Transcript Macbeth - Licei e Medie Malpighi: Home

Act 1, scene 6 and 7
 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.
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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.

For this scene, the following roles need to be
read:
 Duncan
 Banquo
 Lady Macbeth

Lines 1 – 10 are full of praise for Macbeth’s
Banquo: This guest of summer,
castle.
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve
Duncan: This castle hath a
pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends
itself
Unto our gentle senses.
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By his loved mansionry that the heaven’s
breath
Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage but this bird
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant
cradle;
Where they most breed and haunt, I have
observed
The air is delicate.
As an audience, which lines do you feel are
particularly effective in showing that all is not
what it seems at the castle (irony)?
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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?
 How does this scene contribute
towards the audiences
understanding of:
Duncan
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth

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

How does Macbeth’s soliloquy show that he is
uneasy about the task that has been set
before him?
If only there were no
consequences resulting from the
murder, I’d risk it, not worrying
about the future (lines 1 -7)

Macbeth argues against killing Duncan, and considers
the following points:
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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’.
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?
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 Macbeth does
not tell any of his
doubts to his
wife. Why do you
suppose this is?

Macbeth:
Away, and mock the time with fairest show,
False face must hide what the false heart doth know
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Both Macbeth and his wife have left a feast in
which they are meant to be the host. How do
you suppose the guests are reacting to their
absence?
At any moment someone may come
searching for the pair, and overhear the
secret.
 How would you advise the actors to behave in this
scene?

If you had to sum up the entire Act in one
paragraph, what would you write?
Add any new facts to your
outline of Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth, in terms of
their character.