![]() The audience may well have a strong belief in fate - they would fear that their own life is not necessarily in their control.Īnalysis: The idea of Hecate saying she will "spend" a night on Macbeth's fate suggests she is in full control of what happens to him - it has associations with careful planning and scheming to ensure his "fatal end". Act Three Scene Five: HECATE: "This night I'll spend/Unto a dismal and a fatal end." Interpretation: The most powerful witch of all, Hecate, is intent on making sure that the outcome of the action is both painful and deadly. His mind has become destroyed, and his language is now unintelligent and unfocused. He is now speaking in basic, usually monosyllabic words, and in prose, language only usually spoken by Shakespeare's uneducated characters (see the Porter for an example in Act Two Scene Three). However, Macbeth's sentences have become stuttering, fractured and broken. He is now confused and frightened, unsure of what is occurring around him.Īnalysis: Most of Shakespeare's characters, and definitely his powerful characters, speak in Iambic Pentameter, and certainly in verse. Act Three Scene Four: MACBETH: "Prithee, see there! Behold! Look! Lo! How say you?/Why - what care I?" Interpretation: Macbeth has lost all control over his surroundings. ![]() "Will" confirms that these events are inevitable - evil is unstoppable, and "will" lead to poisonous consequences. However, he suggests it will grow into a "serpent", linking back to the original sin of Adam and Eve, and will "breed" poison, emphasising to the audience that anger and violence in the play will grow and develop even further. Macbeth also understands that within human nature is the threat of evil corrupting someone's soul.Īnalysis: Macbeth initially describes Fleance as a "worm", suggesting something that is small and helpless. Act Three Scene Four: MACBETH: "There the grown serpent lies: the worm, that's fled,/Hath nature that in time will venom breed." Interpretation: Macbeth realises, in failing to kill Fleance, he has allowed evil and poisonous thoughts to grow against his reign as king. The tri-colon of "cabined, cribbed, confined" suggests a feeling of claustrophobia and restriction, as if Macbeth has nowhere to hide and is now vulnerable, emphasised by the alliteration. The word "whole" suggests he was the complete soldier, and the associations with "marble" and "rock" are of strong, unbreakable, natural substances - all the things Macbeth used to be, a traditionally strong male. ![]() Macbeth was a true warrior, but now he is a weak, vulnerable man.Īnalysis: The first part of the quotation shows Macbeth as he used to be. Act Three Scene Four: MACBETH: "Whole as the marble, founded as the rock.but now I am cabined, cribbed, confined." Interpretation: This quotation links back to the very beginning of the play. The fact that his actions are "rugged", suggesting violence, but his current behaviour is "joviaľ", with associations of friendship and togetherness, reminds the audience of his deceitful nature. "Sleek o'er " creates an image of taking something ugly and unpleasant and giving it an appearance of positivity - to be King, Macbeth must look the part. Act Three Scene Two: LADY MACBETH: "Sleek o'er your rugged looks./Be bright and jovial among your guests tonight." Interpretation: Macbeth is beginning to lose his mind - Lady Macbeth understands that as long as he looks in control, power will remain in their hands due to the hierarchal system in which they live.Īnalysis: The juxtaposition of "rugged" and "jovial" links to hypocrisy and the two-faced nature of Macbeth's behaviour.
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