Hello, my name is Miss Grant.

I am so glad you decided to learn with me today.

We're gonna be looking at "Macbeth," specifically the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in a bit more detail.

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

Let's get started.

So by the end of this lesson, you are gonna be able to describe the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

We're gonna look at what they say to each other, what they want from each other, how they get it, and how we might define this relationship.

Here are our key words for today.

They're going to be referenced throughout this lesson and are gonna help us achieve our objective.

They are hesitancy, emasculate, manipulation, emotional blackmail, and goad.

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

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

So our lesson outline for today.

We're gonna start by looking at Macbeth's hesitancy.

We're gonna look at his soliloquy in act one, scene seven.

Then we're going to look at Lady Macbeth's manipulative tactics.

And finally, we're gonna consider why this moment, this dialogue, between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in act one, scene seven might be considered a turning point in the play.

Let's start off with Macbeth's hesitancy.

Act one, scene seven starts with a 28 line soliloquy in which Macbeth contemplates regicide, the pros and cons.

King Duncan is staying with him, and he knows that Lady Macbeth feels they should kill him.

He, however, is more hesitant.

I'd like you to pause the video and discuss why might Shakespeare have chosen a long soliloquy for Macbeth's contemplation? Pause the video and discuss this question.

Some lovely discussions there showing off your understanding of this dramatic technique.

So you're right that a soliloquy allows us to hear a character's thoughts and feelings, so we get to hear how Macbeth is truly feeling about the regicide.

In addition, it's long, so we're seeing that he really is contemplating, really thinking about what it would mean to commit regicide, and thus we kind of see his hesitancy on the page because of this long soliloquy as well as the language he's using to describe why he is so hesitant.

Let's reread lines one to seven of Macbeth's soliloquy.

He says, "If it were done then 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly: if the assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success; that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here, but here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we'ld jump the life to come." Let's look at each section in turn to explore his hesitancy.

A complicated soliloquy.

He starts off, "If it were done when is done, then 'twere well it were done quickly:" What he's saying is, "If the death of Duncan meant that I was king and there was no aftermath, then it would be best to kill him quickly." "If the assassination could travel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success; that but this blow might be the be-all and end-all here." He's saying, "If only the regicide had no consequences on Earth, and no further actions were required was the only thing I had to do." And then he continues, "But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we'ld jumped the life to come." He's saying, "If that were the case, and no consequences, no aftermath, then I'd commit the regicide.

I don't care about the punishment I might receive in the afterlife." So I'd like you to look at that first section of his soliloquy again and discuss why is Macbeth hesitant about committing the regicide? Pause the video and discuss this question.

Some fantastic answers there looking at these first seven lines in real detail.

And you're right that they're not very admirable reasons.

He's scared about consequence.

He's scared about punishment.

And shockingly, he's not really scared about punishment in the afterlife.

We know that regicide was considered a sin, a sin against God, and he doesn't seem to mind too much about that.

What he does mind is the idea of consequences on Earth.

Now let's look at the next section of soliloquy, lines 12 to 16.

He says, "He's here in double trust;" Duncan.

Duncan is here in double trust.

"First, as I'm as kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself." I'd like you to discuss Macbeth believes he owes loyalty to Duncan for two reasons.

What are they? Pause the video and discuss this question.

Again, really nice to see people picking apart language.

And absolutely you're right.

He believes he owes loyalty to Duncan because he's his kin, his king.

He says, "I am his kinsman, I'm his subject, he's my king, the person to whom I owe loyalty," but also because Macbeth is hosting him in his castle.

He says he's his host, "And as a host, one of my duties is to protect my guests.

So there are two reasons why I should protect King Duncan." So we know that Macbeth is hesitant.

Let's discuss how does this section deepen Macbeth's hesitancy? Pause video and discuss this question.

Really nice, developing on those answers from the first section of the soliloquy.

So the first section may be less admirable reasons for not killing King Duncan, but here, maybe these reasons are a bit more admirable.

He realises that loyalty is an important value to him, and he realises that Duncan is important to him because he's a king and he's also his guest.

