Macbeth Journal #3
Directions: Choose one of the following bulletined prompts then post and reply on the blog. Title your work using the bold-faced title that matches the prompt that you choose. Remember, your post should be around 150-200 words.
- Directions: Choose one of the following bulletined prompts then post and reply on the blog. Title your work using the bold-faced title that matches the prompt that you choose.
- Macbeth's Psyche-Analyze how Macbeth’s psyche is affected by his hallucinations and the metaphors in Act II.
- Murder Reaction-Compare and contrast Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s initial reaction to Duncan’s murder. What does this reveal about the characters and the nature of evil when considering gender?
- Fate or Free Will-Examine whether or not people are destined by fate or their own free will by providing evidence from the text. You might consider if Macbeth murders Duncan because he believes it is already his destiny as the witches’ predicted, or if he believes that it is in his best interest to create his own fate.
- The Ribald Scene-Explain Shakespeare’s intent in combining in a single, relatively short act, one of the most tense and dramatic scenes in the play, a ribald scene where he refers to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way, and a narrative bridge during which the events that transpired over several weeks are summarized.
See the discussion board guidelines linked below.
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ReplyDeleteHeavenlee Burt (6th)
ReplyDeleteFate or Free Will
Personally, I do believe that people are in charge of their own fates. Meaning that a fate is already set out for a person but a person is in control over how they achieve this fate. When Macbeth heard the prophecy of his success he thought too rashly and violently of how he could achieve such a goal. His first thought was that he must commit the cardinal sin to fulfill the prophecy once the king announced his son, Malcolm, as heir. If Macbeth was maybe a tad bit more patient then perhaps things would have worked out for him without him having to murder his “worthiest cousin”. The witches also could be seen as the Fates themselves, meddled. They changed how Macbeth would have acted if he had not heard the godforsaken prophecy. The prophecy basically justified his actions of murdering Duncan and saving him from unbearable guilt he would have felt for the death of the well liked man. Macbeth left his free will in the place where he first met the witches; fate took over completely from then and will soon lead this tragic hero to his tragic death.
I think that Shakespeare uses the three witches to represent the fates, and show that their intervention in Macbeth's life sent him into this downward spiral. Since they are the absolute word of fate in this play, I think there would be no other path for Macbeth.
DeleteAs an argument against free will, the fates could have wanted it to happen this way. When they gave him the prophecy their end goal may have been all this confusion and murder. The idea of free will could be what was fated.
DeleteAs an argument against free will, the fates could have wanted it to happen this way. When they gave him the prophecy their end goal may have been all this confusion and murder. The idea of free will could be what was fated.
DeleteI also think that Macbeth has no other path in this play dealing with fate.
DeleteI do not think that their is any other path for Macbeth. The Sisters, I believe, knew this would happen in telling him of what was to come to make him too excited, and to also up his confidence, but that was torn down when it didnt happen as soon as he thought.
DeleteI think an intriguing part of the design of tragic plays is how supernatural suggestions influence the character's decisions. It becomes a circle of logic, where, in this case, the witches drive the decision of Macbeth to murder Duncan in order to become king by telling him that he himself will be ing. They say it is his fate, which means it is predestined. However, Macbeth cannot become king without murdering Duncan. Although the witches state that Macbeth's fate is predetermined, Macbeth will not become king without the influence of being told his fate by the witches.
DeleteI agree, people are in charge of their own fate. Even though we face obstacles that have us to think back and wish they we would have chosen a different option. Our fate can be change by our decisions.
DeleteIn response to Walker- What if Macbeth was fated to be influenced by the witches regarding his fate? The topic of free will vs. predestination will never have a clear answer, it really just depends on what you choose to believe and what kind of decisions you make because of that choice (which could also be destined to happen).
DeleteI agree, people are in charge of their fate. Even though it was Macbeth fate to be king he could’ve been more patient. Maybe things would’ve turned out differently. Then he wouldn’t have Duncan murder on his conscious
DeleteI appreciate your take on Lady Macbeth's descent into a den of sin. I don't know why, but her character fascinates and repels me more than any other we've been introduced to thus far.
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ReplyDeleteKaitlin Coleman, pd. 6
ReplyDeleteMacbeth's Psyche
Almost immediately in our introduction to Act II Macbeth enters the scene and begins having private hallucinations about the murder weapon he would use to kill Duncan. After sending his servant on his way, Macbeth envisions a dagger with the hilt moving towards his outstretched hand. This presented an interesting image; giving the impression that the dagger was chasing Macbeth, not the other way around. This is to say that Macbeth did not feel like an active pursuer of the murder. Macbeth is quoted as saying "there’s no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes." While reading I took this to mean that Macbeth was aware that he was hallucinating this vision of a bloody dagger, and he knew that it represented the "bloody business" which he was about to begrudgingly perform. His metaphors in Act II continue to allude to the murder in a remorseful way, furthering the notion that Macbeth feels immense guilt about his part in Duncan's imminent demise. His psyche is clearly affected by the hallucinations and he relays his guilt with the metaphors concerning the dagger in his soliloquy.
These hallucinations, while contributing to the portrayal of Macbeth's deteriorating psyche as you said, also add to the dark and spooky tone of the play that is set at the beginning of Act I by the witches. Being haunted by a bloody dagger at night does not give the feeling of a happy outcome.
DeleteThe impression that the dagger is chasing Macbeth leads me to believe his hallucinations are the manifestation of his deteriorating moral values (caused by the manipulative Lady Macbeth). Or the hallucinations are the result of Macbeth separating himself from the facts of the situation: that he is about to kill Duncan.
DeleteI think Shakespeare may have used the combination of Macbeth's hallucinations, the sound of knocking on his bedchamber, and the voice crying out after Duncan's death to emphasize the presence of the supernatural. It almost reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe's work in its tone and imagery.
DeleteVictoria Wiktor (2) - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteThe brains behind Duncan's murder belonged to Lady Macbeth. She is the one who persuaded Macbeth to kill him in the first place. When Macbeth first heard about this plan he immediately began thinking about how wrong it would be and was the logical side of the murder while Lady Macbeth was completely taken by her emotions and ambition. When the murder is said and done Macbeth feels completely guilty but Lady Macbeth calls him a coward and tells him to get over himself because he did what was best for his rise to power. When Duncan was found laying lifeless in his chamber, Macbeth begins to go on and on about how he wishes that he would have died before the event and how it can be easily told that he is feeling remorseful so he makes up a story about how he killed the King's "murderers" in spite of his respect for him. On the other hand Lady Macbeth is being a typical woman and gasping at the sight of blood as if she had no idea what happened. It seems as if the gender roles in this play are swapping a lot because now Macbeth is saying how courageous he was to kill the men that murdered Duncan.
I believe it is trying to show superfluous ideas of gender roles. In society people see the women has weak and emotional while men has strong and confident. But in reality men show empathy and regret of their decisions while women try manipulating others to get what they need or something following does lines.
