's prophesy about Banquo's heirs will come true.
• The eight kings represent Banquo's heirs and the continuing lineage of those descendants of Banquo. Macbeth is discouraged at the sight of this because the apparitions do not show a line stemming from Macbeth. Which means that one of Banquo's heirs will take over the throne and defeat Macbeth.

3. How does Macbeth's speech in lines 144-56 of Scene i reveal the further moral deterioration of Macbeth? In what way does his motivation for Macduff's murder differ from this motivation for the first two murders? 

• In lines 144-156 of Scene i, Macbeth is plotting to got to Macduff's castle and kill his whole family and anyone else there. To Macbeth this seems like a logical thing to do because it will prevent any of Macduff's heirs from taking the throne away from him. This shows the horrible moral deterioration of Macbeth, to kill someone's family and all the people in their castle is a very wrongful thing to do. 
• Macbeth's motivation in this murder differs in that he wants anyone that might destroy him, or oppose him, or know the truth about his actions dead. Macbeth does not seek out the advice of Lady Macbeth for this murder, instead he decides on his own. In the previous murders he needed the reassurance and guidance from Lady Macbeth to push him to do the evil deeds. Now Macbeth's morals are so far gone that he is able to do these things of his own decisions.

5. In Scene iii what vices does Malcolm falsely attribute to himself? What virtues does he say he lacks? According to lines 130-31 what in actuality is Malcolm's first lie? Why do you think he speaks of himself in such a derogatory manner? Do you feel that Macduff had a sufficient motive for leaving his family to go to England?

• Malcolm attributes false vices to himself about lust for power, desiring of other people's things/land, greediness, and the very evil things that he would do if he were King. In lines 61-65 Malcom says, "Your wives, your daughters, your matrons, and your maids could not fill up the cistern of my lust, and my desire all continent impediments would o'erbear that did oppose my will." In lines 78-84 he says, "A staunchless avarice that, were I king, I should cut off the nobles for their lands, desire his jewels, and this other's house, and my more-having would be as a sauce to make me hunger more, that I should forge quarrels unjust against the good and loyal, destroying them for wealth."
• Malcolm says in lines 91-97, "But I have none. The king-becoming graces, as justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them, but about in the division of each several crime, acting it in many ways."
• I think that Malcolm speaks of himself in such a derogatory manner because he is trying to test Macduff's loyalties. He is naming all his faults and shortcomings that would make him seem like an even worse king than Macbeth. Malcolm has a good reason to be doing this since there have now been three murders and it is hard for him to tell who is on who's side. 
• I think Macduff did have a sufficient motive for leaving his family to go to England, however I do think that he should have provided a way for his family to be protected if harm should come their way, which it did. 

Macbeth: Questions pg. 246-247 #2 and 4

2. Why do you think Macbeth sends the Third Murderer to help kill Banquo and Fleance? In what way do the murderers fail, and how significant do you think the failure is? In Scene iv, line 28, to whom does the word worm refer, and what implication does Macbeth make by using the term?

• I think Macbeth sends the Third Murderer just to make sure that nothing goes wrong (act as a back up) and that both Banquo and Fleance are killed. 
• They fail to kill Fleance. I think this is very significant because Fleance is Banquo's son. The prophesy of the three witches said that the crown would not go to Banquo himself but to his heirs. Fleance is the heir of Banquo and so failure to kill Fleance still means that the prophesy can be fulfilled.
• The word worm refers to Fleance and the implication Macbeth makes by using this term is that Fleance is still young, but he can become a huge threat to Macbeth in the future if Macbeth does not do something about Fleance now. 

4. What does Macbeth mean in Scene iv, line 121, when he says, "Blood will have blood"? Find another example of Macbeth's statement of this idea in his opening soliloquy in Act I, Scene vii. Why does Macbeth feel that he must speak to the witches again? Do you consider his assessment of his situation in Scene iv, lines 135-37, a valid motive for his continuation of evil?

