(no audio) <v ->Hello, my name is Ms. Grant.

</v> I'm so glad that you've decided to learn with me today.

We're gonna be looking at "Macbeth," specifically the chivalric code, why it's important to Macbeth and how Lady Macbeth uses it against him.

I'm gonna be your support and guide as we work through this lesson together.

Let's get started.

So by the end of today's lesson, you are going to be able to describe how Lady Macbeth undermines Macbeth.

We're gonna look at what he values and how Lady Macbeth uses that against him.

There are some key keywords which we're gonna reference throughout this lesson to support us achieving our goal.

They are the chivalric code, weaponise, honour, value, and undermine.

Their definitions are gonna come up one at a time on the next slide.

Read through them, and if you want to spend some more time with our keywords and their definitions, pause the video at the end of the slide.

(no audio) (no audio) (no audio) This is our lesson outline for today.

We're gonna start off looking at the chivalric code, and we're gonna finish today by looking at how Lady Macbeth undermines Macbeth.

Let's start off with the chivalric code.

Here are some things other characters say about Macbeth after he helps lead Scotland to victory in battle at the start of the play.

The sergeant says, "Brave Macbeth.

Well he deserves that name." Duncan says of him, "O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!" and "Noble Macbeth." The sergeant says.

"They," Macbeth and Banquo, "doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe," the enemy.

Ross says, "Everyone did bear thy praises in his," Duncan's "kingdom's great defence." I'd like you to discuss what are our first impressions of Macbeth? Consider his character and his reputation.

Pause the video and discuss this question.

Lovely to hear people looking back at act one, early in act one and saying, "Macbeth has a great reputation." Everyone thinks that he's incredibly brave and that he's incredibly loyal, and they praise him for this.

And as a character, he seems like someone who deserves this great reputation.

He fought against a traitor and he seems to have strong values which are really important to him.

So our first impressions are pretty positive of this character.

And now I'd like you to discuss what do these compliments tell us about the kinds of things that are valued in 11th century Scotland, which is when the play is set? Pause the video and discuss the question.

Some lovely discussions about how, well, what is valued is bravery, nobility, loyalty.

So these are the kinds of things that people think are good qualities to have in 11th century Scotland, and Macbeth seems to embody those qualities.

So Macbeth is a celebrated and respected war hero.

Through the compliments, Shakespeare is making it clear that the attitudes of bravery and loyalty are important in the world of 11th Century Scotland.

However, these attributes are also important to a moral system that is called the chivalric code.

The chivalric code was a set of informal rules or standards for knights, or in this case Thanes.

I'd like you to discuss if being loyal and brave are standards of the chivalric code, what other standards do you think might be important? Pause a video and have a think about this question and a quick discussion.

Nice to hear people thinking about different attributes of the chivalric code, but also breaking down this idea of loyalty and thinking, well, being loyal to whom, and thinking about country, about monarch, about friends, family.

And then looking at this word "brave" as well and thinking, well, the play starts in a battle, that's act one, scene two, and bravery seems to be intimately connected with battle, with combat.

And the idea of being brave in other aspects of your life maybe seems less important to the chivalric code.

According to the chivalric code, knights ought to be brave, strong, and skillful in battle; show loyalty to their monarch, lady, country and God; and be honourable, honest, and generous.

So this speaks to a lot of the discussions that you were just having.

I'd like you to discuss in what ways is Macbeth a good example of a chivalrous Thane who adheres to the chivalric code? Pause the video and have a discussion.

Some really nice nuanced discussions there about how, in many ways, Macbeth is a good example of a chivalrous Thane who adheres to the chivalric code, particularly his skill on the battlefield, which the sergeant talks about a lot in act one, scene two, and for which he is promoted, he is honoured.

And there's also ideas of loyalty because he fights after all for King Duncan.

But others saying, "Well, we don't know that much about Macbeth." We don't see him until act one, scene three, and that's when he meets the witches.

So whilst he does seem to adhere to the chivalric code, we also don't get a full exploration of of his character.

So we shouldn't be too quick to say that he is the perfect knight.

So a range of ideas there looking at this concept and how important it is to Macbeth.

Now I'd like you to think, why do you think Shakespeare chose to characterise him as a noble warrior at the beginning of the play who has this amazing reputation amongst his peers? Pause the video and discuss this question.

Some really nice nuanced discussions there.

Some people saying this makes his fall from grace even further.

When he decides to commit regicide, we're seeing someone who was loyal, who was honourable, who was brave, really fall from grace, not be the character that we thought he might have been.

