Trace the decline of Lady Macbeth from act 1 scene 5 to act 5 scene 1.
Trace the decline of Lady Macbeth from act1 scene5 to act5 scene1 The Shakespeare play Macbeth, is about a soldier, who was prepared to do anything to become king. The main idea of the play is about ambition, which is taken too far. Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, urges this ambition on. Her activities make Macbeth do things he wouldn't usually do. The idea of the witches and supernatural plays a large part in the play and Macbeth relies too much on this. Macbeth takes the witches predictions too far by misinterpreting them. At the start of act1 scene5, Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth, telling her of the encounter he had with the witches, earlier on in the play. As soon as she has read the letter of how the witches predicted Macbeth would be kin, her mind gets to work on how she can make this prediction come true. She is not content with him being just Tame of Glamis and wants more, she is overpowered by greed and wants more because the witches had promised he would be king, 'Glamis thou art, and Cawdor and shalt be what thou art promised.' However, she doesn't believe Macbeth is strong enough to do what is needed to be done, in order for him to become king, 'I fear thy nature it is to full o'th'milk of human kindness.' She then thinks of making herself evil so, 'that I may pour my spirits in thine ear', give her evil thoughts to Macbeth so he will think the same
William Shakespeare's Macbeth
William Shakespeare's Macbeth is the tragic tale of a warrior, Macbeth, corrupted by power and greed. This tragedy could be explained two very different ways. One explanation is that Macbeth is lead down a wicked road by fate. On the other hand, perhaps there is no such force as fate, which therefore indicates that Macbeth himself made the choices that led to his downfall. However, the actions he performed were provoked the three witches, his uncontrolled ambition for power and because he was incompetent to be a King. The witches had a huge impact on Macbeth's decisions. The witches plan the downfall of Macbeth by arousing the evilness inside of Macbeth. They do not directly harm him but they tell him predictions of his future and know that he will act upon them. The witches first say, "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king here after" (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 50-53). The thane of Glamis he is but the thane of Cawdor is still alive. How could he also be thane of Cawdor? Perhaps the witches are lying and they are trying to play with his mind. After the witches disappear, Ross and Angus approach Macbeth and Banquo to let him know that Duncan has appointed him as the "thane of Cawdor" (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 110). Now he is "Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: [and] The greatest is behind"
Give a detailed account of Polanski's treatment of Act 1 Scene1 of 'Macbeth' and state how effective you found this realization.
Give a detailed account of Polanski's treatment of Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Macbeth' and state how effective you found this realization. Polanski has captured this complex scene and cleverly accomplished an entertaining mysterious situation. The many different transactions throughout this scene are skilfully related to later occurrences in the play. In this scene we are introduced to three witches. All of these witches' appearances seem to be very unconventional. They don't look as though they are inhabitants of earth; this seems greatly unusual, because it gives us a sense of apprehension. The first witch appears to be blind. The second seems deaf. At first the third witch seems to have no obvious disability, though she seems to be pretty, whereas the other two look almost physically repulsive. This arouses my curiosity, as I was confused to see such a person with two immoral beings. Though we are eventually given a close shot of the younger, pretty witch, and she is in fact unable to speak. This witch is therefore giving us a sense of how appearances can be deceiving. With my knowledge of the play I can make connection with this deception that the witches are making, because Macbeth later says: "False face must hide what the false heart doth know." All the witches seem to have a disability of some sort. In fact to have a disability was often referred to as a
MacDuff’s view
MacDuff's view Dear Diary, The unthinkable had happened today, our glorious emperor, Duncan had been horrifically assassinated by an atrocious individual last night at Macbeth's castle. As a loyal and patriotic thane of Scotland, I swear that I will avenge Duncan's death. Duncan had always been like a father to me. He was a lovely King and was a great ruler. He was kind to the people and he was caring. He was loyal and devoted to the country. There was absolutely no reason that he should die. Seeing his body on the ground had frozen me on my spot. I was shocked, deeply saddened and terribly disgusted at whichever animal that had done this terrible deed. When Macbeth entered the room of death, I was extremely appalled by his behaviour towards the death of the one who had been so nice to him. He did not seem to be in anyway saddened by this terrible incident, yet he proclaimed that he was so furious that he killed Duncan's attendants. Malcolm and Donalbain were not exceptionally emotional about this incident either. After hearing the news about their father's death, they were more concerned about who killed him and were more worried about them being next to die rather than feeling any emotions for Duncan's death. As I entered Duncan's room in Macbeth's castle, the room was drenched with blood and the smell of death hung in the air. Myself, among with the
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
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
Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero?
IS MACBETH A TRAGIC HERO? In Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" he casts his main character as a tragic hero, a tragic hero is a person of high or noble birth who is virtuous and through some tragic flaw brings about their own downfall and gains wisdom through their suffering. Macbeth is a tragic hero who through his life is forced to make decisions that affect and shape his future. When we see Macbeth making the wrong decisions, after being convinced by his wife to Murder his king, he has already started to fall from grace. He does not realise the importance of the choices he makes, and later may regret and realise the road he has chosen. In the beginning of the play, we see Macbeth as a hero, fighting for King and country, and it is a shock to us when he turns his back on all he believes in and plots to kill his King. Macbeth is highly respected and regarded as a hero by his fellow comrades, this is shown at the beginning of the play "For brave Macbeth well he deserves that name" he is also admired for his fighting abilities, as shown in this metaphor "As canons overcharges" which shows that Macbeth will fight on no matter what the cost. Macbeth is shown as a man of stature and I believe that at this stage Macbeth is at the height of his power and the audience gains a positive opinion of him. At the end of the play we see Macbeth has retained his bravery and determination,
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
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's Personality
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 king's enemies, such motives work but dimly at best