Monday, November 18, 2019
Due Monday, November 25th - "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare - Act I, scenes i-iv
Directions: Please reread Act I, scenes i-iv of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Choose 1-2 major passages from the play and comment on the ideas, philosophy, and/or the motivations of the characters and the impact on the plot of the play. For example, what is Banquo thinking, now that he heard the witches and notices the actions of Macbeth? The Thane of Cawdor had betrayed Duncan. How are the king’s feelings about Macbeth ironic? How do the witches influence the action? Are the characters subject to freewill or not? How does Shakespeare use foil characters? How does he employ dramatic irony? Explore the possibilities for our class discussion. Please read your fellow classmates responses and engage with one another.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The king’s feelings toward Macbeth are ironic because he says “O worthiest cousin” and talks so highly of him but Macbeth was just debating with himself if he should kill him to become the king or not. During this scene, I’m not sure if Shakespeare was trying to be funny here because this is a tragedy with a lot of bloodshed. So I don’t know if he was using dramatic irony to have some humor or to show us what Macbeth was thinking and show how the witches influenced him. Going off of that, I think the witches influence the plot tremendously. They tell Banquo that “thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” and Macbeth “that shalt be King hereafter”. After hearing this, Macbeth debates whether or not he should kill Duncan, his cousin, so I am assuming that this is going to be a big conflict for Macbeth, not so much his wife, but for him. This debate with himself never would have arisen if it wasn’t for the witches telling him that he was going to be Thane of Cawdor and then the King. I’m not sure what other things the witches are going to go but I bet they are going to cause some more problems.
ReplyDeleteIn the play Macbeth in the opening scenes a lot happens and we first see the three witches and then we are introduced to Macbeth and Banquo. These characters all played a big role because the witches predict the future for the both of them. So far, we don’t really know the motivations of them but I would assume power drives at least some of what they want. They tell us that Macbeth will eventually come to be king which is surprising to us because right now there is already a king who will have a son succeeding him. We were also introduced to Lady Macbeth. We learned from what she had said that she is very interested in power and killing. She wants nothing more than being part of the throne and having power over other people. In the play she specifically talked about the killing of the king in the night when he comes over. It is kind of eerie how everything the witches say are coming true and I wonder if later on in the play they will start saying bad things about Macbeth and Banquo and it may be flipped. I’m also curious about where they come from and how they know all of this. I also would like to know about what their motivations are.
ReplyDeleteI think the role of the witches in Macbeth are to help the audience anticipate what is going to happen in the plot as well as in some ways add a little bit of humor to the story. They kind of help lighten up the story, and not make it as dark. I think they help show that Macbeth isn’t perfect and that he has faults, even though he’s supposed to be the hero/bad guy of the story. Stanza 10 on page 7, all 3 witches say “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.” When they say ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’, they are referring to the confusion of good versus evil and how they can go together. Which is what Macbeth represents. Duncan is the King of Scotland, and after hearing what Macbeth did to the previous Thane of Cawdor, Duncan says this to Macbeth and Banquo. “Our eldest, Malcom, whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must Not unaccompanied invest him only, But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine….” (Scene 4, stanza 45). Duncan will give the throne to his son. The king respects Macbeth highly, but is ignorant to the fact that Macbeth wants to take over his throne. I think there are lots instances of dramatic irony in the story, for example at the end of scene 4 when Macbeth starts plotting to kill Duncan and his son, Duncan says to Banquo how valient and noble Macbeth is. The witches create this problem, and are only going to make it worse.
ReplyDeleteWhen Macbeth and Banquo first interacted with the three witches in scene 3, they told them that Macbeth would be Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and the king and that Banquo would be the father of kings and also be lesser and greater than Macbeth and also not as happy but also happier than Macbeth. Both of them were confused especially because the Thane of Cawdor was still around and also how he would become the king. However, we found out in the scene before that the Thane of Cawdor had betrayed Duncan and we found out he Macbeth would receive his title. Macbeth wants to become king as soon as possible so he considers killing the king so he could take his place but he doesn’t even know if he is next in line for the crown. In scene 4 Duncan asks if the Thane of Cawdor had been executed yet and he seemed to be showing signs of regret because he mentioned that he had grown to trust him a lot. This might mean that he won’t be as willing to trust Macbeth as the new Thane of Cawdor because he wouldn’t want to lose him like he lost the old one. He also seems to feel regret because the Thane of Cawdor had shown repentance.
