For this post, please copy a short passage from the later acts of the
play, and discuss what you think the passage means and why it is
significant to the play as a whole. What complicated themes or ideas
are being explored in the passage as well as in the whole play? Why are
these themes or ideas important (in other words, "it's interesting, but
so what?").
Finally, just add a few thoughts about
your personal reactions to the play and your final thoughts about the
play now that you have finished it.
This blog post is due by Monday, April 13th. Thank you, Mr. Telles.
In Act 5 Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s guilt ridden mind is finally catching up to her. She says, “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O.” I believe that this quote is referring to all the people that have been murdered because of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They both became overcome with power, causing them to gain the intent to kill, making sure their spot on the throne was secure. Lady Macbeth herself handled some bloody daggers, which is what she is referring to when she says “... will not sweeten this little hand.” The guilt and stress of what she and her husband have done have caused her to go insane. She admits to everything while talking to herself, but people overheard. It is important to the play as a whole because the once powerful and “brave” Lady Macbeth has finally been taken down, by her own actions. All the misfortunes and horrible things her and Macbeth have done are finally taken a toll on her.
ReplyDeleteAs a whole, I actually really enjoyed this play. There are many plot twists from beginning to end. The different turns the play takes are very shocking to me. I did not know what to expect throughout most of it. I am still left in surprise because of how the play ended. I was not expecting the last events of the play to occur how they did. When Lady Macbeth committed suicide, I was shocked. If anything I expected her to be murdered. There were some parts of the play that were a little creepy, for example how they carry out Macbeths severed head and put it on a stake. However, I really did find this play enjoyable and interesting.
On page 177 in the book Macbeth says, “she should have died hereafter. There would have been time for such a word.” This speech shows Macbeths callous disregard for his wife’s life and details the underlying premise of failure and destruction in the play. When he is first told about his wife’s death he really seems not to care. Now that there are more important things going on he seems unconcerned with his wife’s demise. This shows Macbeths heartless uncaring attitude to anything that could slow him down. this is a recurring theme throughout the play and shows up quite often in other events such as the murder of Duncan and the murder of Banquo. These people are simply killed because they are either obstructing Macbeth’s rise to power or are interested in ending it (In Banquo’s case) and must be stopped by Macbeth. When his wife dies he simply acknowledges the news and continues on preparing for the attack by the English. Even someone as instrumental in his schemes as her is just no longer cared about. Also as Macbeth continues to have people killed or they die around him he keeps falling steadily closer to disorganization and defeat. When Macbeth started out he was making logical choices ones that though not morally right were at least smart and calculated. The more people he kills the more that control starts to spin out of his hands until he ultimately meets his demise. Even though he thinks he is keeping things under control they just keep getting worse and that seems to climax with the death of his wife and then his death.
ReplyDeleteOne important passage from the end of Macbeth is when Ross says, "Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow/ Must not be measured by his worth, for then/ It hath no end," (Act 5 Sc 8). Ross is trying to comfort Siward, who had just lost his son. Upon further examination the quote could apply to other acts of the play rather than just the death of Young Siward. At the end of the play things are left very open. It can be assumed that Malcolm takes over as king after Macbeth's death, but that leaves the question: what about the line of kings the witches predicted would come from Banquo? It is also unclear what has happened to Donalbain and whether or not he will return to Scotland. With so many loose ends it is possible that the violence throughout the play could continue past the final pages. The desire to become king could corrupt other characters much like it did Macbeth. Ross' advice to Siward could also be seen as a warning for the other characters. What Ross is saying to Siward is that he cannot let the sorrow of losing his son overcome him. This quote can also be interpreted as meaning that the characters cannot let the greed and violence that drove Macbeth continue. By losing sight of what is right you can lose everything. If the characters continue down the path that Macbeth took then the violence will never stop. Power comes at a high price, but if you let this price get the better of you then no good will come out of your position.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth plays with the effect of suggestion and power over a human’s moral compass. The story displays how easy it is to lose sight of right and wrong, and the guilt and pain that will follow because of that. Power can tempt and corrupt even the kindest hearts if one is not careful. The reader watched as Macbeth fell down a dark hole because of his thirst for power, and at the end of the play it is clear that the same thing could happen to another character. Ross’ words of comfort have a hidden meaning if examined closely. Violence can be a continuous cycle unless something is done to stop it. The remaining characters at the end of the play have the power to end the cycle or keep it going.