So slightly more admirable reasons for not wanting to commit the regicide.

The soliloquy continues.

Let's look at line 16 to 25.

Macbeth says, "Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking-off; and pity shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the wind." Let's look at each section in turn to explore Macbeth's hesitancy.

Macbeth says, "Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office," saying Duncan is a humble and virtuous king.

He's a good king.

"That his virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking-off; and pity shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the wind." "Duncan's virtue mean the heavens will intervene when I kill him and make sure everyone knows that I did it." So looking at this final section of Macbeth's soliloquy, how does this final section further deepen Macbeth's hesitancy? Pause the video and discuss this question.

Some really lovely discussions there, and lots of people saying, "Well, this section kind of links to the beginning of the soliloquy where he says he doesn't want to kill Duncan because he is worried about the consequence." Again, he's worried here about the consequences.

He's worried that everyone will find out that he committed regicide, but there is also an indication that Duncan's a good king, and maybe that's why Macbeth feels so loyal to him.

Okay, quick check for understanding after looking at that really rich and long soliloquy.

I'd like you to match each quotation from Macbeth's soliloquy to its modern equivalent.

We have, "If the assassination could trammel up the consequence." We have, "He's here in double trust." And finally, "Pity shall blow the horrid deed in every eye." Pause the video, read the modern equivalent, and see if you can match the quotation to that modern equivalent.

Congratulations if you matched, "If the assassination could trammel up the consequence," to "If only there were no repercussions here on Earth for the regicide." Well done if you matched, "He's here in double trust," to "There are two reasons I owe Duncan my loyalty and protection." And finally, "Pity shall blow the horror deed in every eye," "The heavens will reveal my registered to everyone." Well done for matching those quotations to their modern equivalent.

So I'd like you now to reread Macbeth's soliloquy in act one, scene seven in its entirety, and you're gonna discuss why Macbeth is hesitant when faced with the reality of King Duncan.

Why is he hesitant when faced with the reality of killing King Duncan? And I'd like you to use the time conjunctions to structure your discussion.

They are initially, following that, then, and finally.

Pause the video, reread the entire soliloquy, and then use the time conjunctions to structure your discussion to answer the question.

Some fantastically precise explanations of the soliloquy and why Macbeth is really, really hesitant using those time conjunctions to work through each of those 1-28 lines.

Well done.

Here are some ideas that you might have had.

Initially, Macbeth thinks it would be a good idea to kill Duncan quickly.

Following that, he wishes he could be sure there will be no consequences on Earth if he were to commit the regicide.

He doesn't seem to care about the afterlife, but he does care about the here and now.

Then, he hesitates for more admirable reasons.

He neither wants to be disloyal to Duncan nor a bad host.

And finally, he contemplates King Duncan's character.

He's a meek and virtuous king.

If Macbeth did kill him, the act would be so offensive that the heavens would make sure everyone knew that Macbeth was the one to kill him.

Well done for going through that soliloquy.

It had lots of people using nice short quotations from those 28 lines to really show off your understanding.

We're gonna move on to our second learning cycle, and we're gonna look at Lady Macbeth's manipulative tactics.

So Macbeth ends his soliloquy in act one, scene seven stating that he will not kill King Duncan.

He says, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other." I'd like you to discuss what reasons does Macbeth give for rejecting the idea of regicide? Pause the video and discuss the question.

Some lovely discussions there picking apart language in a really, really important quotation to the play, which some argue is all about ambition.

I heard some people saying, "Well, Macbeth says the only motivation he can have for killing King Duncan is ambition looking at only vaulting ambition.

And he knows that ambitious behaviours can hurt you, that the quotation ends, "which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other." Slightly ominous there.

So here, he's not going to kill King Duncan.

That's how the soliloquy ends.

And indeed, when Lady Macbeth arrives, Macbeth tells her, "We shall proceed no further in this business." But, just 47 lines later, in the space of a conversation with Lady Macbeth, the scene ends with Macbeth embracing the idea of regicide.

