IB English A: Language & Literature SL Individual Oral (IO) Script – Macbeth

Act 1 Scene 3

Introduction

• Macbeth is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare in 1606.

It follows the life of a Scottish Thane Macbeth, who desires to be a king and whose

ambition ultimately leads to downfall and overrules a moral sense.

Context

• This extract is from Act 1 Scene 3.
• Prior to this extract, Macbeth was given three prophecies from witches. The first tells

  him he will be Thane of Glamis. The second tells him he will be Thane of Cawdor. The

  third tells him he is going to be the next king.

• Immediately following this extract, Duncan announces Malcolm is going to be the next

  king, which sparks Macbeth’s ambition even further.

This passage is really significant in terms of showing how ambitious Macbeth is.

Body

• First of all, Shakespeare presents a central theme of good vs. evil through Angus’s saying, where he mentioned a traitor Thane of Cawdor who goes against the king and loses everything including honor, power, and prestige. This is a sign of foreshadowing that those who go against the king would be eventually executed. It also highlights that the evilness will not last forever.
• Secondly, Shakespeare tries to reveal a theme of ambition through his tone, predominantly revealed through his soliloquy.
• In line 11 ~12, an ambitious and optimistic tone is clearly appeared, as Macbeth now waits for the kingship after having two titles, Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor. Shakespeare uses the euphemism “The greatest” in line 12 to signify the kingship.
• There are two other euphemisms that appeared in line 26 ~ 27: “swelling act” and “imperial theme” to signify the kingship. This shows Macbeth’s great lust for power…