What Do We Learn About Macbeth in the Opening Chapters?
What Do We Learn About Macbeth in the Opening Chapters? In the opening chapters of the play we learn much about Macbeth's character and what is able to persuade him to do things. In scene one, before we have met Macbeth, we hear the witches talking about him, this associates him with the witches in our minds from the outset, and as witches are commonly associated with evil, we therefore associate Macbeth with that evil. We learn in scene two that Macbeth is a very brave man and a fearsome warrior. This contrasts with what we have seen in act one, so we do not yet know much about Macbeth. We do know however that he is to be made Thane of Cawdor after the current Thane is put to death for his treacherous ways. The title Thane of Cawdor is now associated with treachery, and, as Macbeth is now the Thane he can now be associated with treachery. In scene three we meet Macbeth. He is again associated in our minds with the witches, as in his first scene he speaks to the witches. When Macbeth is promised that he will become Thane of Cawdor and king, we can see great ambition in Macbeth when he takes the witches seriously and immediately begins to think about killing the king. We also see some loyalty in Macbeth when he rejects the idea of killing the king. His believing the witches also suggests his trusting nature. In scene four we see that Macbeth shares everything with
Time Echoing Life
TIME ECHOING LIFE "The whole life of a man is but a point of time; let us enjoy it, therefore, while it lasts, and not spend it to no purpose." These inspirational words of Plutarch surely echo through many minds as the strife and tragedy within Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman are envisioned. Time is the ubiquitous force present in these dramatic works that cannot be ignored. The significance of time as a theme is a vital aspect in both plays with striking contrasts echoing throughout the plot reinforcing the tragedy of wasted lives. Time is a source of structure. The world naturally plans events and actions based upon the hours of a day and for Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and Vladimir and Estragon in Waiting for Godot, there is no exception. This source of structure ties into the theme of waiting, which was evidently prevalent in both works. Waiting is typically the build up of anxiety and desire for a specific moment in time. The tragic battles of Willy, Vladimir, and Estragon to secure a meaningful place in the world coincide with their persistent wait for time. ADD QUOTE Willy is clearly waiting for the break in life that will end his struggle and make him somebody. ADD QUOTE Sadly, the fact that Willy was indeed a nobody did not occur to him and he constantly projected a false air of a valuable self-worth. In
Explore the relationship that Romeo an Juliet have with their parents throughout the play.
Explore the relationship that Romeo an Juliet have with their parents throughout the play. Romeo and Juliet is a notorious play of love, tragedy an loss. The 'ancient grudge' portrayed in the lives of two 'star-crossed lovers' whose 'unruly' love leads them to their 'death marked' fait. Romeo and Juliet live in 'two separate houses' in the sixteenth century with 'brawls' and 'mutiny' creating an antagonistic environment between the youth of these two families. Their parents 'both alike in dignity', proud of their strength in Verona and love of their importance, do not portray the same pride for their 'star-crossed' children. Juliet is the fourteen year old daughter of the Capulet household. She is an only daughter and would be thought to be doted on, yet her closest guardian is her wet nurse. Her nurse has been there since childhood when her mother was absent at 'Mantra'. Juliet's 'sweet nurse' dotes on her by calling her 'lamb' and 'ladybird', this informal language signifies a close relationship being portrayed near to the beginning of the play. However, Act 1. Scene 3 illustrated a lack of love between Juliet and her mother, which is revealed when Juliet greets her mother by calling her 'Madame' and bowing at her presence in the 1977 film directed by Zefferelli. There is a great lack of communication that is exaggerated in the 1998 film directed by Baz Luhrman where
Letter to LadyMacbeth
Letter to Lady Macbeth My darling wife, I'm writing to keep you updated on my current affairs. Just twelve hours ago, I was amidst the waves of battle. You will be pleased to hear that I received no heavy injuries. I did however manage to give that traitor, Donwald, a fatal blow. It was not long after that when I came upon three of the strangest beings I have seen. They resembled hags, old and withered, yet their speech told me different. They referred to me with three titles; Thane of Glamys, Thane of Cawdor and then the most impossible of all. King. As you can imagine, I was most disturbed. Ok, I am the Thane of Glamys, but Cawdor and King! I just presumed they were mad. I was soon proved wrong. It was not long after when a message from the King was sent to say I had been appointed the title of the Thane of Cawdor. I was still so unsure because the Thane of Cawdor is alive! However, because of the treachery, the king has given me the title. Upon this, I have realised that the old Hags were speaking not lies, but words of truth. But to follow their words would mean that I was to be King. Such thoughts have riddled my mind with terrible thoughts! Some have been so deep, I have actually been considering them. I will explain more soon. Stay strong, Your Adoring Husband
Macbeth: Tragic Hero?
