Macbeth Analysis Outline

26. Does the weather in some parts of the story reflect the mood of those events?  Give some examples of how the weather exemplifies the storyline.

I.    Emphasizes chaos and reflects Macbeth’s sins (murder)

a.     The Night Macbeth kills King Duncan

                                    i.      Huge storm

                                    ii.      Act 2 scene 3- “The night has been unruly…Our chimneys were blown down…Lamentings heard I’ th; air, strange screams of death…”

b.    Aftermath of murder

                                    i.      After Macduff discovers King Duncan

                                    ii.      Act 2 Scene 4- “…The heavens, as troubled with man’s act, Threatens his bloody stage: by the clock ‘t is day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.”

                                    iii.      Reflects shock and gloom

c.     Banquo

                                    i.      Link of bad weather with murder

                                    ii.      Act 3 scene 3- “It will be rain tonight.”

II.    Three witches

a.    Thunder and lightning; night  

b.    Act 1 scene 1- “When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning or in rain?”

c.     Power, unnatural and dismal presence

d.    Dark occurrences

  

"BBC - Weather Centre - Features - Weather in Shakespheare - Macbeth." BBC - Homepage. May 2004. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/shakespeare_macbeth.shtml>.

  

 SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Macbeth.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/context.html>