"In the following notes, I have selected a few key scenes from the play to inspect in more detail. As in other Shakespearean plays, nearly every scene is important, but we will examine just these five:"
" "
"*Act I, scene i - the witches on the heath."
" "
"*Act II, scene ii - the murder of Duncan"
" "
"*Act III, scene iv - the disrupted Banquet"
" "
"*Act IV, scene i - Macbeth visits the witches"
" "
"*Act V, scene vi - The final conflict"
7
"*Act I, scene i - The witches on the heath"
" "
"Some people argue that this scene could be left out altogether; that it adds little to the play. Why then do I choose it as a key scene?"
" "
"This scene is crucial because it sets the atmosphere for the whole play. The witches are presented as creatures of evil and chaos - for them the usual rules do not hold."
"The stormy weather and the 'filthy air' suggest danger for ordinary mortals."
"As well, we have the witches' strange habit of speaking in riddles and paradoxes - setting up the theme of reality vs. appearance; with the witches, we seldom know which is which."
10
"*Act I, scene i - The witches on the heath (cont.)"
" "
"This idea is rammed home by two important quotes:"
"* -When the battle's lost and won."
"* -Fair is foul and foul is fair."
" "
"The other theme introduced by this scene is that of Order/Disorder."
"*(See Themes)"
" "
"The witches, with their strange appearance are the embodiment of confusion and disorder, and their dark, foul world presents a reversal of normal human values of goodness and truth."
8
"*Act II, scene ii - the murder of Duncan"
" "
"This scene brings the tension in the play to breaking point."
" "
"Both the main characters are nervous, and their jumpiness is communicated to the audience in their speech."
"Notice the short, broken sentences, the change of subject, the sudden shifts and the apparent illogical flow of the conversation between Macbeth and his wife."
" "
"Despite her nervousness, it is Lady Macbeth who is more in control here. We see the full extent to which Macbeth's imagination can turn him into a trembling wreck."
8
"*Act II, scene ii - the murder of Duncan (cont.)"
" "
"Watch out in this scene for important examples of blood and sleep imagery."
"*(See Imagery)"
"For Macbeth, sleep represents innocence and peace, and for him there will be no more of these qualities."
" "
"As a final brilliant stroke, Shakespeare uses the sound of knocking to raise the suspense at the end of the scene."
"The knocking hints at discovery, and Macbeth at least is quite unnerved by it, although Lady Macbeth manages to pull herself together in a remarkable show of will-power."
11
"*Act III, scene iv -The disrupted Banquet"
" "
"The formal banquet begins with Lady Macbeth's words"
"*You know your own degrees..."
"That is, the seating at the table will be according to rank, a system of order and conformity."
" "
"By the end of the scene, there is total confusion, and now she says"
"*Stand not upon the order of your going..."
"The system has broken down and confusion prevails, significantly, because of the erratic behaviour of Macbeth."
" "
"He is the one without a chair - outside normal society."
7
"*Act III, scene iv -The disrupted Banquet (cont.)"
" "
"The whole scene can be seen as an important symbol of Macbeth's reign - chaos and lack of order prevail."
" "
"The scene marks an important turning point for Macbeth; notice it is the half-way point of the play. From now he embraces evil whole-heartedly."
" "
"It is also the last time we see Lady Macbeth in control of herself. She is still supportive of her husband, but the strain is starting to tell on her too."
7
"*Act IV, scene i - Macbeth visits the witches"
" "
"It is striking how different Macbeth is here from the way he was in Act I, when he feared the witches and seemed awed by them. Now he commands them, although they do not have to obey."
" "
"The witches' brew is full of revolting bits and pieces of animal and human bodies. Again this symbolises the breaking up of natural things, a perversion."
" "
"The witches again equivocate, and the apparitions are as ambiguous as their words. e.g. Macbeth probably imagines the first apparition to be Macduff - instead it is probably his own head (cut off by Macduff in Act V)."
8
"*Act V, scene vi"
" "
"The action and excitement of a battle is created by short fragments of scenes, with a lot of movements off and on the stage."
" "
"No tragedy would work on its audience, if we felt no pity for the fallen hero, and Shakespeare raises our sympathy for Macbeth here. He fights on against helpless odds."
" "
"Finally, it is over and we are made aware that order will be restored with the legitimate King on the throne."
"This idea is central to the whole play and entirely typical of all of Shakespeare's tragedies."
