Macbeth+Assignment+5

=Macbeth Assignment 5= //Thanks for all the great work - this is a really useful resource for review. I have added comments to most sections in italics - this is not a criticism, since many of you did a fantastic job within the word limit. I just wanted to make sure that key information was not missed out.// =Characters= The audiences may infer Duncan’s benevolent and virtuous character from his lines praising his people. For example, quotes such as “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!” (1.2 26), “He is full so valiant, and in his commendations I am fed,” (1.4 61-62) and “See, see our honored hostess!” (1.6 13) reveal Duncan’s morals. Not only do Duncan’s own lines reflect his character, but also do other characters’ comments on Duncan reveal his noble quality: “There, if I grow, the harvest is your own,” (1.4 37-38) and “Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hat been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels…” (1.7 16-19) Although King Duncan appears only in the first act of //Macbeth//, his role in the play is significant. Shakespeare utilizes him as a character to allow the audiences to draw a vivid contrast between Scotland under Macbeth’s rule and Scotland under Duncan’s rule. After Macbeth assassinates Duncan, Scotland falls under a tyranny and faces problems such as food shortages, non-existence of peace, and loss of loyalty, which are revealed in “Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, do faithful homage, and receive free honors, all which we pine for now.” (3.6 38-41) This shows how noble Duncan maintained peace and prosperity within Scotland prior to his death, whereas Macbeth became a tyrant. Thus, understanding Duncan’s character and contrasting him with Macbeth allows the audiences to see Macbeth’s darkness more clearly. //Other key things to consider about Duncan are://
 * __Duncan: Matthew Kweon__**
 * //His difficulty seeing other people's true personalities - this leads to a lot of dramatic irony//
 * //His positivity, for example on arriving at Macbeth's castle, shows him to be a good leader but not good at keeping his power//
 * //Duncan is a trusted defender of his kingdom//
 * //When Macbeth kills Duncan it is an act not only of treason and regicide, but against God and nature - some critics even compare Duncan to a Jesus-like figure.//
 * //In Holinshead's original stories, a source for the play, the Duncan figure was ineffectual and negligent. Making him a good King makes Macbeth look worse - he has only his own ambition as a reason to kill him; there is no other justification.//


 * __Malcolm: Roger Xu__**

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In the play Macbeth, Malcolm is a more skeptical version of his magnanimous father, King Duncan. Immediately after Malcolm and Donalbain are informed of their father’s death, they have suspicions that whoever murdered their father is also after them. Malcolm suggests, “//Let’s not consort with them. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office / Which the false man does easy. I’ll to England//” (2.3 160-162) because he knows that people are hiding their evil intentions behind their smiles. Malcolm understands that in order to protect his own life, he must flee to England without telling anyone and take revenge upon who murdered his father later. This shows Malcolm’s wise decision-making.=====

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Later when Macduff meets Malcolm in England to devise a plan to overthrow Macbeth, Malcolm demonstrates his clever ingenuity by determining to see if Macduff is trustable. In 4.3, Malcolm pretends to tell Macduff that he actually has no intentions of overthrowing Macbeth. “//It is myself I mean … with my confineless harms//” (Lines 61-66). Malcolm is telling Macduff that Macbeth may be a tyrant, but that he is worse so that even if he did go against Macbeth, Scotland would still be in misery. Macduff at first tells him that’s not possible, but eventually Macduff tells Malcolm he is a terrible person and that he shouldn’t be fit to live. This passes the test because Macduff wants what is good for Scotland, but more importantly, shows that Malcolm is very clever in determining who is to be trusted.=====

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At the end of Macbeth, Malcolm says “//by the grace of Grace//” (5.8 Line 85) to refer that he will rule Scotland with justice, but that also his divine right to become King was restored to order. This notes that Malcolm symbolizes a peaceful and orderly society.===== Sources: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/Macbeth-Character-Analysis-Malcolm.id-65,pageNum-219.html, http://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth/page_76.html

//It's important to note that Malcolm has the diplomacy and grace of a natural king, whereas Macbeth lacks these qualities: he is a good soldier, but not a good leader.// **__Macbeth: Mike McLean__**

Macbeth is a character who changes very much throughout the play. Due to certain qualities that Macbeth has, such as curiosity, and impatience, he goes from being a noble and honest general in King Duncan’s army to a murdering tyrant. His change in character starts in Act I Scene III when he meets the weird sisters and hears their prophecy. He is extremely curious about what they said to him and Banquo and begs them to tell more. Throughout the rest of the play, he remains curious about their prophecies and asks them to make predictions a few more times. Right after he finds out that he will become king from the witches, he starts to contemplate murdering King Duncan. The thought of this is just a fantasy at the time, and it terrifies him to think about it. He says, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me Without my stir,” which is basically saying that if fate will make him king, then maybe he won’t have to do anything to become king, it will just happen (1.3 – 147/148). Because of his impatience, and a little motivation from his wife, he makes the prophecy come true as soon as possible by murdering Duncan, which is something he never would have thought about doing earlier in the play. He does not take long to get over the guilt of the murder though. Once the murder is announced, he has less and less trouble pretending to show sympathy for King Duncan. He even murders the two guards out of “revenge” and it does not bother him at all. After these incidents, he starts spiraling downwards quickly. He murders Banquo as well as the entire Macduff household, apart from Macduff himself. He feels no guilt for these things and begins to have no fear of doing such things. He betrays many people whom he was once close to all because of his lust to become king. Sources: **[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth_(character]) ** **  http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/essays/macbeth_characters_essay.htm **
 * //Macbeth is a tragic hero - we still indenify and empathise with him, even though we know his to be a tyrant, because we are given insight into his feelings of guilt and hesitation through soliloquys in the first half of the play. Without this the tragic impact of the play would be lessened.//
 * //Many critics speak of Macbeth's inner world, his imagination and guilt, dominating the play and his actions. The appearance of the dagger and the ghost all reinforce Macbeth's sensitivity and difficulties.//
 * //Other critics suggest the other world of the play is the spirit world, and Macbeth's strong influence by it is the key element of the play - Shakespeare is trying to examine the boundaries between the human and spirit world; between free will and possession.//

