Next class we will be looking into the famous Double Double toil and trouble scene. Many of our ideas about witches having cauldrons come from this scene...
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Act III, scenes 2-6
In this Act, we begin to see circumstances turn against Macbeth. The fourth scene of this Act is considered to be the turning point in the play.
In scene two, Macbeth reveals his plans to kill Banquo. He fears Banquo and he plans his murder without letting Lady M know any of the details. He tells her to "be innocent of the knowledge" so that she can simply applaud his work once it is completed. Lady Macbeth feels that they have lost everything and gained nothing. They are not happy with the outcome of their plans thus far, as they are in such a place of fear and nervousness because of the evil they committed. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth though, that he must look happy for the guests at the banquet that evening. Macbeth agrees. The scene ends with him anticipating eveing so that the deed can be done. He says that there is more evil to come.
In scene three, three murderers attack Fleance and Banquo. Banquo is killed and dies telling his son to flee and have revenge for him. So, he will not see whether his son ever becomes King.
In scene four, their is a banquet with Macbeth and his lords. This scene shows his defeats; he discovers that Fleance has escaped and then each time he says Banquo's name, a ghost of Banquo appears. He is also seen as weakened and crazy in front of his guests. Lady Macbeth tells the lords that Macbeth has had fits since he was a child, so the lords should just ignore his behaviour. But, since he continues to see the ghost and begins to yell at it, the lords eventually leave the feast. Lady Macbeth tells him to get a grip on himself, as he is imagining the stuff of old wives tales, and there is no ghost there. Macbeth can't believe she can act so normal, and speaks of blood, saying he fears he also will be killed. He concludes the scene by deciding to go and see the witches again, to have answers to his questions.
Scene five is the Hecate scene, which may not have been written by Shakespeare. The queen of the witches is angry with the three sisters for not having included her in their meeting with Macbeth. She tells that that Macbeth is just using them for his own gain. They decide to go and see Macbeth the next day before noon, where they will fill him with a false sense of security and confidence in order to bring about his fall.
Scene six presents to us a Lord and Lennox, speaking sarcastically about all that has happened. They believe that Macbeth is responsible for the deaths of Banquo and Duncan, and that were Duncan's sons and Fleance here, they too would be dead. They speak of Macduff's plan to go and see Malcolm and to round up Northumberland and Siward to attack Macbeth and end his tyranical rein.
In scene two, Macbeth reveals his plans to kill Banquo. He fears Banquo and he plans his murder without letting Lady M know any of the details. He tells her to "be innocent of the knowledge" so that she can simply applaud his work once it is completed. Lady Macbeth feels that they have lost everything and gained nothing. They are not happy with the outcome of their plans thus far, as they are in such a place of fear and nervousness because of the evil they committed. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth though, that he must look happy for the guests at the banquet that evening. Macbeth agrees. The scene ends with him anticipating eveing so that the deed can be done. He says that there is more evil to come.
In scene three, three murderers attack Fleance and Banquo. Banquo is killed and dies telling his son to flee and have revenge for him. So, he will not see whether his son ever becomes King.
In scene four, their is a banquet with Macbeth and his lords. This scene shows his defeats; he discovers that Fleance has escaped and then each time he says Banquo's name, a ghost of Banquo appears. He is also seen as weakened and crazy in front of his guests. Lady Macbeth tells the lords that Macbeth has had fits since he was a child, so the lords should just ignore his behaviour. But, since he continues to see the ghost and begins to yell at it, the lords eventually leave the feast. Lady Macbeth tells him to get a grip on himself, as he is imagining the stuff of old wives tales, and there is no ghost there. Macbeth can't believe she can act so normal, and speaks of blood, saying he fears he also will be killed. He concludes the scene by deciding to go and see the witches again, to have answers to his questions.
Scene five is the Hecate scene, which may not have been written by Shakespeare. The queen of the witches is angry with the three sisters for not having included her in their meeting with Macbeth. She tells that that Macbeth is just using them for his own gain. They decide to go and see Macbeth the next day before noon, where they will fill him with a false sense of security and confidence in order to bring about his fall.
