Global Issues Macbeth

Act/ Scene Global Issue Quotes Analysis

Act 1 Scene 5 The amplification of corrupted minds “They met me in the day of Macbeth refers to Lady Macbeth as
from the opportunity of power success, and I have learned by his greatest partner in greatness
the perfectest report they have which shows the way Macbeth sees
more in them than mortal his wife as being a person of
knowledge. When I burned in greatness in his mind and of great
desire to question them further, importance.
they made themselves air, into
which they vanished. Whiles I
It reveals how Lady Macbeth has
stood rapt in the wonder of it
more control or dominance over
came missives from the king, who
all-hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor,' Macbeth since he instantly informs
by which title, before, these weird her of the news rather than giving it
sisters saluted me, and referred any thought, as if he is unable to
me to the coming on of time with make any decisions for himself and
'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have needs someone to make these
I thought good to deliver thee, my decisions for him.
dearest partner of greatness, that
thou might’st not lose the dues of This would be a very rare kind of
rejoicing, by being ignorant of relationship in the Jacobean Era
what greatness is promised thee. since it was usually the man who had
Lay it to thy heart, and farewell.” dominance over the women in
Jacobean times and society was
patriarchal and therefore a woman
having dominance over her husband
would have been a very shocking
 discovery for the audience watching
the play at the current times.

Act 1 Scene 7 The manipulation of others in order "When you durst do it then you Interpretation 1:
to achieve personal desires or were a man" The first interpretation could be
power. that, Lady Macbeth is saying that if
you don’t kill King Duncan then you
are not a man. This is a clear
interpretation and is the basic first
idea that comes to mind for any
audience.

Interpretation 2:
A second interpretation could be
that Lady Macbeth was manipulating
him by playing with his pride, by
specifically saying that when you do
it then you will be a man. This would
also mean that she is saying that he
wasn’t/isn't a man. And therefore by
tapping onto his masculinity, he
becomes insulted and is therefore
convinced that he should instead do
it so that he can be a man.

A third interpretation could be that

this quote is equating the male
gender with power, although that
the opposite of what is happening in
the relationship of Lady Macbeth
and Macbeth. This is because Lady
Macbeth is saying that he will be a
man once he is king, and being king
 comes with power therefore in this
case equating power with the male
gender which is ironic coming from
Lady Macbeth.

Interpretation 4:
Lady Macbeth is suggesting that the
act of murder of the highest treason
to become a king is what makes a
person a man and this could be
deemed inaccurate by the Jacobean
Era audience that sees the King as
very important and must never be
murdered or harmed in any way.

Act 2 Scene 2 (Macbeth’s Soliloquy)

Act 3 Scene 1 The unrealistic expectations or To be thus is nothing, This quote is showing Macbeth’s
beliefs to achieve desires But to be safely thus. Our fears belief that if he simply kills anyone in
in Banquo his way he will be able to secure his
Stick deep, and in his royalty of position as the king and that
nature Banquo’s sons are also in line to
Reigns that which would be become kings and Macbeth’s
feared. 'Tis much he dares, greediness makes him want to
And to that dauntless temper murder them so that Macbeth’s own
of his mind sons also become kings and he can
55He hath a wisdom that doth continue his bloodline.
guide his valor
To act in safety. There is none
but he
Whose being I do fear, and
under him
My genius is rebuked, as it is
said
Mark Antony’s was by Caesar.
He chid the sisters
60When first they put the name
of king upon me
And bade them speak to him.
Then, prophetlike,
They hailed him father to a line
of kings.
Upon my head they placed a
fruitless crown
And put a barren scepter in my
grip,
65Thence to be wrenched with
an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If
’t be so,
For Banquo’s issue have I filed
my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan
have I murdered;
Put rancors in the vessel of my
peace
70Only for them; and mine
eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy
of man,
To make them kings, the seed
of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come fate into
the list,
And champion me to th'
utterance.