AFTER THE MURDER OF KING DUNCAN
What is Macbeth thinking and feeling after having killed Duncan? Use some of the quotes from
above to explain your answer.
Look at Act 3, Scene 1, lines 60-72
They hailed him father to a line of kings.
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown
And put a barren scepter in my grip,
Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so,
For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;
Put rancors in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come fate into the list,
And champion me to th' utterance.
What changes in Macbeth’s nature
and attitude towards the act of
murder can you see here compared
to the soliloquys he makes before
killing Duncan?
Look at Act 3, scene 2, lines 45-55.
Study carefully the words and
images Macbeth uses. How has he
become similar to Lady Macbeth?
Quote from the play to support your
answer.
.
Look at the image on the left.
Imagine you had to explain this
picture as it relates to Macbeth to
someone who had never read the
play. What would you say based on
your interpretation of the image?
AFTER THE MURDER OF BANQUO
Choose two of the quotes from above and explain them in a few sentences as they relate to
Macbeth’s thinking and understanding.
Macbeth has been confronted with his terrible crime and it has terrified him. After seeing the
vision of Banquo, it seems Macbeth is becoming delusional and changes as a result of this
experience. Almost immediately, he begins to become concerned about Macduff and has put
spies in place to watch over him. What kind of man has Macbeth become?
MACBETH
Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits.
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook
Unless the deed go with it. From this moment
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. And even now,
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool.
This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool.
But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen?
Come, bring me where they are. (4.1.149-161)
What reasons does Macbeth
have for having so much
courage that he “cannot taint
with fear” (5.3.3)?
Macbeth decides he is going
to act on impulse from now
on. He also makes the swift
and undaunted decision to
kill Macduff’s wife and
children. How has Macbeth
changed if you compare his
thoughts here to his
soliloquy in Act 1, scene 7?
Look at Act 5, scene 3, lines 22-27. There is
a sense of hopelessness in these lines
amidst all the bravado and prophetic
exclaims. Why does Macbeth say this?