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Sleep shall neither night nor day20AHang upon his penthouse lid;35LITERARY ANALYSISHe shall live a man forbid:36The First Witch tells aboutthe terrible plans she hasfor the sailor. She will sendstorms to wreck his shipand keep him from sleepingfor days. Why do you thinkShakespeare includes thesedetails that seem to havenothing to do with Macbeth?Weary sev’nights nine times nineShall he dwindle, peak,37 and pine:Though his bark cannot be lost,Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.Look what I have. ASecond Witch.Show me, show me.First Witch.Here I have a pilot’s thumb,Wracked as homeward he did come.30[Drum within.]HERE’S HOWLiterary FocusThird Witch.I think the sound of thedrum in this scene increasesthe sense of drama. Thisdrama is probably animportant part of makingthe tragedy seem dismal,or sad.CA drum, a drum!Macbeth doth come. BAll.The weird sisters, hand in hand,Posters38 of the sea and land,Thus do go about, about:HERE’S HOWThrice to thine, and thrice to mine,Reading FocusAnd thrice again, to make up nine.I remember seeing thewords foul and fair togetherearlier in the play. I havea couple of questions.Why does Macbeth repeatthese words here? What isthe relationship betweenMacbeth and the witches?I think Macbeth and thewitches share some kind ofclose bond.Peace! The charm’s wound up.[Enter macbeth and banquo.]Macbeth.So foul and fair a day I have not seen. CBanquo.How far is’t called to Forres?39 What are these40So withered, and so wild in their attire,35.36.37.38.39.116from The Tragedy of MacbethA penthouse lid refers to an eyelid.Here forbid means “cursed.”Peak means “grow pale.”Posters refers to travelers.Forres is a town in northeast Scotland. Duncan’s castle is located there.Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.B

That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth,And yet are on’t? Live you, or are you aughtThat man may question? You seem to understand me,By each at once herchoppy40finger layingUpon her skinny lips. You should41 be women,And yet your beards forbid me to interpretThat you are so.Macbeth.QUICK CHECKThe witches call Macbeth bythree titles. Underline theone he has already. Circle theone the king has just givento him. Put a star by theone that applies only to thefuture.Speak, if you can: what are you?First Witch.50DAll hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!Second Witch.All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!Third Witch.All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! DELITERARY ANALYSISBanquo’s words give a clueas to how Macbeth reactsto the witches’ predictions.What does Macbeth do? Whydo you think Macbeth reactsthis way to news that he willbe king some day?Banquo.Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fearThings that do sound so fair? E I’ th’ name of truth,Are ye fantastical, or that indeedWhich outwardly ye show? My noble partnerYou greet with present grace and great predictionCopyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.Of noble having and of royal hope,That he seems rapt withal:42 to me you speak not.60If you can look into the seeds of time,And say which grain will grow and which will not,Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fearYour favors nor your hate.First Witch. Hail!Second Witch. Hail!Third Witch. Hail!First Witch.Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.40. Here, choppy means “chapped or sore.”41. Here, should means “must.”42. The phrase rapt withal means “entranced by it.”from The Tragedy of Macbeth117

Second Witch.ANot so happy,43 yet much happier.YOUR TURNThird Witch.Literary FocusLines 67–69 contrast the fatesof Macbeth and Banquo.How do these lines suggestthat Macbeth will be thetragic hero of the play?Thou shalt get44 kings, though thou be none. A70So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!First Witch.Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!Macbeth.Stay, you imperfect45 speakers, tell me more:By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis;HERE’S HOWBut how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives,Language CoachA prosperous gentleman; and to be kingI know that the word strangehas multiple meaningsdepending on its context.Here, I think Macbeth meansthat the information thewitches shared is “unusual,”and that it is unusual thatthey are even making thesepredictions.Stands not within the prospect of belief,CYOUR TURNVocabularyThe word prophetic means“containing a prediction ofthe future.” Do you think thewitches’ “prophetic greeting”gave Macbeth good newsabout his future, or bad?Why do you think this?No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whenceYou owe this strange intelligence?46 B Or whyUpon this blasted heath you stop our way80With such prophetic greeting? C Speak, I charge you. D[witches vanish]IN OTHER WORDSThe three witches gather again. Theymeet two of the king’s captains, Macbeth and Banquo. Thewitches predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdorand eventually king. They say that Banquo will never be king,but that his children will be kings. Macbeth tries to ask forclarification but the witches disappear.What Happens NextBanquo and Macbeth consider the Witches’ prophecies thatDYOUR TURNLiterary FocusBased on his speech here,what do you think Macbeth’stragic flaw might be?118from The Tragedy of MacbethBanquo’s children will be kings and Macbeth will be made Thane,or lord, of Cawdor. The king’s messengers arrive to tell Macbeth43. Here, happy means “lucky.”44. To get stands for to beget or give birth to.45. Here, imperfect means “unfinished,” so the imperfect speakers havenot finished saying what Macbeth wants to hear.46. Say from whence. . . intelligence? In other words, “How do you havethis information?”Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.B

