Theme: Shakespeare's Macbeth – Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair

Text: Extract from Act 1 Scene VI

Before Macbeth's castle. Hautboys and torches.

Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross,

Angus, and Attendants.

DUNCAN. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

Unto our gentle senses.

BANQUO. This guest of summer,

The temple-haunting martlet, does approve

By his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath

Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,

Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird

Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle;

Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed

The air is delicate.

Enter Lady Macbeth.

DUNCAN. See, see, our honor'd hostess!

The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,

Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you

How you shall bid God yield us for your pains,

And thank us for your trouble.

LADY MACBETH. All our service

In every point twice done, and then done double,

Were poor and single business to contend

Against those honors deep and broad wherewith

Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old,

And the late dignities heaped up to them,

We rest your hermits.

DUNCAN. Where's the Thane of Cawdor?

We coursed him at the heels and had a purpose

To be his purveyor; but he rides well,

And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him

To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,

We are your guest tonight.

LADY MACBETH. Your servants ever

Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt,

To make their audit at your Highness' pleasure,

 DUNCAN. Give me your hand;

Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly,

And shall continue our graces towards him.

By your leave, hostess. Exeunt. 281 W

Screenshot from Polanski's Macbeth

 Annotations: 2 hautboy – oboe 9 martlet – Germ. Mauerschwalbe 11 jutty – what sticks out from the walls; frieze – Germ. Wandfries 12 butress – structure supporting a wall; coign of vantage – cornerstone 13 pendant – hanging, procreant cradle – nest for young birds 14 haunt – visit often 20 yield – reward 27 late dignities – recent honours 28 rest your hermits – will pray for you constantly  30 coursed – chased 31 purveyor – officer riding ahead to prepare food  32 hath holp – has helped

Assigments:

1. Choose and explain relevant samples from the text to show how the concept of fairness and foulness is presented by Shakespeare. [Contents + Analysis]

2. Point out how the ambivalence of fair and foul helps to build up tension in the drama (considering what is to follow). [Analysis]