** __Lady Macbeth: Grace Yang__  **

Lady Macbeth is a character who encourages Macbeth to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth is more ambitious, cruel and stronger than Macbeth at one point. Although she appears as a female physically, she has masculinity and power to control her husband. Her soliloquy “Unsex me here” shows her characteristic of masculinity and appalling ambition. However, in other standpoint of Lady Macbeth, she may want to have some investment for her husband through helping him to become a king. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem to not have a child. This indicates that Lady Macbeth may want Macbeth to have throne instead.  Although Lady Macbeth seems heartless in the beginning of the play, she immediately regrets what she has done and shows great remorse. Through her sleepwalking, she shows psychological insecurity because of her plotting. Her sense of guilt turns her to be weaker than before, and she finally commits suicide. When she kills herself due to guilty conscience, her death is not regarded as a big deal to Macbeth. She is a pitiful character who Macbeth takes advantage of and who does not get any reward from helping her husband to earn what he desires. //Two critical interpretations of Lady Macbeth are: //** 2.  **  Like her husband, Lady Macbeth's ambition for power leads her into witchcraft, insomnia and madness. Many read Lady Macbeth as an unnatural, desexualized evil spirit. The current trend of critical opinion, however, is toward an upward reevaluation of Lady Macbeth, who is said to be rehumanized by her insanity. Much of this reappraisal of Lady Macbeth has taken place in discussions of her ironically strong marriage to Macbeth, a union that rests on loving bonds but undergoes disintegration as the tragedy unfolds.
 * 1. Lady **//  //**Macbeth's** immediate thoughts may make her appear as thoroughly cold and ambitious, but this is not so. To prepare for what she feels must be done she calls on evil spirits to "stop up th' access and passage to remorse" in order to be relentless. Otherwise her conscience would not allow her to act. At the beginning Lady Macbeth therefore finds strength to entice Macbeth to murder Duncan and to follow through with the murder herself. As time advances though, her pretended strength diminishes as she fights the torments of her conscience. Tending to her conscience engulfs and destabilizes her so that she can not support Macbeth against Malcolm.//

// Banquo- in Macbeth, Macbeth is one that chooses the path of the damned, doing everything for his own benefit. Banquo on the other hand, has ambitious thoughts just as Macbeth does, however he does not translate these thoughts into actions. Essentially Macbeth and Banquo are the same character, where the only difference is which path they chose; Banquo with the virtuous and just route, whereas Macbeth chooses the path of murder and is forever damned. Part of the reason why Macbeth continues his path of murder is because once he becomes damned to hell, it would make no difference if he continued to murder and kill. This is the reason why Banquo and Fleance were targeted to be killed by the assassin’s under Macbeth’s command. Some reasons why Banquo was targeted are, firstly, because Banquo suspects Macbeth for murdering Duncan, “Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all. As the weird women promised, and I fear thou played’st most foully for ‘t”. Secondly, the witches’ also prophesized that Banquo’s children would become king, “Thou shalt get kinds, though thou be none”. And finally because Macbeth fears Banquo because of his virtues, “Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared……There is none but he whose being I do fear”. With these reasons in mind, we can understand why Macbeth considered Banquo a threat and killed him.
 * The fact that Lady Macbeth is characterized in much less detail than Macbeth allows for many interpretations and views; she is a fascinating character.
 * her temptation of Macbeth recalls the original temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden - the serpent references reinforce this
 * In Shakespeare's time, women were believed to be more susceptible to evil than men - do you think the play reinforces or refutes this?
 * Lady Macbeth's role in society is as hostess and supporter to men; this reflects the strong Anglo-Saxon influences on the play, and recalls the masculine world of Beowulf.
 * Lady Macbeth however refutes the submissive sterotype with her resolve and independence
 * __Banquo: Mike Chan__**
 * //It is clear, therefore, that Banquo acts as a foil to Macbeth's character.//
 * //In the original source, Banquo was an accomplice - what do you think are Shakespeare's two strong reasons for changing this? (Answers at the bottom of the page!)//

__**Macduff: Diane Lin**__ Macduff, the Thane of Fife, plays an important role in Shakespeare’s //Macbeth//. He is a noble king’s follower who shows strong loyalty towards King Duncan. He was the one that discovered Duncan’s body and was the first character to show suspicion regarding Macbeth’s ascension to the throne. After the murder, Macduff shows his opposition towards the new throne by claiming “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new” (Act II, Scene 4). As the play progresses, Macduff becomes a greater threat to Macbeth. Macbeth therefore kills Macduff’s entire family which instigates Macduff’s desire to take personal revenge upon the tyrant Macbeth. Macduff becomes the leader of the crusade which aims to overthrow Macbeth and to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne. At the end of the play Macduff was successful in dethroning Macbeth. Macduff is the archetype of the avenging hero. His revenge wasn’t simply caused by the anger towards the assassination of his family but more so by his hatred towards the tyrant who has corrupts his country. Macduff’s characteristics also greatly contrast with Macbeth’s. When he heard of the death of his family, his grief contrasted with Macbeth’s cruelty which causes the audience to pity and respect him more than Macbeth. Unlike Macbeth, Macduff is a noble, fair-minded, and moral man who most importantly is loyal and caring for his country. Source: "Macbeth: Character Analysis: Macduff." __Cliff Notes__. 7 Dec. 2008 [|http://http://www.cliffsnotes.com/wileycda/litnote/macbeth-character-analysis-macduff.id-65,pagenum-217.html].

