Richard TurnerMrs. Mueller

English IV – 4th periodDecember 16, 2010

A Tragic hero & how he descends into evil

Tragic hero

Man/Woman of noble stature Not an ordinary man but a man with

outstanding greatnessThey cause their own downfallUsually the main character in a

tragedy.

Macbeth as the tragic heroMacbeth is the tragic hero of this tragedy

because he goes through a series of events thatcause his own downfall.

-Those series of events leading to Macbeth’s downfall are listed below

He listens to the three witches prophesies which gives him the idea to kill king Duncan so that he could gain the kings title. After the death of the king other characters in the play ( such as Macduff) have suspicions

and flee for their protection. Macbeth is coronated as the new king ofScotland. Macbeth hires people to kill his best friend Banquo so thatthere are no witnesses of Duncan’s death. Macbeth now has the taste of

killing and kills Macduff’s wife and son. Macduff hears this sad news and plans to get

revenge on Macbeth. Lady Macbeth commits suicide. Macduff and Macbeth battle, Macduff eventually beheads Macbeth. Malcolm then becomes the king of

England

Macbeth is also the main character of the play.

ExpositionAct I

Setting

- A camp near Forres, Scotland- An open area near Forres, Scotland- A battle field near Forres, Scotland- Upon a heath near Forres, Scotland

- Forres. Duncan’s palace- Inverness. Macbeth’s Castle

Exposition characters3 witchesThey are all sisters, they start the drama in the play.

King DuncanHe was the king of Scotland in the beginning of the play.

MalcolmKing Duncan’s eldest son, brother of Donablain, future king ofScotland.

RossNobleman of Scotland.

LennoxNobleman of Scotland.

AngusNobleman of Scotland.

MacbethMain character, Thane of Cawdor, King of Scotland, Lady Macbeth’s husband, Banquo’s Bestfriend, nobleman of Scotland.

Lady MacbethMacbeth’s wife, Queen of Scotland.

BanquoGreater but lesser than Macbeth, Macbeths best friend, nobleman of Scotland.

Act I Conflict

InternalMental or emotional struggle that occurs within a character.

- The thoughts going through Macbeth’s head when he is told the witches prophesies.- Macbeth’s and lady Macbeth’s thoughts about killing King Duncan.

ExternalA struggle between the protagonist and another character against nature or some outside force

- The battle of Scotland versus Norway.- The dispute Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have about killing king duncan

Rising actionAct II

Main eventThe murder of King Duncan

“Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible

To feeling as to sight? or art thou butA dagger of the mind, a false creation,

Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?I see thee yet, in form as palpable

As this which now I draw.Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;

And such an instrument I was to use.Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,

Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still,And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,

Which was not so before. There's no such thing:It is the bloody business which informs

Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one halfworldNature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

The curtain'd sleep; witchcraft celebratesPale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd murder,

Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace.With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his designMoves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear

Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,And take the present horror from the time,

Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives:Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives”

(Mac Act II, pg 756, line 456)

I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

(Mac Act II, pg 756, line 456)Macbeth and Lady Macbeth enter King Duncan’s palace late at night to do the dirty deed and murder him. Though, Lady Macbeth can not do it cause Duncan resembles her father as he sleeps. So Macbeth kills Duncan soon after the servants are gone.

Act II suspenseThe voices and sounds Macbeth and Lady Macbeth heard

Macbeth “Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep.” (mac, Act II, Pg 324, Ln 464)Lady Macbeth “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.” (mac, Act II, Pg 344, Ln 446)

When lady macbeth and macbeth are rushing through the palace washing their hands and trying to cover their murder evidence.Lady Macbeth “Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. “ (mac, Act II, Pg 344, Ln55)

Lady Macbeth “Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there: go carry them; and smear The sleepy grooms with blood.” (mac, Act II, Pg 344, Ln 436)

Macduff has suspicions of the murder, Malcolm and Donablain find out and flee for their protectionMacduff “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building!” (Mac, Act II, Pg 544, Ln 54)

Malcolm “ What will you do? Let's not consort with them: To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I'll to England.” (Mac, Act II, Pg 233,Ln 566)

Donablain “To Ireland, I; our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer: where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood, The nearer bloody.” (Mac, Act II, Pg 454, Ln 56)

When Macbeth see’s Banquo’s ghost at the Banquet.

Macbeth “Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the graced person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness

Than pity for mischance!” (mac, Act III, Pg 454, Ln 566)

Macbeth “Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you? Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too. If charnel-houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites.”