In the play Macbeth, The main character turns to his wife often for support in his wrong doing and for help in uncertain times. At a certain point in the play, the reader observes Lady Macbeth become anxious because a potential threat to Macbeth has not yet been eliminated and Macbeth has to convince her that the deed will be done.
ReplyDeleteThere’s comfort yet; they are assailable. Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate summons The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note. 3. 3. 44-49
At this point in the story, Macbeth is describing to his wife about how Banquo and his son will soon be killed. Lady Macbeth is telling her husband that they still live and is trying to convince him that they are still a threat, stating earlier in the act “But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne.” This means ‘But they can’t live forever’ and to this Macbeth responds with this passage assuring her that the two will be dead by the time night comes. Macbeth pleases her by saying that they are assailable, meaning they can still be killed and for her to be happy. Telling her that Banquos and his son’s death should come before the “shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums hath rung night’s peal.” This describes the noise a beetle makes just when night comes around. He manages to please his wife after this statement for she does not appear to bother him afterwards. In this passage, the reader observes Macbeths strong assurance to his wife about two mens death and it shows how much of an impact Lady Macbeth has on the story.
"She should have died hereafter.
ReplyDeleteThere would have been a time for such a word.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time.
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle.
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
Spoken by Macbeth in act 5 scene 5 lines 16 through 27. This quote is important to the play as a whole because it shoes how insensitive Macbeth has become to the horrors of death and murder.Macbeth talks about how short and pointless life is, and how it "signify's nothing". The passage is very dark and pessimistic. It shows just how dark and full of despair Macbeth has become. This is even more important to the story because his wife has committed suicide out of guilt, Macbeth is now baring all the guilt on his own. He now must face the consequences of his actions and subsequently face Macbeth as well. My Final thoughts on the play are that it was good. I enjoyed some parts and felt that other portions dragged on for much to long, overall it was a good play, confusing in plot at times,but satisfying in the end.
this is dope. nice work gordan
DeleteIn Macbeth one passage that makes me think is Act 5 Scene 8 lines 65-70 Macduff who kills Macbeth states “ Hail, king for so thou art. Behold where stands th’usurpers’s cursed head. The time is free I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl.That speak my salutation in their minds,Whose voices I desire aloud with mine. Hail King of Scotland!”. What I Think this passage means is that he saying Macbeths a cursed King behold his evil head and he has set everyone free from the usurper he was by beheading him and lastly it means thats what he thinks of Macbeth and you should listen to the real king in line. This is significant to the play because its the turning point in the story all the bad is finally over Macbeth is finally dead. What themes are complicating this passage and why is important as a whole is to oppose tyranny power is good being power can lead to insanity its related to drugs in my opinion once you try a little you are hooked. These themes are important because that is one of the big themes that power can change someone inside and out.A few thoughts i had on the play is that i thought it was very predictable from the start to finish I felt like I wish it could have been a little more twisted. That is what I thought of Macbeth as a whole.
ReplyDeleteLady Macbeth: “Out, damned spot, out, I say! One. Two. Why then, ‘tis time to do ‘t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (V.I.37-42).
ReplyDelete“What, will these hands ne’er be clean? More more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that. You mar all with this starting” (V.I.45-47).
“Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O!” (V.I.53-55).
In these three passages, Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and talking. She feels an immense amount of guilt over all the deaths that she and Macbeth have planned out and executed, so all of these feelings are being bottled up inside of her, and she can’t help but let it out. Her subconscious is doing all the talking for her. While she’s pouring out all of her secrets, she also believes that there is blood on her hands that won’t go away. She scrubs and scrubs her hands, but the “blood” is still there. The blood signifies her guilt though, and Lady Macbeth knows that these deaths will follow her for the rest of her life. A few scenes later though, she commits suicide. The theme of guilt is carried on throughout the entire play, and it is both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth that carry this burden around. After Macbeth killed Duncan, he was so shaken up about it, he brought back the swords he used to his room, and he refused to go back and place the evidence on the guards. Then once he had Banquo killed, he had this hallucination of Banquo’s ghost appearing during the dinner party. This displayed how guilty his conscience really was. Hallucinations tie into this idea of guilt as well, because they only occur due to these acts of murder. Even before Macbeth killed Duncan, he thought he saw daggers floating in the air with the handle pointing toward his hand and the tip point to Duncan. For a moment, he believed that there was blood on the blade, but it ended up being a manifestation of his anxiousness over killing Duncan. Then, going back to Lady Macbeth, she truly thought there was blood on her hands, but it was just her guilt in the form of something real. These themes are important, because they show how much the desire for power and wealth affect people’s actions. The only reason Macbeth and Lady Macbeth began this murderous trail is because they wanted to be the king and queen. Then once they followed through with the first death, it became a domino effect. Macbeth was so paranoid that people either knew he had killed the previous king, suspected that he had, or were going to get in the way of his crown. By the end of the play, we see how twisted Macbeth’s morals have become, especially when his response to his wife’s death is indifference. But we also see how Lady Macbeth becomes so guilt ridden that she can’t possibly live with all the lies any longer.