DeleteI agree that Lady Macbeth was letting her emotions get the best of her and Macbeth was using more logic
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DeleteHannah Medford, Pd 6, The Ribald Scene
ReplyDeleteAct II of "Macbeth" is a roller coaster of soap opera proportions. We have Macbeth's attempt and failure at murder plan, Lady Macbeth's follow through, a comedic porter, and a glimpse at the next Big Event. However, Shakespeare intended for this to be more than overwhelming entertainment; he's making a statement about how death is viewed. Watching the play, we see the gruesome murder with all the unpleasant details: the guilt, doubt, mistakes, and insanity. This is strongly juxtaposed with the porter joking with the arrivals at the door in the next scene. These lewd jokes right after a murder makes us feel uncomfortable and notice similarities between lust, ambition, greed, and desire. The final scene in this act is used to show how quickly a death can lose the personal aspect and become a symbol. Instead of grieving, the people gossip and prepare for the future. Throughout Act II we see society's quick turn-over, always prepared for the next big thing, and the meaningless nature that that gives all events.
I really like how you tie in the theme that we discussed in class, about the root of lust, ambition, greed and desire. The emotional whiplash from scene to scene might also give us insight into Macbeth's frazzled state of mind; in a very short amount of time he went from being Thane Joe Schmo to seeing a bunch of witches in a field to murdering a man at the behest of his crazy wife, and along the way he's starting to hear and see strange things.
DeleteHannah Medford, Pd 6, The Ribald Scene
ReplyDeleteAct II of "Macbeth" is a roller coaster of soap opera proportions. We have Macbeth's attempt and failure at murder plan, Lady Macbeth's follow through, a comedic porter, and a glimpse at the next Big Event. However, Shakespeare intended for this to be more than overwhelming entertainment; he's making a statement about how death is viewed. Watching the play, we see the gruesome murder with all the unpleasant details: the guilt, doubt, mistakes, and insanity. This is strongly juxtaposed with the porter joking with the arrivals at the door in the next scene. These lewd jokes right after a murder makes us feel uncomfortable and notice similarities between lust, ambition, greed, and desire. The final scene in this act is used to show how quickly a death can lose the personal aspect and become a symbol. Instead of grieving, the people gossip and prepare for the future. Throughout Act II we see society's quick turn-over, always prepared for the next big thing, and the meaningless nature that that gives all events.
I agree that the characters don't spend much time dwelling on Duncan's death. There is the immediate horror and confusion, as well as Macbeth's guilt, and Shakespeare's placement of lewd humor adds to the uncomfortable nature of the scene.
DeleteI agree that the audience is meant to feel uncomfortable. Even though Lady Macbeth may sleep at night, while Macbeth can't, the audience is definitely supposed to be aware that the entire situation is wrong.
DeleteI agree with your insight on the juxtaposition of the innuendos and horror of Duncan's death. The progression of scenes resembles reality in the case of sudden death, and I can definitely see the sense of meaninglessness that you noted.
DeleteThis is a very good comment, I think. And even more so, it displays the differences between the characters and how they view what's happened. Macbeth is somewhat mellowed, passive, worn out, whereas Macduff is excited and seems bent on revenge, and Lady Macbeth almost seems to be forcing herself to forget what she's done, to stave off the guilt until she has time to deal with it.
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ReplyDeleteRachel Matsumura (2) – Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteProphecies have been thrown about since the beginnings of time- simple rumors that may or may not have come true. I think the concept of fate had more value during the time when Macbeth is set, and that fate is usually connected to religious views. I think Banquo’s statement in Act II Scene I is representative of the blend of fate and free will: “I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters, to you they have showed some truth.” (19-20) The keyword here is ‘some.’ Perhaps Macbeth was destined to become king after Duncan died a natural death (not orchestrated by someone else). When the witches first deliver the prophecy, they make no mention of death or murder. There was no indication that Duncan had to die when he did so that Macbeth could become king. Maybe that was what the witches meant when they hailed Macbeth as the “future king.” Whether ‘future’ meant “the near future” or “the far future” was unclear- until Macbeth’s actions (free will) hurried the prophecy along. The witches pronounced Macbeth as the Thane of Cawdor right before it happened- perhaps the suddenness of this revelation spurred Macbeth to act in the interest of creating his own fate. Then again, the idea of fate- and destiny as well- is that there’s no time stamp on it. It’s a matter of “eventually.” Macbeth made the choice to kill Duncan then and there to attain the throne. If his destiny was to become king after Duncan died a natural death, we’ll never know.
I agree about the blending of fate and free will. But I also believe it is more about manipulating someone's psyche as fragile of Macbeth to achieve one's goal. Macbeth probably will not have killed King Duncan if not pressured by his wife and confirmed from the witches of his possible destiny.
DeleteI completely agree when you say that fate had more of an importance in Macbeth's time. It seems today that people now are half an half - some people believe in the concept of fate, and others don't. In Macbeth's time, it is assumed by the context of the situation that everyone strongly believed in the supernatural and fate, so Macbeth was also inclined to (given the context).
DeleteDeepak Badveli -Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteThroughout the course of this play, I have recognized that gender plays a role. It has started when Lady Macbeth wished that her womanly emotions be halted so she can proceed on killing King Duncan. It was also brought up when describing the witches. “[Macbeth] You should be woman, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so.” Lady Macbeth can be considered cold hearted for not showing any remorse on the dead king and proceeds with the framing. “[Lady Macbeth] The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures.” On the other hand Macbeth becomes awestruck and was rushed with hefty regret. “[Macbeth] Macbeth shall sleep no more… I am afraid to think what I have done.” The female gender only sees at face value and does not think about the future nor about the consequences. They only do thinks which better themselves and have less empathy for others. The male gender shows strength, reasoning which can create regret and sorrow. The true nature of evil is from the men but can be manipulated by other men or women. The way Lady Macbeth decided not to kill King Duncan but let her unstable husband to kill him.
I agree that Lady Macbeth is cold-hearted, especially compared to women today. I think that Macbeth's reaction is the more appropriate one because I think his conscience is trying to tell him that what he did was wrong. I also agree that Lady Macbeth manipulated her husband so that she could pin the task of the murder onto him.
DeleteEvil can be in any and everyone. However, it is more likely seen in men as you stated.
DeleteBrianna Bulgarino (2) Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteAfter Duncan’s murder, Macbeth is completely spooked and has forgotten to put the dagger near the sleeping chamberlains. He refuses to go back forcing Lady Macbeth to do so. Macbeth feels guilty and remorseful for the murder as he says, “Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst”. He weighed the consequences before the murder showing that he is rational even though he gets emotional after the murder. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth is disappointed that Macbeth forgot to leave the dagger and says, “Had he not resembled / My father as he slept, I had done‘t”. Lady Macbeth is more evil in her ambition for the rise to the top than Macbeth. She has all of the power in the relationship and uses it to her advantage which is different from how relationships are seen today. Now, men are usually seen as strong and in control. Women are seen as emotionally weak. This scene portrays the opposite of what is expected of men and women.
I agree that Shakespeare has flipped the gender roles in this relationship. It's interesting that some strong, scary army guy who can cut a half shakes at the sight of his wife.
DeleteI agree that Lady Macbeth has a more dominant role in the relationship.
DeleteLady Macbeth for sure has a more dominant role. It's funny because many people in those days believed for gender roles to be the other way around (as previously stated).
