Act I
1. List the character traits that influence Macbeth to become a criminal.
The witches: They have supernatural powers to see the future that influences Macbeth to kill the king.
2. List events that lead him to commit his crime.
The predictions of the witches, he becames thane of Cawdor and starts to think he can become King, Macbeth’s wife convincing him to kill the King.
3. After a period of indecision, Macbeth confirms his intent to carry out his and Lady Macbeth’s plan. Write 5 paragraphs describing his thoughts as he makes his decision. What are the reasons for his hesitation? How does he rationalize his choice? Use at least two examples from the play to support your ideas.
At first he do not want to kill King Duncan because he is loyal and still has some moral, but as the act continues Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill King Duncan. Macbeth first think he do not want to kill King Duncan because it would be too difficult of making it without being undetected, but then Lady Macbeth presents him an elaborated plan. Now when he hears the plan he starts to accept the idea. Now he feels he can kill him and that no one ever know who killed him.
Act II
4. Several times Lady Macbeth tries to ease Macbeth’s tormented remorse with comforting remarks. Describe some of these remarks and explain how they help her and Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth tells to Macbeth to consider it not so deeply. Then she says to Macbeth that deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
5. Write 2 paragraphs describing the mood in Act II. Explain why this mood is appropriate and discuss why it will likely prevail in the rest of the play. Use at least two examples from Act II to support your ideas.
He is nervous and almost getting crazy. He starts to hear vocies when he kills the king. He is feeling most of all really guilty. This mood is appropiate because for most of normal men killing someone would be a very regretful and tormenting thing to do. Examples:
One cried ‘God bless us!’ and ‘Amen’ the other; as they had seen me with these hangman’s hands.Listening their fear, I could not say ‘Amen,’ when they did say ‘God bless us!’
But wherefore could not I pronounce ‘Amen’?
I had most need of blessing, and ‘Amen’
Stuck in my throat.
Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep’, the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleeve of care,
Act II
6. Describe how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel about their activities in Acts I, II, and III. Briefly explain why you think both characters change in Act III.
Macbeth is going totally crazy. Now he wants to kill Banquo because he suspects he knows what he did and after he kills him he starts to see Banquo’s ghost. He talks to him and Lady Macbeth dismisses all the guests. Evertime they both are feeling guilty and thinking that any moment now someone can know they killed the King.
7. If the ghost of Banquo could speak, what do you think he would say to Macbeth? Would Banquo care enough about his former friend to give him advice, or would he berate Macbeth for murdering him? How do you think Macbeth would react to Banquo’s words? Write an imaginary conversation between Banquo’s ghost and Macbeth.
Banquo: Why did you killed me? I was your friend and I was loyal to you until you was a traitor to the king.
Macbeth: I was seduced by power! You would understand me if you were in the same position.
Banquo: Still you took my life, the most precious thing in life. The worst of all is that I was your friend. I can just imagine what type of tyrant you would be.
Macbeth: I am sorry I killed you but you knew too much and besides that your son will take my throne from me! I can not let that happen.
Banquo: I cant believe in what you have transformed. You are a monster looking to satisfy your need of power. You are not the person I once knew!
Act IV
8. Which of the following characters (Macbeth, Lady Macduff, son of Macduff or Macduff) arouses the most sympathy? Write which character you chose, the character’s situation in Act IV, and the reasons for your opinion. Use at least one example from the play to support your ideas.
The character that arouses more sympathy to me is Macduff, more than his son or his wife, because he lost his whole family. Now his family is in another place more peaceful but he is still fighting in this crueld and difficult world reigned by a tyrant. Just loosing a child for a father would surely be something amazingly sad then imagine loosing a child and a wife. When Malcolm tells this to Macduff it seems he is totally destroyed and really angry with Macbeth.
9. Write a few paragraphs describing how Macbeth changes from the beginning of the play to Act IV. Is he more good than evil in Act IV? More evil than good? Provide at least two examples of Macbeth’s words or deeds to support your answer.
He has been good and loyal the whole play, the only thing that changes is that now he is fighting with Macbeth not only to take him out of the power but also for revenge. He has a double reason to fight for justice and revenge. Maybe he is a little less good because he is also fighting for revenge, something that in life never leads to good things.
Act V
10. Are the deathns in Act V of Lady Macbeth, Young Siward and Macbeth inevitable? For each of these three characters, write a paragraph describing the circumstances of his or her death, and explain whether you think the death was or was not inevitable and why.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s death was both inevitable. Lady Macbeth dies of madness and with sleep talking before the battle. Macbeth is killed in the battlefield by Macduff after refusing to fight him many times. Both, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, were going to die one way or the other. Both were near totally madness and both were physically and mentaly destroyed. Also if Macduff did not won that battle he would have searched for another and if not him another person in order to kill the tyrant Macbeth.
Young Siward was killed in the battlefield by Macbeth. His death could have been avoided if he did not fighted Macbeth in the battlefield.
