Shailynn Joseph
Monday, June 1, 2015
Friday, April 24, 2015
Macbeth as King
Macbeth as a king would be a selfish and greedy man. He would be a man of indecisive nature in that others need to tell him what to do. For example Lady Macbeth forces Macbeth to kill Duncan due to her manipulative ways, in this case questioning his courage. I think he won't be able to function on his own with his guilty and power hungry nature. Since he has to listen to others about his future he will act inrationally as seen through the killing of Banquo and of Duncan to start with.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Act 3 Reading Notes Macbeth
Scene 1
-banquo is thinking about the prophecies and wonders when the second prophecy will come true where someone of his line will sit on the throne. - Macbeths Corronation is going to take place
- Macbeth is worried about others trying to take over his throne
- the murder of Duncan is taking its toll on Macbeth, has a conscience
- Macbeth is visited by two people he hired
- Macbeth wants Banquo and Fleance to be killed so his throne can't be taken
Scene 2
- Lady Macbeth calls to her husband
- Macbeth says he needs to protect the throne and kill a few more people
Scene 3
-the murderers go to kill Banquo and his son
- success in killing Banquo
- Banquo tells son to flee and avenge his death
Scene 4
-Macbeth and Lady at feast
- Macbeth angered that Son was not killed
- Banquo's ghost in Macbeths path, Macbeth is terrified,
- guests sent away
- Macbeth feels he has to keep his throne and says this to Lady Macbeth in that he will do anything to keep it
Scene 5
-the witches meet with Hecate, is mad because they didn't tell her about Macbeth before they told him things
- says they need to use charms to give Macbeth false security
Scene 6
- Banquo's murder has been blamed on Fleance his son,
- Macbeth is preparing for war due to threats from Malcom and Macduff
- Malcom and Macduff think they can save Scotland.
Macbreak
I think Macbeth would be more appreciated and wouldn't be the actual character he was if he was a "good" character. What I mean is that the story wouldn't have Shakespearean methods because it wouldn't have to do with death and jealousy. The entire idea of the play is to establish the greed and ambition of Macbeth and without these qualities leaning toward hate the play wouldn't gain momentum. I think that id Macbeth was "good" the story wouldn't be twisted and dark because the main antagonist wouldn't be present.
Reading Questions
Act 1
I-1
1) Beginning the play with a dialogue between the witches sets the mood to be dark, evil, and mysterious. This foreshadows the plot, theme, and mood for the future of the story in the same manner. In comparison of Shakespeare's other plays, Macbeth requires more ambiguity and the syntax and diction used needs to be more bleak. For example, Hamlet highlighted the themes of betrayal and complexity of relationships and power. Even though, the theme falls in the same ballpark with Macbeth, the gloominess of the plot of Macbeth overpowers that of Hamlet. In the beginning of the play, the witches were going to meet Macbeth at the "ere of sunset." Line 10 was "Paddock calls" and line 11 was "Anon." The phrase paddock class means a toad, which symbolizes transformation. The word anon means soon or shortly. The "toad" and it's transformation could metaphorically be compared to Macbeth and his evolving and transforming to be a completely different person or even having a transformation in his status and power. The witch's response as anon signifies how Macbeth will shortly have a transformation - to be declared a thane.
I-1
1) Beginning the play with a dialogue between the witches sets the mood to be dark, evil, and mysterious. This foreshadows the plot, theme, and mood for the future of the story in the same manner. In comparison of Shakespeare's other plays, Macbeth requires more ambiguity and the syntax and diction used needs to be more bleak. For example, Hamlet highlighted the themes of betrayal and complexity of relationships and power. Even though, the theme falls in the same ballpark with Macbeth, the gloominess of the plot of Macbeth overpowers that of Hamlet. In the beginning of the play, the witches were going to meet Macbeth at the "ere of sunset." Line 10 was "Paddock calls" and line 11 was "Anon." The phrase paddock class means a toad, which symbolizes transformation. The word anon means soon or shortly. The "toad" and it's transformation could metaphorically be compared to Macbeth and his evolving and transforming to be a completely different person or even having a transformation in his status and power. The witch's response as anon signifies how Macbeth will shortly have a transformation - to be declared a thane.
I-2
1. The bloody seargent indirectly characterizes
Macbeth by glorifying his actions towards Macdonwald. Macdonwald is a rebel who
was executed. He tried to attack them. Macbeth executed macdonwald with his
sword. This did not end the fight with the rebels, the Norwegians are still
attacking.
