Duncan orders…. Duncan demands and receives assurances that the former thane of Cawdor has been executed. When Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus…. She fears that Macbeth lacks the ruthlessness he needs…. Macbeth contemplates the reasons why it is a terrible thing to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth mocks his fears and offers…. Lady Macbeth waits anxiously for Macbeth to return from killing Duncan.
When Macbeth enters, he is horrified by what he…. A drunken porter, answering the knocking at the gate, plays the role of a devil-porter at the gates of hell…. An old man and Ross exchange accounts of recent unnatural happenings. Macduff joins them to report that Malcolm and Donalbain…. Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan in order to become king. Macbeth invites Banquo to a feast that night. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth express their unhappiness.
Macbeth speaks of his fear of Banquo especially. He refers to a…. A third man joins the two whom Macbeth has already sent to kill Banquo and Fleance. The three assassins manage…. The presentation of the witches in this scene as in 4. Lady Macbeth enters and tells her husband that the king has dined and that he has been asking for Macbeth. Macbeth declares that he no longer intends to kill Duncan.
He asks her what will happen if they fail; she promises that as long as they are bold, they will be successful.
Then she tells him her plan: while Duncan sleeps, she will give his chamberlains wine to make them drunk, and then she and Macbeth can slip in and murder Duncan. They will smear the blood of Duncan on the sleeping chamberlains to cast the guilt upon them. He then agrees to proceed with the murder. These scenes are dominated by Lady Macbeth, who is probably the most memorable character in the play. Her violent, blistering soliloquies in Act 1, scenes 5 and 7, testify to her strength of will, which completely eclipses that of her husband.
When, in Act 1, scene 7, her husband is hesitant to murder Duncan, she goads him by questioning his manhood and by implicitly comparing his willingness to carry through on his intention of killing Duncan with his ability to carry out a sexual act 1. Throughout the play, whenever Macbeth shows signs of faltering, Lady Macbeth implies that he is less than a man.
But the comment also suggests that Macbeth is thinking about his legacy. Unlike Macbeth, she seems solely concerned with immediate power. Ace your assignments with our guide to Macbeth! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Are the Witches in Macbeth real? Did Macbeth always want to be king? Read the Summary Read the Summary of Act 1, scenes 1—4.
Popular pages: Macbeth. Take a Study Break. Original Text. Modern Text. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature?
0コメント