What dramatic and poetic techniques does Shakespeare employ in order to develop the

action of his play in Act 1?

Shakespeare effectively uses pathetic fallacy, soliloquy, and dramatic irony to develop action
of his play and establish crucial themes and introduce the characters in Act 1. In the opening
scene of the play, the audience is introduced to the three witches. The scene is set in “The
Battlefield: thunder and lightning”. The pathetic fallacy of the thunder and lightning creates
a dark mood and atmosphere which the witches emit. This dark and supernatural
atmosphere illustrated by the weather is further amplified when the Witches chant “Fair is
foul, and foul is fair”. The nouns ‘fair’ and ‘foul’ juxtaposes one other. This clearly
demonstrates to the audience that the setting of the play is different to the natural world.
Scene 2 of Act 1 establishes Macbeth’s “good” character through the captain’s praise of
Macbeth’s bravery. However, in scene 3, once Macbeth finds the Witches’ prophecies to be
true, he is isolated on stage and delivers his tempted thoughts to the audience, “Why do I
yield to that suggestion?”. The soliloquy suggests to the audience that Macbeth is unstable
and shaken as his ambitious thoughts are in conflict with his morality and principles. In
scene 7 of Act 1, Macbeth begins the scene with his soliloquy, “If it were done when tis’
done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly”. Shakespeare effectively uses the repetition of
‘done’ to suggest to the readers that Macbeth is

Look in detail at scene 7. How does Macbeth articulate his emotions? How does Lady
Macbeth manipulate her husband?

Discuss the presentation of women in Act 1

The soliloquy of Lady Macbeth in scene 5 greatly contrasts to Macbeth’s as it is firm and in
control. Once Lady Macbeth reads out Macbeth’s letter, she describes Macbeth as “milk of
human kindness” in disappointment. The metaphor which describes Macbeth as ‘milk’
emasculates Macbeth as milk is a symbol of femininity and thus implies to the readers of
Lady Macbeth’s guileful, unscrupulous character. This is further emphasised by her saying,
“you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here”. Additionally, the imperative
sentence also demonstrates Lady Macbeth’s desire to be a man in order to fulfil her
ambitions in a patriarchal society.
How does Macbeth’s character develop in Act 2? Is he mad? Is he going mad? Is he not
mad at all?

How does Macbeth’s character develop in Act 2? What does her character say about the
theme of gender in the play?