Questions tagged [macbeth]
For questions about Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare. Note that this is a work tag and not a character tag for the man Macbeth. Use in conjunction with [william-shakespeare].
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Was Macbeth considering murdering Duncan before Lady Macbeth encouraged him to?
In Macbeth, after announcing that he will go be a harbinger for Duncan and make things ready for him at Inverness, Macbeth says this aside to himself:
Macbeth
[Aside]
The Prince of Cumberland! that ...
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What does "Nor our strong sorrow, upon the foot of motion" mean?
After the murder of Duncan in Macbeth, his two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, have this discussion after being informed of the murder of their father:
Malcolm [Aside to Donalbain]
Why do we hold our ...
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What does "..and make joyful the hearing of my wife with your approach" mean?
In Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4, Duncan, the king, announces that Malcolm will be the Prince of Cumberland (and not Macbeth). Macbeth says that he'll go forward as a harbinger:
Duncan
[...]
We will ...
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What does "I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do" mean?
In Macbeth, while the witches are having their little meeting before going to meet Macbeth and tell him that he's going to be king, one of the witches details her plan of revenge against a greedy &...
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What does "master o' the Tiger" mean?
In Macbeth, before the witches go to speak to Macbeth, they have a little meeting where they discuss what they've been up to. That includes this bit about a greedy sailor's wife who won't share her ...
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Why does Macbeth well deserve his name?
In the beginning of Macbeth, before Macbeth himself is actually introduced, we get a little overview of what's been happening from the Sergeant. He says this, which includes this aside about Macbeth's ...
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Literary devices in "Thou wouldst be great" et cetera in Macbeth
From Macbeth, Act I Scene V:
Lady Macbeth: Thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it.
I understand what the quote means, but which literary devices ...
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Why could Banquo see the three witches?
If the three witches were a figment of Macbeth's own imagination, why was Banquo able to see them at the beginning of the play as well?
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Why does the prophecy imply Macbeth has to murder the king?
I’m reading Macbeth for the first time. The witches prophecize that Macbeth will become king. He and Lady Macbeth immediately jump to the conclusion that this means he has to assassinate Duncan, the ...
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Who is 'he' in 'He has no children?'
In Act 4, scene 3, Macduff is talking with Malcolm. He has just heard the news that his wife and children have been murdered by Macbeth's forces. Then he says,
He has no children.
Who is "he&...
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What does "royalty in nature" in Macbeth mean?
In Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 1), Macbeth says about Banquo:
in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be feared.
What does "royalty of nature" mean here? Surely, Banquo is no "king ...
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When did Macbeth kill Duncan's chamberlains?
In Macbeth, at the end of Act 2, Scene 3 Macbeth reveals that he killed Duncan's servants:
O, Yet I do repent me of fury
That I did kill them
However, doesn't this appear as a plot hole when we take ...
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What is the underlying reason for Macbeth to write the letter?
Macbeth wrote a letter to Lady Macbeth. Duncan suddenly wants to have a feast or celebration at Macbeth's castle, without prior notice as Lady Macbeth said. From this, we know that it's all within a ...
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Do we have any solid evidence for how much material Middleton contributed to Macbeth?
In verbose's question How close to actual incantations are the witches' spells in Macbeth? he says
It is worth mentioning that the latter [the witches' incantation from Act IV scene i] was possibly ...
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Do contemporary neo-pagan practices such as Wicca regard the portrayal of witchcraft in Shakespeare and Middleton as reliable sources?
A recent question asks whether the portrayal of witchcraft in Macbeth can be related to actual practices of those professing to be witches during Shakespeare's day. This companion question asks about ...
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