In my opinion, I thought that the play was interesting. Shakespeare in general is hard to understand, but I like the plot lines of his plays. This one was rather dark, but I liked how it dealt with the struggle of power and how wanting something so badly can cause you to make really bad decisions. This can relate to a lot of people, not everyone would end up killing others, but when you have one thing in mind that you think you really need, then it becomes all consuming, and you’ll do anything you can to obtain it.
Macbeth: My name’s Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteYoung Siward: The devil himself could not pronounce a title more hateful to mine ear.
Macbeth: No, nor more fearful.
Young Siward: Thou liest, abhorred tyrant. With my sword I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st.
The fight and Young Siward is slain.
Macbeth: Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, brandished by man that’s of a woman born.
The scene above is one of the last and most significant of the play. Young Siward is the last person Macbeth will ever kill, and along with Young Siward’s death, Macbeth’s confidence grows. I’ve been wondering why Shakespeare even put this scene in the play. If the murder of King Duncan was not put in the play, why the simple death of a meaningless soldier?
The only answer would be perhaps Young Siward was important. Perhaps Shakespeare was illustrating the line between real invincibility or overconfidence? Was it the knowledge that he could not be defeated by anyone woman born that made Macbeth so ready to take on Macduff even though he had been warned not to?
It is these ideas of fate and destiny that create a paradox throughout the play. If the witches had not told Macbeth that he would be king, would he have killed Duncan and fulfilled the role himself? This play further established the idea that just because things look a certain way doesn’t mean that that is how they are.
“I conjure you by that which you profess—
ReplyDeleteHowe'er you come to know it—answer me.
Though you untie the winds and let them fight
Against the churches, though the yeasty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up,
Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down,
Though castles topple on their warders' heads,
Though palaces and pyramids do slope
Their heads to their foundations, though the treasure
Of nature’s germens tumble all together,
Even till destruction sicken, answer me
To what I ask you.” (Act 4, Scene 1)
In this passage, Macbeth conjures the witches and demands that they reveal more of his prophecy. He does not care about the consequences that may arise, and refuses to let anything stand in his way. The witches agree and present him with three apparitions. They tell him to beware of Macduff and all those not born of a woman. Lastly, they tell him that he will not be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to fight him at Dunsinane. Macbeth is satisfied after hearing this because he is certain that the second and third apparitions are nearly impossible. However, the first apparition frightens him. He feels threatened by Macduff and decides that the only way to eliminate this threat is to kill Macduff’s entire family.
This passage is extremely significant to the play as a whole. It explores the central theme of power, and Macbeth’s ambition for this power. He will do nearly anything to remain at the top. First he kills the king and then one of his dearest friends. Then, in this passage he enters the dangerous territory of the witches and requests to see his future. The witches’ prophecies only further fuel Macbeth’s ambition for power. He believes everything they say and will do anything upon their warnings and suggestions. Macbeth is constantly finding new threats for the throne and believes that the only way to eliminate these threats is to kill them. He kills Duncan to become king, Banquo to remain king, and then Macduff’s family simply because the witches told him to beware of Macduff. In the end Macbeth has turned into a power hungry monster. This passage just further emphasizes his willingness to get whatever he wants. Macbeth is never satisfied with what he has though, and this eventually leads to his downfall.
Initially, I found this play to be extremely confusing. Some sections of the play seemed to drag on with unnecessary information, while others moved so quickly I would miss important scenes altogether. While reading, I simply couldn’t understand the lack of motivation for all the killings. However, I now realize that the motivation was Macbeth’s ambition for power. I feel that this is a central theme most people can relate to. While it probably doesn’t involve killing or kingship, most have something they desire so much in life that they’ll do nearly anything to achieve it.
MALCOLM
ReplyDeleteBe comforted:
Let's make us medicines of our great revenge,
To cure this deadly grief.
