Macbeth Act 1 Questions

Note: Miss Kelly, my keyboard lags so I apologize for any weird spelling or space bar errors.

SCENE 4

1. How would you paraphrase Duncan's 11. 13-16

He means you can't see what's in someone's mind on their face. He is talking about the Thane of Cawdor's betrayal.

2. Lines 55-60- what is happening to Macbeth's thinking? How would you paraphrase or understnd his thinking in 11. 57-58 and then 59-60? How is there in his thinking a kind of ambivalence toward or dread of ambition? Also, in what terms or images is he sensing ambition?

He is beginning to think murderously. He starts thinking of ways of how he can become King. He is going to hide his desires. He is also thinking that he does not need to do anything. He's thinking about letting the events ply out. He is debating whether to let the events play out or to make his fate come true himself. He is sensing ambition through kingship.


SCENE 5
3. Lines 18-23- what distinctions does Lady Macbeth make between opposing aspects of Macbeth's thoughts and actions?

She states that Macbeth is too full of human guilt and feelings to get what he wants. She states that he could be great if he would ignore human emotion.

4. Line 48- what may Lady Macbth mean by "unsex me here"?

By saying "unsex me here" she is telling the spirits to give her the strength of a man so she may be strong for herself and Macbeth.

5. Lines 73-78- what is Lady Macbeth observing about Macbeth's face? What does she desire in his countenance and behavior?

She observes that her husband's face is like an open book where people can easily read his mind. She tells him to act normal and greet the King jovially and to leave the rest to her.

SCENE 6

6 Lines 4-12- how are Banquo's lines descrbing the bird's ("martlet's") behavior in opposition to Lady Macbeth's thoughts and impulses (1.5.48, 54-7; 1.7.62-67)

He goes on about how the Lady makes the castle sweet and how it is a pleasant castle. This is in oppositon to Lady Macbeth's thoughts because she is planning to murder the king and take the crown for her husband.

7. Are Lady Macbeth's thoughts and impulses in keeping with the natural processes and value of Nature or are they unnatural perversions of Nature? Explain your reasoning.

Unnatural perversions of Nature because she is thinking murderous thoughts and she is even planning on how to get away with murdering the King.

SCENE 7
8. What do the repetitions of "If" and "but" suggest about the nature or processes of Macbeth's thinking? How are "if" and "but" approprite for Macbeth's kind of thinking in this soliloquy, 11. 1-28?

Macbeth is always torn. He always thinks about both sides and the consequences that his actions would result in. In his soliloquy he is thinking about murdering Duncan. He often says "if" and "but", this exemplifies his nervousness and anxiety about the matter.