Setting/Pathetic Fallacy/Tone

Pathetic Fallacy

Tone: Dark and ominous suggestive of a world turned topsy-turvy by foul and unnatural crimes

The main type of weather found throughout the play are thunder and lightning storms, which occur when evil deeds are either being formulated or carried out. We first see this theatrical use of weather when we meet the three witches in Act 1, scene 1.

In the first battle scene, the witches describe "fog and filthy air", which is representative of mystery, and of how things are not how they should be (the natural order is reversed, as suggested by the line "fair is foul and foul is fair").

On the night of Duncan's murder, a thunder and lightning storm raged outside. The use of pathetic fallacy has the effect of making the scenes of fear or violence more intense.

The pathetic fallacy or anthropomorphic fallacy is the treatment of inanimate objects as if they had human feelings, thought, or sensations.

Pathetic fallacy is sometimes used in the form of metaphors, such as the idea of having a violent sea to represent a feeling of betrayal, of being tossed out into the water without a life-saving device. One such example in this play is when we meet the three witches (1.1). The atmosphere is dark and moody and the world around the witches is dark and gloomy. This is a good example of pathetic fallacy in that the rain, dark and gloom all represent the feeling in the scene, and form a good setting for our feelings of disgust and queasiness when we read about the witches burying a human hand.

Macbeth’s dark thoughts and his lack of control are echoed in the weather of the scenes to come. The main type of weather found throughout the play is thunder and lightning storms, which occur when evil deeds are either being formulated or carried out. Before Duncan’s murder pathetic fallacy is used  when  Fleance quotes “The moon is down I have not heard the clock”. This sets the perfect mood in the castle to commit the  murder of Duncan. The atmosphere parallels Macbeth’s dark thoughts and his lack of control in the nightmares in the subconscious when sleeping.

Quotes and Examples

·         “When shall we three meet again. In thunder, lighting or in rain” Act 1 Scene 1
(use of nature reflects on the emotions and problems that are to follow in the play)

·         “Fair is foul, foul is fair. Hover through the fog and the filthy air” Act 1 Scene 1
(everything is not as it seems. Paradox. It sets the tone of the play)

·         “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” Act 1 Scene 3
(echoes the sentiments of the three witches in Scene 1. Paradox)

·         “The moon is down; I have not heard the clock”
(before murder of Duncan and it sets the mood of the castle)

·         “This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself into our gentle senses”
(comments on the atmosphere-air is pleasant and sweet)

Setting Of each scene:

Act 1 Scene1: is set in a desolate place while thunder and lightning. It sets the mood of the scene for the three witches.

Act 1 Scene 3: Set in a heath near Forres again thundering while the witches explain to Macbeth about the prophecy.

Act 1 Scene 4: Set in the palace of Duncan. They talk about the thane of Cawdor execution and how Macbeth is promoted to thane of Cawdor.

Act 1 Scene 5: It’s a crucial scene set in Macbeth’s Castle as were introduced to Lady Macbeth and her femine wiles

Act 1 Scene 6: This is when the king arrives to Macbeth’s castle. Duncan comments about the pleasant atmosphere of the castle and Banquo echoes what the king has said.

Act 1 Scene 7: Again set in the castle of Macbeth. It’s about Macbeth’s indecision of the murder of the king. Macbeth proves Lady Macbeths manipulative skills as a dominant figure. 

Act 2 Scene 1: set in the court of Macbeth’s castle where Banquo meets his son and they discuss how the night is going his quote reflects on the murder of Duncan

Act 2 Scene 2: Set in Macbeth’s castle near Duncan’s room. Macbeth feels guilty of the murder. Lady Macbeth demands Macbeth to bring the daggers back to the guard’s room and she falsely put the blames on the guards.

Act 2 Scene 3: set in the entrance to Macbeth’s castle. “The night has been unruly: where he lay  This reflects the weariness or the unsettled atmosphere after the murder.