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Unit 8: Macbeth: Plot Construction and Themes

13. Which of the following is true about themes in Macbeth? Notes
(a) The most famous and poetic lines from Macbeth are expressions of remorse
(b) The natural order can also be understood as responding with tempestuous
signs
(c) The relation of the natural to the supernatural in Macbeth is clear
(d) There is an air of deep uncertainty.

Fill in the blanks:
14. The prophecy of three witches fans the flames of ......... within Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth.
15. Ambition and ......... both play a key factor in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s decision
to kill Duncan.
16. As a morality tale of sorts, Macbeth has as its near contemporary ..........
17. An overwhelming guilty conscience drives ......... mad.

State whether the following statements are true or false:
18. The prophecy of three witches fans the flames of ambition within Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth and serve as the primary impetus for the couple to plot the death of
Duncan.
19. The most famous and poetic lines from Macbeth are expressions of guilt.
20. Macbeth overcomes the guilt that plagues him early on in the play while Lady Macbeth
could not.
8.3 Summary

• The first act of the play opens amidst thunder and lightning with the Three Witches deciding
that their next meeting shall be with Macbeth.
• The scene changes as the Three Witches enter, who have waited to greet them with prophecies.
Even though Banquo challenges them first, they address Macbeth.
• The first witch hails Macbeth as “Thane of Glamis,” the second as “Thane of Cawdor,” and
the third proclaims that he shall “be King hereafter.” Macbeth appears to be stunned to silence,
so again Banquo challenges them.
• The witches inform Banquo that he will father a line of kings, though he himself will not be
one. While the two men wonder at these pronouncements, the witches vanish.
• Macbeth writes to his wife about the witches’ prophecies. When Duncan decides to stay at the
Macbeths’ castle at Inverness, Lady Macbeth hatches a plan to murder him and secure the
throne for her husband.
• On the night of the king’s visit, Macbeth hallucinates before entering Duncan’s quarters,
believing he sees a bloody dagger.
• In accordance with her plan, Lady Macbeth frames Duncan’s sleeping servants for the murder
by placing bloody daggers on them.
• Fearing for their lives, Duncan’s sons flee Malcolm to England and Donalbain to Ireland. The
rightful heirs’ flight makes them suspects and Macbeth assumes the throne as the new King
of Scotland as a kinsman of the dead king.
• Despite his success, Macbeth remains uneasy about the prophecy about Banquo and he ploted
to get ride of them.

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