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welcome plays sonnets analysis quotations sources biography theatres key dates plots faq books glossary scholars quiz search	Macbeth: Q & A  How do you reconcile Macbeth's prompt murder of the grooms with his horror at the mere thought of killing Duncan, and his refusal to carry the bloody daggers back to the chamber?  Is Lady Macbeth's swoon, on hearing of the murder of the grooms, real or feigned - and the grounds of your opinion?  Describe the character of Macbeth in brief and compare Macbeth to Hamlet.  What do you understand the Weird Sisters in Macbeth to be?  Why are the Witches referred to as the Weird Sisters?  Who is Hecate?  Are the Witches' lines in iambic pentameter?  Which three apparitions do the Witches show Macbeth?  Why is Macbeth unlucky?  Did Shakespeare write Macbeth for James I?  Can you describe the relationship between Macbeth and the Witches?  How did Shakespeare link symbolism and mysticism in Macbeth?  How do you explain the difference in Lady Macbeth's manner towards Macbeth after the Banquo ghost scene (III.iv), as compared with her bearing after the murder of Duncan (II.ii) ?  Why is Lady Macbeth's reading of the letter in prose?  Do you regard Lady Macbeth as a suicide? And what do you consider the causes of her death?  What effect does Lady Macbeth's death have upon Macbeth, and upon our feelings toward him?  What is the significance of the line Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof (1.2)?  Did the historical Macbeth have children? _______ Related Articles  Macbeth: The Complete Play with Annotations and Commentary  The Metre of Macbeth: Blank Verse and Rhymed Lines  Macbeth Character Introduction  Metaphors in Macbeth (Biblical)  Soliloquy Analysis: If it were done when 'tis done (1.7.1-29)  Soliloquy Analysis: Is this a dagger (2.1.33-61)  Soliloquy Analysis: To be thus is nothing (3.1.47-71)  Soliloquy Analysis: She should have died hereafter (5.5.17-28)  Explanatory Notes for Lady Macbeth's Soliloquy (1.5)  The Psychoanalysis of Lady Macbeth (Sleepwalking Scene)  Explanatory Notes for the Witches' Chants (4.1)  Macbeth Plot Summary (Acts 1 and 2)  Macbeth Plot Summary (Acts 3, 4 and 5)  The Curse of Macbeth  Shakespeare's Sources for Macbeth  Macbeth Q & A  What is Tragic Irony?  Macbeth Study Quiz (with detailed answers)  Quotations from Macbeth (Full)  Top 10 Quotations from Macbeth  Characteristics of Elizabethan Tragedy  Shakespeare's Workmanship: Crafting a Sympathetic Macbeth  Temptation, Sin, Retribution: Lecture Notes on Macbeth  Untie the winds: Exploring the Witches' Control Over Nature in Macbeth  Why Shakespeare is so Important  Shakespeare's Language  Shakespeare's Influence on Other Writers In the Spotlight Quote in Context Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven; Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers, Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose!                                                        Macbeth (2.1), Banquo The stars (heaven's candles) are dark because the angels in heaven are trying to economize. The "that" in the above passage could be a number of things, and on stage you will see many different interpretations. Some think "that" here refers to Banquo's helmet or shield. Others think Banquo might be handing Fleance his cloak. Langford (Swan Shakespeare) believes it might be the diamond mentioned in line 15. Read on... _______
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