__**The Three Witches: Gabriel**__ The three witches of the play Macbeth serve as some of the most mysterious characters in the play. They have completely different physical and mental characteristics from all the characters in the play. The witches are usually seen with beards on them. This appearance causes a confusion from most people, like Banquo, who says that “You should be women,/And yet your beards forbid me to interpret/That you are so” (1.3.47-49.), and gives the impression to the audience that they are weird; in fact, the beards correspond to how the witches behave in a strange manner. The witches speak in rhyming couplets (e.g. “Double, double, toil and trouble,/Fire burn and cauldron bubble” (4.1.20-21).), making them different to that other characters, who speak in blank verse. The choices of ingredients they use for their potion are bizarre and rhymed, thus suggesting that the witches practice dark magic. Dark magic could go as deep as prophecies, as they are motivational to Macbeth’s actions. One example of this is when the witches give the prediction that Macbeth will be king one day. They don’t tell Macbeth to murder the king, but instead indirectly motivate him to harbor thoughts of murdering the king. Lady Macbeth goads Macbeth to kill Duncan, and Macbeth finally gives in. It seems that prophecies are powerful, as they motivate other characters to fulfill them. It is in the beards, the rhyming couplets, the manipulative behavior and the prophecies that the witches have earned the title "Weird Sisters."

Sources: Anonymous. "Analysis of Major Characters - The Three Witches." __Sparknotes__. LLC. 6 Dec. 2008 .


 * //Shakespeare greatly increased the role of the witches in comparison to his original source. This was not only to flatter King James's interest in witches, but also to enable him to raise questions about the supernatural, free will, and the nature of evil.//
 * //The witches make the play different from Shakespeare's other tragedies: they open the world of the supernatural and spirits, and explore the links between that world and the human world. Macbeth is the only tragedy which does this.//
 * //They clearly influence the play's action but cannot be blamed entirely for it//
 * //'they are in intimate contact with that dark underworld with the existence of which the play is centrally concerned'//
 * //They remind us of the fates but are not them, since they have 'masters' and 'familiars'//
 * //They are central to establishing the themes and dark atmosphere of the play//

=Themes=

Ambition: Raj Shakespeare shows ambition as a corrupting and a destructing theme in Macbeth. Ambition as a theme mainly evolves around two characters in the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In Act1 we Macbeth is just Thane of Glamis and a brave and a worthy warrior; immediately after his meeting with the witches( who predict that he would be the king of Scotland) we see a change of personality in Macbeth. "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step. On which.....................Let no light see my black and deep desires...." (Act1 Scence4). This line tells us that Macbeth is eager to fufill his ego of being throned and he would take any extreme measures to achieve it. Later on in the play we see that Macbeth's ambitions lead to the death of Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family and chaos in Scotland. Similarly on the other hand we see Lady Macbeth who is also filled with black and deep desires, would to take a risk to fufill her ambitions. We see this when she easily when manipulates her husband into killing Duncan and helps him be strong after the murder. But it is their ambitions that lead to their death. Macbeth's 2nd prediction by the witches (no man born of a woman can ever kill him) makes him more ambitious and eventually leads to his death. On the other hand Lady Macbeth's greed for power and her dark thoughts of crime drive her mad. Hence we can conclude that Shakespeare's idea of using ambition as major theme was used to bring an end to the lifes of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. //"Ruthless seeking after power by Macbeth, urged on by his wife. It is the tragic flaw that causes his downfall. 'I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition'" - Lady Macbeth is the spur. Can you think of any real life examples of ambition run wild in modern history? How do they relate to the play? Could they help you deepen your understanding of it?//

Evil is definitely one of the main themes in Macbeth. The witches enticing of Macbeth to commit treachery, Lady Macbeth taunting of her husband to kill Duncan, Macbeth’s murder of Duncan, Macbeth’s decision to kill Banquo, and Macbeth’s orders to slay the family of Macduff all shows the evil inside the play. The three witches definitely are one of the evils. These witches make Macbeth start thinking about killing. If these witches do not exist at first, all the things would not happen and people like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will stays in the goods. //Do you really think this is true, given their response to the witches? Arguable.// Macbeth’s change from good to evil tends to be really clear to the audience. He was the guy who everyone trusted and loved. But after witches enticing and Lady Macbeth’s taunting he decides to kill Duncan to get more power. That is the spot where Macbeth turns to the evils. And after he kills Banquo and Macduff’s family to make sure he gets what he wants he can never turn back to the good. The ghost he sees shows how evil can make a person insane, and how evil can make all the things complicated. Lady Macbeth shows the same fact. She can never turn back to normal after she plans all the murder for Macbeth. As a whole, evil is the central things that the play flows around. And we can see how characters turn from good to evil and become insane after.  Sourcs: "Evil theme in macbeth?" Yahoo Answers. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080522021048AAgeDNp >. //Shakespeare explores the nature of evil in the play. How much of it comes from inside a man? How much is external influence?//
 * Evil: Joan**

In the beginning of the play, the Scottish kingdom is in order; King Duncan sets his son as an heir and everything is in peace. But, disorder starts to occur in the kingdom due to Macbeth’s desires to take over the throne. Therefore, Duncan ’s death in Act.2 marks the start of the disorders. A loyal soldier murdering his king symbolically breaks the order of nature and in Act.2 Sc.4., the author shows the disorders through the dialogues between old man and Ross talking about a falcon killed by an owl and unusual behavior of Duncan ’s horse. Furthermore, Donaldbain and Malcolm are suspected as murderers of their father creating disorder in the family structure because sons are supposed to respect their father. In addition, Macbeth kills Banquo who had been faithful to his leader and Macduff’s wife and child who are innocent. This creates confusion in society because guilty people live and innocents die. Later, these disorders make Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to fall apart as well. Their marriage is symbolically broken due to the isolations from each other. Macbeth doesn’t even care about his wife when she dies. His family practically falls apart because the disorders he created eventually take away his souls and humanities. But after Macbeth is overthrown, the kingdom regains its order with a new, righteous king. The play shows that the kingdom is in order when Duncan rules it, but is in disorder when Macbeth is the ruler, and in order again at the end of the play with Macduff as a king. Shakespeare used these contrasts to highlight the themes and characters’ flaws in the play.
 * Order and Disorder: Alum**