DeleteI agree that Lady Macbeth is the more dominant than Macbeth in their relationship, which is contrary to what most people believed relationships to be. This is probably due to Shakespeare creating entirely new roles for people in his plays.
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ReplyDeleteLeslie Castro 2nd period Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteIn II.ii, Shakespeare further emphasises the theme that women have an evil nature. Macbeth rushes in begging for his wife's approval, yet is met with a cool detachment. Her subtext throughout this scene seems to be along the lines of, "how unfortunate, what a pity, it's so terrible". Macbeth confesses that he could not even finish a prayer with "Amen", and Lady Macbeth responds with, "get over it, thinking this way will drive you crazy". He is shaken and convinced the entire world knows he is guilty, and his wife does not appear to be concerned, telling him to wash the blood from his hands and man up. The trope of the internally evil woman tricking the distraught man continues.
We also see that Macbeth is not totally corrupt (yet). Would he be hallucinating if he didn't feel guilty? There are still morals in him, yet how long he can keep them in face of ambition and pressure from his wife and society remains to be seen.
I agree with your statements about Lady Macbeth, but couldn't he also be hallucinating because of the stress the decision he had to make?
DeleteI agree that there are still morals left in Macbeth, but I think that that, in a way, makes him worse than his wife. People who know right from wrong have a moral duty to do what is right, and when good people stand by and let evil take over, they are committing more of a crime than a purely evil person who has no moral direction and, in a twisted sense, doesn't know any better.
DeleteI agree that Macbeth isn't totally corrupt yet and that he still has morals which is also seen by his guilt after killing Duncan.
DeleteKiya Cotton Period 6
ReplyDeleteMurder Reaction
When considering gender in evil, it plays a big role in Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth initially was the one who decided that she wanted King Duncan dead. Lady Macbeth also persuades Macbeth in the killing of Duncan by talking down on him. She talks down on him by having Macbeth question his own manhood. Also after the killing, she tells Macbeth to man up. The characters show that women are evil in nature.
Macbeth has committed the crime but it is constantly on his mind. Based off of his speech he realizes that what he did was wrong and he will have to face the consequences for that. Macbeth does feel remorseful and guilty of the killing. He wishes that Duncan would wake up. While Lady Macbeth feels the opposite. When Macbeth did not want to keep the bloody dagger, she insults him by comparing him to a child. She also insults him by calling him unmanly. It is obvious that Lady Macbeth does not feel any guilt from the killing and just thought it should be done.
I completely agree, I also like how you tied in the in class discussion of how people back in Shakespearean times saw women and men. Men were seen as strong figure heads who thought logically while women were rash and emotional.
DeleteSirisha Karra (1st) - Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteUnlike Macbeth, I believe that we all are able to control our lives, therefore, no real concept in fate. It seems that the concept of "fate" seemed to have more importance in the time of Macbeth - he is so convinced of the fact that he will eventually become King, and through his greed, along with the constant persuasion of Lady Macbeth, he becomes almost blind to the fact that what he is doing is wrong, and is set on killing Duncan. Perhaps Macbeth was destined to become king after Duncan died? There was no sign or anything said by the witches that he had to be killed, or even murdered. I think this is a huge thing when it comes to the concept of "fate". In my view, knowing someone's fate is like knowing what the future will hold, which seems pointless in a life such as ours. What is the point of knowing what you will be doing in this life? Is there even such a concept? I believe that we are the controllers of our own destiny, and that anything that we do should be taken into consideration of the way that our future will play out.
I think what Shakespeare did with the Tragedy of Macbeth was portray the three witches as a "fate" or something in a sense that will give people an idea of "what will happen". Macbeth listens to his "prophecy", and takes it to heart. This goes back to the first journal of, "will you do anything to achieve your goals?". In this case, as far as we have read, it seems that Macbeth will, along with the help of Lady Macbeth (who seems to know exactly what she wants).
This comment gives me an interesting opportunity to express views on fortune telling, which I feel are relevant to this play. Though I won't speak to whether Macbeth's actions were fate or free will, the whole thing about fortune telling is that after being told, you work for the future on that basis. If you are given a positive future, you will work to uphold that positive future, whereas if you are prescribed a negative future you will work to avoid it. In Macbeth's case, it feels to me that he was swept up in this phenomenon, trying foolishly to try to control his future rather than to let it happen, and thus driving himself to ruin. In that sense, his hamartia would be not be hubris, but lack of faith. In himself, in his wife, and in his future.
DeleteI agree we have free will, although sometimes I feel things are destined to happen. However I'm not sure what are the differences between fate and destiny. You say you believe in free will, but perhaps Macbeth was destined to be king.
DeleteMacbeth's Psyche-Analyze how Macbeth’s psyche is affected by his hallucinations and the metaphors in Act II.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth's Psyche - Louis Jacobowitz
I chose this question, but what I want to discuss is not how Macbeth's psyche is affected by his hallucinations but rather how his hallucinations represent his psyche. After doing the deed and killing his king, he feels guilty - his wife pressured him into the act, and he clearly isn't ready to face the consequences. His mental state seems to be declining even as soon as the first scene, as his soliloquy at the end of the scene makes clear. Macbeth cannot get the vision of the dagger out of his head - his sin is following him around, and he feels truly guilty for committing his crime, but it is too late for him to turn around now, and he must follow through. Everything reminds him of his act - even the bell, as it strikes midnight. This continues in Scene II, when Macbeth is trying to hold himself together while talking to his wife, but recounts hallucinating "a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!" And later that scene, "I am afraid to think what I have done." Unlike most tragic heroes, who are punished for their actions and then feel regret, Macbeth's conscience gets to him immediately. It is clear that he wishes he hadn't done what he has, and even if he gets away without consequences his sins will plague him forever after - "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No..." In scene III, though there are no hallucinations, Macbeth is called upon to display his surprise and sympathy regarding the King's death, and this he does, seemingly genuinely. Even after killing the king, he feels guilt, and his true enemy is not any of his comrades but rather himself, and his conscience, which will forever haunt him.
I like how you pointed out how Macbeth is not consistent with the classic tragic hero; he does recognize that what he is doing is wrong while he is doing it. He still murders Duncan anyways, pegging him for a "new" kind of tragic hero. I also like how you pointed out that, in addition to all the hallucinations following him around, his conscience is also haunting him, in a way, most likely generating those hallucinations as a kind of twisted penance.
DeleteJohnny Huang 1st Period - Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteMacbeth has strong ties to supernatural themes. The three witches, most likely symbolic of the ancient Greeks Fates, prophesize that Macbeth will become king, but Banquo’s children are the ones that will eventually rule. Here I am inclined to believe that Macbeth is in control of his actions at the time of the killing. This is because the witches never actually prophesize the death of Duncan,. Perhaps if Macbeth had decided not to kill the King, Duncan would have suffered from some sort of natural death. This way, it is possible that Macbeth would have fulfilled the prophecy without bloodshed. It is merely the way Macbeth interprets the prophecy that makes him think killing the current King is necessary. From the route that Macbeth chose to take, I believe Macbeth’s actions will in turn create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the actual terms of the prophecy causes a positive feedback loop allowing the prophecy to come true. In this context, most likely the consequences of killing Duncan will cause enough upheaval so that Banquo’s family will be the one to rule.
