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Macbeth: Realisation and regret

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Actor Ivan Donato in performance of Macbeth
Macbeth: Realisation and regret

SUBJECTS:  Arts, English

YEARS:  7–8, 9–10


Macbeth Act 5.5 17–28


'Macbeth' is a play drenched in bloodshed and death.

In this haunting soliloquy, delivered after Macbeth hears of his beloved wife's death, Macbeth seems to emerge from his bloodlust and reflect on what it has achieved.

Join Bell Shakespeare's Ivan Donato as he infuses Macbeth's final soliloquy with pathos and regret.


Things to think about

  1. 1.If you were to create a symbol that represents what life means to you, what would it be? Draw your symbol and provide an explanation of all it signifies.
  2. 2.At the end of the first line of this soliloquy, what effect does the pause on the word 'hereafter' create? Note the lengths and rhythms of the next few lines. To where have Macbeth's 'yesterdays' lighted the way? What does the 'brief candle' symbolise?
  3. 3.

    Shakespeare uses three metaphors to describe life. Can you identify them? What does each metaphor say about life? How does Shakespeare employ words to emphasise and enhance his meaning? How do the lengths of sentences and the rhythms in them enhance meaning?

  4. 4.

    The Bible is arguably the most referenced text in Western literature. This soliloquy, for example, is rich in biblical imagery. Research the following passages: — Psalms 22.15 — Job 18.5-6 — Job 8.9 — Wisdom of Solomon 2.4 Explain how these enrich our understanding of the soliloquy. What might Shakespeare have been suggesting by drawing on biblical verses, with which many in his audience would have been familiar?


Teachers

Visit Bell Shakespeare's website

Discover programs, workshops and more performances at one of Australia's great theatre companies.

Download a PDF with the full synopsis for each play.

Full plot summaries of Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet.


Acknowledgements

Created by ABC Splash in collaboration with Bell Shakespeare.


Production Date: 2014


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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