2. The traitor was the Thane of Cawdor, as we learn from Ross. Duncan says that its a relief the thane of cawdor was executed and that Macbeth now owns his previous title.
2. The traitor was the Thane of Cawdor, as we learn from Ross. Duncan says that its a relief the thane of cawdor was executed and that Macbeth now owns his previous title.
I-3
1. The witches speech gives a first look at Macbeth
and his wife without saying who they are. Indirect characterization of the two.
Similar to Hamlet where he gives a mini synopsis early in the story.
"Weird" in Shakespeare's day meant future seers not weird as we know
it, prophecy and destiny. Shakespeare means that Macbeth's wife has him by the
balls. They cast a spell to control his destiny.
2. Macbeth says something very similar to what the witches said at the beginning of the play. This could be him falling into the destiny the witches set up. Dried, chapped fingers, gender ambiguity, hairy, old, they have literal beards. The witches tell Macbeth that he will thane of Candor and eventually King, right then he finds out he is thane of Cawdor. Banquo asked the witch why they had nothing for him, they told him he is lesser but greater than Macbeth. We knew he was thane before he was thane.
3. Banquo says the witches were a figment of their imagination that they lie or that they are hallucinating. Macbeth learns that he is thane of Cawdor from Ross and Angus. During lines 114-156 he was going over his plan in his head and how everything had just happened to him. He acts very happy and shows no incredulity at being thane. Macbeth's aside shows him rationalizing what happened to him and he begins to think that he is going to be King soon. Macbeth tells Banquo that he is happy and excited and nothing more he explains his behavior by saying he is confused.
2. Macbeth says something very similar to what the witches said at the beginning of the play. This could be him falling into the destiny the witches set up. Dried, chapped fingers, gender ambiguity, hairy, old, they have literal beards. The witches tell Macbeth that he will thane of Candor and eventually King, right then he finds out he is thane of Cawdor. Banquo asked the witch why they had nothing for him, they told him he is lesser but greater than Macbeth. We knew he was thane before he was thane.
3. Banquo says the witches were a figment of their imagination that they lie or that they are hallucinating. Macbeth learns that he is thane of Cawdor from Ross and Angus. During lines 114-156 he was going over his plan in his head and how everything had just happened to him. He acts very happy and shows no incredulity at being thane. Macbeth's aside shows him rationalizing what happened to him and he begins to think that he is going to be King soon. Macbeth tells Banquo that he is happy and excited and nothing more he explains his behavior by saying he is confused.
I-4
1.Cawdor was executed after openly confessing his
treason and pleading for mercy. Malcolm tried to stick up for the thane, but
the king responds by basically saying that you can't trust a man according to
his face. He doesn't believe the thane was truly repentant.
2.The king greets them by saying that he can never
repay them enough for their good deeds, but announces he will leave all his
estate and names his son, Malcolm, prince of Cumberland. He then proposes that
they go to Macbeth's castle at Inverness. Macbeth tells himself that the only
way to be king is to get rid of Malcolm, and even though he'll be appalled at
his action, he must do it.
I-5
1. Macbeth was honest with his wife when he informs
her of his new title as "Thane of Cawdor." He refers to the witches
as "weird sisters" probably because he doesn't want her know that he
is associated with the "evil servants."
Lady Macbeth responds by saying that she thinks
Macbeth is playng things off as if everything is fine. By saying "but be
the serpent under't", she describes him as someone that lies to make
everything appear under control. This doesn't really match the characterization
of Macbeth so far in the story which implies that there is something the
audience doesn't know about him.
2. The wife was confident about the guests visit.
She also seemed prepared and a little cocky about the way her and her husband
would handle it.
3. Lady Macbeth. Yes she wants to kill
Duncan. No, he isn't sure whether he wants to follow through with Lady
Macbeths orders or not. She tells him not to let Duncan see
tomorrow.
4. The question appears to answer itself.
I-6
1. The opening speeches (1.6.1-10) describe how the
surroundings of the castle are "pleasant" and the air is sweet-maybe
even too sweet. From the outside, the castle appears to be paradise.
Lady Macbeth's welcome is formal. Her language is totally different from her language in the previous scene which shows how fake and dishonest her welcome was.
Lady Macbeth's welcome is formal. Her language is totally different from her language in the previous scene which shows how fake and dishonest her welcome was.