that the Thane of Cawdor has been sentenced to death for treasonand that Macbeth will replace him. Macbeth feels danger may beahead, but he doesn’t know why. Macbeth and Banquo meet withthe king and Macbeth receives the title of thane. Lady MacbethEQUICK CHECKWhere does Scene 5 takeplace?reads a letter from her husband telling her his news. A messengertells Lady Macbeth that the king and Macbeth are on their way.Scene 5. Inverness. Macbeth’s castle. EFHERE’S HOWVocabularyLady Macbeth.The raven himself is hoarseThat croaks the fatal entrance of DuncanUnder my battlements. F Come, you spiritsThat tend on mortal47 thoughts, unsex me here,And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-fullDuncan is entering the castleunder the battlements. Ithink that battlements mustbe a part of the castle nearthe top. I looked the wordup in the dictionary, and Iwas right! Battlements arewalls or railings around thetop of a fortified building.Of direst cruelty! G Make thick my blood,Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse,That no compunctious visitings of nature48Shake my fell49 purpose, nor keep peace betweenTh’ effect and it! Come to my woman’s breasts,10And take my milk for gall,50 you murd’ring ministers,51Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.Wherever in your sightless52 substancesYou wait on nature’s mischief! Come, thick night,And pall53 thee in the dunnest54 smoke of hell,That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,To cry “Hold, hold!” H[Enter macbeth.]GHERE’S HOWReading FocusLady Macbeth asks thespirits to make her less likea woman. I have a questionabout that. In the 1600s,what qualities did peoplebelieve women had?HYOUR TURNReading FocusWhat questions might youask about Lady Macbethas her husband and KingDuncan approach the castle?Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor!Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!Thy letters have transported me beyond2047.48.49.50.51.52.53.One meaning of mortal is “deadly.”compunctious . . . nature: natural feelings of compassion.One meaning of the word fell is “savage or cruel.”Gall is a bitter substance. It can also refer to bile in the body.Murd’ring ministers are agents of murder.Here, sightless means “invisible.”Pall means “cover someone or something with a shroud or burialcloth.”54. Dunnest means “darkest.”from The Tragedy of Macbeth119

This ignorant present, and I feel nowAThe future in the instant.QUICK CHECKMacbeth.What is Lady Macbethsuggesting that herhusband do?My dearest love,Duncan comes here tonight.Lady Macbeth.And when goes hence?Macbeth.Tomorrow, as he purposes.Lady Macbeth.BHERE’S HOWShall sun that morrow see!VocabularyI had to look up the wordsovereign in the dictionary.It is an adjective that means“greatest“ or ”superior toall others.” That sounds likea word describing a king orruler. It seems Lady Macbethis saying that their actionswill bring them power.O, neverYour face, my thane, is as a book where men30May read strange matters. To beguile the time, 55Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,Your hand, your tongue: look like th’ innocent flower,But be the serpent under’t. A He that’s comingMust be provided for: and you shall putThis night’s great business into my dispatch;56Which shall to all our nights and days to comeCYOUR TURNGive solely sovereign sway and masterdom. B CRe-read Lady Macbeth’sspeech here and in lines1–37. How might hersuggestion lead to tragedyfor her husband?55. To beguile the time means to “deceive those around you.”56. Here, dispatch means “management.” Ben Graville/PhotoNews Service LTD.120from The Tragedy of MacbethCopyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.Literary Focus