He says, "I am settled to this terrible feat." I'd like you to discuss what do you think happened during their conversation, those 47 lines of dialogue? Pause the video and discuss the question.

Some lovely discussions there showing off your knowledge of Lady Macbeth's character.

Yes, indeed, she does manipulate Macbeth into committing the regicide, and she does it pretty swiftly.

Only 47 lines of dialogue between the two.

We're gonna look at her tactics in a bit more detail.

So these 47 lines see Lady Macbeth employ a number of manipulative tactics in order to goad her husband into committing regicide.

Lady Macbeth's tactics.

She emasculates him, and she emotionally blackmails him.

Let's look at the emasculation first.

I'd like you to discuss why might this tactic be effective? Consider Macbeth's role as a soldier, and the fact that this society, this Scottish society, accepts and promotes the patriarchy.

Pause the video and discuss the question.

Lots of people showing off their contextual knowledge there, saying, "Look, this society accepts the patriarchy, and so if Lady Macbeth emasculates him, he's going to feel quite vulnerable and he will want to prove that he deserves to be part of the powerful patriarchy." Lots of people looking back to the beginning of the play.

Macbeth is a soldier.

He values that, and it's a big part of his identity, so she if emasculates him, he's going to feel very undermined.

So Macbeth is first introduced as a loyal, strong soldier, an important thing, both solely male roles in 11th century Scotland.

So the idea that he's weak would threaten his identity and goad him into proving otherwise.

Lots of those ideas I heard people talking about, so well done.

Now let's look at the emotional blackmail.

I'd like you to discuss why this tactic might be effective, and I'd like you to consider the presentation of their relationship in act one, scene five to support you.

Pause the video and answer this question.

Well done for looking back at your knowledge from act one, scene five.

I completely agree that the couple are clearly close.

In act one, scene five, he calls Lady Macbeth his dearest partner of greatness and dearest love.

And so the fact that his inaction might threaten their relationship could goad him into committing regicide.

So we've got the emotional blackmail along with the emasculation proved to be very, very powerful tactics.

So a quick check for understanding.

True or false? Lady Macbeth is just lucky that her tactics convinced Macbeth to commit regicide.

There was no guarantee they would work.

Do you think this is true or false? Pause the video and select your response.

Well done if you selected false.

Now I'd like you to justify your answer.

Is it a, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a master manipulator relying on targeted tactics that she knows will goad Macbeth into action? Or b, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as trying a range of manipulative tactics, some fall flat, but others push Macbeth into action? Pause the video and select your justification.

Well done if you selected a.

She's a master manipulator.

Her tactics are targeted.

Now I'd like you to reread act one, scene seven.

And whilst you're reading, use the table to focus on two aspects of Lady Macbeth's manipulation using the model to guide your notes.

One, she emasculates him.

And we've got, "Art thou afeard." That's line 39.

And the word afeard, it's a powerful one given that Macbeth prides himself on being a brave soldier.

So you can see short quotation and short note underneath.

The second idea that I want you to look out for is that she emotionally blackmails him.

And again, I've got a short quote, "From this time such I account thy love." That's lines 38-9.

And a short note underneath.

She suggests that Macbeth backing out of regicide proves he can't be trusted, and thus she mistrusts the constancy of his love.

I'd like you to pause the video, reread act one, scene seven, and use the table to focus on two aspects of Lady Macbeth's manipulation.

Use that model to guide your own notes.

Pause the video, and off you go.

It was so lovely to hear people reading that very engaging dialogue in act one, scene seven.

Lovely intonation.

Got some actors here, which is really, really good.

And then some nice precise notes about her manipulative tactics.

So lots of people noting down short quotations and making short notes underneath.

So they'll be really helpful to you when you get to longer pieces of writing.

So here are some ideas that you might have had for she emasculates him.

She asks him, "Would thou live a coward in line own esteem?" in line 43.

It's a powerful and targeted insult to throw at a man who's been hailed as brave and valiant.

She says, "When you durst do it, then you were a man." So she attaches Macbeth's masculinity to the regicide.

He can't have one without the other.

Very targeted line there.