MACBETH: TRAGIC HERO Shakespeare has written many tragic plays such as Hamlet Romeo & Juliet plus many more. The basics of a tragedy are about a male or female wanting something and willing to do anything for it but when everything seems to be going right. Everything seems to reach its highest point then everything goes downhill. Shakespeare's most famous tragedy is Romeo and Juliet. This play was written in the 1600's for James the 6th of Scotland or James the 1st of England. The play was based on a true story about a man who would do anything for what he wanted to achieve. This play was also written for a sign of appreciation towards King James. That is why the play is based in Scotland and upon a Scottish hero. Macbeth. The thane of Glamis, is one of the kings greatest war captains. When returning from a battle with the rebellious Thane of Cawdor. Whilst walking Macbeth and Banquo Meet three witches. A prophecy is given to them, Macbeth is hailed as thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and king. Banquo is hailed as father of kings to come. With that final word the witches vanish into the mist. Both men appear to laugh off nervously the witches' prophecies until Duncan informs Macbeth that he is to assume the role of the Thane of Cawdor due to the previous thane of Cawdors execution, "And his former title go greet
Is this the end for Hal’s chances to the throne? The Oldie Times reports
Hal heads for Hell Is this the end for Hal's chances to the throne? The Oldie Times reports Prince Hal, our Prince Hal, the future king of England, is accused of crimes to his name and country, the scum should be disciplined and humiliated until the thought of disgracing his fellow populace is spine chilling to him. The insensitive swine has been magnetised to the taboo teachings of the fat-faced Falstaff. His immaturity has be revealed like clouds obscuring the sun, subsequently reducing his popularity among the loyal people of the country. The population feels that it would be un-acceptable for a yob like character like Hal to have power of the nation; they feel he is still a boy and they feel he is in no position to rule the kingdom. His immature ways have caused an embarrassment to the nation which should never be repeated, the most effective way of doing this is to cut off his wealth, remove his privileges and above all prevent him from being King. Edward
Analysis of Hamlet Act II.2
Carina Comment on the Presentation of Hamlet in Act 2 Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 2 is an important scene for the audience's impressions of Hamlet, as it is the first time we can see the "antic disposition" of which he has previously spoken. He enters the scene on page 50, and immediately enters into conversation with Polonius. We can see that the act of his madness relies upon rhetoric devices such as puns and double meanings, which are deliberately intended to confuse. On page 51, for example, when Polonius asks him what matter he reads, he replies: HAMLET: Between who? In this, Hamlet is playing on the double meaning of the word "matter"- although Polonius intends it to mean his reading matter, Hamlet knows it could also mean personal matters, and picks the wrong interpretation, intending Polonius to think that his mental instability is such that he cannot follow the conversation. Although there are these occasions upon which Hamlet seems to be truly mad, the audience can see that he is being rather clever in constructing his act. When Polonius clarifies the meaning of the word "matter" which he intended, Hamlet responds with a thinly veiled attack on him: HAMLET: The satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards, (...) and that they have a plentiful lack of wit. Here, Hamlet pretends to discuss the "slanders" of which he reads, but the audience can see that he is
Eddie Carbone as a tragic hero
How does Arthur Miller present Eddie Carbone as a 'tragic hero' in A View From The Bridge? In A View From The Bridge, Miller effectively created a modern Greek tragedy, with Eddie Carbone, as his tragic hero: the protagonist that contributes to their own downfall through a fault, or a weakness in their personality, despite starting of with the correct intentions. The audience is aware of Eddie Carbone's unfortunate fate at the start of the play. His status as the main character in the play, and the fact that Miller aimed to create the play as a modern Greek tragedy tells us that Eddie's fate in this case is in fact unavoidable. This idea is introduced to the audience straight way, in Alfieri's opening monologue, when he says: "And this one's name was Eddie Carbone" (4) the use of past tense suggesting that Eddie Carbone is no longer alive, foreshadowing the end of the play and his inevitable downfall and eventual death. Alfieri feels a sense of helplessness as he tells the story, as he "lost his strength somewhere" (48) which suggests that the play will end violently or dramatically, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Despite this, Eddie begins as a caring, simple 'longshoreman' who cares little for anything outside his work and family. We immediately see his good side as he offers his hospitality to those in need of it. He is already taking care of his niece,
Macbeth Essay
Macbeth Essay I will be writing about how William Shakespeare has written Macbeth which changes the attitudes of the reader to a central character and varies at different stages of the play. I will be writing about the techniques to how he does this and the skill in executing them. Macbeth at the beginning of the play is told by the captain to King Duncan how fearless and brave he was. 'Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel' (Act 1 scene 2) This makes us feel admiration towards Macbeth and also highlights how fearless he seems. 'Disdaining Fortune' is Macbeth defying luck with 'brandished steel' fighting through the horde of the enemy in battle. The captain also says 'Like Valour's minion carved out his passage" (Act 1 Scene 2) Macbeth is described to be a soldier who is brave and strong fighting his way out of a group of enemies towards his main objective. 'carved' is effective because it gives us a image which shows how he seems to be fighting through, as if he with his sword is easily swiping away the enemy that are foolish enough to face up to him. This also highlights how ambition is a trait of his character. This makes him seem admirable because it then tells us how he is strong and brave and this is without even being introduced to the character in the play. Macbeth when we are first introduced to him is seen walking across the battlefield with his
