Macbeth. William Shakespeare
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were said to kill farm animals, often in revenge for some supposed insult.
7. Aroint thee…! Get out!
7. rump-fed this probably means ‘fed on rump-steak’, therefore sleek and plump. The gaunt witches would envy her.
7. ronyon worthless woman.
8. Tiger a common name for a ship in Shakespeare’s time.
9. There are records of criminal trials in which so-called witches confessed that they went to sea in a sieve.
10. Another special ability witches were belived to have was to turn themselves into animals, but when they did this they became tailless and could be identified.
11. She seems almost fuming with rage and malice. What do you think she intends to do?
15–18. I myself have…card ‘I have control of all the other winds and (I know) the exact harbours from which they blow, from all points of the compass.’ The main point is that she wants to prevent the Tiger from entering any port, and leave the poor ship miserably tossing on the waves.
19. Because the Tiger will not be able to refill her water-supply.
20–1. This is an ominous suggestion of Macbeth’s later insomnia (see, for example, Act III, Scene iv, line 141).
21. pent-house lid An eyelid slopes something like the roof of a pent-house. (A penthouse is a small structure built against a larger one, therefore having only one roof-slope).
22. forbid cursed.
23. sev’nights weeks. Compare the similar word fortnight (fourteen nights) which is still in regular use. The witch is going to manipulate the winds to keep the ship at sea for 81 weeks.
24. dwindle, peak become thin.
25. bark ship. It is important to note that the power of the witches is limited. At crucial points in the play Macbeth excuses or explains his past actions or what he is about to do by assuming that they have absolute power and knowledge, but this is not so.
29. a pilot’s thumb. Bits of dead bodies were valued ingredients in making spells.
31. Is this perhaps a supernatural drum? There is no indication that Macbeth and Banquo have an escort, but they may have.
32. Weird This coms from an Old English word ‘wyrd’ which means fate.
33. Posters creatures which travel quickly.
35–6. Three and multiples of three have always been regarded as magic numbers. At this point they also indicate roughly the steps of their dance: ‘three paces your way, three paces my way, and three more paces (in the direction of the Third Witch).’
37. wound up ‘set, and ready for action’. At this very moment Macbeth and Banquo enter, as though brought there by the charm.
38. So foul and fair Macbeth’s unconscious echo of the witches’ words in Act I, Scene i, confirms the impression that he is already under their influence.
39. How far is’t called…? How far do they reckon it is…?
39–61. Banquo’s reaction to the first sight of the witches is a suspicious one. Macbeth says little, but seems far more prepared than Banquo to accept the witches’ words.
42–3. aught that man may question? beings with whom one is allowed to communicate?
44. choppy chapped. The fact that the witches put their fingers on their lips in answer to Banquo seems to suggest that they want to speak, not to him, but to Macbeth.
50. hereafter in the future. They have just addressed him as the present Thane of Cawdor, as well as Glamis.
51. Banquo notices that Macbeth jumps when he hears the witches’ greetings. Is this just normal surprise and wonder, or has Macbeth already considered the possibility of becoming king, by foul means if necessary?
53. fantastical imaginary.
53–4. or that…ye show? or are you what you appear to be?
55–6. present grace being Thane of Glamis.
great prediction Of noble having becoming Thane of Cawdor.
royal hope becoming king.
57. rapt withal entranced by them (the witches’ mysterious greetings).
58. look into the seeds of time Banquo is prepared to accept the witches’ power to see into the future, but he goes on to show (lines 60–1) that he will not put himself in their power. Their response is to speak to him in riddles, whereas they gave Macbeth plain statements.
67. get kings: be the ancestor of kings.
70. imperfect speakers Macbeth says this because he wants to know more. He has come out of his trance and now demands further information.
71. Sinel Macbeth’s father, from whom he had inherited the title of Thane of Glamis.
73–4. Neither Macbeth nor Banquo seems to have heard of Cawdor’s treachery.
74. Stands not…belief Is so unlikely as to be unbelievable.
76. owe own, possess.
intelligence information.
78. Having asked for information twice, Macbeth becomes bolder and orders the witches to answer him.
79–80. The witches have vanished like burst bubbles. Although they had seemed very real, physical, living creatures, it now appears that they belong to the supernatural.
81. corporal made of flesh and blood.
84–5. the insane root…prisoner the root (of the hemlock or some other plant) which causes madness when eaten.
86. Is Macbeth envious and annoyed because no mention was made of his own heirs?
91. Thy personal…fight Your individual contribution in putting down the rebellion of Macdonwald.
95. Ross goes on to mention the other phase of the battle, against the Norwegian forces.
95. stout bold, tough.
96–7. Nothing afeard…death Ross comments that Macbeth is not frightened by the sight of the mangled bodies of those he has killed. We will see a different reaction later.
97–100. Macbeth’s great achievement was acclaimed in all the messages which piled up in front of Duncan. It is especially ironic that just when the audience is beginning to suspect Macbeth’s intentions, everyone else on stage is praising him.
98. post with post message after message.
102. herald…sight escort you into the king’s presence.
104. for an earnest as a first instalment.
105–6. The words are close enough to those of the Second Witch to underline the rapid fulfilment of the prophecy.
106. addition title.
106. Banquo has clearly decided