Macbeth notes

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Macbeth notes
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IMPORTANT CHARACTERS

• Duncan King of Scotland
• Malcolm elder son
• Donalbain younger son
• Macbeth General of Scottish Army, Thane of
  Glamis/Cawdor, later King of Scotland
• Lady Macbeth
• Banquo General of the Scottish Army
• Fleance his son
• Macduff Thane of Fife
• Lennox Thanes
• Ross
• Menteith
• Angus
• Caithness
• Siward Earl of Northumberland (England)
• Young Siward his son
• Three Witches the Weird Sisters
• Hecate Queen of Witchcraft

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ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

• Tragedya play that documents the fall and death
  of a protagonist exemplifies the sense that
  human beings are inevitably doomed through their
  own failures or errors, or even the ironic action
  of their virtues, or through the nature of fate,
  destiny, or the human condition to suffer, fail,
  and die
• Tragic heroa central character who is dignified
  and noble however, because of a character defect
  (tragic flaw), the character makes a definite
  choice that brings about his or her own downfall
• Tragic flawcaused by poor judgment, bad
  character, inborn weakness, or an excess of an
  admirable quality

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THEMES

• Ambition ruthless seeking after power
• Evil urge to destroy whatever is good brooding
  presence of murderous intention and action
• Appearance and Reality evil lurks behind fair
  looks deceit and hypocrisy mean that appearances
  cannot be trusted
• Guilt and Conscience knowing actions are wrong
  but carrying through nonetheless suffers agonies
  of conscience as a result
• Order and Disorder struggle to maintain or
  destroy social and natural bonds destruction of
  morality and mutual trust

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Themes (contd)

• Violence and Tyranny warfare, destruction,
  oppression
• Man/Masculinity cut-throat feudal society of
  hierarchical male power breeds bloody stereotypes
  of what it means to be a man alternate visions
  of manhood
• Retribution payback for ones actions
• Supernatural the role of the witches
• Fate and Freewill downfall by choice, or destiny?