And others thinking this also speaks to his conflict throughout the play, the doubt that he's done the right thing, his hesitancy before the regicide, because we know just how much he is giving up.

So quick check for understanding.

How is Macbeth characterised at the start of the play? Select two that apply, A, B, C, or D.

Pause the video and select your responses.

Well done if you selected B and C.

He's characterised as a respected warrior and a valued Thane.

In act one, scene four, Duncan praises Macbeth for his part in the battle.

Macbeth replies, "The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it, pays itself.

Your highness' part is to receive our duties, and our duties are to your throne and state children and servants, which do but what they should by doing everything safe toward your love and honour." I'd like you to discuss, in what ways is Macbeth adhering to the standards of the chivalric code? And you can refer to earlier scenes in addition to this one.

Pause the video and discuss the question.

(no audio) Some really nice discussions about this short section of text where Macbeth is speaking to Duncan and kind of revealing who he is.

Here are some ideas that you might have had.

So, "The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it, pays itself." Macbeth's service to Duncan is reward enough.

He doesn't expect anything more, showing true and loyal devotion.

"Your highness' part is to receive our duties, and our duties are to your throne and state children and servants." So Macbeth shows his loyalty to the hierarchy, which sees the monarch at the top.

Macbeth knows his duties are to Duncan.

I heard lots of people using that word, hierarchy, which is really nice.

It's specific.

And finally, "which do but what they should, by doing everything safe towards your love and honour." Macbeth believes everyone in the community who honours Duncan is doing their duty.

The king's safety and honour should define all of their actions.

So we're starting to see just how important the idea of honour and duty is to Macbeth.

In act one, scene seven, Macbeth tells Lady he won't kill Duncan because, "He hath honour'd me of late, and I bought golden opinions from all sorts of people, which would be worn now in their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon." I'd like you to look at the section of text and discuss, why doesn't Macbeth want to kill Duncan? (no audio) Some lovely discussions there looking at this bit of text.

Here are some ideas that you might have had.

Macbeth says, "He hath honour'd me of late." So Macbeth has just been honoured by Duncan, promoted.

This honour really means something to him.

He's "bought golden opinions from all sorts of people." Macbeth knows he has a valuable reputation as a noble warrior, and again, that's important to him.

And finally, "which would be worn now in their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon." Macbeth wants to enjoy his golden reputation.

It's valuable to him.

He doesn't want to throw it away.

So I'd like you to complete each of the three sentence starters below about Macbeth and the chivalric code.

"The chivalric code is important to Macbeth because," and I'd like you to consider how he's introduced in act one, scene two.

"The chivalric code is important to Macbeth so," and I'd like you to consider his conversation with Duncan or with Lady Macbeth.

And "the chivalric code is important to Macbeth but," and I'd like you to consider what decision Macbeth takes.

Pause the video and complete each of the three sentence starters below about Macbeth and the chivalric code.

Lovely to see people writing there and tying a bit of contextual knowledge with moments from the play itself.

Let's look at some ideas you might have had.

The chivalric code is important to Macbeth because being a brave and loyal Thane is valued by his community, and Macbeth is a powerful warrior and can ultimately be very successful in this community.

The code is important to Macbeth so he initially doesn't want to kill King Duncan as it would portray ideals he thinks of as important.

Finally, the chivalric code is important to Macbeth, but ultimately he decides to kill King Duncan, perhaps goaded by his wife and drawn to the golden round by his own ambition.

Nice to look at the chivalric code in three different ways there, tying this idea to the text.

We're gonna move on to our second learning cycle, Lady Macbeth undermines Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth knows that chivalric ideals are important to Macbeth.

In act one, scene five, after reading the letter about the prophecies, she worries Macbeth won't be able to commit the regicide.

She says, "Thou wouldst be great; are not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.

What thou wouldst highly, that wouldst thou holily." I'd like you to discuss, what is Lady Macbeth saying about Macbeth's character? Pause the video, read the section again, and discuss the question.

Nice to see people looking at this quotation in such detail.

Here's some ideas that you might have had.

She knows that he does feel ambition, "art not without ambition," but he doesn't want to do anything wrong or immoral to achieve his ambitions.

"What thou wouldst highly, that wouldst thou holily." So she understands this aspect of her husband's character.

When Macbeth says, "We shall proceed no further in this business," in act one, scene seven, Lady Macbeth says, "Art thou afeared to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire?" Very pointed thing for her to say, pointed question.

