Macbeth: the one sided game of chess

In the classic Shakespeare play, we see the lordships of Scotland, in eternal conflict killing and finding retribution for an unyielding cycle of violence. Similar to a chess game, each piece has its own specific purpose, and set of movements to allow a wide variety of actions to take place. This is quite similar to Macbeth, except, there is no opposing pieces, no opponent, just internal conflict. We see Macbeth, the primary piece in the story. The experiences he goes through determines the path of the story, as he is the primary character. Similarly we can see Lady Macbeth as the queen. She is not bound by the guilt that holds Macbeth into place, nor is she rooted to the spot under suspicious acts, she can move the most freely through the seems, micromanaging the actions on the board. Next we have the two who fled. The Knights Malcom and Donnalbane have the most erratic patterns of movement, they are the most opportunistic, and pounce on the opportunity to flee to the other boards edge. The Witches fall under the category of bishops. It is a shame the numbers do not match up, but as they are set adjacent to the king and queen piece, making their council most heard. The rooks, with predictable, slow, and ultimately limited movements are Banquo and Macduff. In their mild ambition, Macbeth predicts their movements, and ultimately tries to have both killed. The pawns, Finally, are the murderers, Lords, and sub characters such as the king of England, or the anonymous doctor who do not outwardly have much character potential, but still hold game changing consequences if guided strategically.

act 4 reading notes

1.       Scene 1

a.       Witches three surround a boiling cauldron; Hecatate is present and is approving of their work.

b.      They add occult strange items to the pot, Strange emphasis on the trinity of signs. Grotesque items such as human extremities and organs, as well as a baby.

c.       Macbeth appears.

1.       Wonders if the witches can divulge the meaning of the prophecy.

2.       First apparition summoned is a head. It floats out to warn Macbeth of Macduff, to which Macbeth is not surprised.

3.       The second is a bloody child, He/She states Macbeth has no need to fear the bloody retributions of any woman.

4.       The third apparition is of a child wearing a crown and holding a tree (?). He states Macbeth need not worry until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. Possibly geographic regions. Sketchy warning at best.

5.       Finally, a lineage of kings with the ghost of Banquo appear, they were not supposed to, so Macbeth is taken aback and in anguish.

d.      Macbeth asks the witches the meaning of the final vision, they cackle and dance as to “lift his spirits” and vanish.

e.      Lennox appears, and makes it clear the weird sisters were only visible to Macbeth, Macbeth then curses their spontaneity. It is learned that Macduff flees to England, so Macbeth vows to kill him.

2.       Scene 2

a.       Lady Macduff and her child are talking to Ross.

1.       It is clear Lady Macduff finds her husband’s fleeing to be inopportune, and hazardous to the family.

2.       Feels betrayed, as if Macduff left them behind. She tells her children that he is dead.

3.       The children perceive otherwise, and when confronted by murderers, a child of Macduff is killed. (protecting his families honor?)

b.      In shock and fear, Lady Macduff flees from the murderers screaming there is a murder afoot.

c.       Exunt

3.       Scene 3

a.       Macduff and Malcom’s bonding moments.

1.       Malcom debates Macduff’s honesty, he fears he was sent by Macbeth.

2.       Macduff understands, and they list off their loyalties and qualifications, however what convinces Malcom at the end is Macduff’s sorrow for the destroyed country Macbeth has left in his reign.

3.       Malcom States he is no candidate for the throne.

b.      A doctor enters.

1.       He states there is a group of individuals with the detriment of evil souls.

c.       Ross enters as a messenger.

1.       He states Scotland is in a state of peril and that they should return to right the wrong. But then Duff asks how his family is. Ross originally says they live and are well, despite the king’s aggressions.

2.       After a while of talking, Macduff agrees to return in force to free the country.

3.       Ross buckles and admits Macduff’s family is dead. Duff is anguished.

d.      Malcom pleads he turn the anguish into hate for Macbeth.

