Macbeth Question and Answers - Bulbul Study

Macbeth Question and Answer RTMNU Nagpur University English Literature

Macbeth by William Shakespeare is an important play for RTMNU Nagpur University students

Macbeth Question Answer

Macbeth question and answers for RTMNU University students are given in a simple and creative way. Macbeth is in syllabus of Universities, Schools, CBSE, ICSE and other State Boards. In exam student have to write Macbeth  question and answers. So Macbeth question and answers for RTMNU students are important. This article provides you the character sketch of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth from one of the greatest tragedy of Shakespeare titled 'Macbeth'

Macbeth Question and Answers - RTMN University English Literature

1.Write a character sketch of Macbeth?

Macbeth was a courageous and brave leader/general of King Duncan who won many battles. He was loyal and faithfully serving the King and thus King Duncan trusted Macbeth. When Macbeth and Banquo were returning from a war they met three witches on the way. Meeting the witches and having conversation with them was the turning point in the tragedy play. The first witch greeted Macbeth as the 'Thane of Glamis' -this was real and not a prediction. The second witch greeted him as the 'Thane of Cowdor' This was a prediction and very interestingly it came true and Macbeth received the news that he was given the title of Thane of Cowdar. The third witch greeted him as the 'The King of Scotland' -this was a prediction. Macbeth was not a King but a great brave leader serving King Duncan. He may have had the desire to be a King but he never spoke nor did he do anything to be King of Scotland before the prediction of witches. Now the prediction of witches instigated the desire in Macbeth to become the King. He shared this with his wife Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth was more ambitious than Macbeth and she motivated him to kill King Duncan and become the King. Initially Macbeth did not support the idea of killing the King but lady Macbeth persuaded Macbeth to kill King Duncan. Macbeths ambition won over Macbeth's moral values and thus he killed King Duncan when he came to Macbeth's castle to bless him for his bravery and loyal work. Macbeth was carried away by the ambition of becoming the king. After becoming the King he killed more people- Banquo, lady Macduff and her children. He committed crime after crime by killing people. All this affected in psychological  disorder in lady Macbeth and she began behaving in weird way and finally died in a pathetic way. Now Macbeth was left alone, sorrowful, frustrated with his own crime and had no peace of mind. He is a tragic hero who for his own ambition killed a great King and his friend and others .Even though he became a King he was defeated in his conscience and values as a human being because the guilt of the crime never gave him a peace of mind. Macbeth was finally killed in the final battle and had a tragic end. Thus we can say that Macbeth was tragic hero who ended up in tragedy by his own deeds for fulfilling wrong ambitions. Thus a brave captain destroyed his own life and had a tragic end. He is a tragic hero responsible for his own downfall pathetically.

2. Write a character sketch of Lady Macbeth? Or Is Lady Macbeth responsible for the Macbeth's downfall?

Lady Macbeth, wife of Macbeth is responsible for persuading and provoking him to kill king Duncan. She instigated him to with her strong courage and high passion to do the evil deed of killing the king by his own hands. Lady Macbeth plays an important role in practically instigating and guiding him to murder the king. But we can never forget that Macbeth had a hidden desire to be powerful and be a king. If he did not have the desire, lady Macbeth could not persuade him and would fail in her convincing. She is lady with great courage, is firm and brave and also a practical woman who has no moral values. Because she has no gratitude or loyalty towards king Duncan and   she suggests' Macbeth to kill him at their own castle .Lady Macbeth was surely responsible to provoke Macbeth to murderer the king and become King of Scotland. She was ambitious and wanted to be Queen of Scotland. But overall looking at all the actions we can say that Macbeths ambition and he himself is responsible for his own downfall. Initially Lady Macbeth appears to be strong woman but later when she learns about the murder of Banquo, Lady Macduff and her children she gets highly pricked in her heart and gets psychologically  disturbed. She finally commits suicide in depression as the guilt of crime has a strong effect on her. 

3. Describe the role of witches?

Three witches who  looked like woman meet Macbeth and Banquo when they were returning from battlefield after winning a battle. The witches had a beard, and were wearing wild dress and appeared in filthy weather. The witches were singing a strange song:

"Fair is foul and foul is fair.

Hover through the frog and filthy air"

This song  gives a powerful indication that a different, strange thing is going to happen in the life of Macbeth and Banquo. The song tells that what may be fair for others is a foul to witched and what is foul for some may be fair for witches. Three witches made  strange prophecies for Macbeth and Banquo.

To Macbeth the first witch greeted him as ' Thane of Glamis'  - present position which was true. The second witch greeted him as ' Thane of Cawdor' - he got thus became true. The third witch greeted Macbeth as ' King of Scotland' which was a prophesy. The witches also prophesied for Banquo. they said that he will be lesser than Macbeth.  But he will be more happier and his children will be ruler of Scotland in future. These prophesies had a deep imapct on Macbeth and it spurred and instigated the desire to become the king of Scotland and take the place and position of King Duncan.

4. How did Macbeth kill King Duncan?

When Macbeth went to kill Duncan in the chamber he was sleeping. Macbeth hallucinated and he saw a dragger in the air him which had a handle pointing towards him. On the tip and blade of the dragger were drops of blood. He tried to hold the dragger but it vanished in the air he could not touch it. The dragger was imaginary and not real and so could not be caught. Then Macbeth with his dragger killed the king. Macbeth  then returned to his wife in a tragic state due to the guilt of murdering the king .Lady Macbeth took the dragger went into the kings chamber and smeared the guards cheek with it's blood. She did this so as to represent that the guards have killed king Duncan.

5. Explain the banquet scene?

Lady Macbeth was graciously receiving and greeting the guest. She noticed that Macbeth was behaving in a strange manner. He was looking at a empty chair and she knew that he was looking at the ghost of Banquo in the chair. Lady Macbeth then went to Macbeth and convinced him that it was all imaginary and not real. she said just like the dragger he saw in air while he went to murder the king, the ghost of Banquo is also imaginary and not real. But Macbeth was not convinced by her words and he continued to see the ghost . Now Macbeth began to speak with the ghost with distracting words. Understanding the gravity of the situation that Macbeth may spill out all the secrets of the murder and crime lady Macbeth informed the guest that her husband is not well and so she dismissed the gathering. The banquet scene portrays that even though Macbeth succeeded to kill king and Banquo he was defeated psychological and the guilt of crime created that psychological disorder within him.

6. Compare the character of Banquo with Macbeth?

Banquo  was serving as co-general of Macbeth serving king Duncan. Banquo was a brave and strong man who had equal valour and passion to win the battle and fight like Macbeth. Macbeth and Banquo are called as 'our captain'. They both were returning from the battlefield after the victory when they met the witches. Macbeth was instigated by the witches and turned out to a murder to achieve his ambition. While the prophesy did not have any effect on Banquo. He did not turn violent nor aggressive and remained as he was before. Banquo's character represent a Nobel, matured, selfless man who was not moved by temptations. He resisted the temptations. He was a honest man with a noble moral character. He was Macbeth's friend and at last was killed by Macbeth for no reason. He was victim of Macbeth's wrong and greedy criminal ambition. Thus Banquo represents a noble man with clean character whereas Macbeth though being a brave and courageous man falls to the temptation and gets into criminal action and is responsible for his own destruction.

Conclusion:

Important question and answers of Macbeth for students of  RTMN Nagpur University BA English Literature Semester 2 are covered in this post. Students can read and revise and learn the important points for RTMNU Examination.