Macbeth's Likely Suspects: the Practical, Psychological, and Mystical Utility of the Three Murderers
Macbeth's Likely Suspects: the Practical, Psychological, and Mystical Utility of the Three Murderers Erin Connelly English The series of slayings that characterize Macbeth incites an intricate sequence of suspicions and allegations, engendering a leitmotif of culpability. The play's only killers to be identified, unequivocally, as such, arrive in Act 3 scene 1. The Murderers of Macbeth are interlopers; in a cast of opinionated participants, these seemingly emotionless, poorly differentiated desperados are engaged to accomplish a specific, circumscribed task. The object of surprisingly limited recent critical attention, Macbeth's nameless consociates effect one of the play's pivotal actions, Banquo's murder, while serving as figures onto whom Macbeth displaces his own considerable anxieties. Arrival of an enigmatic Third Murderer enlists the three accomplices in the play's tradition of mystic, fate-endorsing trios, including the Weird Sisters and the three apparitions. Addressing the question of why Macbeth involves the three surrogate Murderers, this essay appraises the practical, psychological, and mystical utility of the Murderers vis-à-vis the greater system of murder and murderous accusations at work in the drama. In their Act 3 debut, the First and Second Murderers of Macbeth are presented as disenfranchised itinerants, alleging histories of insurmountable
Discuss Shakespeares use of minor characters in Macbeth and Othello
SHAKESPEARE ASSIGNMENT Discuss Shakespeare's use of minor characters in any plays you have studied. Shakespeare tends to use his minor characters to allow a brief interlude of comic relief in his tragedies. However, these minor characters are also pivotal characters through which Shakespeare can convey much deeper and darker meanings to the audience whilst using black humour. The minor characters of the Porter in Macbeth and the Clown in Othello are both seen as comic characters whose main purpose would initially be expected as bringing comedy to the stage, yet the scenes in which they are involved and the characters themselves are much more significant than may first appear. Shakespeare is using these minor characters to contrast the element of dark comedy with tragedy enabling the two to become indistinguishable, allowing a sense of movement between the comedy, which creates the feeling of relief, therefore heightening the dramatic tension and the tragedy. The Porter in Macbeth enters the stage immediately following the murder of King Duncan. The Porter's use of prose as opposed to verse and his frequent crude jokes and poor style of language, coupled with his short appearance and lack of stage space, resulted in him generally being ignored by much earlier critics. However there is layered meanings to this scene, enabling it to be interpreted in a number of ways, for
Before we analyse the role of witches in Macbeth we must look at them from a historical perspective as people's attitudes to witches in Jacobean times were very different to what they are now, in the 21st century.
Macbeth coursework Before we analyse the role of witches in Macbeth we must look at them from a historical perspective as people's attitudes to witches in Jacobean times were very different to what they are now, in the 21st century. During the times of Shakespeare people were petrified of witches and their society was very paranoid, witches were often executed on the flimsiest basis of evidence This, to an extent, careless and discriminate view on witches conned people into thinking changes in weather, crippled creatures and other abnormal occurrences we as a result of their actions. Witches were neglected members of society and could most commonly be found in isolated areas of towns and cities, more often than not the outskirts. This persecution against them led them to be very subversive entities and saw society as corrupt, they also had pessimistic views on it. Now I am going to analyse the witches in Macbeth and their purpose, including how they associate Macbeth with evil. Shakespeare gives very little stage directions but the few he does give at the very beginning tell us a great deal about witches, or 'The Weird Sisters' as they're referred to in Macbeth, the directions are as follows " An Open Place Thunder and lightening. Enter 3 witches" The first line can be strongly backed up by what I've previously mentioned about witches being isolated and
Is Macbeth a Monster or a Victim?