Macbeth.We will speak further. DLady Macbeth.40DOnly look up clear.57To alter favor ever is toLITERARY ANALYSISDo you think Macbeth wasalready thinking aboutmurdering the king, orwas Lady Macbeth’s idea asurprise to him? Why do youthink this?fear.58Leave all the rest to me.[Exeunt.]IN OTHER WORDS Lady Macbeth asks the spirits to makeher cruel and murderous, not like a woman. She tells herhusband to pretend to welcome Duncan while really planningto murder the king. Lady Macbeth says she will take care ofthe rest of the plans.EQUICK CHECKWho is on the stage withMacbeth as he begins hisspeech? Circle the words inthe stage directions that letyou know this.What Happens NextKing Duncan arrives, and is greeted by Lady Macbeth. He asks tobe taken to Macbeth.Scene 7. Macbeth’s castle.Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.Hautboys.59 Torches. Enter a sewer,60 and diverse servantswith dishes and service, and pass over the stage. Then entermacbeth. EMacbeth.If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere wellFYOUR TURNVocabularyCircle nearby words thatmay give you clues aboutthe meaning of the wordtrammel in line 3. Now lookup the word in the dictionaryand write the definition here.It were done quickly. If th’ assassinationCould trammel up the consequence, and catch,With his surcease,61 success; F that but this blowMight be the be-all and the end-all—here,But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,57. Here, clear means “undisturbed.”58. To alter . . . fear: In other words, “to show an altered faceis dangerous.”59. Hautboys are oboes, a kind of wind instrument.60. Here, the sewer is a butler.61. His surcease refers to Duncan’s death.from The Tragedy of Macbeth121

We’d jump62 the life to come. But in these casesAWe still have judgment here; that we but teachYOUR TURNBloody instructions, which, being taught, returnLiterary FocusIn lines 6–12, Macbethdiscusses the possible resultsof killing the king. Restatehis ideas in your own wordsto explain how this actionmight lead to tragedy forMacbeth.10To plague th’ inventor: this even-handed63 justiceCommends64 th’ ingredients of our poisoned chaliceTo our own lips. A He’s here in double trust:First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,Who should against his murderer shut the door,Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this DuncanHath borne his faculties65 so meek, hath beenSo clear66 in his great office, that his virtuesBWill plead like angels trumpet-tongued againstYOUR TURNReading Focus20The deep damnation of his taking-off;67 BAnd pity, like a naked newborn babe,Macbeth gives threereasons he should not killKing Duncan. What is onequestion you have aboutthese reasons?Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsedUpon the sightless couriers68 of the air, CShall blow the horrid deed in every eye,That69 tears shall drown the wind. I have no spurTo prick the sides of my intent, but onlyCAnd falls on th’ other— DHERE’S HOWVocabularyI am not sure what the wordcherubin means, but I dorecognize the first part of theword. It looks like cherub,which is an angel of somekind. In the dictionary, I seethat I am right. Cherubin arewinged angels.DYOUR TURNLiterary FocusWhat quality does Macbethidentify as his own tragicflaw?122from The Tragedy of Macbeth[Enter lady macbeth.]How now! What news?Lady Macbeth.30He has almost supped. Why have you left the chamber?Macbeth.Hath he asked for me?62. Here, jump means “risk.” Macbeth knows he will be condemned tohell for the sin of murder, so he is risking the afterlife.63. Even-handed means “fair and impartial.”64. Here, commends means “offers.”65. One meaning of the word faculties is “powers.”66. Here, clear means “clean and pure.”67. Taking-off refers to murdering Duncan.68. Sightless couriers is a poetic way of referring to winds.69. Here, that means “so that.”Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself

Lady Macbeth.Know you not he has?Macbeth.EHERE’S HOWWe will proceed no further in this business:Literary FocusHe hath honored me of late, and I have boughtMacbeth says that hedoes not want to kill KingDuncan, because the kinghas honored him. To me,Macbeth seems very proud ofhis honor and new titles. Hewants to enjoy them as muchas he can. Maybe caring toomuch about his rank is partof his tragic flaw.Golden opinions from all sorts of people,Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,Not cast aside so soon. EIN OTHER WORDSMacbeth reviews arguments againstcommitting the planned murder. Duncan has been a goodking. He is under Macbeth’s protection, both as his king andas his guest. The king and others have given Macbeth manyhonors, and he wants to enjoy the praises. In addition, carryingout this murder will damn Macbeth to hell. All he has to gainis his ambition to rule. He tells his wife that he will not do it.What Happens NextAs Macbeth expresses hesitation about killing the king, LadyMacbeth tells her husband not to be a coward. She claims sheCopyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.could kill her own infant if she wanted to do so as much asMacbeth has wanted to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth says she willmake sure the king’s chamberlains, or attendants, are drunk sothey cannot protect the king. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth decideto use the chamberlains’ own daggers to commit the murder. Theyagree to smear the chamberlains with blood as they sleep so it willlook like the king was killed by his own men. Macbeth says he willcommit the murder.Act II Scene 1. Inverness. Court of Macbeth’s castle.Enter banquo, and fleance, with a torch before him(on the way to bed).Banquo.How goes the night, boy?from The Tragedy of Macbeth123