I-7
1. "If it were done when 'tis done then 'twere
well." If it were done when it was done it was done well. (Meaning if he
completed the death quickly and efficiently and with no complications then he
did the job well.) Macbeth is determined to kill the king and be done with him
but in lines 1-12 he is fearful of how the "inventor" will judge his
actions. He's violating the hospitality of his kinship and responsibilities as
a host towards his guest by trying to kill his guest instead of protecting
them. The motivation that Macbeth attributes to himself in lines 25-28 is the
attribute of an Arabic heaven-like God. He will be seen as a "God"
and that is his source of motivation to get the job done.
2. In lines 28-30 she is complaining about him
leaving the chamber because it was almost time for dinner. Macbeth
responds to her complaining by saying did he ask for me? And lady Macbeth says
don't you know he did? The positions are lady Macbeth is ready for the King to
be killed while Macbeth is still hesitant and on the fence about it. Macbeth
convinced Lady Macbeth by explaining that he is an respected person and doesn't
want to lose his honor while Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth by convincing him
to gain the power and kill the king. The stronger person in the scene is Lady
Macbeth because she’s more verbally confident in her argument while convincing
Macbeth to kill the King.
Act 2
2.1
1.The opening gives a sense of forboding, things are
not as they should be. The discussion serves to have Banquo acknowledge the
weird sisters rather than claim they are a hallucination.
2. Macbeth is extremely stressed about having to Duncan and he is attempting to talk himself into committing the deed. He talks about it as if he is in a haze, a dream and he continues by making it a reality and committing the deed.
2. Macbeth is extremely stressed about having to Duncan and he is attempting to talk himself into committing the deed. He talks about it as if he is in a haze, a dream and he continues by making it a reality and committing the deed.
2.3
2.3 1) The porter, in the third scene of act ii, is
drunk and is pretending to be the Porter of the gate to hell. In the play,
Macbeth has the trait of equivocation, where he manipulates his listener by
circumlocution and the expectations of the other person without actually
committing. For example, he does this when Lady Macbeth asks him to kill King
Duncan.
2) The thematic function of Lennox describing the night as unruly was because that night was when King Duncan was killed by Macbeth. It was "unruly" not only for King Duncan but also for Macbeth because the guilt and fear of getting caught will always make him say and do things that might be suspicious, dark, and unruly. The scene is necessary to show Macbeth's transformation from the character before the murder vs. the character after the murder. This also connects back to what the witches had said earlier in the play: Fair is foul and foul is fair.
3) Macduff reports that the king has been murdered. Lady Macbeth appears to be horrified that this act could take place on his household. Macbeth is in encaged and kills the chamberlains. Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee Malcolm and will go to England and Donalbain will go to Ireland. They're fleeing because they fear they will be murdered.
2) The thematic function of Lennox describing the night as unruly was because that night was when King Duncan was killed by Macbeth. It was "unruly" not only for King Duncan but also for Macbeth because the guilt and fear of getting caught will always make him say and do things that might be suspicious, dark, and unruly. The scene is necessary to show Macbeth's transformation from the character before the murder vs. the character after the murder. This also connects back to what the witches had said earlier in the play: Fair is foul and foul is fair.
3) Macduff reports that the king has been murdered. Lady Macbeth appears to be horrified that this act could take place on his household. Macbeth is in encaged and kills the chamberlains. Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee Malcolm and will go to England and Donalbain will go to Ireland. They're fleeing because they fear they will be murdered.
2.4
1. The function of the dialogue between Old Man and
Ross is to discuss the strange happenings that have been occurring such as how
an owl killed a falcon, the horses went wild and are one another, and several
other things. This wicked behavior symbolizes and foreshadows the
promotion of Macbeth to the thrown.
2. Macduff tells us from the castle that Macbeth has
been made king by his fellow lords and that he will travel to Scone to receive
the promotion and get crowned. He tells us that Malcolm and Donalbain are
suspected of the murder of Duncan. They are suspected because they fled the
scene.
Meet Macbeth
Macbeth is expressed first through indirect characterization from the sergeant when he says, "For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion carved out his passage." This indirect characterization shows how much Macbeth is disliked and almost called a fool. We see that Macbeth is very naive and power hungry through the words of others in which he is willing to do anything to get what he wants. The elements the witches provide in the play is foreshadowing in which they predicted that Macbeth will succeed in earning his power and that Banquo will end up jealous of Macbeth. Shakespeare uses the witches to foreshadow the future of the play but doesn't give too much away because he wants the actual events to remain a mystery. Shakespeare does this through his colloquialism of the characters and the imagery the words create. The tone of Shakespeare towards Macbeth is cynical because the play being about jealousy and the abduction of power to those who don't necessarily deserve it.
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