1. Themes Notes Date: Objectives
Take notes on the themes of Macbeth
Understand the point, ideas and reasons for reading Macbeth
Warm-up – take down the quote and answer the question.
“what’s done, is done” (Lady Macbeth, Act 3.2)
Do you agree with the quote? Write what you think it means?

2. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
In Macbeth things are not always what they seem. As the witches say in the opening scene; ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’. The truth of this paradox is shown throughout the play.
We will now examine the false appearances in the play. The world Shakespeare conveys is full of traitors and Macbeth himself is both a victim of deception and a deceiver.
(Does this play make you more suspicious of people? Write.)

3. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
The play starts with traitors; with a war between Duncan and men once thought to be loyal to him. King Duncan tells his son;
“There’s no art/ To find the mind’s construction in the face” (Act 1.4)
Malcolm learns from his father’s mistakes and tests the loyalty and integrity of Macduff.
(What is the reaction of a good person when a friend starts talking badly about themselves?)

4. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
Macbeth is a victim. The witches conceal the truth from him, speaking half truths, predicting great things without telling him the consequences. Only at the end of the play does he understand;
“And be these juggling fiends no more believed
That palter with us in a double sense” (Act 5.8)
(juggling fiends = witches. That play with us – things with two meanings)
(Why is telling some truth a good way to lie?)

5. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
Macbeth is also a deceiver, as is his wife. She gives him the advise needed to trick someone;
“To beguile the time,
Look like the time, bear welcome in you eye,
Your hand, your tongue – Look like th’innocent flower
But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1.5)
(Look at this guide to deception. Write what you think it means?) (Beguile = charm, enchant, trick)

6. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
Macbeth follows his wife’s advice, killing both a houseguest and his king. He pretends to be sad when news of Duncan’s murder reaches others but at the moment he decided to kill Duncan he said;
“Away and mock the time with fairest show,
False face must hide what the false heart doth show”
(Act 1, 7)
(Think about ‘false faces’ and ‘false hearts’. What does that mean)

7. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
When Duncan is dead, Macbeth has all the more need to speak falsely and deceive. He casually speaks with Banquo, insisting on his presence at the feast, while plotting to kill him. He lies to the murderers, telling them that all their problems were caused by Banquo
“know that it was he, in the times past, which held you so under fortune”
(He also questions their manhood and tells them they would have his respect if they did it? Are these good arguments?)

8. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
Macbeth is undone by things other than what they seem. Birnam Wood seems to move towards Dunsinane, though it is not actually happening. Macduff also appears to have been born of a woman, though he was actually delivered by C. section.
“Macduff was from his mother’s womb
Untiely ripped.” (Act 5.8)
(Have you ever been undone by appearances?)

9. Cooldown
I think,
I know,
I wonder.