And she says, "Screw your courage to the sticking place." It's near the end of the scene, and suggests that he's not currently being brave, he's not being courageous.

Her command suggests that the only barrier to regicide is courage.

We know that's not true, but she is emasculating Macbeth and linking those two things together.

And the emotional blackmail.

She says, "What beast was't, then, that made you break this enterprise to me?" She talks as if the regicide is a broken promise to her, despite Macbeth never agreeing.

That would break.

Very powerful.

And she says, "I know how tender it is to love the babe that milks me.

I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from its boneless gums and dashed the brains out had I so sworn as you." Very powerful image there.

Lady Macbeth perhaps references a child that they had together through this image no longer alive.

And she explained she would've killed that child for Macbeth had she promised.

So a very strange promise there.

Very strange part of her emotional blackmail.

And she uses really violent verbs, plucked and dashed, maybe to goad Macbeth into similar violence.

A very powerful moment of that emotional blackmail.

And she says, "What cannot you and I perform?" And she's talking about the regicide here, and also talking about her partnership with Macbeth.

Suggests they're a powerful partnership and that Macbeth must have faith in it, not doubt it.

Well done for exploring that scene and the language that Lady Macbeth uses in such precise detail.

Really liked hearing the different ideas that you had and the short notes that you made.

We're gonna move on to our final learning cycle, a turning point in the play.

Now, a turning point is a phrase used to describe a moment in which a decisive change occurs.

Synonyms include a critical moment, a crossroads, a decisive moment.

After a turning point, there's often no way back to the previous state of affairs.

So quick check for understanding.

Which of the following sentences uses the phrase turning point correctly, a, b, c, or d? I'd like you to pause the video and select your response.

Well done if after that very short learning cycle, you correctly identified that b, arguably, it was a turning point in his life, after which there was no way back, that is the correct response.

So some argue the act one, scene seven is a turning point in the play.

And I'd like you to consider Macbeth, who says, "We will proceed no further in this business," to, at the end of the scene saying, "I'm settled to this terrible feat." Big change there.

I'd like you to discuss why this could be argued to be a turning point.

And I want you to explain what decisive action has been taken, what will be affected by this action, and why Macbeth will forever and irreversibly be altered by this action.

Pause the video, discuss why this moment in the play, act one, scene seven, from beginning to end, why could it be considered a turning point using those bullet points to support your discussion? Some lovely rich discussions there showing off your knowledge from having just reread this scene that you completely understand why this is considered a turning point in the play because of what decisive action has been taken and how Macbeth's life is going be altered.

Here are some answers that you might have had.

So what decisive action has been taken? It's that Macbeth has decided to murder his king.

Before, he was hesitant, and now, he is settled.

And I heard some people referencing the soliloquy, which was really nice to hear.

What will be affected by this action? Well, the action will alter his life, Macbeth's life.

He will be a wrongly appointed monarch rather than a loyal thane.

So it'll completely change who he is.

But I also heard some people talking about Scotland because absolutely this action is going to alter Scotland and its future line of kings.

It was meant to be Malcolm who would take over after Duncan, and now Macbeth has snatched that, not only the throne from Duncan, but seemingly from Malcolm as well.

And why will Macbeth be forever and irreversibly altered by this action? Well, this action will affect his future because in the context of the play, regicide as a sin and he'd be punished in the afterlife.

Hence, why he calls it a terrible feat.

Lots of people said, "Well, he doesn't seem to really mind about that." That's true, but the consequence is still there.

Well done for those detailed discussions about why this moment in act one, scene seven might be considered a turning point in the play.

So in summary, at the start of act one, scene seven, Macbeth is arguably conflicted.

Lady Macbeth goads Macbeth into killing Duncan, arguably by emasculating him.

Lady Macbeth emotionally blackmails her husband, and this scene could be interpreted as a turning point in the play as Macbeth's decision is made.

Thank you so much for joining me for today's lesson.

It was lovely to hear you reading such extended parts of the play.

That soliloquy in act one, scene seven, and the dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

I look forward to seeing you next time to explore this play in yet more detail.