MACDUFF
He has no children. All my pretty ones?
Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?
What, all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop?
MALCOLM
Dispute it like a man.
MACDUFF
I shall do so;
But I must also feel it as a man:
I cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on,
And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff,
They were all struck for thee! naught that I am,
Not for their own demerits, but for mine,
Fell slaughter on their souls. Heaven rest them now!
MALCOLM
Be this the whetstone of your sword: let grief
Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.
In a later scene in Macbeth, Malcolm convinces Macduff to take take revenge on Macbeth after Ross told Macbeth that his wife and children have been murdered. Malcolm says "Be comforted: Let's make us medicines of our great revenge, To cure this deadly grief”(Act 4 Scene 3). In this passage, Malcolm is encouraging Macduff to take action and make Macbeth pay for killing Macduff's family. Malcolm wants Macduff to release his anger into violence as a way of revenge. Throughout this passage and the play, the idea of revenge is very important. The idea of revenge motivates Macduff to pledge to fight Macbeth himself. It also leads to Macbeth's downfall as a character and to his death. The murders of Macduff's wife and children stir up enough anger and hatred toward Macbeth to make it an easy decision for Macduff to slay him. Revenge is an important and significant piece to Macbeth as a whole.
After reading all of Macbeth, I am left with a lot of confusion. The different style of writing was at times very difficult to understand. I found it hard to read a scene once and pick up on everything, and I found myself rereading many of the passages and scenes to try and decipher the meaning. But once I did so, I found Macbeth to be a complex, advanced, and entertaining play. There were countless motifs throughout the play that added a new element to the meaning of the play as a whole. The plot of the play also seemed confusing to me at times. The idea of Macbeth killing Duncan for the throne was not very logical to me. This part of the play brought me confusion because even if Duncan was murdered, the next person to be crowned King would be Malcolm, not Macbeth. Overall, Macbeth was a difficult but enjoyable play to read.
In the play MacBeth by Shakespeare, there are many different themes that are brought up throughout the script. I found the dialogue in act 5, section 8 interesting when MacBeth and Macduff are in their last battle, and MacBeth sudden realization as he finds that Macduff is not “woman born”.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth feels he is invincible when he says to Macduff, “Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born.” But his invincibility turns into fear when Macduff says, “Despair thy charm, And let the angel whom thou still hast served, Tell thee Macduff was from his mother's womb, Untimely ripped.”
This passage holds a few themes that are important to the overall theme of the play. One of the themes is fate and freewill. In the passage this theme is represented by fate. The Weird Sisters predicted in act 4, scene 1 page 125 that “The power of man, for none of woman born, Shall harm MacBeth.” The thing about the predications is MacBeth thinks they are predicting the future when really, they are only telling him his fate. The difference between fate and future is that your fate changes with every action you make, there for MacBeth willingly brought upon his demise and only relizes this when Macduff says to him that he was not “woman born.”
The theme of fate and free will is important because it shows the huge difference between what is destined to happen and what the characters do to change their fate. When MacBeth hears from the weird sisters that he is destined to happen, he takes the crown by force rather than wait for it to play out. The other difference between fate and free will is the characters choose their own fate. With free will comes the multiple fates that come with each choice a person makes. The interesting part about this theme is there are two ways a person can look at it. One can believe that fate controls a person's choices and movements, while another can believe that a person's choices can control their fate. I think that this theory is what makes MacBeth so complicated because you never really know if the tragedy was destined to unfold the way it did or if the choices MacBeth made turned the story into into what is was.
I think that the dialogue between MacBeth and Macduff show the complicated theme of fate and free will and how it affects the plot of the play. Though its not the only theme in the play, its one of the most important and greatly affects the overall outcome of the tragedy.
Over all I thought that the play was very good, though I always feel that Shakespearian works are always a little difficult to read and understand. I felt that the conflicts were deep and the mental conflicts agenst right and wrong made the book unique. I really liked reading MacBeth.
Macbeth:
ReplyDelete“Whence is that knocking?
How is’t with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.”