I'd like you to discuss, how does Lady Macbeth weaponize the chivalric ideals that Macbeth values? Pause the video and discuss the question.

(no audio) Fantastic discussions, and I agree this is incredibly rich quotation.

Here's some ideas you might have had.

She uses this word "afeared" and she accuses Macbeth of being scared, a powerful insult for someone who presents as fearless on the battlefield.

She says to be, "the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire." She connects his valour, his bravery to the regicide, suggests he can only be valorous if he acts on his ambitions.

Very pointed question designed to goad to Macbeth into regicide, weaponizing those chivalric ideals that are so important to Macbeth.

Quick check for understanding.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth care about the chivalric code in the same way.

Is this true or false? Pause the video and select your response.

Well done.

It is false.

Now I'd like you to justify your answer.

I'd like you to select either A or B to justify why Lady Macbeth and Macbeth care about the chivalric code in the same way is a false statement.

Pause the video, read through the justifications, and select the one you think is correct.

(no audio) Well done.

It is A.

For Macbeth, the chivalric code is something that defines his actions.

For Lady Macbeth, the chivalric code is something to weaponize.

So I'd like us to reread act one, scene seven from line 28, just after Lady Macbeth enters the scene, to the end.

I'd like you to discuss, how does Lady Macbeth weaponize the chivalric code to achieve what she wants? You should consider her emasculation of Macbeth, how she undermines his sense of his own courage, how she undermines his sense of his own loyalty, and how effective her strategy is.

Pause the video, read through act one, scene seven, and answer the question using the bullet points to frame your discussion.

(no audio) Really lovely to hear people reading through that scene with such careful intonation and with their own interpretation of these characters as well.

Lots of people looking at different aspects of language, so looking at the idea that Lady Macbeth really makes Macbeth question his own masculinity, something that is important to him, and looking at the kind of emotional blackmail that she uses saying you are being disloyal to me if you do not kill King Duncan.

We are now gonna formalise our ideas using three sentence starters.

So same question, how does Lady Macbeth weaponize the chivalric code to achieve what she wants? Same ideas, but we're just gonna formalise them with these sentence starters.

"Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a cunning strategist in act one, scene seven.

She's able to weaponize Macbeth's values against him in order to.

." "More specifically in act one, scene seven.

And, "As a result.

." So these sentence starters are gonna help you just draw your arguments to a pointed conclusion.

Pause the video and, using these sentence starters, return to your discussions and formalise them please.

(no audio) Some lovely, precise and accurate discussions looking at specific moments in act one, scene seven, and thinking, as a result, what happens as a result of Lady Macbeth's weaponization of the chivalric code.

Here are some ideas you might have had.

Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a cunning strategist in act one, scene seven.

She's able to weaponize Macbeth's values against him in order to goad him into killing King Duncan, something he contemplated but ultimately decided he didn't want to do.

More specifically in act one, scene seven, Lady Macbeth undermines his sense of himself as a brave warrior, calling him "afeared, a coward," and to "screw his courage to the sticking place.

As a result, Macbeth is persuaded to commit regicide, adhering to a distorted form of the chivalric code where he owes loyalty solely to his wife and the idea of regicide rather than his monarch, country and conscience.

We'll look at a second set of ideas.

Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a cunning strategist in act one, scene seven.

She's able to weaponize Macbeth's values against him in order to undermine his sense of self and make him feel like he's betraying his values when he says, "We shall proceed no further in this business." More specifically in act one, scene seven, she undermines Macbeth's belief in his loyal and honourable nature when she asks, "What beast was't, then, that made you break this enterprise to me?" The verb "break" suggesting a betrayal, when actually he's been true to his values.

As a result, Macbeth mistakenly equates killing Duncan, with a dagger in the dark, with the noble and fearless acts of war, which are clearly so important to him, hence his reputation at the beginning of the play.

It was lovely to hear people picking out different bits more specifically in act one, scene seven, and seeing what moments people wanted to focus on, and then thinking about what this weaponization, what it results in, what happens in the play.

In summary, Macbeth has a powerful reputation as a brave and noble warrior.

Macbeth values the chivalric code.

Lady Macbeth weaponizes the chivalric code to get what she wants.

Arguably her emasculation leads to Macbeth committing regicide, perhaps to defend his courage and masculinity.

It's been a pleasure to look at the chivalric code with you and hear all of your fantastic ideas.

I look forward to seeing you in the next lesson.

(no audio).