Macbeth Questions

The MISSING Macbeth assignment! 


In Act 2, how does Macbeth attempt to get Banquo’s support? How does Banquo respond?

Macbeth tries to get Banquo to talk to him about the witches' prophecies. Macbeth tells Banquo that he wants to see what else will come true of their predictions. Macbeth tells him that he will get something out of Macbeth being king, if it happens. Banquo then responds with,
"So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
I shall be counselled."(II.i.26-29)
 He is saying that he will do it as long as it is nothing he should feel guilty for. Banquo is accepting of Macbeth's desire to become king, and collecting the royalties that come with being a close friend of the king.
 
 

Compare how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth react to the king’s murder. Why are they so different in their responses? (Act 2)

Their responses are so different because Lady Macbeth wanted the king dead and doesn't really feel remorse, she is more outwardly upset about the fact that the king was murdered in her house. Whereas Macbeth is horrified at what he did and the decision is haunting him. Macbeth pretends to be angry and out of love for the king, he kills the two chamberlains. He could have done this because he was afraid that they would remember what happened, and that he would be accused of murdering the king. Lady Macbeth pretends that she is mortified that the king was murdered in her house and 'faints'. 



In Act 1, Duncan is established as the king. What kind of a king is he, based upon how he interacts with his thanes? Be specific and give references where possible.

I feel that Duncan is a harsh, but devoted king. In this time, he probably wasn't considered harsh, but in this age sending people to be killed is not a good thing. He's harsh and devoted because he has a thane killed for helping the enemies. He is very devoted to his own country and will kill anyone who goes against him. He is very kind to the men who are devoted to the country as well, he treats them with kindness and respect. He calls on Macbeth and says that he loves him, "Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly / And shall continue our graces towards him." He is kind to the people that he knows and can trust. This makes him a good king. 


After reading his letter, how does Lady Macbeth describe her husband? Why do you think she describes him this way? (Act 1)

After reading Macbeth's letter, Lady Macbeth describes him to be gentle, weak, and afraid. She describes him this way because he wants to be the king but doesn't want to do the dirty work to be king. She feels, and is more courageous than he is, she is more willing to kill people and she's not very concerned with what happens after. Lady Macbeth knows that Macbeth doesn't want to go through with a murder. Because Macbeth doesn't want to kill the king, Lady Macbeth thinks that he is childish and weak. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth exchange their stereotypical personalities, she is more masculine in the sense that she doesn't seem to have feelings, where as Macbeth is timid and wants the reward for doing no work. 

Now let’s dig a bit deeper:
What appears to be motivating Macbeth the most? Figure it out and show some evidence from the play.

Lady Macbeth is motivating Macbeth the most. you can see this clearly when she says, " When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man." She is calling him womanly for not wanting to kill the king. This influences Macbeth's decision because he doesn't want to be seen as a weak person for not killing him. Lady Macbeth is telling him that if he did murder the king, he would be much for manly and powerful than if he didn't. If Lady Macbeth did not know of the witches' prophecies, Macbeth would most likely not have murdered the king. Macbeth wants to be king but will not make the effort to kill the king. He is more in touch with his feelings than he appears sometimes. Lady Macbeth forces Macbeth to bring out his more masculine side when she judges his power.

Make a list of reversals or paradoxes from Acts 1 and 2 that show how “fair is foul and foul is fair”.

The witches prove that "fair is foul and foul is fair" as they are women, but have the characteristics of men. They commit evil and violent acts. They use spells and manipulate people as they are powerful and strong. The three witches plot, which is more masculine in these times because they thought that women didn't have brains. These are true for Lady Macbeth as well. She is plotting to kill Duncan, but Macbeth is worried about it, he doesn't think they should. In these times, this wouldn't have been normal. Normally the man would want to kill ( maybe not to that extreme) and the women would be afraid to do it. Lady Macbeth also plots to kill the king, she has a plan all ready for when Macbeth and Duncan get to their house. These reverses of the gender roles show how "fair is foul and foul is fair".