Fleance.AThe moon is down; I have not heard the clock.LITERARY ANALYSISBanquo.How does the opening ofAct II, Scene 1 contribute tothe threatening and gloomymood created by the witchesin Act I, Scene 1?And she goes down at twelveFleance.I take’t, ’tis later, sir.Banquo.Hold, take my sword. There’s husbandry70 in heaven.Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. AA heavy summons71 lies like lead upon me,And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers,Restrain in me the cursèd thoughts that nature10BGives way to in repose! BYOUR TURN[Enter macbeth, and a servant with a torch.]VocabularyRepose means “rest.” Writea sentence using the wordrepose.Give me my sword!Who’s there?Macbeth.A friend.Banquo.CHe hath been in unusual pleasure, andLITERARY ANALYSISSent forth great largess to your offices:72Banquo tells about thegifts that Duncan has givento members of Macbeth’shousehold. How do Duncan’sactions support what youalready know about the king?This diamond he greets your wife withal,By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up73In measureless content. C20Macbeth.Being unprepared,Our will became the servant to defect,74Which else should free have wrought.Banquo.DQUICK CHECKWhich of the witches’predictions for Macbeth havecome true so far?124from The Tragedy of MacbethAll’s well.I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:To you they have showed some truth. D70. Husbandry refers to economizing. Here, it specifically refers toputting out the lights to save money on candles.71. The summons, or call, here is a call to sleep.72. The king’s largess to your offices refers to gifts he has given out inMacbeth’s servants’ quarters.73. Here, shut up means “concluded.”74. Here, giving in to defect refers to making insufficient preparations.Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.What, sir, not yet at rest? The king’s a-bed:

Macbeth.I think not of them.Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,EWe would spend it in some words upon that business,In line 26, Macbeth claimsthat he does not think aboutthe witches’ words. Does hissuggestion to Banquo in lines31–32 support his claim? Whyor why not?If you would grant the time.30Banquo.LITERARY ANALYSISAt your kind’st leisure.Macbeth.If you shall cleave to my consent, when ’tis,75It shall make honor for you. EBanquo.So76 I lose noneIn seeking to augment it, but still keepMy bosom franchised77 and allegiance clear,78I shall be counseled. FMacbeth.Good repose the while!FBanquo.Literary FocusThanks, sir. The like to you!Banquo tells Macbeth he iswilling to listen to Macbeth’sproposal, as long as he cankeep his honor. How doesBanquo’s character compareor contrast with the characterof Macbeth, the tragic hero?[Exit banquo, with fleance.]Macbeth.Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.40YOUR TURNShe strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.[Exit servant.]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, sensible79To feeling as to sight, or art thou butGA dagger of the mind, a false creation,HERE’S HOWReading FocusProceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain? G75. When Macbeth asks Banquo to cleave . . . ’tis, he wants Banquoto join his cause, when the time comes and the witches’ prophecycomes true.76. Here, so means “provided that, or as long as.”77. Here, franchised means “free (from guilt).“78. Here, clear means “clean or free.”79. Here, something sensible is perceptible to the senses.Here, Macbeth is imagining thathe sees a dagger. I have somequestions about people’s beliefsin Shakespeare’s times. Wheredid people think visions camefrom? What did they think thevisions meant? How might theirreaction be different than ourreaction today?from The Tragedy of Macbeth125

I see thee yet, in form as palpable80AAs this which now I draw.YOUR TURNLanguage CoachThou marshal’st me the way that I was going;50And such an instrument I was to use.The word suits can havemultiple meanings. Writetwo possible definitions ofsuits on the lines below andindicate which meaning isintended in line 68.Mine eyes are made the fools o’ th’ other senses,Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still;And on thy blade and dudgeon81 gouts82 of blood,Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.It is the bloody business which informs83Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one half-worldNature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse84The curtained sleep; witchcraft celebratesPale Hecate’s85 offerings; and withered murder,60Alarumed86 by his sentinel

What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. E Malcolm. This is the sergeant Who like a good and hardy soldier fought ’Gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend! Say to the king the knowledge of the broil6 As thou didst leave it. Capta