Scene six presents to us a Lord and Lennox, speaking sarcastically about all that has happened. They believe that Macbeth is responsible for the deaths of Banquo and Duncan, and that were Duncan's sons and Fleance here, they too would be dead. They speak of Macduff's plan to go and see Malcolm and to round up Northumberland and Siward to attack Macbeth and end his tyranical rein.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Blog #3
Announcement: As I am still marking the second blog post, as well as some very late first posts, I have decided that this week's post will be due on Wednesday, rather than on Sunday as usual. This will also give us time to finish reading Act III. So, please have your third post in by Wednesday February 27th.
Here are your questions:
1)Discuss Macbeth's change in character in this act. You may wish to compare the behaviour of Lady Macbeth to Macbeth, especially in scene 4.
2) Discuss the defeats Macbeth suffers in this Act. What do other characters think of him now?
Here are your questions:
1)Discuss Macbeth's change in character in this act. You may wish to compare the behaviour of Lady Macbeth to Macbeth, especially in scene 4.
2) Discuss the defeats Macbeth suffers in this Act. What do other characters think of him now?
Act III, scene i
Here it is, in point form:
1) Banquo suspects that Macbeth was Duncan's murderer, and muses that perhaps the witches' prophecy will come true for him too.
2) Macbeth and Lady M tell Banquo that he will be their guest this evening. Macbeth complains that Malcolm and Donalbain are in England and Ireland spreading rumours. Macbeth asks Banquo to return for the banquet, and asks whether Fleance will be riding with him.
3) Macbeth then reveals his secret intent to have Banquo and his son Fleance murdered. He is angry that he has committed murder, sold his soul to the devil, in order for Banquo's descendents, not his own, to have the throne. He is also uneasy that Banquo may suspect him.
4) He hires two murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance on their way in, as he cannot do it himself without bringing disapproval on himself.
1) Banquo suspects that Macbeth was Duncan's murderer, and muses that perhaps the witches' prophecy will come true for him too.
2) Macbeth and Lady M tell Banquo that he will be their guest this evening. Macbeth complains that Malcolm and Donalbain are in England and Ireland spreading rumours. Macbeth asks Banquo to return for the banquet, and asks whether Fleance will be riding with him.
3) Macbeth then reveals his secret intent to have Banquo and his son Fleance murdered. He is angry that he has committed murder, sold his soul to the devil, in order for Banquo's descendents, not his own, to have the throne. He is also uneasy that Banquo may suspect him.
4) He hires two murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance on their way in, as he cannot do it himself without bringing disapproval on himself.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Horses eating each other and chimneys...Act II, scene IV
In this scene, Ross and an old man discuss the strange events that have immediately followed Duncan's death. They say the weather has been strange, chimneys have blown over, Duncan's horses ate each other, and that symbolically, an owl killed a falcon. (Parallels Macbeth's murder of Duncan). Macduff appears and Ross questions him about the King's murder. Macduff says it is believed the grooms killed the king, acting for someone else. Since the king's sons have fled, everyone is suspicious that they may have done it. Macduff also reports that Macbeth is to be the new king and that Duncan's body had been taken to the burial place of his ancestors. Macduff says he will not attend Macbeth's coronation at Scone. He is worried that things will be worse off now that Macbeth will be king, and decides to return home to Fife.
Homework: be sure to finish your first assignment and begin your second one this week! Also, finish scene four questions.
Homework: be sure to finish your first assignment and begin your second one this week! Also, finish scene four questions.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Blog questions (#2)
Here are your questions for the second blog post, which is due by Sunday morning. As we have no school on Friday, you get an extra day to work on it, so should have it completed in time. The same rules apply: around 100 words or more, include citations in your argument, and reference to the text. Also, be sure to have a clear topic sentence, and a strong final sentence to conclude your paragraph. Finally, there were many typos in the first blog posts, so be sure to proof read. Please DO NOT include your name here--only your student number. Thank you,
Any questions can be directed to smcmeek@uvic.ca
Questions:
1) Do you think Lady Macbeth is beginning to break down? Are there any signs of weakness in Act II that would make you think this? (Hint: there are at least 3 examples that could be seen as signs of weakness).
2) Discuss the images of darkness in the play. Why was it appropriate that Duncan was murdered at night?
3) Discuss Banquo's character. What type of a person is he? Why would Shakespeare have protrayed him in this way? Use lines of Banquo's speeches to support your answer.