I agree that Macbeth is in control of his own actions because I believe that he does know what he is doing is wrong. Interesting idea that Duncan could have died a natural death if he had not been murdered. I also think that the prophecies will all come true, especially since the first couple have already come true.
DeleteIt sounds like what you're saying is that supernatural entities can set the boundaries of a person's destiny, but the exact way that the future comes to pass is determined by how that person makes decisions. I like the idea that the characters are sort of trapped on these paths that the witches laid out, and that if they choose to just let the future unfold, trusting in fate to fulfill itself, that everything will be fine; but for people like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the fate was a vision of what could be if they played their cards right.
DeleteI never thought about the ways the prophecy could be interpreted, I agree with you on that point that Macbeth, with the push from Lady Macbeth, used his own interpretation as an excuse to take the fastest way out. His greed clouded his judgment.
DeleteErin Eichenberger, p6- Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteBoth Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are very on edge after the murder. Macbeth is caught up in his own moral anguish, bemoaning the blood on his hands and startling “when every noise appalls [him]” (Scene II). Lady Macbeth is similarly jumpy, frighting at an owl's call and taking out her tension on Macbeth. Unlike Lady Macbeth, who seems to only fear being caught, Macbeth struggles with the beginning of his moral degradation. He is frantic that he was not able to speak prayers with the two chamber boys, and wonders if his soul, like his bloody hands, will ever be clean. Lady Macbeth scolds him, stating that it's “A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight” (Scene II) of his red hands. Frustrated, she enters the king's room and sets the scene to frame the chamber boys.
Shakespeare, by making Lady Macbeth the more ruthless character, has created a compelling story that defies traditional gender norms. While it was typical for men to be the murderers in most works of fiction (as women were seen as more delicate and empathetic,) Shakespeare gives Macbeth the more feminine moral character. It is Macbeth who is horrified by the murder, even lamenting the crime- “Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!” (Scene II). Lady Macbeth coldly criticizes him, saying “My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white.” (Scene II). Not only is she a stronger character, she berates Macbeth for not being more like her. By flipping the expected roles of the lead male and female characters, Shakespeare is showing that evil has no relation to gender. Men are not inherently hardhearted and women are not inherently innocent, as Macduff believes- “'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition, in a woman's ear, would murder as it fell” (Scene III). Shakespeare's ability to create beyond the norm is a quality that makes him such a well-remembered author.
I love how you pointed out Macduff's line about a woman's ear. I hadn't considered that Shakespeare would be blatantly flipping gender roles in such a way and then having his own characters point out the fact in case the audience (aka me) was too dense to get it. I do agree that Lady Macbeth is an absurdly strong female character for the time period Shakespeare wrote her in.
DeleteLady Macbeth and her characterization actually annoys me now much more than it did before- like Amanda said, she's a strong female role, but I despise the way that Shakespeare added her in. His other female characters are sometimes quite progressive for their time, but she seemed to epitomize the way men think (or thought) of women as either feminine and sweet or wild and evil. Lady Macbeth says that she must relinquish her femininity to become ambitious for the crown, and she seems to morph into someone else. Rather than finding a balance between her presumably rational state of mind and her intense cunning, she oscillates between the two. One can imagine her as a happy queen who later returns to her "evil" state when something doesn't go her way, a sort of stereotype that applies even now to women who are assumed to be ruled by their irrational emotions.
DeleteHannah Cooper(1st Period)- Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteImmediately following the murder of Duncan, Macbeth becomes extremely paranoid and every sound that he hears makes him think that someone is awake and knows what he did. As soon as he commits the murder he goes to Lady Macbeth to tell her that he actually went through with it, expecting her to praise him because she was originally insulting his manhood. However, she tells him that he is foolish for saying that the blood on his hands is a "sorry sight." She also tells him to "consider it not so deeply" when he is telling her about the servants.
The character of Lady Macbeth is a prime example of the gender roles in evil. Shakespeare chose to make her come off as the stronger one compared to the more timid Macbeth. Macbeth is so spooked after committing the murder that he forgets to leave the daggers in Duncan's room. Lady Macbeth calls him a coward and tells him to give them to her so that she can go finish the task. This shows that Lady Macbeth is less fearful about committing the murder and that she shows more ambition to be evil.
Aside from his obvious paranoia after the murder, I thought that Macbeth also seemed in a dreamlike state. He gives the following line: "Oh, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them," and that certainly confirms that he was in a state of shock, at least on the outside. It was hard to tell, though, whether he was actually thinking rationally underneath the surface.
DeleteShakespeare does stress Lady Macbeth's manipulation of Macbeth. I agree that Lady Macbeth is a prime example of gender roles and the emphasis of evil in her.
DeleteI can totally see where you're going with Lady Macbeth being a strong female character while Macbeth is not. But I can also see the opposite with Lady Macbeth being weak because she is controlled by emotions while Macbeth is strong for being able to think logically.
DeleteAmanda Nemecek (6) – Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteLady Macbeth seems to be very nonchalant for having just ordered the murder of a man. Act 2 Scene 2 begins with her complementing herself on her bravery and spirit. She is a little startled by the hoot of an owl, yet it is understandable that she be jumping at every slight thing as for all her bravado she does have regicide hanging over her head.
Macbeth, on the other hand, slinks into their chambers with his tail between his legs. He starts babbling to his wife about the various hallucinations he saw and heard concerning the two guardsmen. He is also horrified by the atrocity he has committed. The death of Duncan perhaps hits Macbeth harder than his wife as Macbeth was the one to actually drive the dagger into Duncan, personally murdering him.
We can deduce from these reactions that Lady Macbeth is the more wicked of the two as she shows absolutely no remorse for killing Duncan, her King. Historically, women were seen as the more “impure,” or even the more “evil” of the sexes. This belief probably stems from the longstanding tradition of patriarchies; if the men painted themselves as worse, then what right did they have to rule over everything? Lady Macbeth personifies the cruel, selfish woman while Macbeth is her tragic hero (emphasis on HERO) of a husband, tricked by her womanly wiles into committing a heinous crime.
I like how you point out Lady Macbeth's pride at the beginning of the scene. It's almost funny the way it's written, as if Lady Macbeth has just beaten these two chamber guys in a drinking contest. It's another interesting example of her triumph over a man/male society, and reminds me of a line later in the scene where she yells at Macbeth for wearing a heart "so white," unlike her red hands.
DeleteBrennan Lewis (6th) - Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteRather than viewing the Weird Sisters as the base of evil, I see more of a connection to the Three Fates of Greek mythology. Therefore, I believe that "Hail Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor," and later references to Macbeth's eventual title as king by the three witches referred to a prediction of what was to come rather than invoking Macbeth's actions. Lady Macbeth's behavior towards Macbeth in Act I, Scene 7 indicates that she would have pressured him to kill King Duncan or participate in another senseless act of violence regardless of whether he had encountered the witches, as both of the pair are so power-hungry as to imminently lead to their own demise. However, I think that because Macbeth did encounter the witches, he felt that killing Duncan was his destiny.