//Key quote: 'Uproar the universal peace, confound/ All unity on earth'// When we take a look at appearance and reality in Macbeth, we focus on things that aren’t what they appear. The two main examples of this are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, from the way they present them selves and who they are. To Duncan and the other nobles, Macbeth appears to be a strong, righteous, loyal follower of Duncan. This is shown through the wounded soldiers’ speech in Act 1 scene 2 and through Duncan’s presale in Act 1 scene 4. In reality Macbeth is a weak minded person that is willing to do what it takes to get what he wants. He is weak minded because his wife Lady Macbeth is able to manipulate and control him in Act 1 scene 7. Another deceiving thing about Macbeth is he’s plotting against Duncan. Duncan thinks Macbeth can be trusted and that he has nothing to fear from him but in reality, Macbeth contemplates killing Duncan in Act 1 scene 4. Another character that’s not what she seems is Lady Macbeth. Duncan and the other nobles think she is a gentle hostess and the audience thinks she is a cruel person that can deal with any thing. Both of these are wrong. From Lady Macbeth’s “unsex me” monologue in Act 1 scene 5 shows us she really wants Duncan to be killed. From Act 5 scene 1 where she sleep walks and reveals her deeds to the doctor and a maid, we can see that she really can’t live with her self for what she has done.
 * Appearance and Reality: Sajed**
 * //evil lurks behind fair looks//
 * //deceit and hypocrisy mean that appearances cannot be trusted//
 * //Duncan's response to the castle on his arrival further emphasises this theme//
 * //This is one of the themes present in all Shakespearean tragedies//
 * //Key Quotes: flower/serpent, dagger/smile - images which embody this theme clearly for the audience//


 * Equivocation: Patrick**

Here is an entire article explaining the use of equivocation in Macbeth that also has many quotes where equivocation is used. http://www.clicknotes.com/macbeth/Equiv.html **
 * Equivocation is a statement that uses ambiguity of a phrase or word in order to mislead. It is almost like telling a “half truth” in which the statement is technically not false but it does not tell everything or it uses ambiguity of which definition of a word which misleads you. In Macbeth, the witches’ and the apparitions’ prophecies are all equivocations. They use ambiguity in order to mislead Macbeth. This is very important to the plot. If the apparitions had told Macbeth that he had to fear men marching to his castle under disguise of trees or that he had to fear someone who was born by c-section, then he would have been much more careful and might not have been killed. Instead, by using equivocations, such as “for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (IV I 91-92), they effectively convince him that he has nothing to fear since everyone has a mother.  Macduff was technically not born, however, in the sense that his mother did not give birth to him. Equivocation also contributes to the theme of deception and the differences between appearances and reality throughout the play. The equivocations deceive others and while appearing to mean one thing, in reality they actually mean something else. Banquo even acknowledges that the witches may be using equivocation in their prophecies when he says, “The instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s in deepest consequence.” (I.iii 136-139)

 In the play, Macbeth becomes known as a tyrant because of his violent assassinations. We find Macbeth, with his opportunity, arrogance and ambition, feed his ego and make him become uncontrollable, becoming a tyrant. While Duncan is a real king, brings order to Scotland and treats his men with respect, Macbeth only brings chaos to the country, murdering those who he thinks is a threat to his power. The main reason why Macbeth became so violent and careless of others was because the witches' unnatural powers and lady Macbeth's perverted mind took over his conscious and lead him to go insane, killing many others in the play. Our psychological analysis of Macbeth leads us to believe that his tyranny and violent acts are products of his ego, provoked by inner conflicts and the influence of others, mainly being lady Macbeth and the witches. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth was referred to as "honorable, valiant and courageous", and because of his ambition for power and supernatural forces, by the end of the play he went insane. All humans can be tyrannical, everyone has wants and desires which may cause them to do things they wouldn't do in normal situations. However, Macbeth did not set a limit to his actions and eventually became a tragic hero.
 * Lorenzo: violence and tyrrany:**
 * //You know Macbeth is a tyrant because of how other characters describe his Scotland in Act 4//
 * //The features of tyrrany include not knowing who you can trust, spies, rash actions, lack of justice - we see all these things in Macbeth and in twentieth century history. This is one of the aspects of the play which keeps it relevant.//
 * //Comparison with other rulers emphasises how much of a tyrant Macbeth is - don't forget the English King as well as Duncan and Malcom.//
 * //Do you think Shakespeare is suggesting Macbeth is a tyrant because he is a soldier who has risen above his social station?//

**Masculinity: Tania** Masculinity in the play Macbeth shows bravery and strength. Masculinity was one of the reasons how Lady Macbeth was capable of manipulating her husband to kill Duncan. She did this by saying that he was a coward and threatening his manhood for she didn’t feel that he was brave and strong because he started having second thoughts about killing Duncan. “ What beast was’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than you were, you would be so much more the man.” ( act 1,sc 7). In act three scene two Macbeth is able to provoke the murderers to kill Banquo by questioning their manhood. Just as his wife had done to him. Masculinity is shown also in act four where Macduff hears of the murders of his wife and children. Malcolm tried to make him feel better by telling him that the “manly” thing to do Is to take revenge upon Macbeth. Malcolm’s suggestion to Macduff was, “Dispute it like a man,” Macduff replies, “I shall do so. But I must also feel it as a man” (IV.iii.221–223). In this play being a man has to do with strength, power and revenge which is shown in act 1 and act 4. Where Macbeth is being called less of a man and Macduff is told to be the man and kill Macbeth as revenge for the murders of his family.
 * //This theme is even further developed with the discussion of Siward's son's death at the end of the play//
 * //Masculinity seems to involve the worlds of war and power//
 * //The violent, cut-throat feudal society in which the play is set breeds bloody stereotypes of what it means to be a man - a soldier, a leader, unemotional, strong. In what ways does the play challenge or support this stereotype?//

The supernatural is an important theme in //Macbeth//, including witchcraft and black magic. The play starts with three witches in thunder and storm, foreshadowing where the play is heading. The incitement point of the play also happens when the three witches appear. Macbeth and Banquo meet the three weird sisters and hear the predictions. After knowing the predictions, the story climbs towards its climax. The climax of //Macbeth//, which is the banquet scene also involves the supernatural: Banquo’s ghost. After Macbeth orders the assassination of Banuuo, he sees his ghost in the banquet and slip into an insane state of mind. Some of the major characters are the three witches that involves with black magic and witchcrafts. Even though they only appeared in two scenes, they have a huge impact on the play and some may debate that they are the one that causes the tragedy of the play. In the first prediction, they affect Macbeth and cause him to kill Duncan (arguable!!). In the second prediction, the three witches make Macbeth even more arrogant, that makes things from bad to worse and eventually in the end, Macbeth dies. Supernatural power affected Macbeth in many different ways, which is also a driving force of the plot.
 * The Supernatural: Katie**


