Macbeth Active Reading Notes Act I Scenes V-VII

I'd like to begin with sharing shakespeare-online.com--something we have all probably run across while looking for help with Shakespeare reading, but just in case anyone hasn't, here it is (beginning with scene 5). It is annotated, with links and explanatory notes at the bottom of the page; the interpretations of the scenes might not be perfect (but I haven't read too closely into them, I'm more focused on the other notes), but I found the explanations of words and phrases helpful when reading and re-reading (and re-reading and re-reading and re-reading) just won't do.

SCENE V:

• we come in with Lady Macbeth reading a letter Macbeth has sent to her about the witches' prophecies
• the letter is in prose
• compunctious: remorseful ("That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose..." Lady Macbeth is going to murder Duncan herself; she does not want natural feelings of remorse and regret to get in her way)
• she wishes to be cruel and bitter so she may kill Duncan and achieve her title alongside Macbeth
• Duncan is coming to stay at the castle

 SCENE VI:

• martlet: a small martin/swallow (builds nests on buildings)
• Duncan has arrived at Inverness 
• the most I got out of this little scene is that Duncan and his party have arrived at the castle, and Lady Macbeth takes them inside. Hm. 

SCENE VII:

• " If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly" (in reference to Duncan's assassination) Oh, good lord, a self-explanatory phrase. Beautiful.
•  Duncan trusts Macbeth--as his kinsman and host 
• "that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips." does this mean that Macbeth knows that if he kills Duncan for the throne, his plan will backfire, or he will end up being assassinated for his position, too?
• "I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
  And falls on the other." Macbeth uses a horse as a metaphor for his intent; I just liked the rest of this quote
• "the poor cat i' the adage" refers to "The cat would eat fish, and would not wet her feet." 
• the Lady's devious plans: after a hard day's journey to the castle, Duncan will be fast asleep--this is when Lady Macbeth will get his guards drunk, so they may not remember a thing, and the unguarded Duncan may be murdered
• They might use the guards' daggers to kill Duncan, framing them for his murder