ReplyDeleteMatt Gaetano
ReplyDeleteThe first four scenes of Act 1 gave us a good introduction to the role of the ideas in Macbeth as well as Macbeth’s plan to see his predicted future. When he and Banquo heard the witches, both of them seemed confused as they thought the Thane of Cawdor was still alive. However, as they soon realized, the Thane of Cawdor was killed in battle so the position was appointed to Macbeth. It becomes pretty obvious that, knowing one prophecy came true, Macbeth makes a plan to become king, but what Banquo is thinking isn’t as obvious. He becomes jealous of Macbeth and asks his future. As opposed to what the witches told Macbeth, they gave Banquo a sort of riddle:
FIRST WITCH
Lesser than Macbeth and greater.
SECOND WITCH
Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
He is less jealous after hearing that he will be happier than Macbeth, but he starts to get skeptical of the situation and wonders of they are hallucinating. Later in the play (in Scene 4), King Duncan asks Malcolm if the Thane of Cawdor has been executed. He ordered him to be killed after hearing that he was conspiring to kill the King. Duncan puts his full trust in Macbeth and appoints him as the new Thane of Cawdor. I find this ironic after Macbeth makes plans to kill Duncan later in Act 1.
After finishing the first few scenes of Act 1, I find there to be much dramatic irony already, and I don’t doubt that there will be more to come. For example, the three witches told Macbeth and Banquo, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”(19); while King Duncan still believes that he will live the rest of his life as a king and when he dies his son will take control of his position. Another example of dramatic irony is that Banquo and King Duncan are invited over to Macbeth’s home for a party where they are expecting to celebrate the recent title of Thane of Cawdor being named to Macbeth, but in reality both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are planning on killing King Duncan in order to receive the title of king sooner rather than later. The audience sees this when Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth what time King Duncan is expected to leave the house the next morning and in return, she says, “‘O, never shall sun that morrow see!’”(35). By saying this, Lady Macbeth is telling the audience that Duncan will not be able to see the sun rise the next morning because he will be dead before then. Also, even though Banquo was with Macbeth when the witches called him a future king, it is not certain that he is expecting Macbeth to act out in such a violent manner to become the king. I believe that dramatic irony like the examples above will prove to be a strongly influential part of this play as the plot develops, because it creates surprises and a lot of anticipation compared to a play without dramatic irony. Dramatic Irony also has a chance to show the audience the separate points of view between characters in the play and for a play like Macbeth where crazy thoughts and ideas are flying through certain characters minds, the dramatic irony will help differentiate each characters inner monologue.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteScenes III - IV is where the story starts to get interesting. We see Macbeth shocked as to how he not only thane of Glamis, but now thane of Cawdor. Banquo also wanting some good fortune, asks the witches, in which they reply “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier” (19). Banquo finds out that although he may not be a king, but later generations will be rulers. As the witches leave, Macbeth is still confused as to why he’s the king of Cawdor, “The Thane of Cawdor lives, A prosperous gentleman” (19). Scene IV is where we see Macbeth's malice towards Duncan, because king Duncan officially names his son the next in throne. Macbeth doesn’t like this for the sole reason that once taken king from Duncan, he would be king of all the surrounding areas. We get the news that Duncan will later pay a visit to Macbeth at Inverness, where Macbeth will most likely try to take kind from Duncan.
ReplyDelete“DUNCAN: My plenteous joys,
ReplyDeleteWanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers.—From hence to Inverness
And bind us further to you.
MACBETH
The rest is labor which is not used for you.
I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach.
So humbly take my leave.
DUNCAN My worthy Cawdor.
MACBETH, [aside]
The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (29)
This scene is very important as King Duncan appoints his son as the next heir. Based on the witches’ thoughts, Macbeth is supposed to eventually be king. With this news, Macbeth decides to take things into his own hands and it seems as if he is devising a plan with his wife to kill Duncan and his son, leaving him with the throne. Banquo has no idea that Macbeth is planning this, however, he does know what the witches said so if Macbeth kills Duncan and his son Banquo may have some suspicions. I think the witches have caused this idea to exist as if they didn’t tell Macbeth that he would be king, he wouldn’t have had the thought of killing Duncan. I think the witches help foreshadow events that happen later in the play, as you now know that Macbeth will end up being King and that he has to kill for it.
