Macbeth Act 1 by Katie Raines

Allegory:

katie_raines — 2015-04-17 17:22:54 UTC

An allegory is a story or picture that can be interpreted to mean something moral or political. In Macbeth Act 1 Scene 2, the Captain is telling a story which relates back to the assault that began on Macbeth. The captain essentially describes how Macbeth took down Macdonwald, the traitor.

This is accomplished in lines 25-28, Act 1, Scene 2, "As whence... discomfort swells."

Symbolism:

carverjasmin — 2015-04-17 17:34:27 UTC

Symbolism is described as the use of items, places, or people to represent something outside themselves. Lady Macbeth represents the "devil on your shoulder", a Freudian concept of the unconscious that holds violent urges. Lady Macbeth is strongly urging her husband to kill Duncan and take the throne. Act 1, Scene 7, Lines 47-48, "What beast was't then... to me?"

katie_raines — 2015-04-18 16:00:17 UTC

Kronk's Dilemma

katie_raines — 2015-04-18 16:01:48 UTC

Macbeth (aside): (Quote 1)

katie_raines — 2015-04-20 16:58:12 UTC

"This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good... ...and nothing is but what is not"

This quote is talking about the witches, and their prophecy regarding Macbeth's future as king.

Macbeth – soliloquy (Quote 2)

katie_raines — 2015-04-20 17:01:01 UTC

‘If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well It were done quickly; if the assassination

Could tramme up the consequence, and catch

With his surcease success; that but this blow

Might be the be-all and the end-all here . . .

. . . I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting ambition, which o’er-leaps itself

And falls on the other.’

This soliloquy comes from Macbeth, and he is going back and forth over killing Duncan. He is conflicted with this decision, because Duncan is family, and Macbeth has always been loyal as a subject.

Lady Macbeth to Macbeth: (Quote 3)

katie_raines — 2015-04-20 17:05:37 UTC

‘Was the hope drunk,

Wherein you dress’d yourself? Hath it slept since,

And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

At what it did so freely? . . .

. . . Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would’,

Like the poor cat i’ the adage?’

Lady Macbeth, in this quote, is calling Macbeth a coward for wanting to back out of Duncan's murder. She had feared that his good nature would keep him from achieving the crown she felt he deserved.