Macbeth 3

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Macbeth's Changing Relationship

Macbeth seems to become more distant from his wife as the play progresses.

'Innocent of the knowledge'

'Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck' (3,2)
Macbeth says this to his wife.
Lady Macbeth was the key motivator behind the murder of King Duncan. But Macbeth doesn't even discuss his plan to kill Banquo.
Perhaps he wants to save her the suffering that he feels: 'O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!' (3,2).
It seems he has taken control and there has been a power shift in their relationship.
Macbeth is almost shown to be paranoid here.

'Scorch’d the snake'

‘We have scorch’d the snake, not killed it.’
This is what Macbeth responds when Lady Macbeth worries he is thinking a lot of bad thoughts about killing King Duncan and says: ‘what’s done, is done’.

Macbeth - Mentally Unstable

Macbeth's response to murdering Duncan, and the fact he sees supernatural visions, suggest he is mentally unstable. His obsession with murdering others reinforces this.

Illustrative background for <b>'art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?'</b> (2,1).

Illustrative background for <b>'art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?'</b> (2,1). ?? "content

'art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?' (2,1).

Throughout the play, Macbeth sees supernatural things, such as a floating dagger, Banquo's ghost and the spirits that are shown to him by the witches.
This quote reflects that it is unclear whether these visions are real or his hallucinations (ghostly images).

Illustrative background for <b>'murdered sleep'</b> (2,2)

Illustrative background for <b>'murdered sleep'</b> (2,2) ?? "content

'murdered sleep' (2,2)

After Macbeth has killed King Duncan, he believes he has 'murdered sleep' (2,2).
He seems ashamed of the blood on his hands, calling it a 'sorry sight'.
This suggests that he already feels regret over the murder. It is the last time, until the final act, that we see Macbeth kill anyone with his own hands.
Murder seems to have disturbed him.

Macbeth - Protecting the Crown

After Macbeth is crowned, he continues murdering people to protect his position. He seems to think the crown has cost him greatly, so he really doesn’t want to lose it.

Illustrative background for <b>'To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.'</b> (3,1)

Illustrative background for <b>'To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.'</b> (3,1) ?? "content

'To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.' (3,1)

This is part of Macbeth`s soliloquy (speech to himself). He talks about why he must murder Banquo to keep his crown safe.
He does not want Banquo's sons to inherit the crown because Macbeth has damned himself to get it from King Duncan and his heirs – he has worked hard to murder King Duncan and gain the crown, and does not want to give it up: 'For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; / For them, the gracious Duncan have I murdered, / Put rancours in the vessel of my peace / Only for them, and mine eternal jewel / Given to the common enemy of man' (3,1).

'eternal jewel'

This speech shows that Macbeth is struggling mentally after the murder and cannot find peace.
Shakespeare hints at his lack of sleep many times throughout the play. This might be to explain why he acts in violent ways.
The metaphor, 'eternal jewel' refers to his immortal soul. He has given his soul to the 'common enemy of man'.
This means that he believes Satan will now possess his soul after death and he is damned (condemned) to being tortured in Hell.

Illustrative background for <b>‘I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in / To saucy doubts and fears’</b> (3,4)

Illustrative background for <b>‘I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in / To saucy doubts and fears’</b> (3,4) ?? "content

‘I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in / To saucy doubts and fears’ (3,4)

This quote represents that Macbeth feels scared again, after hearing that Banquo is dead but Fleance escaped, because he has not eliminated the threat to his crown.

1Literary & Cultural Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy

1.1.2The Supernatural & Gender

1.1.3Politics & Monarchy

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

2Plot Summary

2.1Act 1

2.1.1Scenes 1 & 2

2.1.2Scene 3

2.1.3Scenes 4-5

2.1.4Scenes 6-7

2.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 1

2.2Acts 2-4

2.2.1Act 2

2.2.2Act 3

2.2.3Act 4

2.3Act 5

2.3.1Scenes 1-3

2.3.2Scenes 4-9

2.3.3End of Topic Test - Acts 2-5

2.3.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ambiguous Ending

2.3.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Jacobean

3Characters

4Themes

4.1Themes

4.1.1Power & Ambition

4.1.2Power & Ambition HyperLearning

4.1.3Violence

4.1.4The Supernatural

4.1.5Masculinity

4.1.6Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order

4.1.7Appearances & Deception

4.1.8Madness & Blood

4.1.9Women, Children & Sleep

4.1.10End of Topic Test - Themes

4.1.11End of Topic Test - Themes 2

4.2Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.2Extract Analysis

5Writer's Techniques

5.1Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony

5.1.2Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques

6Recap: Main Quotes

6.1Characters Quotes

6.1.1Macbeth

6.1.2Macbeth 2

6.1.3Macbeth 3

6.1.4Macbeth 4

6.1.5Lady Macbeth

6.1.6Lady Macbeth 2

6.1.7Banquo

6.1.8Banquo 2

6.1.9The Witches

6.1.10King Duncan

6.1.11Macduff

6.2Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Violence

6.2.2The Supernatural

6.2.3Ambition

6.2.4Armour, Kingship & the Natural Order

6.2.5Appearances & Deception

6.2.6Lady Macbeth's Masculinity

6.2.7Madness & Blood

6.2.8Men, Children & Sleep

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