Any questions can be directed to smcmeek@uvic.ca
Questions:
1) Do you think Lady Macbeth is beginning to break down? Are there any signs of weakness in Act II that would make you think this? (Hint: there are at least 3 examples that could be seen as signs of weakness).
2) Discuss the images of darkness in the play. Why was it appropriate that Duncan was murdered at night?
3) Discuss Banquo's character. What type of a person is he? Why would Shakespeare have protrayed him in this way? Use lines of Banquo's speeches to support your answer.
Act II, scene 3
This scene can be divided into four main parts:
1) The comic relief from the porter, who is drunk. Ironically, he pretends to be guarding the gate of hell.
2) The arrival at the castle, and the greeting by Macbeth of Macduff. Macduff tells of the strange lamentings and bizarre weather (chimneys blown down, etc.). Macbeth seems much more calm and sure of himself--he speaks in understatements. First, he says, when asked if the King is stirring "Not yet" and then he says in response to the strange occurences of the previous evening "Twas a rough night."
3) Then, we get the castle's reaction to the murder. Everyone is horrified--even Lady M puts on a good show, crying and fainting when Macbeth begins to go a little overboard in his exclamations and sorrow over the death of Duncan. At first, Macbeth's speech sounds sincere, but then he elaborates a little too much. He also admits to having killed the two chamberlains outside of Duncan's room, stating that when he saw the King, he needed to seek revenge on the person who did this to him. This was clearly due to the fact that Macbeth was worried that the chamberlains might tell everyone that he was the one who did it. However, just in the nick of time, Lady M faints and draws attention away from her husband.
4) Malcolm and Donalbain now take the stage to show us their reaction to the death. They fear for their lives, as they believe that the closer they are in blood relation to the King, the more likely they will also be murdered. They also say that it is easy to put on a false sorrow, and so choose not to consort with the rest of the characters. They flee to separate countries--Ireland and England, believing they will have a better chance if separated.
1) The comic relief from the porter, who is drunk. Ironically, he pretends to be guarding the gate of hell.
2) The arrival at the castle, and the greeting by Macbeth of Macduff. Macduff tells of the strange lamentings and bizarre weather (chimneys blown down, etc.). Macbeth seems much more calm and sure of himself--he speaks in understatements. First, he says, when asked if the King is stirring "Not yet" and then he says in response to the strange occurences of the previous evening "Twas a rough night."
3) Then, we get the castle's reaction to the murder. Everyone is horrified--even Lady M puts on a good show, crying and fainting when Macbeth begins to go a little overboard in his exclamations and sorrow over the death of Duncan. At first, Macbeth's speech sounds sincere, but then he elaborates a little too much. He also admits to having killed the two chamberlains outside of Duncan's room, stating that when he saw the King, he needed to seek revenge on the person who did this to him. This was clearly due to the fact that Macbeth was worried that the chamberlains might tell everyone that he was the one who did it. However, just in the nick of time, Lady M faints and draws attention away from her husband.
4) Malcolm and Donalbain now take the stage to show us their reaction to the death. They fear for their lives, as they believe that the closer they are in blood relation to the King, the more likely they will also be murdered. They also say that it is easy to put on a false sorrow, and so choose not to consort with the rest of the characters. They flee to separate countries--Ireland and England, believing they will have a better chance if separated.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Murder scene: Act II, scene i, ii
Word of the day: Hyperbole--a deliberate exaggeration.
Homework: Scene 1 and 2 questions. Also, choose and begin your first assignment this week.
Scene one:
It is after midnight and Banquo cannot sleep. He is awake with his son Fleance, and says he fears to go to bed because his sleep will be troubled. Macbeth enters, and Banquo hears the noise and calls to his son for his sword. When he sees that it is only Macbeth, he relaxes. This is ironic as his first instinct was actually the correct one. Another ironic line is the one in which Banquo tells Macbeth that he has a diamond from Duncan to give to Lady Macbeth as she is such a good hostess. Banquo confides in Macbeth that he can't stop dreaming about the witches, but Macbeth lies and claims to have not thought of them at all. He implies that if Banquo should be loyal to him, then he will be greatly rewarded. Banquo, noble as usual, says that he will only do this if he doesn't have to do any dishonourable deeds. Macbeth then hallucinates and sees a dagger in the air, with its handle pointed toward him, covered in blood. It leads him on to the murder, and he hopes that the stones beneath his feet will not hear the sounds his footsteps make. At the end of his soliloquy, Macbeth is very sure of himself. He is taking Lady Macbeth's advice in a way, when he says that he should stop thinking and talking to himself, and just go and do it, because the more he thinks about it, the more likely he is to change his mind.