In Act 1 scene 3 of Macbeth, the three witches reappear and meet Macbeth and Banquo as they come from the battlefield. Banquo talks to them and tries to understand why they are there. “By each at once her choppy finger laying Upon her skinny lips. You should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret. That you are so” (17) As Macbeth asks the witches to say something they exclaim “All hail Macbeth! Thane of Cawdor” (17). The witches make three prophecies about Macbeth and Banquo. They announce Macbeth will be named the Thane of Cawdor and later king. Then they tell Banquo he will never be a king himself however, his children will be. After saying their predictions the witches disappear and no longer can be seen. Macbeth and Banquo are left astonished and can’t believe what they have been told. Angus and Ross then arrive to give the news of Macbeth being named Thane of Cawdor. This shows us one of the witch’s predictions have come true.
ReplyDeleteThe role of witches in Macbeth is very crucial, because it builds up the whole plot in a way. At the beginning of the play, the three witches gather up to greet the return of Macbeth and Banquo; hailing Macbeth “The Thane of Cawdor”. Although he was unexpected of this second title, Macbeth grew a stronger belief in the prophecy when Ross delivered King’s decision to make him the king of Cawdor. However in scene 4, when the two met up with Duncan, Duncan announces his intention to name Malcolm the heir to his throne. Disappointed at the inaccuracy of prophecy, it have strengthen his will to fulfill it, which tempt Macbeth into a potential murder. The scene is also very ironic, given that Macbeth was told he’s going to be the king. And although he seemed to be happy with the news on the surface, deep down he have already murdered Malcolm hundreds of times .
ReplyDeleteGrace
It’s interesting to me how Shakespeare plays with the idea of fate all throughout the first four scenes. Personally, I don’t believe in the idea of fate, but the way that Shakespeare plays with it in this scenario is different than what it is that most people think of fate. Instead of it being a soothsayer, a fortune teller or an angel, it turns out Shakespeare decides to use witches. This may have been to exacerbate the evil of what will be MacBeth’s fate will be, as it’s witches this time. I think even MacBeth is fearful of what he must do, as explained below:
ReplyDeleteMACBETH
Speak, if you can: what are you?
First Witch
All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
Second Witch
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
Third Witch
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair?
Banquo’s able to see how MacBeth is fearful. For good reason. I think he’s very aware that if he wants to seal the fate of Banquo and MacBeth that he knows he needs to kill Duncan. Yet I also believe Banquo sees MacBeth is reluctant to enact what he believes must be done. In contrast to MacBeth’s wife though, who’s very eager to get on with killing Duncan. Duncan’s pretty much expressed that he’s grateful for MacBeth and happy about everything, but he doesn’t know that MacBeth is basically putting on a fake smile with a stubborn outlook. In simple terms, his face probably looks like he just stubbed his toe and can’t say anything, but really wants to scream and use the knife that he has holstered to cut his toe off to relieve the pain (the toe being Duncan). You can see that in this piece during Act 4:
DUNCAN
My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honour must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. From hence to Inverness,
And bind us further to you.
MACBETH
The rest is labour, which is not used for you:
I'll be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach;
So humbly take my leave.
DUNCAN
My worthy Cawdor!
MACBETH
[Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
By the end of it, MacBeth is REALLY ticked off, expecting he would’ve just gotten the crown by sitting around and doing nothing. He’s not a fan of the idea of killing Duncan, because I truly think he has loyalty to him, and he’d also probably feel pretty terrible if he killed Duncan just after saving the kingdom. He doesn’t want to repeat what the previous Thane of Cawdor had committed, and by that he means treason. Fate is really playing a big part of what’s going on, and it’s not looking like Shakespeare is giving any breaks here at all. MacBeth has some free will in his decision, but it’s more like the illusion of free will than actual free will itself.It’s very clear MacBeth knows what he must do to accomplish his fate, but I still believe on the inside he would rather not commit to such a heinous act. Shakespeare doesn’t really involve any foil characters until Scene V with Lady MacBeth, but it’s clear he uses dramatic Irony when Duncan is speaking. Considering the fact that Duncan has NO CLUE what MacBeth is thinking, it’s ironic that he’s saying all this praise towards MacBeth, yet MacBeth is just gonna kill him anyways. I can imagine Duncan’s going to say “You were my brother MacBeth! I loved you!” after losing his life on the high ground.