 * //It is important to note that a Jacobean audience would have mostly believed in witchcraft as an embodiment of evil, but some would have been more sceptical.//
 * //More modern critics have speculated that the witches and supernatural elements could represent the unconscious: 'The play suggests that Shakespeare's imagination was far more deeply stirred by the dark solitude of Macbeth's mind than by the external appearance and procedures of the witches.'//
 * //There are four things which assert the witches' power over Macbeth: he becomes 'rapt' in a trance when the witches appear; he sees visions; he is unable to pray; he forgets the taste of fears.//

As we all know throughout the play of Macbeth many characters show loyalty and patriotism towards King Duncan. Some are more loyal than others - in the play certain characters do evil acts that they soon end up regretting. At the beginning Macbeth was a true Patriot for the Scots as he wins a battle against Norway. Through the play questions of patriotism and loyalty continue to show through Macbeth. Once Macduff senses that Macbeth has been disloyal he goes to Malcolm. Malcolm doesn’t believe that Macduff is loyal towards him. Malcolm says to Macduff that once he is the ruler of Scotland he will become tyrannical acts. Macduff doesn’t believe that this is wise but he still seldom goes along with him and begins to grieve for his country. This act also shows that his murder of Macbeth is not only for vengeance. Macbeth murdered Lady Macduff and her children in cold blood. As Macduff grieves for his country it shows how much patriotism he has for his home of Scotland. Macbeth earlier challenges Banquo’s loyalty towards his king when he asks for Banquo to help him when the right time comes. Macbeth continues saying he will benefit from it, but Banquo refuses. If the characters in the play did not have a sense of loyalty and patriotism the course of the play would’ve been entirely different. Macbeth would not have thought twice about killing Duncan. Banquo most likely would have lived if he went along with Macbeth’s kinship ideas. Loyalty and patriotism is a theme in the play that constantly shows. //We notice when Macbeth is thinking about whether or not to kill Duncan loyalty as a subject, a host and a family member all come up. This is why his murder is so disruptive - it breaks natural patterns of what it means to be loyal and good in so many different ways.//
 * Loyalty and Patriotism: Dillon**

Innocence and goodness are almost exactly the same yet they can be completely different in some situations. Innocence can be portrayed as Macbeth actually being innocent of being the innocent flower on the surface, but the serpent under it. He first is a noble soldier, with goodness within him, but is manipulated by Lady Macbeth to commit a crime which erases the goodness and innocence within him. Macbeth is reluctant to get go into King Duncan's room to kill him, showing a sign of goodness, questioning himself and then seeing a imaginary dagger in front of him. Goodness and innocence in a situation with soldiers are very different. The noble soldiers fight for justice and for the good of the people, but they aren't innocent about the fact that they killed so many people. They are doing this to defeat the tyrant Macbeth who is creating so many atrocities and answering every problem he has with violence. This battle is goodness, but innocence doesn't mean the same in this situation. Innocence can be faked, but goodness doesn't seem like it can be.
 * Innocence and goodness: Alex**
 * //Innocence is symbolized by certain images in the play - light, the flower, and natural sleep//
 * //When Macbeth and Lady Macbeth lose their innocence they enter the world of darkness, the evil symbolized by the serpent, and their ability to sleep.//
 * //The links to the original garden of Eden are obvious - is Shakespeare joining the ranks of men who blame women for mankind's loss of innocence?//
 * //Goodness is contratsed mainly through characters and their actions//

=Imagery= //In all Shakespeare's plays, images do not just make vivid the moment or thing they describe. They give pleasure as they stir the audience's imagination, deepen dramatic impact, and provide insight into character and theme. Vivid words and phrases conjure up emotionally charged mental pictures. They carry powerful significance, far deeper than their surface meanings. This meaning is further developed by the repetition of certain images throughout the play.//

Darkness and light
Henry Chan The images of light and dark are used frequently in the play Macbeth to illustrate order and disorder in Scotland and in a character's mind. It also illustrates the good and evil in the play. When King Duncan announces that Malcolm is the heir to the throne, the king says that "signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine" symbolizing that Malcolm is a good king. A while later, Macbeth asks "stars, hide your fires/ let not light see my black and deep desires". This contrasts the use of light by the two characters. Macbeth, being evil later on, asks darkness to cover his evil desires. Lady Macbeth also asks darkness for aid. She says, after she read the letter, "Come, thick night...Nor heaven peep through the blanket of dark". This shows that she wants night, a dark time of the day, to hide her and that heaven, symbol of light, shall not see through the dark cover she puts on. This clearly contrasts light and dark. It also shows us that Lady Macbeth is indeed an evil character. However, Lady Macbeth becomes fearful of the night's darkness when she has her sleep walking sessions during her sleep. She carries a lamp with her, or candle, when she walks. This shows that she is no longer evil and she is regretting what she has done. Most of the scenes set in Macbeth occured in darkness and at night. The moon has gone down when Macbeth kills Duncan signifying that the dim light of the moon in the sky has also gone out too. Furthermore, Banquo tells Fleance that even stars have gone out. This shows that darkness took over when Macbeth kills Duncan. It is still dark days after Duncan was killed as Ross says to an Old man with lanterns in their hand. The murder of Banquo also took place in the dark. It is interesting the note that Fleance is the only one with a lamp on his hand during the scene. This signifies that he will be a good king, if the witches are correct, to Scotland. In the scene, when the lamp went out, Banquo was killed. With these evidence in mind, one can see that whenever the scene is set at night without any light, disorder is meant to occur. At the same time, when the scene is set in daytime, as it is the case when Macduff and Malcolm discuss plans to invade Scotland in England, we can see that order is about to be restored.

