Question

Now look at the words you just defined as they exist in lines from Macbeth. See if you correctly determined the meaning for each word. You can also look at the context provided for each word to see if it helps you make sense of the word. In the answer space, comment on words that you did not define correctly or found challenging and explain why you think you were unable to define them. Would having more context have helped? If so, how?

Answer 1

Answer:

In Act I, Scene I, the play opens with a storm and three witches. They make plans to find Macbeth after a battle and give him their predictions. During their opening chant, they use several paradoxes.

First, they say, 'When the battle's lost and won.' In other words, all battles have one winning side and one losing side. Reading into it deeper, we see that Macbeth will win many battles in the play, but for each victory, he will also have a loss. We later see Macbeth win his battles to become king when he kills King Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family. However, these murders eventually lead to him losing his wife and then his own life.

The witches later say, 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair.' The witches are saying that what is fair to man is foul to the witches, but what men may see as foul, the witches see as fair. Put simply, the witches are seen as evil, but they see themselves as good.

This paradox also tells the audience that appearances can be deceiving, a main theme in the play. Macbeth appears to be a man of honor, unlikely to commit foul acts; however, he orders killing and himself murders. Macbeth believes that what may seen as wrong, or foul, to others are steps he must take to become king and stay in power. Macbeth believes it is his fate to be king, thus fair for him to take any steps necessary.

Explanation: