Macbeth Lecture (Part I)

Introduction:

• Simple theme- the rise and fall of a good man (pretty universal, only thing that differs would be the definition of a "good" man)
• Act I-III- Rise of a "blessed" guy. Starts as a heroic warrior and thane, and pushes his way up to being king.
• Act IV-V- Disintegration of a man/character/life
• Macbeth is a character-driven play. 

Macbeth as a Character:

• Sets up NO relationship with the audience (like in Hamlet). We see the development of his character through circumstance, events, and indirect characterization. (For example the scene with the porter http://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/full.html Act II, Scene iii)
• Critics say Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most compelling characters.
• Macbeth is a perverse example of a tragic hero- starts out with friends, honor, success, wealth, respect, etc. and ends up all alone (emphasized by the enormous army coming to kill him... and just him Act V, Scene iii-viii)
• Macbeth does everything of his own free will. He is an "architect of his own destruction". His death is the ultimate consequence of all the choices he's made. (His wife and the witches might seem to have some influence over him, but really it was Macbeth who ultimately made the decision to kill Duncan and the others, and to pursue his ambitions.)

Murder of King Duncan:

• The main question to ask is "Why was it that Macbeth killed King Duncan?"(Ambition was a part of it, but not the only thing influencing his decisions. See Act I, Scene vii for the mention of this ambition)
• Witches put the idea of Macbeth becoming king into the play, but Lady Macbeth presents some evidence that they may have already discussed the idea (Act I, Scene vi, lines 48-49). Macbeth may have wanted to become king before the witches said anything.
• Macbeth's desire to become king was weighed against his morality. (His ultimate dilemma: "Is what I'm doing wrong? But what will happen if I do this?")
• Macbeth is not a hypocrite. He knows he will have to go against what he feels is right in order to see what will happen. He's smart enough to appreciate the politics and know what is to gain from it. He knows the cost of killing Duncan will be a high one (not for the killing, but what it will do to his community)
• The idea doesn't worry Macbeth, it's the thought of what might happen as a result, what the consequences will be, that make him initially decide not to kill Duncan.
• Danquo is curious about the witches' prophecies but keeps those consequences present in the front of his mind (contrasted with Macbeth who considered the consequences but acted anyway)
• Lady Macbeth functions to keep Macbeth's imagination and desires alive
• Animus is the dominance of a male personality within a person (Lady Macbeth).
• Anima is the dominance of a female personality within a person.
• Macbeth freely decides to kill Duncan, compelled by his deep inner desire to become king (disregards the consequences and the morality of the act).
• When Macbeth sees the dagger floating in front of him, he feels dread and horror, but continues with his plan to kill Duncan anyway, like he is in a trance (Act II, Scene i).
• Macbeth freely chose to embrace evil when he decided to kill Duncan (note: it was when he made the decision, not when the deed was actually done. Reference to the Christian church" "thinking of a sin is the same as committing the sin" idea at the time Shakespeare wrote this).

Macbeth as King:

• Leading a community he has absolutely no stan in because he has already betrayed them by killing their beloved King Duncan.
• Macbeth is a mass murderer. He continues to kill in order to justify the first murder he committed (King Duncan).
• His murdering ways have cost him what made him great in the first place (the friends, the honor, the respect, etc.)
• Macbeth appears to be courageous when it comes to outward enemies (such as Macdonwald), but cannot deal with his inner demons. He just pushes them aside and keeps pushing forward, hoping that the ends will justify the means.
• Lady Macbeth cannot handle the guilt that consumes her for pushing Macbeth to murder. Her externally destructive ways end up turning inward, causing her to basically self-destruct. She goes crazy and kills herself (Act V, Scene i-v)