I don't think that the witches forced Macbeth to act, but through his own superstitions and pressure from his wife, he fulfilled the prophecy anyways. In the real world, I don't believe in any kind of fate or supernatural influence. However, I do think that some people make choices based on their beliefs that differ from what they would have done otherwise, creating a semblance of supernatural power.
I agree that Macbeth was never forced to kill Duncan. He was manipulated by the people around him combined with his own greed and desire. He defends himself by saying he didn't have a choice, but really he made his own choices.
DeleteI agree that in the real world there is no fate or supernatural influence. However, in the case of Macbeth predestined fate creates a very interesting dynamic wherein the audience has the question of "Would this have happened no matter what or is Macbeth playing into Fate's hands through his own free will?" throughout the play which may increase the entertainment value and generate discussion an analysis. Having the question of Fate vs. Free Will adds an extra dimension to this work. A much needed one at that.
DeleteI also agree, Macbeth wasn't forced to kill Duncan, it was his own decision at the end whether force or manipulated. He let his greed control and only ended up with regret of his action. I believe that everyone is responsible for his/her own actions not anybody else.
DeleteI agree that Macbeth chose to murder Duncan. Macbeth merely interpreted in such a way that had him murder Duncan. If he had calmed down, it might have been possible for him to become King some other way.
DeleteCatherine Lumsden (2nd) - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteUp until the moment Macbeth kills King Duncan, he is plagued by doubt and his conscience. Contrasting this to Lady Macbeth who plots how to kill the king. She manipulates Macbeth until he does the deed. After Macbeth kills the king, he looks down at his hands and says "This is a sorry sight." Lady Macbeth's response, telling Macbeth that it was a "foolish thought" illustrates their different characters. Macbeth has remorse for what he has done, and is aware of the possible consequences while Lady Macbeth is triumphant.
Lady Macbeth's character is a reference to the bible and Adam and Eve. Eve is the one who takes the apple and gets Adam to follow her. By comparing her to Eve, the play is saying that women have a natural scheming instinct and evil than men. The killing of Duncan then, is a reference to the breaking of god's trust be eating the apple.
I like the reference to Adam and Eve. Once they have eaten the apple, they are cursed, in the same way Macbeth and his wife both go crazy and eventually die.
DeleteThese murder reactions are also intersting because Lady Macbeth is portrayed as the strong, convincing, and ruthless character while her husband, who is praised for his vicious murders in war, is easily convinced by his wife to do something he doesn't agree with and feels guilty later. Inside, the Macbeths are the exact opposite of how they appear to the world.
DeleteElizabeth Vicario -pd. 2: Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteSince his first appearance, Macbeth has been tugged along by outside forces, be they his wife, fate or the witches. The prophecy of the witches declared that it was already Macbeth's fate to do the deed; they never made him go through with it. Some would say that it was the wife that convinced- even forced- Macbeth to act, and some would say that her empowering speeches were just the final nail in the coffin. As an avid fan of free will, I believe that it was no one other than the man himself that did the murder.
In present day, though accomplices to crimes are often convicted, it seems nonsensical to punish the encourager more than the encouraged. He who lays hands on the murder weapon and actually kills is the guilty party, though a bystander certainly has ethical blame. Macbeth himself seems to believe that he is fated to kill King Duncan, but he is merely using this as a crutch to ease his soon-to-be-guilty conscience. Macbeth delivers the following lines in Act 2 Scene 2 as he reacts to the murder and finally has to deal with the fact that it was his own hand that murdered his king.
"What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red. "
I agree with you 100% that Macbeth is responsible for the murder. Everyone is responsible for their own actions and even though Lady Macbeth "convinced, force" him, he has his own brain and conscience that he could have gone against his wife wishes or i should say commands and have not gone through with the murder.
DeleteYou are right about the way that in modern times it can be ridiculous at times to punish those who manipulate others rather than the one who actually committed the crime, however its hard to know when a person is truly being manipulated. That being said I agree that Macbeth used fate as a crutch to make it easier for him to accomplish his goals at any cost.
DeleteMonica Pastrana (Period 6) Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteThe murder plan is successfully completes leaving Macbeth feeling very uneasy with what he did. Both him and his wife are a little jumpy and start hallucinating that they hear noises. He struggles a bit with trying to frame the guards. He knows that he won't be able to sleep and when he hears the praying he can't even pronounce amen, knowing the fact that he need of a blessing. Macbeth regrets doing what he did and he gets this anxiety where he can't get the blood of his hands. Lady Macbeth tells him that he okay and to not think about but the reader gets to see a little human in her when she says"My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white". When it comes to evilness their is no gender that isn't evil, everyone at some point of their life creates a sin that leaves them feeling less of themselves and sometimes haunts them for life. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were both left haunted but why they did but they know that they most continue on with their life and Macbeth becoming king.
I found it incredibly interesting that an entire paranoid conversation takes place between Macbeth and his wife after the murder and all the while Macbeth is still holding the bloody dagger in his hand. I can just imagine him shaking and drifting off into a world of fear and paranoia and forgetting about the physical importance of holding the bloody dagger.
DeleteI agree with Bilva because Lady Macbeth didn't experience any hallucinations and she took over for Macbeth without a problem when he wouldn't finish the job. She didn't seem to be fearful at all.
DeleteEvan Casey - Period 6 - Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteMacbeth holds a lot of basis in mythos, specifically the Moira, three sisters of fate who dictate the future and the actions of everybody and everything in the world. Since Macbeth comes into contact with these three “weird sisters”, it is apparent that they play one of two roles. Either they simply prophesize the fates of the masses or they dictate it. I am more influenced under the ideology that fate, in Macbeth (and perhaps real life too) is set in stone from the start and the free will of Macbeth, his wife, and Duncan (amongst many others) is merely an illusion. If it is indeed the latter, then there is no such thing as creating one’s own fate and the Three Witches hold incredible power in the play. If Macbeth murders Duncan, it was only because he was meant to do some from the start and none of his actions would have prevented it as it would be classed as an inevitability.
Since it is stated that Macbeth would be the “future king” then that means that Macbeth would become the future king no matter what he did. In this case, all victims of this tragedy were the helpless victims of fate, trying to pave their own path and make their own decisions, but not knowing that they are playing into the grand scheme of things.
I like that you tied in the connection with the three sisters of fate and reflected on whether they would be prophesizing or dictating the fate of Macbeth. It's an interesting distinction to make and it makes Macbeth more sympathetic.
DeleteI see where you're coming from, but it is possible that Macbeth created his own fate by choosing to believe that the witches were correct. Macbeth made the assumption that he was fated to kill King Duncan, but he had the will to choose whether or not to execute the murder. When it comes down to it, there's no way to know whether or not fate is set in stone. but if you believe you have free will then you're less likely to make unethical decisions.
