MacbethAct 1, scene 6 and 7

Lesson Objective

At the end of this lesson we will have studied the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, in terms of how their appearance differs from their reality.

Starter

Imagine that you’re sitting at home, minding your own business when the doorbell rings. When you open the door, you find someone whom you secretly detest standing there. In groups, create a short script about how you would greet this person, inviting them into your home for a cup of tea.

Act 1, scene 6

For this scene, the following roles need to be read: Duncan Banquo Lady Macbeth

Appearance vs reality

Lines 1 – 10 are full of praise for Macbeth’s castle.

As an audience, which lines do you feel are particularly effective in showing that all is not what it seems at the castle (irony)?

Duncan: This castle hath a pleasant seat; the airNimbly and sweetly recommends itselfUnto our gentle senses.

Banquo: This guest of summer,The temple-haunting martlet, does approveBy his loved mansionry that the heaven’s breathSmells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,Buttress, nor coign of vantage but this birdHath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle;Where they most breed and haunt, I have observedThe air is delicate.

Appearance vs reality

Consider the way Duncan flatters and compliments Lady Macbeth. How is this speech an example of dramatic irony?

Consider the way Lady Macbeth in turn flatters and compliments Duncan. How can her words be interpreted by the audience as extremely insincere/hypocritical?

Characterization

How does this scene contribute towards the audiences understanding of:

DuncanLady MacbethMacbeth

Act 1, scene 7

The scene starts with Macbeth agonizing over what he should do. Pay close attention to what he says during the soliloquy...

For this scene we will need the following roles read: Macbeth Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Pick out all the instances in Act 1 Sc. 7 where Lady Macbeth insults or chastises Macbeth.

Important quotes Act 1 Sc7 “We will proceed no further in this business” –

Macbeth states clearly he does not want to kill Duncan.

“I would, while it was smiling in my face,/Have[…]dashed the brains out!” – Lady Macbeth says that she's so good at keeping promises that she would actually kill a nursing child if she'd promised to do it.

“False face must hide what the false heart doth know” – Macbeth tries to maintain the secretive plot.

Quote Quest

Macbeth argues against killing Duncan, and considers the following points:

Vengeance Kinship Loyalty Hospitality Duncan’s good qualities Religion Pity and horror

Search lines 7-25 for evidence that Macbeth is considering all these points.

In the end of his soliloquy, what does Macbeth say is the one and only reason pushing him to commit murder?

During his entire speech, Macbeth rarely states directly that he will kill Duncan – instead he uses many euphemisms (less brutal language), such as referring to the act as ‘it’, ‘assassination’, ‘his surcease’, ‘this blow’, ‘these cases’, ‘the deed’, ‘his taking off’, ‘horrid deed’, and ‘my intent’. WHY?

Macbeth tells his wife he will not murder Duncan. How does she react?

Lady Macbeth is meant to hurl her words at her husband in this scene. Why does she speak this way towards her husband, and what does this tell us about their relationship?

Which of Lady Macbeth’s lines do you feel have the greatest effect on Macbeth?

Macbeth does not tell any of his doubts to his wife. Why do you suppose this is?

Appearance vs reality

Macbeth:Away, and mock the time with fairest show,False face must hide what the false heart doth knowWhat is Macbeth saying in

these lines?

Summary of the Act

Sum up the important parts of Act 1