Lecture Notes on Macbeth's Character and Key Events

Introduction

• Objective: Understanding 12 key events in Macbeth to answer any exam question at a top grade level.
• Main Idea: The play focuses on Macbeth's character development and key events that reveal his motivations and weaknesses.

1. Rebellion Against Scotland

• Initial Event: Rebellion against Scotland by Norwegians and some Scottish nobles.
• Macbeth's Action: Kills the rebel leader Macdonald by slicing him open from navel to chin.
• Character Insight: Macbeth enjoys killing, shows fearlessness, and is a fantastic warrior but revels in the violence.
• Hamartia: His true weakness is his enjoyment of killing.

2. Meeting with the Witches

• Witches' Role: Predict Macbeth will become King and Thane of Cawdor but don’t instruct him to kill.
• Macbeth’s Reaction: Immediately thinks of murder despite prophecy suggesting fate will take care of his rise to power.
• Inner Conflict: Struggles with his murderous thoughts and his ambition versus his bloodlust.

3. Letter to Lady Macbeth

• Content: Macbeth informs Lady Macbeth about the witches' prophecies, calling her his “dearest partner in greatness”.
• Purpose: To incite Lady Macbeth’s ambition and get her help in planning Duncan’s murder.
• Insight: Shows Macbeth’s psychological understanding of his wife; he knows he can't kill Duncan without her.
• Her Misunderstanding: Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth is too kind, but he revels in killing.

4. Plan to Kill Duncan

• Macbeth’s Statement: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition…”
• Interpretation: Macbeth’s ambition isn’t enough to drive him to kill Duncan; he needs Lady Macbeth’s plan.
• Soliloquy: Macbeth’s famous dagger speech reveals his obsession with killing, not ambition or Lady Macbeth’s influence.

5. Reaction to Duncan’s Murder

• Macbeth’s Quote: “To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself”.
• Regret: Immediately regrets killing Duncan and acknowledges his bloodlust.
• Psychological Insight: Macbeth’s desire to kill undermines his hero narrative.

6. Killing Banquo

• Motivation: Jealousy over Banquo’s prophecy and desire to remove threats to his power.
• Lady Macbeth’s Role: Not involved in the plan to protect her from guilt.
• Focus on Blood: Macbeth’s obsession with Banquo’s blood.

7. Banquo’s Ghost

• Macbeth’s Reaction: Fixates on Banquo’s bloody appearance and feels guilt.
• Nobles’ Perception: Realize Macbeth’s involvement in Duncan’s murder, leading to his downfall.

8. Second Meeting with the Witches

• Witches’ Prophecy: Macbeth misinterprets their words and continues his bloodlust.
• Killing Macduff’s Family: Further reveals his uncontrollable desire to kill.
• Quote: “I am in blood stepped in so far…”

9. Lady Macbeth’s Sleepwalking

• Guilt: Consumed by guilt over the murders, especially those of Duncan and Macduff’s family.
• Psychological Insight: Her guilt contrasts with Macbeth's lack of it.
• Macbeth’s Care: Hires a doctor for her, showing his love despite his own unraveling.

10. Reaction to Lady Macbeth’s Death

• Macbeth’s Quote: “Out, out, brief candle” and “Life’s but a walking shadow”.
• Nihilism: Sees life as meaningless and blames God for his fate.
• Relation to Greek Tragedy: His rejection of the classical hero’s suicide and desire to see the play’s end.

11. Final Battle with Macduff

• Macbeth’s Defeat: Realizes he is vulnerable when Macduff reveals he was not born of a woman.
• Last Stand: Welcomes death to end his bloodlust-driven life.

12. Conclusion

• Shakespeare’s Final Message: Macbeth as a “dead butcher” driven by bloodlust, not ambition.
• Lady Macbeth’s Role: Described as the “fiend-like queen” whose ambition fueled Macbeth’s downfall.
• Contextual Insight: Reflects views on kingship, rebellion, and the new societal roles emerging in Shakespeare’s time.

Key Themes and Quotes

• Bloodlust vs. Ambition: Macbeth’s true drive is his enjoyment of killing.
• Lady Macbeth’s Influence: Her ambition complements Macbeth’s bloodlust.
• Witches’ Role: Minimal influence on Macbeth’s actions.
• Psychological Insights: Understanding Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s states of mind is crucial for top-grade essays.