DeleteI agree with Dylan. The concept of Fate v. Free will can be spun almost an infinite number of ways. In the end, the answer is in the eyes of the beholder. If you believe you have free will you may act more ethically, while if you believe your fate is irreversible, you may act more irrational or careless.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAshley Siebelink
ReplyDeletePeriod 6
Murder Reaction
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s reaction to the murder of Duncan, the King and cousin of Macbeth, are very different. Macbeth first questions himself not knowing if he really does want to go through with it but ends up gaining the courage to do it in the end anyway. After the murder, however, Macbeth is badly shaken up about what he has done. Lady Macbeth on the other hand, does not care. She would even do it herself she had to. She becomes angry with her husband because he forgets to leave the dagger so the blame would fall on someone else, and since Macbeth would not go back into the kings chamber to retrieve the weapon, she goes herself. She has no remorse for what she has convinced her husband to do, even though she sees how horrified Macbeth is with himself. This reveals that the character, Lady Macbeth, is more evil, although it is said that Macbeth can be a cold blooded killer. Lady Macbeth is also very manipulative by totally emasculating her own husband to get what she wants done.
“Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised.
Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great,
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it.”
As women this seems out of character. The women are suppose to be gentle, sweet, and supportive, and here in this act we see Lady Macbeth being the total opposite. As for Macbeth, being the big, strong, was hero that he is portrayed to be, is more easily manipulated. As a man, he is suppose to take charge, make his own decisions and to have more confidence, but that is not the situation here, for he is torn down by his wife.
I agree with what you said about gender and emotions when Lady Macbeth acts cold and angry towards Macbeth. Their natures are almost flipped from the expectations of men and women at that time period.
DeleteI agree with the notion of gender roles. Shakespeare liked to challenge the norm and introduce characters and actions that shocked people. He was very much against some of the traditions and customs that the church believed in, and through his plays he expressed his feelings against conservatism.
DeleteKeara Klinge - period 1 - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteThe first thing we hear Macbeth say after killing Duncan is "I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?" He and Lady Macbeth are both hearing noises in the night and are trying to cover their paranoia with nonchalance. He simply looks at his hands and says "This is a sorry sight", rather than worrying. Lady Macbeth continues to make fun of him and says that thought is foolish and that he should not feel that way. She is already planning ahead and is one step ahead of Macbeth.
In terms of gender, they have continued on with the same roles that were already established. Macbeth is not emotional about the murder but rather logical. He hears more hallucinations than Lady Macbeth does and I think he's feeling a bit of regret also. "I am afraid to think what I have done," says Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is not afraid to think about it but rather reflects on her guilty conscience.
I find it interesting how Macbeth is the one who suffers from more hallucinations, yet Macbeth tends to be the character who thinks with reason rather than emotion. Typically if a character has been plagued with "mental torture" then that said character would be inclined to think illogically about a situation, but not in the case of Macbeth. Macbeth's logical thought process helps to develop his character and lead the reader more in depth into his ambition.
DeleteJared Ford- Period 1- Fate or Free will
ReplyDeleteMacbeth was under the influence of both the witches and his wife, but ultimately it was his decision to go through with the murder. The witches persuaded him to commit the murder when they told him he would become king. It is unlikely he would do the crime if the witches hadn't told him he was destined to do so. His wife was also convinced by the prophecy, and taunted Macbeth by insulting his manhood because of his inaction. Macbeth did not have the willpower to fight his "destiny" or his wife, and he decided to kill Duncan, as well as the chambermaids. True strength (not his wife's idea of manhood) would be resisting the persuasion to do something Macbeth knew was wrong. Killing people while they sleep is a display of neither physical nor moral strength.
Varsha Kulasekarapandian (2) – Fate or free will
ReplyDeleteOne thing that is clear from the beginning of the play is that fate clearly has a role in the happenings of the story, however (as we discussed in class) it is also a point that the witches can’t make anyone do anything. For example when one of the witches complained to the others of how a woman refused to share her food with her, and although the witch decided that she would kill the woman’s husband, she couldn’t make the woman herself give her any food. I believe Shakespeare drew attention to this point on purpose to allow the audience to understand free-will still has a part to play. The situation and environment surrounding Macbeth may have persuaded him and seduced him into committing all sorts of immoral acts, however no one could make the decisions to go through with his actions other than Macbeth.
I agree that there are elements of fate and free will in the play. It seems like after Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discovered their fate they took the necessary steps to make it so. It makes me question whether or not they would have the same fate if they were not told of it.
DeleteWalker Morrell (1st Period)
ReplyDeleteMacbeth’s Psyche
Act 2 begins with intense hallucinations by Macbeth where he sees a bloody dagger appear in the air before his eyes. Obviously he is not in the correct state of mind and these hallucinations are another example of a supernatural element in Macbeth. Before his disturbing hallucination he is already on nerve and the seeming appearance of a dagger in midair sends him over the edge by completely devastating his psyche. He describes the daggers as, “on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,” and he refers to the murder he is about to commit as “the bloody business.” The imagery of blood has a damaging effect on his psyche as he envisions the grotesqueness of the deed he is going to commit.
Macbeth uses a metaphor when he compares his committal of the murder to a wolf. He says, “Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design moves like a ghost.” He compares himself by saying, “Hear no my steps which way they walk,” which is similar to the stealthy and dangerous movements of the wolf. He is the wolf and he is a predator like one.
To Bilva, I see what you mean with Macbeth's guilt coming out through his imagery. I certainly don't think Lady Macbeth would have had the same response. In fact, she even goes off on some rambling about how she wanted to shed what was deemed as "feminine" of her so she could have the pleasure of ending King Duncan herself.
DeleteKatherine Concepcion, Pd. 2 - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteAfter the murder of Duncan, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both nervous. Macbeth begins to hear sounds, mostly voices while Lady Macbeth gets scared over the hoot of an owl. Macbeth starts to feel guilty about what’s done when he can’t call out prayers out loud. When Macbeth tries to say “Amen”, his words are stuck in his throat. Essentially, Macbeth broke his connection with connection with God once he killed Duncan. Lady Macbeth is mostly afraid of getting caught. She scolds Macbeth and she tells him that she’d be ashamed to be as remorseful as he is.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth doesn’t follow traditional gender norms. Macbeth has feminine morals while Lady Macbeth has strong, male morals. Lady Macbeth wasn’t as afraid as Macbeth when he forgets to leave the daggers used to kill Duncan in Duncan’s room. She goes on and takes the daggers so that she can finish the job herself. Women were seen historically as “evil” which is why Lady Macbeth acts the way she does. Macbeth is Lady Macbeth’s Adam, tricked into doing her bidding.
I like how you tied the idea of gender roles to your response. Also, the biblical and religious references in this play are numerous and I feel you picked out really strong ones. keeping on the note of religion, one can also argue that Macbeth's remorse is tied to his sin of killing, which violates the 5th commandment.
DeleteAustin Gain - 1st - Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteThe argument between the concepts of fate and free will has always been a staple in literature, as well as in real life situations. In the case of Macbeth, Macbeth is torn between whether to use fate as an excuse or whether it was by his own free will that Macbeth murdered Duncan. The beginning of Macbeth's action to kill Duncan is traced back to Act 1, Scene 3 when the Second Witch proclaims, "All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!" This prophecy by the three witches turns Macbeth into a man who perceives fate to be the only option in life, rather than deciding things for himself. This perceived fate by Macbeth eventually transpires into a series of events which include Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor which ultimately leads to Duncan's death. By observing that the witches' prophecy came true, Macbeth learns that his life must be dictated by the prophecies of the witches. Macbeth's act of relying on fate correlates with his initial ambition, even more so after the murder of Duncan.
