Scene 4:
1) How would you paraphrase Duncan's ll. 13-16?
"I trust in this man by what his mind thinks. Others only view him by his appearance and outside layer, but I can view deeper into his character and therefore I trust in him." (personal paraphrase).
2) Lines 55-60--what is happening to Macbeth's thinking? How would you paraphrase or understand his thinking in ll. 57-58 and then 59-60? How is there in his thinking a kind of ambivalence toward or dread of ambition? Also, in what terms or images is he sensing ambition?
Macbeth is realizing who is in his way to the king's position. Malcolm, who is the Thane of Cawdor is in his way. In the first lines he is saying how he must skip taking that position and go directly to the crown. Then in the last lines, he is saying that although the actions he might take to get the power are unjust, but my "eyes" will not notice how unjust these actions were once I have received the position. During this segment of the scene, Macbeth recognizes how dark these actions will be, but he also mentions of a strong ambition for the position.
Scene 5:
3) Lines 18-23--what distinctions does Lady Macbeth make between opposing aspects of Macbeth's thoughts and actions?
Lady Macbeth talks about Macbeth when he is not present. She realizes that Macbeth is not perfect for these high positions. He is ambitious, but feels pity for others as well, which would not make him the greatest leader.
4) Line 48--what may Lady Macbeth mean by "unsex me here"?
Macbeth demonstrates her desire to rule in this line. She further wants to take on the aspects of a man so that she could rule instead of Macbeth. She had previously stated why Macbeth is not the right man to be king, however she believes she is the perfect person for the role, unfortunately her sex is limiting her.
5) Lines 73-8--what is Lady Macbeth observing about Macbeth's face What does she desire in his countenance and behavior?
She is noticing that Macbeth's face is now confusing, for his people come to expect different actions from their Thane of Cawdor and Glamis, which supposedly Lady Macbeth can notice in the different parts of his face. She wants his behavior to reflect what he is thinking on the inside (that is not portrayed in his face), however what he is thinking inside is of plotting death, thus she refers to his behavior as a serpent.
Scene 6
6) Lines 4-12: how are Banquo's lines describing the bird's ("martlet's") behavior in opposition to Lady Macbeth's thoughts and impulses (1.5.48, 54-7;1.7.62-67)?
As opposed to Lady Macbeth's thoughts and impulses, which are of her taking actions to change reality, Banquo describes the actions of the birds as very peaceful and simply letting life come to them.
7) Are Lady Macbeth's thoughts and impulses in keeping with the natural processes and values of Nature or are they unnatural perversions of Nature?
Lady Macbeth's thoughts go along more with the unnatural happening of Nature. Lady Macbeth strongly desires power, however in Nature, no animals really desire anything very much. So therefore in nature no actions are really made to impact the future, however Lady Macbeth's ideas (although many cannot be achieved), she still takes active steps to reach her goals.
Scene 7
8) What do the repetitions of "If" and "but" suggest about the nature or process of Macbeth's thinking? How are "if" and "but" appropriate for Macbeth's kind of thinking in this soliloquy, ll. 1-28
"If" and "but" suggest that Macbeth is not positive all of these steps will happen. He recognizes that achieving the king's position would be tough, and he could still easily fail in his attempt. Unlike Mady Macbeth, the King of Cawdor is not as certain of himself.
