Macbeth

=Discussion Questions= =Connections=
 * 1) The supernatural plays an important role in //Macbeth//. To what extent does it motivate Macbeth's actions? To what extent does Macbeth's free will work with or against the supernatural forces in the play?
 * 2) Macbeth often seems to be influenced not only by his ambition but also by what Lady Macbeth and the Weird Sisters tell/want/advise him to do, even though he is not always certain that it is the right thing. Is it significant that there are so many women influencing his actions behind the scenes? Do they control him, or does he make his own choices? How does his relationship with these women reflect upon his character? Does his relationship with them ultimately lead to his death?
 * 3) Macbeth goes back and forth between passively accepting his fate and actively taking his fate into his own hands. How does his confusion or indecision on this matter affect his general outlook on life? How does it influence his decisions? How does it affect the way he is portrayed and his development as a character?
 * 4) Several times throughout the play, Lady Macbeth specifically asks to be more "manly." What is her definition of manliness? What does she think it means to "be a man?" How does this desire reflect her own character development and the relationship of her character to the outcome of the play?
 * 5) Why is it important that scenes take place off-stage?
 * 1) The characters in //Macbeth// are influenced by ambition in the same way that the characters in //Lord of the Flies// are influenced by some of their own primal instincts. In moderation both could be good qualities, but in both texts the characters lose sight of right and wrong and can't or won't see where to draw the line.
 * 2) The short story "The Voice from the Wall" connects to //Macbeth// in that there is a conflict between what the main characters can see and what they hear. In the short story Lena is forced to hear things, but learns to control what she sees. In //Macbeth// both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth consciously choose not to see things to prevent themselves from guilt.
 * 3) In //Macbeth// blood is a frequent image and metaphor. It stands for death, for guilt, for the past, for power, etc. In //Lord of the Flies//, blood is also frequently used symbolically. The boys repeat the chant "kill the pig, spill her blood," Jack smears blood on another boy's face, the descriptions of both Simon's and Piggy's deaths include descriptions of their blood. In //Catcher in the Rye//, Holden is hit or beaten up and bloodied multiple times. Obviously, blood means a lot more than just, well, blood! Compare/contrast.
 * 4) LaddyMacbeth is much like the Woman in the wallpaper. They both har hidden under their husbands upression and assumed weak because of their gender. LMB and the narrator both break free of their husbands and become individuals. Their motives were different because LMB breaks free for power, while the narrator does it to jsut be an individual.
 * 5) In //Macbeth// and //Lord of the Flies// there is a struggle for power of the individual over the power of the group. In contrast, many short stories such as "Story of an Hour" and the "Yellow Wallpaper" are about an individual struggling just to take power over her own life.
 * 6) Macbeth has an internal conflict just like Holden in //Catcher in the Rye//. Neither Macbeth nor Holden really knows what the right decision is. Both are haunted by the past. Neither is satisfied with what he has. Macbeth has trouble choosing the right path. He focues on the endpoint, not how to get there. Holden on the other hand, continuously lives in the now, and chooses not to dwell on his future.
 * 7) In Macbeth, the only seemingly "strong" character is Lady Macbeth, upon whom Macbeth depends greatly. Many charachters in our short stories such as the woman in "The Telephone Call" and "Story of an Hour" are dependant on theircounterparts for support.
 * 8) Macbeth contantly doubts himself, his decisions, and what he has done, just as Piggy does internally whenever he tries to speak in front of a crowd or try to make an impression on Ralph.
 * 9) //Macbeth// is related to //Lord of the Flies// because when anyone tried to challenge Macbeth's (like Jack's) power, something bad would happen. Macbeth gets chalended by Banquo and Mcduff and so Mavcbeth goes on a killing ramapage. When Jack is challenged he reorts to violence also, to get rid of those who challenge his authority. is assumed leader, in LOTF Jack is assumed leader becasue he can sing a muscical note very well. ' Simon and Piggy died just like Banquo, Duncan, Duncan's guards and many other people in //Macbeth.//
 * 10) In "A Telephone Call" the woman's mind is taking control. She was going crazy because she was afraid that the guy didn't like her. Macbeth also became paranoid and his mind took over.
 * 11) In both Macbeth and in Lord of the Flies, people are trying to gain power and they do so by attacking everyone in their path.
 * 12) Macbeth can never be satisfied, like Holden can never be satisfied. They are both, ALWAYS unhappy with what they have and want more.
 * 13) Lady Macbeth goes insane in the play, this is parallel to the lady from the Yellow Wallpaper.
 * 14) After Allie passes away, Holden appears to have breakdowns and turns into a rather, cynical person. This is parallel to Macbeth going insane after Lady Macbeth dies.

THEMES... =Important Quotes= > Let not light see my black and deep desires. > The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be > Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (1.4.57-60) Hover through the fog and filthy air (1.1.12-13) 3. Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/ Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood. Stop up th' access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th' effect and it. Come to my woman's breats And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature's mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Not heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry, 'Hold, hold!' (1.5.45-61) 4. "She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. (5.5.20-31) =Important Vocabulary= =Major Characters=
 * 1) ## ambition and morality/freewill.
 * 2) Guilt
 * 3) Contradictions
 * 4) Darkness/Light
 * 5) Fate/Free will
 * 6) Heaven/Hell
 * 7) Masculine power/Feminine Power
 * 8) Illusions
 * 9) Masculinity
 * 10) Motherhood
 * 11) Power/Control
 * 12) The Unknown
 * 13) Missing scenes
 * 14) off stage, on stage
 * 15) What you can see
 * 16) eyes open/closed
 * 17) Darkness/light
 * 1) Stars, hide your fires;
 * 1) Fair is foul, and foul is fair
 * 1) Credulous-wiling to believe or trust too readily
 * 2) Malevolent-wishing harm on another
 * 3) Sieve-a person who cannot keep a secret or a utensil or device used for straining
 * 4) Wanton-done maliciously or without justification
 * 5) Quell-to surpress, vanquish, extinguish
 * 1) Lady Macbeth: Manipulates Macbeth into doing certain tasks that she wants. She is just unable to do some of them because she is a woman. She forces Macbeth into killing King Duncan. Before killing King Duncan, Lady Macbeth got the Castle Guards drunk and that caused them not to remember what happened the night when Macbeth murdered King Duncan. They were accused of killing King Duncan afterwards. Late, towards the end of the book, Lady Macbeth sleep walks and gives information away about Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's entire plan on killng King Duncan and becoming King and Queen of Scotland.
 * 2) Macbeth:
 * 3) The Weird Sisters:
 * 4) Duncan
 * 5) Malcolm
 * 6) Banquo
 * 7) Macduff