Macbeth Group at eNotes

The darkness during the day, as described by Ross, appears to be a solar...

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:44:00 PST

The darkness during the day, as described by Ross, appears to be a solar eclipse. For additional examples of Shakespeare’s use of solar and lunar eclipses to indicate disorder or imminent change, see:King Lear, Act I, Scene IIKing Henry VI, Part II, Act VI, Scene IHamlet, Act I, Scene IOthello, Act V, Scene II

Ross discusses with the old man about the unnatural occurrences that...

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:40:41 PST

Ross discusses with the old man about the unnatural occurrences that have both men afraid: "Within the volume of which time I have seenHours dreadful and things strange, but this sorenight Hath trifled former knowings," "Ross. Ah! good father,Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man'sact,Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock 'tis day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp. Is't night's predominance, or the...

In "Macbeth," what unnatural event occurs after King Duncan's...

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:33:33 PST

In "Macbeth," what unnatural event occurs after King Duncan's death, causing the men to be afraid?

presence of the three witchess,why macbeth has been introduced in this...

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:23:05 PST

presence of the three witchess,why macbeth has been introduced in this scene,the way Shakespeare presents the in torduction.

In Act 1, scene I, when the witches respond as one: "Fair is foul, and...

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:56:25 PST

In Act 1, scene I, when the witches respond as one: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," they have set up the premise upon which Macbeth's quest for power that does not, by rights, belong to him, is based. For Macbeth will go against his better instincts, listening to his greed, but also to his wife, Lady Macbeth, whose amorality urges him ever on to his doom. For anyone of Shakespeare's time to upset, or undo, the social order, was punishable by...

Some of the important sources for Shakespeare's "Macbeth" are...

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:17:38 PST

Some of the important sources for Shakespeare's "Macbeth" are as follows:1. Raphael Holinshed's "Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland." (1577) (2nd edn.1587) Which was based on 2. Hector Boece's "Scotorum Historiae" (1527).The Shakespearean scholar Boswell-Stone has demonstrated that Shakespeare used the 2nd. edition as his main source for "Macbeth."The materials for the witches and...

Shakespeare also used a 1584 text by Reginald Scot, entitled Discovery...

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:40:32 PST

Shakespeare also used a 1584 text by Reginald Scot, entitled Discovery of Witchcraft and a work by King James I called Daemonologie written in 1599. These two works influenced Shakespeare's accounts of the witches.Two contemporary plays, The Queen's Arcadia (1605) by Samuel Daniel and Sophonisba (1606) by John Marston contributed a few lines to the play.

As ever in Shakespeare plays, there are a complex web of sources for...

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:10:38 PST

As ever in Shakespeare plays, there are a complex web of sources for Macbeth, which are constantly being examined and argued about by scholars. The basic historical plot and many individual details come from the "Chronicles" of Raphael Holinshed, though Shakespeare fuses two events (Donwald's murder of King Duff and Macbeth's usurpation of the throne) which are seventy years apart together to make up the plotline of his play. ...

Much of Shakespeare's ideas come from other stories, histories,...

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:04:53 PST

Much of Shakespeare's ideas come from other stories, histories, mythologies and legends. In the case of Macbeth, most critics point to Holingshed's Chronicles, a history, as the chief source. Macbeth is known to have been drafted in honor of and to entertain King James I of England, who was King James VI of Scotland. He is made out to be one of the many kings whose ancestor is Banquo, the honorable "not so happy but happier"...

Are there any sources for Macbeth among contemporary texts?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:57:19 PST

I'd like to know what influenced Shakespeare in writing the play - was he thinking about any other texts?

Duncan is a divinely appointed king. He became king through his...

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:48:51 PST

Duncan is a divinely appointed king. He became king through his lineage, his bloodline, descending to the throne. He is a much loved king. Macduff refers to him after he is murdered as:"The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building!" (Act II, Scene III)Macbeth becomes king through murder. He is not divinely appointed by God through succession of his birth like Duncan. As Macbeth assumes the throne, he...

How are Duncan and Macbeth similar to and different from each other?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:11:33 PST

How are Duncan and Macbeth similar to and different from each other?

In Act III, Scene I, Macbeth is beginning to feel the effects of his...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:52:12 PST

In Act III, Scene I, Macbeth is beginning to feel the effects of his newly acquired power. His attitude is one of smug satisfaction at being crowned and he is planning a banquet, which is both the high point of his time as king and the beginning of his descent into madness.In his speech in this scene, he shares conversation with Banquo about the two murderers, referring to Malcolm and Donalbain."We hear our bloody cousins are...

A soliloquy is the window to the heart and soul of a character....

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:57:05 PST

A soliloquy is the window to the heart and soul of a character. Macbeth's soliloquy in ActIII Sc.1 reveals the agitated state of his mind just before he meets the hired assasins who are to murder Banquo.FEAR: "There is none but he/Whose being I do fear." Macbeth is frightened of Banquo because Banquo has also heard the witches' prophecies and he is afraid that Banquo suspects him of murdering Duncan. Moreover, he knows fully...

Macbeth feels worry and anxiety concerning Banquo: "Our fears in...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:20:23 PST

Macbeth feels worry and anxiety concerning Banquo: "Our fears in Banquo stick deep." Macbeth fears Banquo's "royalty of nature"; that is, Banquo also heard the witches' predictions and Macbeth fears Banquo is too honorable of a man to follow Macbeth in his treachery. Also, the witches "hailed him [Banquo] father to a line of kings." Macbeth, then, also has another concern; he is afraid Banquo's sons will inherit...

How does Macbeth feel in the soliloquy in act III, scene 1?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:43:31 PST

How does Macbeth feel in the soliloquy in act III, scene 1?

This scene also helps to reinforce the idea that the greatest effects of...

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:56:08 PST

This scene also helps to reinforce the idea that the greatest effects of political tyranny are not merely national in scope but are also very personal. Families are destroyed by the tyrant Macbeth throughout the play. In the beginning, Macbeth kills King Duncan, his cousin, and forces the King's two sons to flee the country for safety. Then Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his son. Fleance escapes, but is not heard of again in...

First, remember that Shakespeare wrote "Macbeth" to compliment King...

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:02:55 PST

First, remember that Shakespeare wrote "Macbeth" to compliment King James I, who had become the patron of Shakespeare's acting company in 1603. Shakespeare referenced many of the King's ideas about government and religion in the play. One of King James' interests was witchcraft, about which he wrote extensively. Shakespeare took information from two of the King's accounts on witchcraft and incorporated these ideas in the play. For...

In 2.3 upon learning that his father has just been murdered, Donalbain...

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:39:11 PST

In 2.3 upon learning that his father has just been murdered, Donalbain tells his older brother, Malcolm, that he fears their lives, too, are in danger. Malcolm decides to flee to England, while Donalbain decides to flee to Ireland. It is assumed that Donalbain remains in Ireland, for he is not mentioned again. Malcolm assumes primary importance as he is the heir to the throne. Macduff is immediately suspicious of Macbeth and shortly...

It should also be noted in this regard that Macdonwald is not presented...

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:35:26 PST

It should also be noted in this regard that Macdonwald is not presented in the play physically, but the audience come to know about him in Act I, Sc. ii when the “bleeding Captain” (referred to by Duncan as “the bloody man”) informs Duncan how Macbeth has defeated Macdonwaald and has “fix'd his head upon [their] battlements: "Doubtful it stood, As two spent swimmers that do cling together (10) And choke their art. The...