Scene two:
In Scene two, we have Lady Macbeth waiting to hear from Macbeth what has happened. She hears a noise and jumps, and then worries that Macbeth has not succeeded. We find out that she could not commit the murder herself because Duncan looked too much like her father as he slept. These two things are her first signs of weakness, and foreshadow her future breakdown. When Macbeth returns, he says that he has done the deed, but is very jumpy and nervous. We see the clear difference in their reactions to the murder. Macbeth regrets what he has done as he shows his bloody hands and speaks of not being able to sleep ever again because of what he has done. he even refuses to go back and smear the gurads faces with blood to make them look guilty, and Lady Macbeth has to do it herself. Despite her momentary weakness, she takes chanrge of the situation, ordering Macbeth around, telling him to wash his hands. She tells him not to think about it too much, or he will go mad. Then, she rushes off to make the chamberlains look guilty herself. We also see the contrast between the two of them, because MAcbeth uses a hyperbole in a very powerful line, where he claims that were he to try and wash his hands clean, he would turn the entire ocean red because what he has done is so horrible that it cannot be cleansed from him; he is apart from God now--he can't even say Amen. Lady Macbeth on the other hand, says that a little bit of water will clear them of what they have done. It is easy, she says. The scene ends with the sounds of knocking, and Macbeth wishing that the knocking were loud enough to wake Duncan.
Homework: Scene 1 and 2 questions. Also, choose and begin your first assignment this week.
Scene one:
It is after midnight and Banquo cannot sleep. He is awake with his son Fleance, and says he fears to go to bed because his sleep will be troubled. Macbeth enters, and Banquo hears the noise and calls to his son for his sword. When he sees that it is only Macbeth, he relaxes. This is ironic as his first instinct was actually the correct one. Another ironic line is the one in which Banquo tells Macbeth that he has a diamond from Duncan to give to Lady Macbeth as she is such a good hostess. Banquo confides in Macbeth that he can't stop dreaming about the witches, but Macbeth lies and claims to have not thought of them at all. He implies that if Banquo should be loyal to him, then he will be greatly rewarded. Banquo, noble as usual, says that he will only do this if he doesn't have to do any dishonourable deeds. Macbeth then hallucinates and sees a dagger in the air, with its handle pointed toward him, covered in blood. It leads him on to the murder, and he hopes that the stones beneath his feet will not hear the sounds his footsteps make. At the end of his soliloquy, Macbeth is very sure of himself. He is taking Lady Macbeth's advice in a way, when he says that he should stop thinking and talking to himself, and just go and do it, because the more he thinks about it, the more likely he is to change his mind.
Scene two:
In Scene two, we have Lady Macbeth waiting to hear from Macbeth what has happened. She hears a noise and jumps, and then worries that Macbeth has not succeeded. We find out that she could not commit the murder herself because Duncan looked too much like her father as he slept. These two things are her first signs of weakness, and foreshadow her future breakdown. When Macbeth returns, he says that he has done the deed, but is very jumpy and nervous. We see the clear difference in their reactions to the murder. Macbeth regrets what he has done as he shows his bloody hands and speaks of not being able to sleep ever again because of what he has done. he even refuses to go back and smear the gurads faces with blood to make them look guilty, and Lady Macbeth has to do it herself. Despite her momentary weakness, she takes chanrge of the situation, ordering Macbeth around, telling him to wash his hands. She tells him not to think about it too much, or he will go mad. Then, she rushes off to make the chamberlains look guilty herself. We also see the contrast between the two of them, because MAcbeth uses a hyperbole in a very powerful line, where he claims that were he to try and wash his hands clean, he would turn the entire ocean red because what he has done is so horrible that it cannot be cleansed from him; he is apart from God now--he can't even say Amen. Lady Macbeth on the other hand, says that a little bit of water will clear them of what they have done. It is easy, she says. The scene ends with the sounds of knocking, and Macbeth wishing that the knocking were loud enough to wake Duncan.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Duncan's last words...Act I, scene VI, and VII
In scene 6, we see one of the few daylight scenes in the play. Duncan (ironically) expresses how fair the day is and how much he likes the look of the castle and its surroundings. He also calls Lady Macbeth an honoured hostess. The audience sees the irony of thses things, because we know that the Macbeths are plotting a foul murder and that Duncan has really arrived at the place of his death.