Is Macbeth a Monster or a Victim? 'Macbeth' is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It was written in the 1600's but is set in the 11th century. The play is about a Scottish thane called Macbeth who is told that he will become king by a trio of witches. Encouraged by his wife, he proceeds to murder the present king and, after being crowned, commits many other murders, including that of his friend Banquo. He is finally slain by Macduff, the Thane of Fife. There are two possible interpretations of the character of Macbeth. He could be construed as a monster or a victim. Is he a monster because of the many murders he committed or is he a victim because of the powerful influence that 'forced' him to perpetrate these crimes? In this essay I will weigh up the evidence from both sides of the argument and finally reach my own conclusion. I will begin by examining the good side of Macbeth and present the arguments in his defence. However bad he becomes as the play unfolds, Macbeth starts out at least as a reasonable, popular, patriotic and highly respected thane. One of the first times we hear his name mentioned is in the quote: "For brave Macbeth, - well he deserves that name." Act 1: Sc 2 This line is spoken by the captain of the Scottish Army, which tells us that Macbeth was very noble and brave in the battle against "The merciless Macdonald." Act 1: Sc 2 This in turn shows us
How does Macbeth's character change throughout the play?
How does Macbeth's character change throughout the play? In William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", the audience witnesses one mans overriding ambitions resulting in consequences both for himself and those around him. In the play the main character is heavily influenced and persuaded by external forces, particularly the supernatural and the immense ambition of Lady Macbeth. In Act I, Shakespeare set the scene for what is to prove the pivotal part of the play, the death of King Duncan. Therefore, through act one the audience's perception of Macbeth changes completely. The character who entered the stage at the beginning is, in the eyes of the audience, completely different person from the character at the end of the first act. He transforms himself from a man of deep morality and honesty to one who is prepared to kill the sovereign king. Even before Macbeth himself appears on stage, he is discussed in admiring terms by the king and the king's eldest son 'Malcolm´. They speak of Macbeth in such glowing terms following his recent successes in the battlefield, whilst in the service of the King. In act I scene 2 a captain describes how Macbeth killed McDonald in battle. McDonald is a traitor and this further elevates his stature amongst the king and his followers. "Captain: ... but alls too weak, for brave Macbeth where he deserves that name-" In hearing Macbeth had been described
Macbeth - To what extend is Roman Polanski's interpretation of the witches in keeping with Shakespeare's text?
To what extend is Roman Polanski's interpretation of the witches in keeping with Shakespeare's text? When comparing Roman Polanski's version of Macbeth with the original text written by William Shakespeare we can see that his work is in keeping with Shakespeare's to a an extent however Polanski adds innovations to show of the more natural side of the witches which is more realistic to the modern audience. Although William Shakespeare wrote the play circa 1603 (for king James) the play is set in the Dark Age Scotland. Polanski uses this and sets his film around this era unlike other directors who have set their films in Jacobean times when it was written, this makes Polanski's version more credible. The essential theme for Macbeth is tragedy. The importance of the witches is established in the opening scene. Even the first stage direction, ' Thunder and lightning. Enter three WITCHES' is appropriate as many people around Shakespeare's time blamed witches for the conjuring of storms, this is pathetic fallacy. Although in the text there is no stage directions suggesting where act 1 scene 1 should take place, Polanski has decided to innovate with this. Polanski sets Act 1 scene 1 on a deserted beach, with eerie sounds. In Polanski's version the lines are in different order from the play. The witches of the film cast a spell using vile ingredients like a severed arm etc. By
IT and financial services
IT AND FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSIGNMENT ONE WORDS CONTENTS SECTION 1 * IDENTIFYING THE DUNCAN FAMILYS FINANCIAL NEEDS SECTION 2 * FINANCIAL PRODUCTS CURRENTLY USED BY THE DUUNCAN FAMILY SECTION 3 * RECONMENDED FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVCIES AND PROVIDER SECTION 4 * REFERENCES SECTION 1: IDENTIFYING THE DUNCAN FAMILES FINANCIAL NEEDS Mr George Duncan is aged 38 and is married with two children. He works full-time as a company secretary for Leuchars and Panton Ltd, chartered Surveyors. His wife, Anne Duncan works part-time as a playgroup Leader. Salary unknown. Mr Duncan's salary earns £3,500 gross per month; this is paid directly into his current account. The Duncan family have a fairly straightforward and traditional banking system. They have one current account with the Royal Bank of Scotland and one savings account with the Dunferlime Building Society. They also have a share portfolio. The Duncan's money transmission is purely cash and cheque. They have no outstanding debts from borrowing etc. With George's monthly income of £3,500, they have a monthly outgoing of £1,185, which is detail below: £ FOOD & DRINK 315 CAR EXPENSES (petrol, road tax, repairs and insurance) 80 CLOTHING 80 ELECTRICITY & GAS 70 COUCIL TAX 210 ENTERTAINMENT (cinema, theatre, restaurants, TV) 65 TELEPHONE 25 LIFE ASSURANCE 50 OTHER EXPENSES 25 PROPERTY
How are the historic ‘Joan Makes History’ scenes related to an understanding of the story of the continuing narrator ‘Joan’ in Grenville’s Joan Makes History?