 

Act 3 Notes

1.       Banquo’s downfalls

a.       Begins to talk to Macbeth about how his line was to eventually take the crown. Witch prophecy.

b.      Banquo begins to get ambitious, rationale: why not now? Why wait for the prophecy.

c.       Macbeth starts to catch on to the subtle caution exhibited by Banquo

2.       Murderous response

a.       Macbeth gets assassins to kill Banquo before a feast to mourn over the death of king Duncan

1.       Possible illusion to death upon death? Disorder in the state?

b.      Sends them, they kill Banquo, but fail to kill Fleance.

c.       Converses with Lady Macbeth over the discomfort of Banquo’s actions. They agree to make him feel welcome (foul is fair) in order to dispose of him.

3. The murderers/ response

a. he murderers do the deed, but fail to kill Fleance.

b. Microsoft Word is killing me

c. Macbeth is horror stricken at the sight of Banquo sitting on the throne.

4. Repercussions

                a. He is called slightly deranged by His Lady as to cover his expressions.

                b. Macbeth agrees, recovering from his panic.

                c. Hecatate meets with the witches and scolds them for tampering with destiny. She will make Macbeth feels falsely secure.

                d. Lennox and others believe Macbeth is a tyrant, and is responsible for death.

5. Macbeths further courses.

                a. He catches wind of plans to be overthrown with the aid of England and will not tolerate it.

                b. others wish to end Macbeth’s reign.

Act 2 Notes

1.       Beginnings

a.       Banquo and Fleance talk on the balcony (Flaence is his son). Was troubled likely over the prophecy.

b.      Macbeth shows up unexpectedly. Banquo and He decide to discuss the witches at leangth later.

c.       Macbeth busts out a soliloquy about the possible deed of killing Duncan, the dagger piercing his mind.

2.       The deed

a.       A bell tolls, with his newfound confidence Macbeth decides to kill the king and queen.

b.      Lady Macbeth is then focused on. She thinks she’s some pretty hot stuff for her audacity, gloats about it for a while.

c.       Macbeth cries out, this worried Lady Macbeth and she readies to kill the king and queen herself.

d.      She meets with Macbeth and finds the deed to be done.

3.       Back to Macbeth

a.       He is distraught the kings final words were amen as they were saying their evening prayers.

b.      Lady Macbeth ignores the crippling sadness and goes deeper to find that he didn’t leave the knife to frame the murder on the maids.

c.       Macbeth goes into shock asking for Neptune’s waters to cleanse him.

d.      Poe-esque knocking occurs that freaks out Macbeth.

Love is REALLY Blind

The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth can be easily described as confusing, however, it can be explained in a better way. Macbeth is infatuated with Lady Macbeth. He sees her as a beautiful flower without a negative thought in the world. He wishes nothing but for her loyalty and compassion, and based on making her promise to bear him male prodigy, he is dependent on her fertility to extend his blood line.

Macbeth notes: Act1

1.       Witches:

a.       Introduced by the trio of witches to entice the superstitious king of the time period.

b.       Hag like, not visually appealing, or appealing in any other way.

c.       Signifies change and treachery underneath the vise of peace.

2.       First glimpses

a.       Duncan, the current king values Macbeth as a strong courageous warrior, the armies of Norway are unyielding.

b.      The duke of Cawdor is pronounced rejected from office, and Macbeth is to receive the title.

3.       Macbeth first glance

a.       Seems to be cautious, friendly with Banquo as fellow commanders/ relatives.

b.      Taken back in the first witch encounter.

c.       Little to no ambition, only when the news of is new position as the duke of Cawdor does he fully accept the prophecy of his future kinghood.

d.      Banquo stresses the prophecy is real beforehand.

4.        Latter scene

a.       Duncan explains his trust for the duke of Cawdor, it was odd he was executed in such a trifling way.

b.      Duncan is quite friendly to his constituents. Macbeth is already thinking dark thoughts.

c.       Duncan exits not suspecting treachery.

5.       The red mistress

a.       Lady Macbeth is on the warpath, she is violent and aggressive, mostly deranged and violent.

b.      Letter stated the conditions of Macbeth becoming ruler of stuff, then she explains the dark circumstances of Duncan’s fate.

c.       She greets Macbeth and subtly promotes aggressions to his “master”.

6.       The plot

a.       Lady Macbeth is a scary lady, Macbeth was tentative in the conflict to kill Duncan, but after a brutal chastising, he submits.

Macbeth is pumped, he says how bad could it be? Very bad. Bad move