In scene 7, we see Macbeth's first true soliloquy as he talks himself out of the murder of Duncan. He lists several reasons, including the fact that he is worried he may eventually suffer the same fate as Duncan, as murder only causes more murder. He admits though that he is driven by ambition, and that this is his tragic flaw. He decides not to kill Duncan, however, because Duncan is his kingsman. Other reasons include that he is the host, and the host should protect their guests from murder, and finally, that it seems Duncan has been a good king, so he doesn't deserve to die. In the end, though, Lady Macbeth convinces him to do the deed anyway, stating that she would do anything for him if she had promised him something--even if it meant killing her own child (how gruesome). We see that Macbeth does have a conscience, but that Lady Macbeth reminds him of his ambition, and he decides to go ahead with her plan, which involves drugging the chamberlains, and then blaming the murder on them.
In this scene, we must decide whether we feel Macbeth has made these decisions and that what occurs is of his own choosing, or, do we on the other hand, feel that Lady Macbeth is responsible for the bloodshed that occurs? Or, perhaps still is the idea that the witches are responsible, although they have not appeared for several scenes.
In scene 7, we see Macbeth's first true soliloquy as he talks himself out of the murder of Duncan. He lists several reasons, including the fact that he is worried he may eventually suffer the same fate as Duncan, as murder only causes more murder. He admits though that he is driven by ambition, and that this is his tragic flaw. He decides not to kill Duncan, however, because Duncan is his kingsman. Other reasons include that he is the host, and the host should protect their guests from murder, and finally, that it seems Duncan has been a good king, so he doesn't deserve to die. In the end, though, Lady Macbeth convinces him to do the deed anyway, stating that she would do anything for him if she had promised him something--even if it meant killing her own child (how gruesome). We see that Macbeth does have a conscience, but that Lady Macbeth reminds him of his ambition, and he decides to go ahead with her plan, which involves drugging the chamberlains, and then blaming the murder on them.
In this scene, we must decide whether we feel Macbeth has made these decisions and that what occurs is of his own choosing, or, do we on the other hand, feel that Lady Macbeth is responsible for the bloodshed that occurs? Or, perhaps still is the idea that the witches are responsible, although they have not appeared for several scenes.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Paragraph Assignment
Hello everyone
As promised, here are your choices for the first blog post. Please choose one of the following questions, to be answered in paragraph form (around 100-150 words). Your answer should include at least one quote from Act I of the play. This answer is due by Sunday February 11th at noon and is out of 5 marks. Please feel free to post any questions you may have about this assignment or others as well.
Read the questions and when you are ready to answer, click on the comments button. Remember to hit "anonymous" so that you don't need to enter a password. Then, type your answer, and include your name or student number as well as the block. Then, hit publish at the bottom of the screen. If you are having difficulty, don't hesitate to email me at: smcmeek@uvic.ca
Questions:
1) Why is it important that Macbeth should at first be presented to us as a brave and honoured soldier? Why does he need to be so well praised and spoken of in the first act of the play? Cite some examples of the praise and benefits bestowed upon him. (Hint: Think of what I said about the tragic hero).
2) Lady Macbeth is often characterized as a fourth witch. Using lines and images from Act I, support this statement.
3) The witches open the scene by stating that "fair is foul and foul is fair". They introduce the idea of the world being upside down. Thus, the theme of appearance vs. reality is highly important. Show how this theme is present in act one, using citations, which may include lines showing two-faced characters, deception, or dramatic irony.
As promised, here are your choices for the first blog post. Please choose one of the following questions, to be answered in paragraph form (around 100-150 words). Your answer should include at least one quote from Act I of the play. This answer is due by Sunday February 11th at noon and is out of 5 marks. Please feel free to post any questions you may have about this assignment or others as well.