-Paul Yannalfo
DeleteAt the beginning of the Play, the three witches meet with Macbeth and Banquo. They greet Macbeth by saying “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 hereafter!” (17). Although Macbeth is already the Thane of Glamis he is surprised by the greeting because he isn’t then Thane of Cawdor nor the King. I believe that this scene is very significant to the start of the play because it shows the audience what may or may not happen in the future. Later in scene three Angus and Ross come to Macbeth and say We are sent To give thee from our royal master thanks, Only to herald thee into his “sight, Not pay thee. And for an earnest of a greater honor, He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor, In which addition, hail, most worthy thane”,(21). I was surprised to see that Macbeth actually became the Thane of Cawdor and so was he. I find it interesting that when Macbeth found out that three witches might actually be wright he starts to worry about the king but also thinks about killing him. Lastly, I found It even more interesting the when Macbeth told Lady Macbeth ( His wife) the first thing that she thought was they needed to kill King Duncan so that Macbeth could be king. I found this interesting because unlike Macbeth Lady Macbeth didn’t hesitate in thinking to kill King Duncan. I believe that so far that this play does a good job of showing what power can do to people.
ReplyDeleteIn the play Macbeth, Macbeth plays an important role. We are first introduced to the three witches and then later introduced to Macbeth and Banquo. The witches can predict the future for Macbeth and Banquo, but there is definitely something motivating them to give this information. They inform Macbeth that he will one day become king, which is shocking to us as readers right now because there is already a king. Lady Macbeth is also introduced and she has a love for leadership and power. She talks about how she wants the king to be murdered the night he goes over. Weather it is her doing or not. With these witches, I am really interested to see what their motivations are. I am also interested to know where they come from and how they know all of this information.
ReplyDeleteMaddy Francis
First Witch. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
ReplyDeleteSecond Witch. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter! (19)
The three prophecies of the three witches are the main points of the entire book and these prophecies were also the fuse of Macbeth's journey to a tyrant. Macbeth did not believe the prophecies at first, but the first prophecy soon came to fruition and Macbeth's ambitions suddenly grew. Eventually joined forces with his wife to kill the king and succeeded in usurping the throne. But from another perspective, is Macbeth also a victim of this incident? If he didn't meet the three witches, or if the three witches didn't make any predictions to him, maybe he wouldn't go wrong step by step, and his wife wouldn't force him to usurp and eventually become a tyrant.
In act 1 we learn that Scotland has just won a war with Norway and they the traitorous Thane of Cawdor. We learn that Macbeth is a ruthless soldier, slaying his enemies in brutal ways, yet he seems to act like a man that doesn’t enjoy doing it. On pg.42, Macbeth is says “To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. He's here in double trust;First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,Who should against his murderer shut the door,Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels”. Macbeth lists all the reasons why to not murder the king and coming from a man who kills people for a living to shows how he belives the deed to be wrong and how he doesn’t like killing people for the fun of it. It is iconic to think that Macbeth and his lady are entertaining the idea of killing King Duncan when he thinks so highly of him. On pg. 27 Dunans says “ O worthiest cousin! The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me: thou art so far before That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved, That the proportion both of thanks and payment Might have been mine! only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay.” Duncan loves Macbeth and would never suspect anything of him. He trusts him with his life and when he arrives at Macbeth’s party he doesn’t have a fear in the world that his own kinsmen would be his undoing.
ReplyDeleteBen Weeden
Nick Criniti
ReplyDeleteAfter reading act 1 of macbeth there was a lot of controversy between Duncan, Macbeth and the Thane of Corridor. The king and many people around him have mixed feeling about Macbeth because of how much he wants to be king and take over the throne. “This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs Against the use of nature?”(23) Macbeth in his mind knows that theres a way he will become king. Banquo thinks that the witches have something to do with Macbeth and his actions. The way shakespeare uses his characters to trick his audience is really interesting and I am very interested to read more into it.
Shakespeare uses a great deal of irony in these first four acts, especially with King Duncan’s feelings towards Macbeth. Duncan has nothing but praise for Macbeth, such as, “O worthiest cousin, The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me! Thou art so far before That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee.” (27) whereas Macbeth, after hearing the prophecy from the witches, wants to murder him. “Stars hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (31) It makes us sympathize with Duncan a bit and sets up for his murder as well.
ReplyDeleteParker Houston