Act II, Scene II, Lines 55-61
In this quote by the main character Macbeth of the play “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare, it is a line by Macbeth. In this line by Macbeth it was when he has just murdered King Duncan. This quote is very important due to the fact that it starts the evil plan by Macbeth to kill his way to obtaining the King’s position. As Macbeth hears a mysterious “knock” on the door, he becomes very paranoid. He also starts to feel the guilt of killing King Duncan as well. Also, this is when Macbeth becomes filled with hysteria and thinks that everyone now has a clue that he may have killed King Duncan. Macbeth also mentions “blood”, which is a possible symbol for the guilt he has obtained from the murder. These simple themes and traits of Macbeth travel on for the rest of the story as well. For hysteria, and fear, Macbeth believes that since Banquo was also with him when the witches approached him, Banquo could tie all the plots Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have been making to take the king’s power and become royalty. Also, Macbeth fears Banquo’s son taking the throne once he obtains it. Therefore, Macbeth tries to kill Banquo’s son, but he ends up escaping leaving only Banquo dead. Now, for the theme or trait of “guilt”. As Macbeth kills many people in the book, he starts to build up all this guilt in his head. With all the guilt Macbeth has, it makes it impossible for him to enjoy his throne and all the gains he has gotten. Also, another reason is that Macbeth guilt has gotten to him is when Banquo’s visits Macbeth. In addition, these themes are important due to the fact that it shows how Macbeth was not suited for this type of “job”. It shows that Macbeth was better off a hero that he was in the beginning of the story when he was awarded the Thane of Cawdor.
Finally, I enjoyed reading Macbeth. But, I have to admit there was many challenges with understanding the book. I felt that the language was very hard to understand and deal with. I really liked the plot of the story on how and how it demonstrates the themes of guilt, unloyalty, greed, and hysteria. Also, it was interesting reading something dark and twisted than reading something that was bound to have a happy ending. All in all, the Tragedy of Macbeth was an amazing story.
Gentlewoman: It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in the a quarter of an hour.
ReplyDeleteLady Macbeth: Yet here’s a spot.
Doctor: Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.
Lady Macbeth: Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why,then, ‘tis time to do’t,-- Hell is murky!--Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?-- Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.
Doctor: Do you mark that?
Lady Macbeth: The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?--What, will these hands ne’er be clean?--No more o’that, my lord, no more o’ that; you mar all with this starting.
A theme in the play are hands. They are significant in this passage because they are used to describe the feeling of paranoia and guilt. Her hands are not able to be “clean”, meaning pure without anything unholy. What is interesting about the themes such as this one in this play is that there is a lot of imagery to describe emotions and feelings. Over all, I did not have a big opinion of the book. It was nor good, nor bad. I could not understand the writing well.
Out, damned spot; out, I say. One, two,—why, then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?
ReplyDeleteLady Macbeth says this passage in Act 5 Scene 1 of the play Macbeth. When Lady Macbeth says this quote she is sleepwalking through the castle. Earlier in the play, Macbeth believed that his hand was irreversibly bloodstained from killing Duncan. Now, Lady Macbeth sees the blood too. She is so guilty from all the killings she has gotten away with and it all finally catches up with her. It is important to the play as a whole because this is the beginning of her downfall and it leads to the end of Lady Macbeth's power. Lady Macbeth is in such a guilty state she hallucinates and sees blood. Blood is a symbol for her being guilty of all the murders. “What need we fear who knows it when none can call our power to account?” she asks, insisting that as long as her and her husband’s power is secure, the murders they committed cannot harm them.
Macbeth was an interesting play to read as a class. Shakespeare is hard to understand so it was hard to comprehend Macbeth. The book had many plot twists so the reader was always on the edge of their seat wondering what would happen next. Overall I liked the book but did not enjoy how confusing it got at points.
The raven himself is hoarse
ReplyDeleteThat croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry 'Hold, hold!'
This is by far one of the most important monologues from Lady Macbeth. She is explaining how she wishes she could get the strength to murder Duncan. She believes that if she were to be "unsexed" then she could have the strength. One of the main themes throughout this play is manhood. Lady Macbeth thinks that men are stronger and dominant and she wishes to be as strong. Lady Macbeth believes that her husband is weak so she has to obtain the strength to get to the top of power. Lady Macbeth is the brains behind the killing and is the secret power of the throne. This passage is important to the play as a whole because it shows that manhood is one of the main themes of this play. It’s odd that Lady Macbeth believes that men are stronger because she is a confident woman but feels weak because of her womanhood.
This play was very interesting in my opinion. It was hard to follow because there were so many different characters. I was entertained by different parts, such as when the witches were predicting Macbeth’s future and how unpredictable the death of Lady Macbeth was. In my opinion this play was hard to follow and sometimes dull I did not enjoy it as much as the prior books our class has read.