Read the questions and when you are ready to answer, click on the comments button. Remember to hit "anonymous" so that you don't need to enter a password. Then, type your answer, and include your name or student number as well as the block. Then, hit publish at the bottom of the screen. If you are having difficulty, don't hesitate to email me at: smcmeek@uvic.ca
Questions:
1) Why is it important that Macbeth should at first be presented to us as a brave and honoured soldier? Why does he need to be so well praised and spoken of in the first act of the play? Cite some examples of the praise and benefits bestowed upon him. (Hint: Think of what I said about the tragic hero).
2) Lady Macbeth is often characterized as a fourth witch. Using lines and images from Act I, support this statement.
3) The witches open the scene by stating that "fair is foul and foul is fair". They introduce the idea of the world being upside down. Thus, the theme of appearance vs. reality is highly important. Show how this theme is present in act one, using citations, which may include lines showing two-faced characters, deception, or dramatic irony.
Act I, scene IV and V
The homework for today's class was to finish the scene questions for Act one, scene four and five. Also, remember that the first blog post is due on Sunday, Feb 11th.
Word of the day: Dramatic Irony--we know something the character doesn't
Here is a summary for scene four and five:
Scene IV
This scene shows us Duncan's major flaw, his weakness. He says "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face". In other words, he takes everything at face value. He has an inability to judge character. For example, the Thane of Cawdor betrayed him, and now he has chosen a new Thane of Cawdor who he thinks is faithful, but is really thinking about murdering him.
Then, we have the big love fest, as I like to call it. Macbeth's character is being heightened for us; we see that he is a hero in the king's mind. He is being built up in the initial scenes of the play, so that his tragic fall is that much more shocking.
The first major problem that arises in this scene is when Duncan announces that his son will be the next king. He names Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland. Note that this was not done in Scotland at the time--King's were elected. So, Duncan is so well respected that he is allowed to break tradition and pass the Kingship to his son. Duncan also announces that he will be coming to Macbeth's castle, Inverness, for a visit.
What is Macbeth's reaction? He is angry, and reveals this in his aside. He now has two people in his way of becoming King. The scene ends and he leaves to go home to be ready for the King. The irony is that we know Macbeth's true intentions upon leaving to be ready for the king.
Scene 5
This scene begins with Lady Macbeth reading a letter from Macbeth announcing what has happened with the witches. Lady Macbeth, in a soliloquy, reveals her true nature. She believes that her husband is too soft--too "full of the milk of human kindness". He has ambition, but not enough cruelty. So, Lady Macbeth asks to be unsexed--she wants to forget her womanly self in favour of manly cruelty. She thinks she cannot be both womanly and dark enough to commit the crime she is thinking of. She is much more confident and decided than Macbeth. When she learns that Duncan is coming for one night, she immediately decides what she will do. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to not let his face give everything away--he is like an open book. She tells him to look innocent. She says Macbeth will be King, and she tells him to leave everything to her, as Duncan will not live to see the next sunrise.
In this scene, Lady Macbeth almost reminds us of the witches--she longs to be unnatural like they are.
Word of the day: Dramatic Irony--we know something the character doesn't
Here is a summary for scene four and five:
Scene IV
This scene shows us Duncan's major flaw, his weakness. He says "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face". In other words, he takes everything at face value. He has an inability to judge character. For example, the Thane of Cawdor betrayed him, and now he has chosen a new Thane of Cawdor who he thinks is faithful, but is really thinking about murdering him.
Then, we have the big love fest, as I like to call it. Macbeth's character is being heightened for us; we see that he is a hero in the king's mind. He is being built up in the initial scenes of the play, so that his tragic fall is that much more shocking.
The first major problem that arises in this scene is when Duncan announces that his son will be the next king. He names Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland. Note that this was not done in Scotland at the time--King's were elected. So, Duncan is so well respected that he is allowed to break tradition and pass the Kingship to his son. Duncan also announces that he will be coming to Macbeth's castle, Inverness, for a visit.
What is Macbeth's reaction? He is angry, and reveals this in his aside. He now has two people in his way of becoming King. The scene ends and he leaves to go home to be ready for the King. The irony is that we know Macbeth's true intentions upon leaving to be ready for the king.