I'd have to disagree with our statement of Macbeth becoming a man that believes fate controls everything. While yes, he believes in the witches' prophecies, I believe that he uses his own free will to speed up the process of those prophecies, leading to his ultimate demise.
DeleteI agree Macbeth try to get away from fate but still in the end he die.
DeleteI agree in the how Shakespeare takes traditional gender roles, especially in his time period, and uses them to convey a different message altogether. The traditional male and female gender role is built into a complex network that takes the understanding of the scene to a new level. Not conforming to specific gender roles helps to further develop the characters of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteMolly McEvoy (2nd)- Macbeth's Psyche
ReplyDeleteHallucinations are tricky things, but they can say a lot about the person that is experiencing them and the thoughts of their deep subconscious. Macbeth's hallucination of the bloody dagger goes hand in hand with his internal struggle about killing King Duncan. As someone had stated earlier, Macbeth does not follow the typical outline of a tragic hero. Rather he has moments of clarity before once again being taken over by his hubris. his psyche is clearly shaken and he becomes upset and on guard almost for the rest of the act. The hallucination of the dagger clearly got to him and reminded his inner good person of how wrong this deed would be.
The metaphors throughout Act II continue to portray Macbeth as shaken and uneasy. He seems to be wary of his upcoming actions and even though he has chosen them, seems uncertain in his ability to carry them out.
I agree, as I believe that the hallucinations are a result of Macbeth's guilt and morals biting him back. He had been so unsure of whether to kill Duncan or not, but because in the end he didn't really want to kill him but his wife forced him to, he felt wronged at making a decision based off of someone else rather than his own.
DeleteI noticed your AP Psych references, kudos to that. I also liked how you pointed out how Macbeth defers from other tragic heroes.
DeleteAlex Miller 2nd Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteWhen Macbeth "first discovered" that Duncan had been murdered he responded by killing the servants who had supposedly committed the crime. This shows that after Macbeth killed one innocent man, he had no problem killing another two. Statistically, men are 1.65 more times likely to be charged with 2nd degree murder and Macbeth was known for protecting and honoring the king by killing others. The way Macbeth responded was in a way that others would've expected from him. Lady Macbeth also played into the way that others expected her to act. Since she is a lady she is seen as weak which can be seen in Act 2 Scene 3 where Macduff says "O gentle lady,'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition, in a woman’s ear, Would murder as it fell." which essentially means that she is too fragile to hear the news and she would surely die as well upon hearing it. Lady Macbeth seems well aware of the sexist views of her and allows them to work in her favor. She asks for assistance and allows herself to be carried out of the room in order to eliminate herself as a potential suspect. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth play into their own gender stereotypes as to not bring attention to themselves.
I agree with you, and love the point you made about men being more likely to be charged with 2nd degree murder. It was an interesting statistic and modern connection.
DeleteJosh Moore 6th Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteAs a person, I believe in free will over fate because I do not believe that I have no control over my future and am not fond of the idea that everyone's suffering has been planned out. In the case of Macbeth, there is an element of fate to an extent. The three sisters are able to set up situations/atmospheres but are not able to control the outcomes. The three sisters represent the three fates from greek mythology, who are known for predicting a very vague future. When the sisters tell their prophecy to Macbeth he starts to change the way he looks at situations and changes his behavior similarly. Macbeth is still in control, he has just become more worrisome and paranoid, feeling like he has run out of options. Macbeth also realizes that his future is his to create, not a characteristic of fate, and acts accordingly to how he believes he can achieve it. If he believed in fate, he would have let everything fall into place and would not have had to kill Duncan.
I agree with you not having control over your future. It is action and decision that you make that will lead to your future.
DeleteDylan Kruesi- Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that Macbeth is swayed by Lady Macbeth, but the choice to kill King Duncan was no one’s choice other than his own. Although I believe this to be true, and technically free will, Macbeth truly believed it was his destiny to commit the treasonous act. The witches never directly said that killing Duncan was the only path to Macbeth becoming king, but he interpreted their prophetic words as alluding towards the unethical act of killing the king. Macbeth doesn’t realize that the choice he made truly was his to make out of free will because he was blinded by the false bindings of a destiny laid forth by supernatural beings. What I’m really saying is that Macbeth had the free will to make his immoral decision, but when he made his choice he had the false perception that he was fated to do so.
I'm with you on this. Macbeth decided that it was his own destiny. He could have just as easily chosen to deny this notion of predestination and create the destiny he would have wanted.
DeleteBrian Fischer (6): Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteTo put it frankly, Macbeth has no excuse. Nothing made him go dunking his blades in a big bath of Duncan blood but himself. He certainly faced some pressure from Lady Macbeth and some supernatural allure from weird witches, but ultimately Macbeth was in his own mind when he brought an end to his good king. He even goes off on his own to think about the consequences of murder before carrying out the vile act. In this play, the witches do seem to have some kind of genuine supernatural power. Still, it’s clear that this power isn't anything more than mere foresight, rather than some kind of marionette master’s grasp. I noticed that the prophecies from the witches were grand, yet they were still very vague. I didn't hear a word in any of them saying that Macbeth is destined to take the throne violently. The whole time I was reading this, I was really hoping that Macbeth would come to his senses and not end up mutilating Duncan into a bunch of donut-sized pieces. Macbeth could have just waited out the end of Duncan’s rule and still fulfilled the prophecy. Of course, this is a tragedy, so I knew what to expect. Still, it goes to show that even though some force was powerful enough to see the future, it still couldn't have controlled anyone’s actions.
I completely agree with you. Often times people want to find an excuse when someone commits an extreme or violent act. We see that Macbeth weighed his pros and cons before ultimately listening to Lady macbeth and following through with the murder of his king.
DeleteI like your idea in that we often try to reason our wrong actions, deferring them to fate. However, as Justin said, it is clear that we see Macbeth rationally thinking through the killing, before ultimately deciding.
DeleteI agree with how you described how he could have become king in different ways other than killing Duncan
DeleteKelsey Garvey, 2nd- Fate Vs Free will.
ReplyDeleteThe debate of fate versus free will is as old as the concepts themselves. While debating for either side has its drawbacks, it is arguably better to debate for the side of fate. The idea of fate, that of an inevitable event happening at a predetermined time and place, is better especially in the context of Macbeth. Macbeth has many quotes relating to fate, though the most known may be that of a quote from the Captain. In Act I Scene II, the Captain talks about Macbeth and his fighting in the battle. The quote, “And Fortune… bloody execution…” talks about how Macbeth lived, even though in the battle he should have died. The Captain does throw in a “but…” and says that Macbeth would die eventually.
I agree that the side of fate can always be argued over that of free will, as one can claim that any act of free will was, in fact, predestined by fate. It's also interesting to bring up that the Captain said he should have died, but didn't, and that he would die eventually.This brings up the matter that while fate can be delayed, it cannot ever be avoided.