• By saying "Blood will have blood," Macbeth is insinuating that one death will eventually lead up to another. It is a cycle and once one killing has taken place, there will be another. It could also relate to the idea of vengeance. That the "blood" being the person killed will have "blood" being revenge on the one who killed that person.
• Act I, Scene vii, Lines 8-10
• "We still have judgement here, that we but teach
• Bloody instructions, which being taught, return
• To plague th' inventor..."
• Macbeth feels that he needs to speak to the witches again in order to know what bad things are waiting for him in the future. 
• No I do not consider Macbeth's assessment of his situation in Scene iv to be a valid motive for his continuation of evil. Macbeth has dug himself a very large hole and he believes there is no other option but to keep digging. He believes that he should act on the impulses within his head before he can study their consequences fully. This is not a valid motive because he could make a change and stop being evil, yet he chooses to continue with his evil deeds. There is no valid motive for a continuation of evil.

Macbeth: Questions pg. 229-230 #2,4, and 5

2. In his soliloquy in Scene I, why does Macbeth call the dagger a “fatal vision”? In what way is the description ironic? What does the soliloquy reveal about Macbeth’s state of mind?

• The  dagger came to Macbeth in a vision and it is haunting him. The vision of the dagger represents his conscience and the guilt that he feels about what he is about to do, which is killing King Duncan. 
• It is ironic because Macbeth has this whole vision about the dagger and he is lamenting his decision to kill the king, yet he still goes on with the plan to kill the king. 
• The soliloquy reveals that Macbeth is at a very unstable mindset. He is pressured by his conscience to do what is right. But he is also pressured by Lady Macbeth and the three witches to fulfill his “destiny.” Macbeth does not know who to listen to and this causes him to make rash decisions under pressure.

4. How do the Macbeths’ reactions to the subject of bloody hands differ? With whose opinion do you agree? Of what do you think the blood and water are symbolic?

• Macbeth is afraid of the bloody hands, he does not want to see the blood on his hands. Seeing the blood reminds Macbeth of the evil deed that he just carried out. Lady Macbeth however is not afraid of the blood. She simply says that all they need to do is wash it from their hands and everything will be okay. 
• I agree with Macbeth’s opinion, because the memory of killing someone does not just go away with the washing of hands. It will stick with you for the rest of your life. It’s not something that you can get away from. 
• The blood and water are probably symbolic of Pontius Pilate and how he washed his hands of Jesus’ death on the cross.

5. What does Donalbain mean when he tells Malcolm in line 125 of Scene iii, “There’s daggers in men’s smiles”? What lines in Act 1 also present this theme of dissimulation? (two different specific areas)

• Donalbain means that even though a man might smile, he could have ulterior motives. A smile conceals a person’s true thoughts or ideas. 
• Lines 48-35
• Macbeth: 
• (Aside.) The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
• On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, 
• For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires,
• Let not light see my black and deep desires;
• The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
• Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
• Lines 80-82
• Macbeth:
• 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.

Macbeth: Questions pg. 118 #1 and 5

1. How do the witches effectively introduce the play? What do you think they represent? What paradoxical statement made by the witches in the first scene does Macbeth reiterate in the third scene when he first meets the witches? How do Banquo's words in lines 122-26 in Scene iii support your ideas on the witches' function?

• I think the witches effectively introduce the play by coming up with a place to meet again later where they will also meet Macbeth. This gives a little bit of foreshadowing as to what is going to happen in later scenes. 
• I think the witches represent The Fates. They were three mythical goddesses from Greek Mythology. According to Greek Mythology, The Fates are known for having the power to decide a man's destiny. 
• Witches: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" Macbeth: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen."
• Banquo says in line 123, "to win us to our harm." This made me think of how the three witches try to put ideas into Macbeth's mind in order to make him want to do something that will ultimately harm him. Banquo also says in line 124, "The instruments of darkness tell us truths." This made me think of how the three witches relate to The Fates, who when I think of them, are more on the dark side. The Fates also tell the truth of what is going to happen in the future. In lines 125-126 Banquo says, "Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's in deepest consequence." The three witches are trying to get Macbeth to believe what they are telling him and cause him to want to do something wrong which will end up causing lots of consequences.

5. What misgivings does Macbeth reveal in his soliloquy at the beginning of Scene vii? How does Lady Macbeth convince him that he should lay aside his fears and proceed with the murder, and how does he react to the plan she reveals? Do you think that her influence is greater than that of the witches?

• Macbeth is having lots of second thoughts about going through with the murder of King Duncan.
• Lady Macbeth convinces him by telling Macbeth that they will get the officers drunk and blame the murder of King Duncan on them, and none would be the wiser. Macbeth agrees to the plan but says he will need to gather up every ounce of strength to continue on with it.
• Yes, I think that Lady Macbeth's influence is greater than the witches.