Scene 5
This scene begins with Lady Macbeth reading a letter from Macbeth announcing what has happened with the witches. Lady Macbeth, in a soliloquy, reveals her true nature. She believes that her husband is too soft--too "full of the milk of human kindness". He has ambition, but not enough cruelty. So, Lady Macbeth asks to be unsexed--she wants to forget her womanly self in favour of manly cruelty. She thinks she cannot be both womanly and dark enough to commit the crime she is thinking of. She is much more confident and decided than Macbeth. When she learns that Duncan is coming for one night, she immediately decides what she will do. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to not let his face give everything away--he is like an open book. She tells him to look innocent. She says Macbeth will be King, and she tells him to leave everything to her, as Duncan will not live to see the next sunrise.
In this scene, Lady Macbeth almost reminds us of the witches--she longs to be unnatural like they are.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Fair is foul and foul is fair: Act I, scene i, ii, and iii
In our first class for Macbeth, we covered scenes 1, 2 and almost all of scene 3.
The word of the day was: Aside--a short speech meant only for the audience to hear but made while other characters are on stage.
Here is a summary of the major points in the first 3 scenes:
Act One, scene one:
What is the distinction between the 3 witches: One speaks of the present, the second of the past, and the third of the future.
The witches set a foreboding, mysterious tone in the opening of the play. We ge the sense that they are up to no good. They are planning something for Macbeth, but we don't know what yet. During this initial meeting, the witches conclude that they will go to see Macbeth.
The scene ends with a rhyming couplet: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air." This concludes the scene on a climactic note. The witches final lines also signal that the things are not what they seem. Things that seem good are really evil, and things that seem bad may actually be good. This is an important theme in the play: appearance vs. reality. We will see that the characters are often pretending to be good, while really hiding evil intentions.
Scene two:
The purpose of this scene is to:
1) provide a historical background (Scotland is at war with Norway, there were 3 battles, but King Duncan's men were victorious)
2)show Macbeth at his best; he is praised by the Sargeant for his valiant combat
3) to show Duncan's generosity and gratitude for Macbeth--he awards Macbeth with the title the Thane of Cawdor
4) provides a suspenseful pause before the witches go to see Macbeth
At this point, we see Macbeth as a brave, good, warrior, loyal to the king and rewarded for his efforts.
Scene three:
Here, the witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo and announce a prophecy to Macbeth.
They say he was the Thane of Glamis, he is already the Thane of Cawdor (which we know but Macbeth has not yet found out that the Thane of Cawdor is a traitor) and then say that he will be King.
Macbeth is mesmerized; Banquo says this is a good thing, and asks for predictions about his own future. The witches tell him that he will get Kings but be none himself. In other words, he will father a line of Kings. (Banquo was the ancestor of James I, the king at the time Shakespeare wrote this play).
Then, Ross arrives and once again Macbeth is praised for his combat. He is also told that he is the new thane of Cawdor, so the instant of disbelief at the witches predictions would be shattered. He is now thinking more seriously about the predictions. Banquo warns him that what seems to be too good to be true, usually is. But, the idea of murder has already crossed Macbeth's mind. He knows that the third prediction is the best one but also the hardest to come true. He recognizes that in order to become king, Duncan would have to be killed. The fact that this evil plan has flitted in and out of his mind horrifies Macbeth, and he is very distressed. At the end of the scene, he thus comes to the conclusion that he will leave everything up to chance. He is unsure of whether he needs to make a move to help the third prediction along, but hopes that maybe he won't need to do anything, it will just happen on its own.
The homework for today was to complete the questions for scene 1,2 and question 1 for scene 3. Also, don't forget your post-its. The first blog posting is due Sunday, february 11th. If you were away today, don't forget to pick up an outline, as well as the scene questions for act I.
The word of the day was: Aside--a short speech meant only for the audience to hear but made while other characters are on stage.
Here is a summary of the major points in the first 3 scenes:
Act One, scene one:
What is the distinction between the 3 witches: One speaks of the present, the second of the past, and the third of the future.
The witches set a foreboding, mysterious tone in the opening of the play. We ge the sense that they are up to no good. They are planning something for Macbeth, but we don't know what yet. During this initial meeting, the witches conclude that they will go to see Macbeth.
The scene ends with a rhyming couplet: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air." This concludes the scene on a climactic note. The witches final lines also signal that the things are not what they seem. Things that seem good are really evil, and things that seem bad may actually be good. This is an important theme in the play: appearance vs. reality. We will see that the characters are often pretending to be good, while really hiding evil intentions.
