File

Joseph Hardin
Kathleen Beckman
AP Literature
28 April 2015
MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET
Title: Macbeth
Biographical Information about the Author
Author: William Shakespeare
Born 23 April 1564, died 23 April 1616
Date of Publication: performed 1606, published 1623
One of the most influential playwright/poets
in history, producing 38 plays and 154
Sonnets, including classics like ¨Romeo and
Juliet¨ and ¨Julius Caesar¨ and is perhaps the
most well known author in history.
Genre: Tragedy
Historical Information about the period and place of
publication – what was happening in the world the
author lived in and how might that have influenced
him?
Known to be a result of Shakespeare’s close
relationship with James IV of Scotland, who became
James I of England. King James attended all of
Shakespeare’s plays that were produced during his
reign and this one, with its reference to Banquo’s
bloodline becoming future kings (who was an ancestor
of king James), likely flattered the King to no end. The
play is based loosely on the life of the real Macbeth,
though the events differ from reality dramatically.
More recent studies have shown it to be more closely
related to the execution of Henry Garnett following
the ¨Gunpowder Plot¨ of 1605 as it syncs up well with
the time frame it was written.
Characteristics of the Genre
Depicts a ¨tragic hero¨(Macbeth) who follows
a cycle of rising and falling, and the fall is
always brought about by said hero’s own
action, which is precisely what makes it so
¨tragic¨.
Plot Summary
The protagonist, Macbeth, is given a prophecy from the three witches known as the ¨weird sisters¨ that
he will one day be king, but in not specifying how he will become king, they indirectly lead Macbeth
into murdering the current king, Duncan, and causing prince Malcolm to flee to England, leaving
Macbeth next in line for the throne. The sisters also told Macbeth’s companion, Banquo, that he shall
not be king himself, but that his offspring will; this makes Macbeth paranoid that Banquo’s son,
Fleance, will usurp him, so Macbeth attempts to murder both of them, though Fleance escapes.
Macbeth is then haunted by the ghost of Banquo and falls more and more into madness. Later,
Macbeth re-enters as a tyrant who is consulting the Weird Sisters about his future. They tell him he
should be wary of Macduff, that he has nothing to fear from anyone of woman born, and that his
throne is safe until Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane hill. Macbeth continues to be paranoid about
this, though he grows overconfident based on the last two prophecies, then comes the final tragic fault
that leads to the fall. All three prophecies come true because Malcolm’s soldiers, come to usurp
Macbeth, moved Birnam wood’s trees (a feat Macbeth had not dreamed possible which led to his
overconfidence) as cover and Macduff, who as it turns out is NOT of woman born, slays Macbeth,
bringing Malcolm to the throne and peace to the land.
Describe the author’s style
Shakespeare uses cacophony many
times in the play to give it the creepy
and evil feel that is intended for it.
Quotation
“ Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my
milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances You
wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it
makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket
of the dark, To cry ‘Hold, hold!’”
An example that demonstrates that style
“ Come to my woman’s breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry ‘Hold, hold!’”
Memorable Quotes
Significance
This depicts Lady Macbeth’s transformation as she is attempting
to discard her womanhood in favor of ruthlessness and
aggression, so that she can push Macbeth to killing Duncan.
“He’s here in double trust: First, as 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.”
Macbeth, referring to king Duncan staying in his home, is having
an internal conflict about murdering him and is contemplating
why it would be such a horrible thing for him to do. One of many
ethical dilemmas that lead to Macbeth’s eventual fall.
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this
blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand
will rather The multitudinous seas
incarnadine, Making the green one red. “
This quote shows Macbeth’s guilt eating away at him, because
his hands are eternally stained with Duncan’s blood. This guilt is
what leads him into paranoia and resulting tyrannical rule.
“Out, damned spot; out, I say. One,
two,—why, then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is
murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard?
What need we fear who knows it when none
can call our power to account? Yet who would
have thought the old man to have had so
much blood in him?”
“She should have died hereafter. There would
have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow,
and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this
petty pace from day to day To the last syllable
of recorded time. And all our yesterdays have
lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out,
out, brief candle. 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. “
This quote is Lady Macbeth’s version of the quote mentioned
before, except it is even more significant, because she is
unconscious at the time, but her psyche is broken from her
deeds, even though she is seen as the ruthless and aggressive
one in the plot.
This quote signifies Macbeth’s reaction to Lady Macbeth’s death,
which serves as his final revelation and regret for his actions
before the eventual fall to Macduff. He begins very stable and
unemotional but becomes far more pessimistic and detached as
he comes to his senses following this new turn of events.
Characters
Name
Role in the Story
Significance
Adjectives
● Macbeth
Protagonist/tragic hero
main character on which the
story is based off of and source
of the tragedy
Unsure, Guilty,
Paranoid,
Susceptible,
Ambitious
● Lady Macbeth
Co-Protagonist (but very
antagonistic at times)
Pushes Macbeth into tragic
actions and the story itself as a
result
Powerful,
Ruthless,
Ambitious,
Controlling
● Weird Sisters
Can be labelled as
Antagonist(s)
Produce the prophecy that
begins and drives the story and
lead Macbeth into tragedy
Prophetic,
Influential,
Sinister
● Duncan,
Banquo,
Malcolm,
Macduff, etc.
“Minor Characters” still
integral to the story, often
opposing Macbeth
The characters Macbeth steps
on throughout the story as he
rises to power, and those who
eventually end his reign
Noble,
Benevolent,
Victimized
Setting
Significance of opening scene
The story is set in Scotland, at a time where the great
king Duncan is in power and the protagonist, Macbeth,
is one of his trusted thanes. Macbeth receives the
prophecy mentioned above at the beginning, which
sets the story in motion, showing his rise, reign, and
fall as king.
The opening scene depicts Macbeth showing
his battle prowess and friendship with
Banquo to begin with, moving into his
intense loyalty and love for Duncan before
the prophecy, and finally the prophecy itself
and his immediate consideration of foul play.
Significance of ending/closing scene
Symbols
1. Blood: symbolizes guilt that stains
one’s hands and cannot be washed
away
2. Weather: symbolizes the tumultuous
actions of Macbeth to gain power
(worsens over time)
The ending scene, as I would see it, begins
with Lady Macbeth’s death and King
Macbeth’s reaction, which serves as his final
revelation before he goes into battle, the
next part shows Macbeth living out his
prophecies, fighting with supreme confidence
(his hubris) because he was told he may not
be slain by any of woman born, which he
believes to be all men. The following portion
contains a major plot twist: Macduff (the one
Macbeth should fear) is NOT of woman born,
but Macbeth proceeds to fight him anyways,
possibly out of guilt, seeking some sort of
redemption through death. It ends on
Macbeth’s severed head and Malcolm’s
crowning as king, which is a beautifully
grotesque ending to such a bloody tragedy.
Old AP Questions
Leave Blank for Now
Possible Themes
1. Corruption of Ambition: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth go from being kind, loyal people into
ruthless murderers because they are ambitious and want the throne more than anything.
2. Significance of Gender: Lady Macbeth especially shows this, commanding herself to cast aside
her own womanhood so that she may be more ruthless and ambitions, and many times asks
Macbeth “are you not a man?”
3. Popular Rule vs. Tyranny: Duncan is king in part because he is loved by his people and leads a
prosperous and joyous nation, but Macbeth, after many tyrannical actions, is referred to as
only being served due to loyalty to the crown and fear of persecution, resulting in a sad and
tumultuous kingdom.