Work cite "Sight, Light, Darkness, and Blindess." __Macbeth Navigator: Themes:Sight, Light, Darkness, and Blindess__. Clicknotes.com. 6 Dec. 2008 .

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">First, ‘Disease’ in this play parallels the growing evil within Macbeth. When Macbeth initially attempts to kill Duncan, he is highly unstable and fearful of the consequences Duncan’s murder would bring to him. Thus, the disease of evil has not fully consumed Macbeth yet. However, after a conversation with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth commits the murder that changes him to a more evil character willing to do anything for his ambitions. This disease amplifies within Macbeth as he mercilessly kills his friend Banquo or Macduff’s innocent family for his ambitions. This ‘disease’ connects with the greater ‘disease’ that corrupts Scotland as well. For example, after Duncan’s death, Ross and the Old Man talk about how unnatural the world has become. In act 4, Ross even mentions that Scotland is now a “Poor country, our grave.” As Macbeth becomes more corrupt with evil, Scotland becomes sicker. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The image of medicine is connected with peace and order. Under Duncan, Scotland was a healthy country. When Macbeth plays havoc with Scotland, Malcolm, the true King, brings the medicine that brings peace back to Scotland. By taking down Macbeth, Malcolm and Macduff provide the cure to the disease tyranny has brought to Scotland. //Don't forget the English King can heal, creating more contrast.//
 * __Disease and Medicine: Hong Kyun__**
 * //The witches bring disease - 'filthy air' - and 'poisoned entrails', for example. Macbeth comments 'infected be the air on which they ride'. These references suggest the witches are at least particlly responsible for Macbeth's and the country's disease//
 * //The nature of sickness infecting the mind is explored through the Macbeths' spiritual and phsychological sicknesses//

//The repeated references to darkness, blood, and disease not only develop the audience's understanding of the themes of the play but contribute to developing the sense of uncertainty and evil which pervade the play. They have a unifying effect on the plot amd also create foreboding.//


 * Blood: Koumei**

Blood is spilled everywhere in Macbeth. The spilling of a few drops of blood becomes the size of a lake because of the guilt that Macbeth feels has driven him insane. Blood symbolizes guilt through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. After they killed King Duncan, they begin to feel that their crimes have stained them in a way that cannot be merely washed by water. In Act2, Sc. 2 line 78 Macbeth mentioned that even the ocean cannot wash his guilt, as instead it will turn the blue sea into red. Lady Macbeth told him a little water would drop off the blood away but the stain of the blood foreshadows later in the story. Lady Macbeth, the person who plotted assassinating Duncan is now seeing blood on her hand which she tries to wash away (Act 5, Sc. 1). Since Lady Macbeth and Macbeth never confessed their murder of Duncan the blood will never go away. A blood stained cloth is a metaphor for this scene. This is what Lady Macbeth is seeing through her eyes. Because of the guilt Macbeth goes insane and starts killing innocent people whom he thinks are a threat to him and Lady Macbeth starts to hallucinate and in the end she killed herself. Blood represents the meaning of guilt however through Shakespeare  ’   s language it could also symbolize other meaning.
 * //'other meanings' could be the violence of battle, which both begins and ends the play.//
 * //Blood also controls the middle of the play, which is filled with bloody murders.//
 * //Macbeth describes Duncan's blood as 'golden', signifying its value//
 * //Images of wading though a river of blood, turning the seas red, are hyperbole which clearly show his obsession and have great emotional force//
 * //There seems to be a difference between sacrificial blood needed to cure Scotland through righteous war (5.2) and the blood of guilty murder - perhaps Shakespeare is contrasting two kinds of death/ bloodshed?//

**__Babies and children: Mego__**
· ---> "Your highness' part / Is to receive our duties; and our duties / Are to your throne and state children and servants" (1.4.23-25). In act one scene four King Duncan thanks Macbeth for all that he did in the battle and Macbeth replies with the quote above. When Macbeth talks about the children and the servants it’s a metaphor because the King is supposed to be a father-like-figure and really care about the people of his kingdom. He treats them like they are his children and his “children”(the people) are supposed to be obedient and listen to their “father”(the King). This is the common way of life during their time. · ---> "He has no children. All my pretty ones? / Did you say all? O hell-kite! All? / What, all my pretty chickens and their dam / At one fell swoop?" (4.3.217-220). This quote is said after Macbeth has killed Macduff’s children. In the first line he says that Macbeth doesn’t have any children and later he explains that Macbeth can’t ever understand what it is like to lose a child because he doesn’t have any. So Macbeth can never feel the pain that Macduff felt so Macduff can’t ever get revenge.
 * //Babies and children generally symbolize innocence - in this case Macduff's childrens' murder shows the depravity and evil to which Macbeth has sunk.//
 * //There is also lots of discussion over Lady macbeth's comment about feeding a child - did she have a child? If so, where is it? How has its loss affected her?//
 * //Finally, there are lots of father/son relationships in the play which are disrupted one way or another, and Shakespeare explores men's different emotional responses to this//
 * //The father/ son relationships also allow Shakespeare to explore issues of ascension to the throne and fertility - if Macbeth has no-one to pass on his crown, is it all for nothing? Is it perhaps his childlessness which prompts his musings on the meaninglessness of life?//

Sleep is a symbol of guilt and innocence through out the play. If a character if guilty of something than that person is deprived of sleep. This is because they have a guilty conscience. When Macbeth went to kill Duncan he said he heard a voice say, “ Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep”(Act II scene ii line 47) and it also said, “The innocent sleep.” Macbeth heard these voices speak of his lack of sleep to come, because he knows he will be unable to sleep at night with his guilty conscience. Lady Macbeth also has sleeping problems in the story and hers were also caused by guilt. Lady Macbeth toward the end of the play was sleepwalking at night. In her sleep she would be dreaming of trying to get the blood off of her hand from the murder. She also says, “ Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this hand. O, O, O!” (Act V, Scene I, Line 53) and this shows her guilt for planning the death of Duncan. She was unable to get these thoughts out of her head, so they are shown through her sleepwalking. By her attempting to remove the blood on her hands in her dreams in the night, this shows how guilty she feels about the murder. Sleep is a sign of a clear conscious and this is proven through Lady Macbeth and Macbeth.
 * __Sleep: Stephen__**