Scene two:
The purpose of this scene is to:
1) provide a historical background (Scotland is at war with Norway, there were 3 battles, but King Duncan's men were victorious)
2)show Macbeth at his best; he is praised by the Sargeant for his valiant combat
3) to show Duncan's generosity and gratitude for Macbeth--he awards Macbeth with the title the Thane of Cawdor
4) provides a suspenseful pause before the witches go to see Macbeth
At this point, we see Macbeth as a brave, good, warrior, loyal to the king and rewarded for his efforts.
Scene three:
Here, the witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo and announce a prophecy to Macbeth.
They say he was the Thane of Glamis, he is already the Thane of Cawdor (which we know but Macbeth has not yet found out that the Thane of Cawdor is a traitor) and then say that he will be King.
Macbeth is mesmerized; Banquo says this is a good thing, and asks for predictions about his own future. The witches tell him that he will get Kings but be none himself. In other words, he will father a line of Kings. (Banquo was the ancestor of James I, the king at the time Shakespeare wrote this play).
Then, Ross arrives and once again Macbeth is praised for his combat. He is also told that he is the new thane of Cawdor, so the instant of disbelief at the witches predictions would be shattered. He is now thinking more seriously about the predictions. Banquo warns him that what seems to be too good to be true, usually is. But, the idea of murder has already crossed Macbeth's mind. He knows that the third prediction is the best one but also the hardest to come true. He recognizes that in order to become king, Duncan would have to be killed. The fact that this evil plan has flitted in and out of his mind horrifies Macbeth, and he is very distressed. At the end of the scene, he thus comes to the conclusion that he will leave everything up to chance. He is unsure of whether he needs to make a move to help the third prediction along, but hopes that maybe he won't need to do anything, it will just happen on its own.
The homework for today was to complete the questions for scene 1,2 and question 1 for scene 3. Also, don't forget your post-its. The first blog posting is due Sunday, february 11th. If you were away today, don't forget to pick up an outline, as well as the scene questions for act I.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Fair is foul and foul is fair
How to interpret the witches in Macbeth?
What do you think of the witches in Macbeth? They are a fascinating part of this play. How do you see them dressed? What kind of witches are they? What connotations does the word witch bring?
Here are some images that come to mind when we think of witches. How would you imagine the witches in Macbeth? Are they young or old? We have a much different view of the witches today than the Elizabethans would have had. We already carry with us the images of the Wicked Witch of the West, and of so many others from various movies, even Disney. How does this affect your view of the weird sisters?
What do you think of the witches in Macbeth? They are a fascinating part of this play. How do you see them dressed? What kind of witches are they? What connotations does the word witch bring?
Here are some images that come to mind when we think of witches. How would you imagine the witches in Macbeth? Are they young or old? We have a much different view of the witches today than the Elizabethans would have had. We already carry with us the images of the Wicked Witch of the West, and of so many others from various movies, even Disney. How does this affect your view of the weird sisters?
Day One: Macbeth Background
Last class, I made four main points about Macbeth as an introduction. The homework for next class is to bring post-its and read the first short scene of the play.
1) Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest play, and is a very popular trajedy.
Universal appeal--contemporary morality play--it warns us of the dangers of becoming involved with evil.
2) Language: Nobles speak in blank verse (imabic pentameter)
Peasants and servants speak in prose.
3) James I had a big influence on Macbeth as the play was written for him. Shakespeare mentions things in the play to please James I and doesn't mention the things that might have angered him. 5 of the virtuous characters in the play are related to James I.
4) Witchcraft: the audience would have believed in heaven and hell, in evil spirits, and in witchcraft. They would have likely seen witches hanged or burned at the stake at that time.
1) Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest play, and is a very popular trajedy.
Universal appeal--contemporary morality play--it warns us of the dangers of becoming involved with evil.
2) Language: Nobles speak in blank verse (imabic pentameter)
Peasants and servants speak in prose.
3) James I had a big influence on Macbeth as the play was written for him. Shakespeare mentions things in the play to please James I and doesn't mention the things that might have angered him. 5 of the virtuous characters in the play are related to James I.
4) Witchcraft: the audience would have believed in heaven and hell, in evil spirits, and in witchcraft. They would have likely seen witches hanged or burned at the stake at that time.
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