(mac, Act III, Pg 231, Ln 544)

ClimaxAct III

The point in a story where things start to resolve themselves

Climax explanationA Climax is usually turning point when things resolvesthemselves, but since Macbeth was written during a different time period there was a slightly different definition of a Climax. In this time era a climax was the point at which the main character realizes his/ her errors and the consequences pour down on them.

Macbeth sees this and starts to accept all that is falling down around him after seeing Banqou's ghost at his banquet.

Falling actionAct IV

The falling action is the part of a story, usually found in tragedies and short stories, after the climax and showing the effects of the catastrophe.

Second meeting with the 3 witchesThey make Macbeth see three new apparitions

- Armed Head : Beware Macduff- Bloody child : none of woman born can harm Macbeth

- Crowned child with tree: Macbeth is safe until Birnam wood reaches Dunsinane

Macbeth kills Macduff’s wife and sonMacbeth’s downfall starts here

Macbeth Goes to kill Macduff but he has fled to England so instead he gets he murders his family in Scotland.

Falling Action ExplanationThe three witches apparitions

Macbeth asks the witches too see his future , and when he see’s the apparitions he tries to do anything to keep the bad things from happening, but he does not realize that the apparitions change their order soon after.

First Apparition: an armed HeadBeware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me.

Second Apparition: A bloody Childlaugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.

Third Apparition a Child crowned, with a tree in his handMacbeth shall never vanquish'd be until great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.

Macbeth’s revenge towards MacduffSince Macbeth was not able to kill Macduff after he had fled to England he instead goes after his wife and son. Though once Macduff

returns to Scotland he gains the trust of Malcolm and hears the news of his dead family from Ross, this news convinces Macduff to bring Macbeth to his downfall.

Macbeth “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” (mac, Act IV, pg 456, Ln 656)

Malcolm “ Macduff, this noble passion, Child of integrity, hath from my soul” (mac, Act Iv, Pg 545, Ln 56)

Macduff “ Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now!” (mac, Act IV, Pg 123, Ln 445)

Conflict is ResolvedThe conflict is resolved when Macduff and Macbeth meet in Birnam wood and

Macbeth has one more battle. Eventually Macduff ends up beheading Macbeth and Macbeth is now no longer king of Scotland.

Macduff “ I have no words: My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain Than terms can give thee out!” (mac, Act V, Pg 455, Ln 656)Macbeth “ Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!‘”Malcolm, Duncan’s eldest son enters the scene and is coronated as the new king of Scotland. Macduff “Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands The usurper's cursed head: the time is free: I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl, That speak my salutation in their minds; Whose voices I desire aloud with mine: Hail, King of Scotland!”

Resolutionact V

Total ConsequencesAct I

When Macbeth took the advice of the 3 witches seriously is when the sinful thoughts of killing first cam to thought. Killing is what lead to his downfall.

Act IIWhen Macbeth commits the murder of King Duncan not only does he know what it

feels like to kill somebody but Macduff and the others are suspicious.

Act IIIThe climax of the play. When Macbeth hires people to kill Banquo his conscience now

becomes even guiltier. Not only does his conscience become guiltier but him and Lady Macbeth do not speak as much as they used too. Fleance escaped the

murderers so now there is a witness.

Consequences ContinuedAct IV

Macbeth listening to the witches second apparitions makes him do drastic things so that they don’t come true.

When he kills Macduff’s family and that news travels to Macduff, macduff then plans to seek revenge on macbeth.

Act VBecause of all the killing Lady Macbeth lets the guilt from Duncan get to her and she

commits suicide by sleepwalking off of the castle balcony. Birnam wood attacks Dunsinane . Macduff meets up with Macbeth and battle, Macbeth ends up

beheaded. Malcolm becomes the new King of Scotland.

Macbeth Pyramid Synopsis

Exposition Act I We meet the witches, hear

the first prophesy, the drama begins with the plan

to kill Duncan

Risin

g acti

on A

ct II

Mac

beth

kills

Kin

g Dun

can,

Mac

duff

is su

spici

ous,

Malc

olm

and

Dona

blain

flee

.

Climax Act III

Macbeth is coronated as King of Scotland, he kills Banquo, Banquos Ghost appears at the banquet

Falling Action Act IV

Macbeth kills M

acduff’s wife and

son, Macduff plans revenge

ResolutionLady Macbeth commits suicide, Birnam wood attacks Dunsinane, Macduff kills Macbeth, Malcolm coronated

Works CitedL.K, Alchin. William shakespeare info. 2008 http://www.william-shakespeare.info/

Page, Larry. Google images. 2010 www.google.com/images