MR+AngieK

Macbeth Reflections Reflection 1.3

Characters

Witches: In this section of the play the witches appear quite often. They are portrayed as deformed and seductive. They plot mischief against the other characters with prophecies. Especially when they tell Macbeth about his prophecies. Also their appearance is very unique as they have ragged clothing, skinny lips, but they also have beards.

Macbeth: From this section we find out that Macbeth was the thane of Glamis, and now a thane of Cawdor, and is probably soon to be King. This is told by the three witches. Witches seem to know his future.

Banquo: Banquo seems friendly and royal to his friend, Macbeth. In this section we are told that his descendents will be kings but not him. According to the Withches, Banquo is “lesser than Macbeth, and greater”

Angus: There weren’t many descriptions of Angus in this section. We can see that he is another thane from Cawdor.. He comes to Macbeth to deliver message from the king.

Ross: Ross is also a messenger of the King. It seems that he is quite close with the king, since he has heard the king praising Macbeth after he read the letter and knows exactly what the king thinks of Macbeth.

Major Plot Events

-The witches are talking about the revenge she has planned upon a sailor whose wife refused to share her chestnuts. -Drum beats and Macbeth and Banquo enters. The three witches tell Macbeth that he is now thane of Cawdor and soon to be King of Scotland. _Three witches disappear. -Ross and Angus enter to deliver the King’s message to Macbeth. In disbelief they announce that Macbeth is now the thane of Cawdor;.

Conflict -Only Macbeth is glorified in this scene and this might lead to conflict as it usually leads to corruption due to the fact that people become more greedy. -Macbeth will become King however, his heirs won’t become King. For some reason Banquo’s heir will. This will be conflict based upon this later.

> It is very stormy. > Macbeth is behaves courageously in battle > Duncan is apperciates Macbeth and is very happy that Macbeth has won the battle. > Even though Macbeth has killed and injured many people he won. >  King Duncan makes Macbeth a thane of Cawdor which is a higher ranking thane than what Macbeth is currently, thane of Glamis. This is significant because what the witches have said is true!
 * Where does this take place and what is the weather like?
 * How does Macbeth behave in battle?
 * How does Duncan view this behavior?
 * How does this battle end?
 * What pronouncement does Duncan make at the end of the scene and why is it significant?

I learned that Lady Macbeth is very greedy and she would do anything to get power. She has a very arrogant and man-like personality. She might say that having power is the meaning of life. "Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,And fill me from the crown to the toe top-fullOf direst cruelty. Make thick my blood.Stop up the access and passage to remorse,That no compunctious visitings of natureShake my fell purpose, nor keep peace betweenThe effect and it! Come to my woman’s breasts,And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,Wherever in your sightless substancesYou 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 darkTo cry “Hold, hold!”"
 * What do we learn about Lady Macbeth in these scenes?
 * How might Lady Macbeth answer the question “What is the meaning of life?” Explain your answer.
 * Identify and write out two of Lady Macbeth’s lines that are particularly striking. Explain why you selected the lines.

"Only look up clear.To alter favor ever is to fear.Leave all the rest to me."
 * Identify one significant word that Lady Macbeth uses in 1.5 or 1.6, and define both the denotation and connotation of the word. Explain why you think the word is significant.

"Why has Macbeth decided to kill King Duncan by the end of Act 1?" Macbeth has decided to kill King Duncan because of the future told by the three witches. However, when he thought he'd be King, King Duncan has announced that his son, Prince Cumberland would be King. Macbeth hoped to have peace and just become king but now that he sees that he would not be King unless he tries to he decides to kill King Duncan.

Act II Macbeth feels very sad. He is troubled by Duncan's body becayse he thinks he is now doomed by God. We can see that Macbeth atleast feels guilty. Macbeth expects he shall sleep no more. Lady Macbeth, however, thinks that she has done the right thing. She does not feel guilty. But before killing Duncan she quoted that "he is like my father" and this is why she cant kill him.
 * How does Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does he react this way?
 * How does Lady Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does she react this way?