> > ** __Animals, birds and insects: Michael Chai__ ** > Shakespeare uses animals, birds, and insects to characterize people in Macbeth. For example, he compares Macbeth and Banquo to “eagles” and “lions” (I,ii, 39) to show their courageous acts in the battle against the Norwegians. By doing so, Shakespeare tries to paint a clearer and vivid image for the audience using figurative language. Some other example include Lady Macbeth wanting Macbeth to be cruel like a “serpent” (I, v, 72), and Lady Macbeth calling the messenger a” raven” (I, v, 39), symbolically hinting at the bad omens (Duncan’s death) that the raven is usually associated with. > In addition, Shakespeare uses animals as a symbol of nature, which in turn is a greater symbol for peace and order. When Duncan is killed, there was an “owl that shrieked” (II, ii, 4), thus meaning that there was a disturbance in nature and order. Furthermore, while Macduff’s son is portrayed by her mother as a bird and she herself as the mother bird (IV, ii, 11-13), they represent peace. However, when the son is killed and thus nature is disrupted, there is no peace within the family anymore. Finally, the witches show that they are against nature and peace because they kill animals, such as the “swine” (I, iii, 3). > As a whole, most of the time when animals, birds, and insects are introduced in Macbeth, they signify and represent something greater. Characters are compared and contrasted with them, and overall these natural beings are a greater symbol for peace and order.
 * damnation is portended by the curse of sleeplessness
 * Sleep is also a healing balm which the Macbeths are denied.
 * sleep is mentioned 32 times, more than in any other Shakespeare play
 * Both of the Macbeths diminish in sanity as the amount of sleep they get diminishes
 * //Banquo and Duncan value the birds that seem to bring peace to Macbeth's castle//
 * //Macbeth personifies murder with a wolf walking by his side//
 * //Macbeth's mind is 'full of scorpions' - signifying not only his disturbed state but that he has sunk to a comparison with the lowest of animals; insects - one critic calls this 'the most horrifying, and yet pathetic, line in the play'//
 * //Duncan's murder is 'a breach in nature'//

In the play, clothes are used as symbols and metaphors.. For example, there is a conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, saying that 'Golden opinions from all sorts of people/ Which would be worn now in their newest gloss/ Not cast aside." (Act I scene 7 line 32~35). //Here, Macbeth talks about how he needs to get used to the new honors which Duncan has bestowed upon him - as a soldier and loyal patriot he vaules the good opinion of others and does not want to do anything to lose it//. However, Macbeth is convinced by Lady Macbeth (who would do anything to acheive her goals) to murder King Duncan and become king. Also in Act 1,Scene 3, when three witches predicts that Macbeth would be a Thane of Cawdor, he expresses his feeling of suspicion as, 'borrowed robes' and 'strange garment'. Both of them are outer clothes, which can be contrast with Macbeth who seems like he is prepared outside,but he isn't in inside. I think by the witches' predictions, Macbeth becomes more greedy and blinded of becoming a king, his goal. At the end of the play, there is a line where Angus says 'Now does he feels his title/ Hang loose about him/ like a giant's robe upon a dawrfish theif'. This is when Angus talks about Macbeth's son is ready to inherit Macbeth's position, which is described as robe. Also in this line, robe have described as authority of the king.
 * Clothes: Derek Wang**
 * //Shakespeare uses the image of clothes to show feelings of discomfort, unfamiliarity, or inappropriateness.//
 * //Angus's comments mock Macbeth, making him appear small and ridiculous; in addition they emphasise that he has overstepped the bounds of his ability by taking on the role of king.//
 * //The images of clothes link in with those of actors - Macbeth is like a player pretending to be king.//
 * //A modern production made concrete the image of clothing by having the king's magnificent robe hanging on stage throughout, so giving the impression that the office of king was always distinct from the man who temporarily occupied it.//

=Context= <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eleventh century Scotland was characterized by turmoil. At the turn of the century, Malcolm II took the throne. During his reign, he pushed the borders of Scotland south to the River Tweed to include Strathclyde, a British kingdom. In 1034, Duncan I inherited Malcolm II’s throne. However, he was an incompetent leader. During his short reign of six years, he provoked much opposition against him. Then, in 1040, Macbeth rebelled successfully against Duncan I and took over his throne. During his reign Scotland was quite peaceful and stable compared to its years under Duncan I. However, in 1057 Malcolm III defeated Macbeth at the battle of Lumphanan. Malcolm III then took the throne after killing Macbeth’s step-son in 1058. While in power, he continuously launched raids against northern England. However, these raids were put to an end when William I of England, also known as William the Conqueror, launched a counterattack against Scotland. Aside from border disputes, this attack was also prompted by another political motivation: Malcolm III’s second wife, Margaret, was the daughter of a political enemy of William I. Margaret might have “Romanized” culture to the Nordic Scottish court. This is evident in the names of their children. The sons of Malcolm III and his first wife were named as Duncan, Donald and Malcolm, while the sons of Malcolm III and his second wife were named as Edward, Edmund, David and Alexander—all of which are more Roman names. After destroying Northumberland, Malcolm III’s death marked the end of 11th century of Scotland.
 * 11th century Scotland: Michael Siu**

Works Cited "Scotland in 11th Century." __Scotland History__. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://www.scotlandhistory.co.uk/ch04-malcolm-canmore.html>. "Scotland's History - Scotland United." __BBC__. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/eras/scotland_united/>. //11th century Scotland was a violent and troubled place. Feuding families and clans fought to control trade and territory. The castle was the power base of each rival war-lord (thane). Political murder and revenge killings were commonplace.//

