IB English SL II
Finlay
Great Gatsby and Macbeth Journal Questions
Journal Response Questions:
. Often in great works of literature a seemingly secondary character has an overarching influence on all aspects of a text. This character is one who appears briefly, or not at all, but is a significant presence in the text who affects action, theme or the development of characters. In one of the pieces of literature covered this semester, explore how this character functions in the work.
Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's greater works of literature and it encompasses the idea of betrayal, violence, and guilt. All these would not have been expressed without the support of a secondary character, which contributes to the development of the plot as well as the themes present in the play. This vital secondary character in Macbeth is Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare strategically portrays Lady Macbeth as an empowered woman and this idea itself was beyond the norm of the society during the time it was written. Her masculine character is essential as it functions as the drive that influences Macbeth's move the dark side. Contrary to the masculine portrayal of Lady Macbeth's character is the illustration of her character's weak and guilty state, which adds emphasis to the major theme of the play. More importantly, Shakespeare specifically placed emphasis on the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth; Lady Macbeth is the only one who Macbeth loves and receives love from. In the play, Macbeth's love for her describes her importance in his life and how she functions as a cause and foil of all his actions.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is illustrated as a noble and heroic man. This portrayal of Macbeth, however, is significantly changed after Lady Macbeth read his letter regarding his encounter with the three witches and advised him to carry out an unlawful deed. Shakespeare created this controversial representation of a married couple when he portrays Lady Macbeth to be the one that is dictating Macbeth. This is accomplished by the use of harsh diction that connotes masculinity in the speeches on Lady Macbeth. "I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash'd the brains out..." Notice in this quote by Lady Macbeth the vivid visual imagery that illustrates a very violent scence. This expressed the anti-female character of Lady Macbeth as it describes that she is capable of pulling a child away and taking its brains out. The strength and power in which Lady Macbeth has clearly overwhelms Macbeth's and this best suggested when Lady Macbeth questioned her husband's manliness: "When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man." In this quote, the diction "man" appear repetitively and this reveals the idea that Lady Macbeth views Macbeth as a coward and wants him to become more of a man. These lines are significant as it functions as the incentive for Macbeth to do as she say for he felt inferior to her and wanted to prove her wrong. This is shown when Macbeth said: "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed." Here, Macbeth has already became evil and this line reveals to readers that he is now in a more powerful position compared to Lady Macbeth, which is suggested when he called her "chuck" and the idea of her not having any knowledge of his act. However, this line also shows that Macbeth's actions were not only for himself but rather for Lady Macbeth to applaud and marvel about. Overall, all of these further emphasize the fact that Lady Macbeth's masculinity is a key influence on Macbeth's decisions throughout the play and it is the cause of all the violence and betrayal that Macbeth performs.
Finlay
Great Gatsby and Macbeth Journal Questions
Journal Response Questions:
. Often in great works of literature a seemingly secondary character has an overarching influence on all aspects of a text. This character is one who appears briefly, or not at all, but is a significant presence in the text who affects action, theme or the development of characters. In one of the pieces of literature covered this semester, explore how this character functions in the work.
Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's greater works of literature and it encompasses the idea of betrayal, violence, and guilt. All these would not have been expressed without the support of a secondary character, which contributes to the development of the plot as well as the themes present in the play. This vital secondary character in Macbeth is Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare strategically portrays Lady Macbeth as an empowered woman and this idea itself was beyond the norm of the society during the time it was written. Her masculine character is essential as it functions as the drive that influences Macbeth's move the dark side. Contrary to the masculine portrayal of Lady Macbeth's character is the illustration of her character's weak and guilty state, which adds emphasis to the major theme of the play. More importantly, Shakespeare specifically placed emphasis on the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth; Lady Macbeth is the only one who Macbeth loves and receives love from. In the play, Macbeth's love for her describes her importance in his life and how she functions as a cause and foil of all his actions.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is illustrated as a noble and heroic man. This portrayal of Macbeth, however, is significantly changed after Lady Macbeth read his letter regarding his encounter with the three witches and advised him to carry out an unlawful deed. Shakespeare created this controversial representation of a married couple when he portrays Lady Macbeth to be the one that is dictating Macbeth. This is accomplished by the use of harsh diction that connotes masculinity in the speeches on Lady Macbeth. "I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash'd the brains out..." Notice in this quote by Lady Macbeth the vivid visual imagery that illustrates a very violent scence. This expressed the anti-female character of Lady Macbeth as it describes that she is capable of pulling a child away and taking its brains out. The strength and power in which Lady Macbeth has clearly overwhelms Macbeth's and this best suggested when Lady Macbeth questioned her husband's manliness: "When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man." In this quote, the diction "man" appear repetitively and this reveals the idea that Lady Macbeth views Macbeth as a coward and wants him to become more of a man. These lines are significant as it functions as the incentive for Macbeth to do as she say for he felt inferior to her and wanted to prove her wrong. This is shown when Macbeth said: "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed." Here, Macbeth has already became evil and this line reveals to readers that he is now in a more powerful position compared to Lady Macbeth, which is suggested when he called her "chuck" and the idea of her not having any knowledge of his act. However, this line also shows that Macbeth's actions were not only for himself but rather for Lady Macbeth to applaud and marvel about. Overall, all of these further emphasize the fact that Lady Macbeth's masculinity is a key influence on Macbeth's decisions throughout the play and it is the cause of all the violence and betrayal that Macbeth performs.
