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Unit 5: Macbeth: Detailed Analysis of the Text

Others believe that it is Macbeth himself, who could not trust the murderers fully. The third murderers Notes
could even be the three witches in disguise. In any case, introducing a third murderer rounds out
the number of murderers so that they balance the three witches. There is power in the number
three: Macbeth meets three witches, commits three separate murders, and sees three apparitions.
The number three recurs throughout the play, adding to its mysterious and magic atmosphere.
Finally, one of the most compelling scenes in Macbeth takes place at the banquet haunted by Banquo’s
ghost. Once again, the boundaries between reality and the supernatural are blurred as Banquo’s ghost
appears twice—both at exactly the moment Macbeth mentions him. It seems that the vision of Banquo
accompanies the idea of Banquo in Macbeth’s mind. The ghost thus seems more like the manifestation
of an idea—a figment of the imagination—rather than a “real” ghost. Lady Macbeth says as much
when she pulls Macbeth aside: “This is the very painting of your fear; /This is the air-drawn dagger
which you said/Led you to Duncan”. Just like the dagger, Banquo’s ghost appears to be a realization
of Macbeth’s guilt. Even if the occurrence is supernatural, the event is very real for Macbeth.

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. The play Macbeth figures wich of the following important themes?
(a) Fate, prophecy, and equivocation
(b) Fate
(c) Prophecy
(d) Equivocation.
2. Macbeth’s famous soliloquy at the beginning of Act 2 introduces an important theme
(a) dagger of the mind
(b) visions and hallucinations caused by guilt
(c) Supernatural manifestations
(d) inner struggle contemplating the regicide.
3. The ‘is a man’ theme recurs in
(a) Act 1
(b) Act 2
(c) Act 3
(d) all the acts 1-3.
Fill in the blanks:

4. The play figures equivocation as one of its most important ..........
5. The oracular sisters are in fact connected......... to the Fates of Greek mythology.
6. Lady Macbeth is not the only character that values ruthlessness as a ..........
7. Banquo’s murder makes use of contrast between light and dark ......... in
Shakespeare’s plays.

State whether the following statements are true or false:
8. This kind of equivocation is similar to lying; it is intentionally designed to mislead
and confuse.

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