Macbeth (1005-1057) was the king of Scotland from 1040 until his death in 1057, between the reigns of Kings Duncan and Lulach (who was succeeded by Malcolm III). His Scottish name was Mac Bethad mac Findláich. Shakespeare, when writing the play, used elements of early 11th century Scottish history as inspiration to the tragedy of //Macbeth//. Not all of the play is factual but the main storyline is based on real life facts. For Instance, Most of the names are taken from the real story, Malcolm, Duncan and Macbeth. Also in real life Macbeth did kill king Duncan I in battle near Elgin, Morayshire. Also hie was killed by followers of Malcolm, who were trying to reestablish Duncan's son as the king. But the similarities end here, different from the play where Macbeth is portrayed as a vile and tyrant ruler without any pity or mercy, in reality during his 14 years of ruling, Macbeth is known to have ruled equably, imposing law and order and encouraging Christianity. In 1050 he even travelled to Rome to atend the Pope's jubilee. He was also a brave (like in the play before becoming king)leaderand made various successful raids and attacks accross the border with England. In 1054 he was challenged by Siward and other followers of Malcolm who wanted the Son of Duncan back in the throne. He died in 1057 during the battle of Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire, by Malcolm Canmore, who would latter becom King Malcolm III. Sources: "BBC History: Macbeth." __BBC__. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/macbeth.shtml>. "Scotland in 11th Century." __Scotland History__. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://www.scotlandhistory.co.uk/ch03-early-wars-of-races.html >.
 * The Real Macbeth: Fransisco**

//It is important to note that the real Macbeth was written about in a historical text called 'Holinshed's Chronicles'. In this story Macbeth is a good king, but Shakespeare was still inspired by the political events. Similarities include Lady Macbeth - Shakespeare took one line 'she was very ambitious, burning in unquenchable desire to bear the name of queen' to create a very full and complex character.//


 * King James's influence on the play: Stephanie**

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In 1603, as a result of Queen Elizabeth’s death, King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England. King James was descendant of King Duncan and his kinsman Banquo (who evidently are characters in Shakespeare’s play). As a child, King James was told the tale of their murders, which were ordered by Macbeth. As a welcoming tribute to the new King and to assure the King’s new position in the monarchy, Shakespeare wrote //Macbeth// to introduce the new leader of England.======

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Shakespeare fused the historical tale with his own creativity to create an magnificent theatrical performance. Shakespeare included all the elements of hardship and deceit, betrayal and hardship by incorporating murders and such. He added supernatural evil (witches) and incorporated Banquo to depict the triple scepter. All together, Shakespeare created a memorable play that intrigued the people and the King.======

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King James was known for sleeping through plays, but it is said that he was very enthusiastic about the performance of //Macbeth//. In the end, Shakespeare increased the success of King James’ political output.======

**Witches and Witchcraft in Shakespeare's time: Ka-Wai**
Although the Renaissance era introduced interest towards learning during Shakespeare’s time, belief in witchcraft and superstition of witches was renewed among the English public. The invention of the mechanical printing press has increased learning from books, including those that promoted ideas about witchcraft. Books that covered astrology, alchemy, and magic also increased such interests and beliefs.

Witches were often blamed for causing bad events, such as plagues, poor harvests, and fires. Since such incidences occurred frequently and inexplicably, most Elizabethans found it convenient to shift the blame onto witches. “Witches” during the Shakespearean times were often old, poor, unprotected, and/or single (or widowed). Since other Elizabethans resented such women, “witches” were prosecuted (usually hung) in witch trials. Although there was a large amount of resentment and suspicion against witches during Shakespearean times, the punishment and attitude toward witches in England were slightly lenient compared to those in Europe. Queen Elizabeth, who reigned during Shakespeare’s time, may explain for this; she took an interest in astrology and her mother was accused of being a witch.

Unlike the rest of Europe, there was a concept of the differentiation between “white witches” and “black witches” in England. “White witches” were wise women who could brew medicine from herbs and plants. They were considered to be intelligent and helpful members of communities. “Black witches” were believed to have engaged in secret arts to harm others and were the original targets among Elizabethans. However, as time went on during the witch hunts, hysteria caused people to forget the distinction between “white” and “black” witches.

//Do remember, though, that Macbeth is a Jacobean play and shows the strength of King James's interest in the supernatural. In 1597 he published the book 'Demonologie' about witches. He believed that storms which delayed his visit to Denmark to get married in 1589 were caused by witches. While in Denmark he read documents about covens, compacts with the devil, and secret marks on the bodies of those who might have had contact with witches. (Out damned spot??) He came to believe that witches were conspiring against him, and thus witchcraft became associated with treason. The persecution of witches was used as an excuse to execute many innocent women - 20 for every man. Some productions portray Lady Macbeth as a demon, exerting devil-like control over husband's sexuality. Others show Macbeth's trance and visions as controlled by the witches. I think Shakespeare included the witches and supernatural so that he could explore the themes of free will and the dark forces in the world.//

Bibliography “Elizabethan Witchcraft and Witches.” 6 Dec 2008 <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-witchcraft-and-witches.htm>. “Time traveller's guide to Tudor England.” 6 Dec 2008 <http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide16/part09.html>.

**__English VS Sociology Jerry Hsu__** Front stage and back stage are the sociology terms which explain human interaction with oneself and others. Front stage is a phrase explaining that when a person is in front of other people he or she tent to start acting. They may be more polite, friendlier or even more mature. On the other hand, back stage is when a person is not in front of other people. This will leads to that person to show his or her real personality. It is just like actors on the stage. When the actor is on the stage, which is a front stage, the actor will start performing. Then when the actor is off the stage, which is a back stage, the actor will become who he or she really is. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are experiencing the difference of being front and back stage. The best line to prove they are practicing different stages is the line “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it”. “Look like the innocent flower “which refers to the front stage of the Macbeths which is to act innocent in front of King Duncan so he won’t suspect the plan to murder him. “But be the serpent under it” means the back stage of the Macbeths which is to attack whenever they have the chance. Macbeth did not only suffer from being front and back stages. He is also suffering from role exit. Role exit is the trouble which many people find themselves hard to give up or stop “acting” on a certain role. In Act 5 scene 5 Macbeth said that “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/ that struts and frets his hour upon the stage/ And then is heard no more” which is an evidence which shows us that Macbeth is having trouble to exit a role. (Jerry Hsu) Answers Banquo - Shakespeare changed Banquo to be loyal since King James was descended from him, and since Macbeth's isolation increases the dramatic tension of the play.