0
Macbeth
The tragedy of Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare, probably between 1603 and 1606. The play has been adapted into operas, movies, television programs, and other books.
3,692 Questions
What is banquo dying request to fleance?
Upon being attacked by murderers, Banquo exclaims "Fly Fleance, Fly!" meaning "Run Fleance". His motivation for this is up to interpretation. It is obvious that Banquo wants his son to run away and live. However is it simply paternal instinct, or is he realizing that these murderers were sent by Macbeth? The witches told him that he will not be King, but someone of his descent will be a king. If so, he knows that Fleance must survive to keep the bloodline going, so that the throne can eventually be taken from Macbeth. His dying request may very well have been "Fleance, you must survive so that I can be avenged."
How willing is Macbeth to go along with lady macbath's plan for him to attain the throne?
At first he is weary and unsure of if he should but then he does it which then begins his plans to kill off anyone who could take the throne.
Why does Malcolm portray himself as a potential sinful?
In the play Macbeth, Malcolm portrays himself as a potential sinful tyrant in order to to test Macbeth. Malcolm wanted to see just how loyal Macbeth would be.
What does the device of the aside used by Macbeth convey to the audience about his character?
Macbeth's soliloquies show his true thoughts and his true character, because a theme in Macbeth is appearance vs reality. Macbeth acts differently from his asides because he's trying not to show his inner-turmoil and distress or guilt. For example, when he speaks to Duncan, in his aside, Macbeth has darker thoughts, but when speaking to Duncan, he acts like he worships the man.
What does Macbeth learn happened to his wife in scene v?
She has died. Macbeth says, "She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word." He doesn't want to deal with it.
Who kills king ducan Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?
She kills herself. After convincing Macbeth to kill so many people to get power, her guilt kicks in. This guilt is manifest when she walks in her sleep, talking of washing her hands of the blood, i.e. guilt. It eventually completely consumes her, and she commits suicide.
In Act 5, Scene 1, a Doctor and Gentlewoman observe Lady Macbeth sleepwalking. After observing, the doctor advises the Gentlewoman to "Remove from her the means of all annoyance" (V i 78). He is telling her to keep away from Lady Macbeth anything she could use to kill herself.
In Act 5, Scene 5, Macbeth hears a cry within of women,and it can be assumed that this is either Lady Macbeth or her attendants who have discovered her dead body. Seyton, a nobleman loyal to Macbeth, comes to him and says "The Queen, my lord, is dead." (V v 18).
In the final speech of the play, in Act 5, Scene 8, Malcolm refers to Macbeth's "fiend-like Queen, who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands took off her life." (V iix 81-83). This means that it is believed by most people that Lady Macbeth commited suicide.
A political assassination like the one Macbeth commits is justifiable?
Yes, in fact, any assassination at all is justifiable, even if there is no motive or cause. I encourage to move forward with your plan and take action. I wish you good luck in your assassination attempts.
The Thane of Fife, a noblemen of Scotland, husband of Lady Macduff, father of at least one son and enemy of Macbeth (d. August 15, 1057) is the identity of Macduff in the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare (Baptized April 26, 1564 - April 23, 1616).
Specifically, Macduff is considered to have been a historical personage. His behavior and personality in the play are based upon the information given in "Holinshed's Chronicles," the historical source for the play. He kills and beheads Macbeth to avenge the deaths of King Duncan (d. August 14, 1040) and of his own family.
How does Lady Macbeth use reassurance on Macbeth?
He is confident that he will not loose the kingdom to malcolm because the witches have said that he won't be defeated until the wood's move towards him and he can't be killed by anyone except a man not born of woman. (Macduff).
What is the outcome of Macbeth conflict with banquo and fleance?
Macbeth doesn't really have a conflict with them. Banquo suspects Macbeth of killing Duncan, but isn't saying anything. Macbeth is annoyed by the witches' prediction that his children will not succeed him (Does he have children? The way things are going between him and his wife, is it likely that he will?) but that Banquo's decendants will. He is jealous.
Macbeth's murder of Banquo and attempt on Fleance's life are an attempt to prove to himself that his future is not controlled, and that he is free. He wants to know that he became king because of what he did, not some inexorable fate. When the murderers fail to kill Fleance, he says, "Then comes my fit again!". He has not proven that he is free. The witches' predictions about Banquo can come true. Maybe it is all a matter of fate after all.
How might Duncans naming Malcolm Prince of Cumberland interfere with Macbeths becoming king?
As in England calling your son the Prince of Wales marks him as the heir apparent, Duncan's calling Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland marked him as the next king. This would certainly be "a step on which [Macbeth] must fall down, or else o'erleap."
What effect is shakespeare trying to create by using the witches in Macbeth?
The text of Macbeth contains disturbing suggestions that when it was originally produced, the witches were no more terrifying than the fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream. They were in fact a bit of a joke. The stage directions suggest that the witches sing and dance three times: once in Act III Scene 5 and twice in Act IV Scene 1, the famous Cauldron Scene. This scene contains the lines said by the character Hecate "And now about the cauldron sing, Like eves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that we put in" followed by the song "Black spirits, etc." Later the first witch says "But why stands Macbeth thus amazedly? Come sisters, cheer we up his sprites and show the best of our delights." followed by another song and dance.
If you get the impression that this makes Macbeth sound like a musical, you are probably right. Scholars believe that the only text we have of Macbeth is from a tarted up version of the play in which songs from Thomas Middleton's play The Witch and some further dialogue by Middleton, including the lines quoted above, were inserted by popular demand. The fact that there was a popular demand shows that the audience expected the witches to be funny, not scary. Middleton's alterations were made between 10 and 18 years after the play was first written so this public demand was among the original patrons. We actually have a description of the play written by one of the original patrons who saw it in 1610, before Middleton's revisions. He describes the witches in the scene where they prophesy to Macbeth and Banquo as "feiries or Nimphes" and again later as "nimphes" which confirms that they were portrayed as cute not frightening.
Modern practice is to remove all of the material clearly by Middleton and to portray the witches as frightening, which actually works better dramatically according to modern lights.
How is Mercutio killed in Act 3 Scene 3?
Actually, Mercutio is killed in Act III Scene 1 when he duels Tybalt. Romeo tries to stop the fight, by throwing himself between the two, but Tybalt manages to stab Mercutio under Romeo's arm.
How is Macbeth's murder of the guards ironic?
It is ironic becuase he only killed them to make it look like they had done it. After that he realizes that was a big mistake as everyone doens't seem as positive as he does that the guards actually commited the crime.