How are the historic 'Joan Makes History' scenes related to an understanding of the story of the continuing narrator 'Joan' in Grenville's Joan Makes History? The central character is nothing more than a relatively small and narrow minded, over-opinionated, self interested character full of emboldened self righteousness, yet immoral to some extent and possessing many undesirable qualities. The scenes show Grenville's careful and if not unorthodox and somewhat lifelike development of the character through the lives of many different women, and all the same - named Joan. The structure of the book is laid out in the beginning in a seemingly random pattern. One scene is her conception, next she is a living woman ready to leap to the shores of Botany Bay, while next she is being born, next she is married. This continues noticeably until approximately scene 8, where she is in all ways fully matured (keep in mind only physically, her character is still in desperate need of some adjustments) and the scenes fit together, the only difference being in times and places, e.g. Chapter 2, Scene 9 (meaning the second part of scene 'x') where Joan is pregnant to Duncan which carries through to Scene 10 where she is pregnant to Ken, gives birth and then the story in Chapter 2, Scene 10 has Joan's baby Madge as an infant to Duncan again. This is the prolific moment where the narrative of
GCSE Coursework Macbeth by William Shakespeare
GCSE Coursework Macbeth by William Shakespeare In drama the audience is informed of each character's personality by numerous ways, the most obvious being the character's own actions and deeds. The use of a "second party" account, and finally the effective use of dramatic irony, where the audience knows something which the character is unaware of and then the audience can see his/her reaction to the "news". The audience's first impression of Macbeth comes from another character's account. This character, a sergeant, whom had been injured in battle and had retreated to a camp, was asked by the king how Macbeth had fought in battle. The sergeant shows Macbeth in a courageous and noble light, "For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name". Macbeth is seen in this way as he came against a merciless rebel in battle. Even when Macbeth's army were losing , he was brave enough to make his way through the opposition and slaughter every man in his way, until eventually getting to the rebel Macdonwald and killing him. It was very important to Macbeth that he'd made his King and country proud, his bravery reflected this and showed that he was loyal, "Like valour's minion carved out his passage.... Till he faced the slave.... And fixed his head upon our battlements". Joined with his friend, Banquo, the audience first sees Macbeth whilst he was on his way home from battle, when they came
The Character of MacBeth.
The Character of MacBeth Macbeth is presented as a mature man of definitely established character, successful in certain fields of activity and enjoying an enviable reputation. We must not conclude, there, that all his volitions and actions are predictable; Macbeth's character, like any other man's at a given moment, is what is being made out of potentialities plus environment, and no one, not even Macbeth himself, can know all his inordinate self-love whose actions are discovered to be-and no doubt have been for a long time- determined mainly by an inordinate desire for some temporal or mutable good. Macbeth is actuated in his conduct mainly by an inordinate desire for worldly honors; his delight lies primarily in buying golden opinions from all sorts of people. But we must not, therefore, deny him an entirely human complexity of motives. For example, his fighting in Duncan's service is magnificent and courageous, and his evident joy in it is traceable in art to the natural pleasure which accompanies the explosive expenditure of prodigious physical energy and the euphoria which follows. He also rejoices no doubt in the success which crowns his efforts in battle - and so on. He may even conceived of the proper motive which should energize back of his great deed: The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. But while he destroys the