DeleteJustin Ledinh, 6th, Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteImmediately after the murder of King Duncan, we see Lady Macbeth and Macbeth reunite in the house, accompanied by different mentalities. Macbeth feels guilty ("This is a sorry sight."), while Lady Macbeth is indifferent ("A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.") for the murder of King Duncan. This is quite odd for a play, as the norm follows a man who is stern and unafraid of death while the woman is seen more often as emotional and fearful. Shakespeare was a writer who loved to challenge society's traditions, and in this play it is Lady Macbeth who is unafraid and actually making fun of Macbeth for being guilty and a coward. These characteristics are also seen when Lady Macbeth has to wash the daggers for Macbeth, "Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers.", while Macbeth is frozen with guilt. Overall, Lady Macbeth is more assertive, dominant, and unafraid, while Macbeth is more emotional and timid, showing that their gender roles are somewhat switched compared to what is expected.
I agree with you that the gender roles are somewhat switched. It sort of gives off a feeling that Lady Macbeth may also be considered a main character just because of her dominant personality in the situation compared to Macbeth.
DeleteJustin Magin (1st pd) Fate vs. Free Will
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that people are destined by a certain level of fate, yet they operate under free will and can change that fate due to poor/good decisions. Conversely, Shakespeare’s literature seems to be heavily devoted to the power of fate. In Macbeth, we see that Macbeth learns of his “fate” to be king and in the process of finding out, he decides that he should act irrationally to conquer his fate. Yet, as further reading proves, his true fate is that of a tragic hero. His hubris gets in the way of his conscience decisions and his flaw eventually causes his tragic death, where he does not obtain the once evident “fate.” I believe that Macbeth murdered Duncan because he thought that his fate was secured because he was initially promoted. Therefore, he carried out extreme action, which causes his demise.
I agree with your idea that fate and free will are combined in humans. I disagree, however, that Shakespeare's stories primarily are based on fate. I think there is a great degree of an interpretation factor that goes in, while reading the story, however your idea is quite possible given the religious awakenings during the time period.
DeleteKaylin Cooley 2nd- Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteGuilt ate Macbeth at his worst. He felt that he shouldn’t have done what he did. However, Lady Macbeth is satisfied and pleased of being a part of this murder. Macbeth didn’t really want to do it; he was basically contemplating with his self on whether or not he should do it. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were both active in the murder of Duncan. Also, they both shared the rich, deep red blood on their hands, which was impossible to Macbeth to wash off. However, they didn’t share the same end results. Macbeth’s heart was described as being white and basically being pale and weak. He’s also called a coward and other names by her. Lady Macbeth doesn’t think Macbeth is stronger enough to complete task as great as this one. She is a cold hearted and mean woman and very disrespectful. Even though she is a woman, the nature of evil doesn’t abide in her naturally. If the character role was switched around, many people would say men are evil. I personally believe anyone can be evil regardless of what gender you are.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Delete(2nd period) I agree with you, I feel like now a days anyone can be evil. But back then you can tell that lady Macbeth was more on the dominant side and Macbeth just pretty much did what she said.
DeleteHelen Foyle--Period 6--Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteEven before Macbeth kills Duncan, he questions his motives and the consequences of his actions. This state of doubt and emotional distress is augmented following Duncan’s murder as he describes his hands as “hangman’s hands”, seeing himself as an executioner of a defenseless, unconscious being. He seems to inadvertently compare the death of Duncan to those he’s killed in battle as those can be justified by their ability to fight back and their desire to bring about fatality; however, Duncan was not afforded this opportunity. Macbeth states that as the king’s servants were muttering “God bless us”, he could not respond with “Amen” despite his knowing that he needed the mercy of God then more than ever. The term “Amen” is used to assuredly affirm an aforementioned statement. Macbeth knows he is in desperate need of mercy, but there is part of him that makes him unsure of his deserving of such compassion.
Throughout Macbeth’s remorseful discourse, Lady Macbeth pushes him to move on. She urges him to wash the blood from his hands and, upon finding out that he has left the scene unframed, takes an initiative to finish the job. As she goes to assemble the scene of the crime, Macbeth continues in his lament, seeing the blood on his hands as enough to tarnish all the seas of the Earth.
Women are often perceived as the more emotional gender, yet when comparing Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s reaction to Duncan’s death, Macbeth is clearly more emotionally distressed. It is, in fact, hard to tell whether Lady Macbeth is affected at all in regards to the death of her king. The only moment when her humanity shows is as she states she would’ve done it (the murder) herself, “had he not resembled [her] father as he slept…” For the duration of the murder and the moments after, Lady Macbeth remains emotionless, or at least pitiless, with the exception of her anger towards Macbeth’s cowardice. The previously discussed connotation of the supernatural, in the sense of witches, sorcery, and unearthly storms, as being evil is also evident in Lady Macbeth’s initial reaction to the murder. The reader has begun to fear the witches and the power they seem to hold. Perhaps the one character that could cause more fear than this established archetype is one who holds utterly no fear of the supernatural. Lady Macbeth states, as she ridicules Macbeth, “’Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil”. Not only does she refuse to believe in supernatural ideas of penitence and remorse, as she sees them to be superficial, but her lack of faith allows her to live without fear of any metaphysical retribution. She is truly soulless and void of humanity, the exact opposite of the meek, gentle, hostess façade she has made her public image.
I really like your analysis of Lady Macbeth as being "above" the witches' power, in a way. She is very focused on her own goals and shows no remorse or fear of divine retribution.
DeleteSvetak Sundhar pd6 Fate vs Free Will
ReplyDeleteThe idea of fate vs free will certainly extends back to the time in which people believed in witchcraft, as certain religious movements were starting during those times. The murder of Duncan seems to be a direct example of free will, as the text around it suggests that the murder and consequences were thought through.
The mere idea of the play being a tragedy helped foreshadow this death, but in terms of character elements, the murder seemed to have been free will. “I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters, to you they have showed some truth.” (19-20). This quote shows that he was destined to be the king however, it does not mention murder anywhere. None of the witches sayings entail any form of murder, which leads me to believe that the actions were all based on free will.
good quote example, i agree that he didn't have to kill duncan to become king, he could have waited
DeleteOf course, the idea of fate vs free will pretty much reveals itself in the very beginning of the play when the witches straight up tell the reader what will happen at the end of the story (spoiler alert much?)
DeleteDiu Rahlan(p.6)- Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteI think people are destined by fate. Macbeth was told by the witches that if he kill Duncan he will become a king. Because of what the three witches tell him and his wife pressuring him, Macbeth kill Duncan. After Macbeth kill Duncan he think he is going to be king right away but he didn't. Macbeth try so hard to prevent what was going to happen to him that in the end he still die. He try to get away from fate by killing the three witches and killing anyone who knows about him. Like a tragic hero, Macbeth could prevent his fate and die in the end.
I really like how you classified "evil" as a value of status and success as well as a certain apathetic outlook towards others. By that definition, it seems pretty clear how these characteristics can be applied to present day, although I think in this day and age, we are less willing to classify people as full on "evil" unless they truly take an ideal to the extreme. Yet Lady Macbeth is seen as totally evil just for exhibiting these inhumane qualities in a single scene.
ReplyDeleteElijah Bader-Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteMacbeth first reacts by saying “I have done the deed”. This could simply mean he has just done the act or he could be looking at it as an achievement. Given what he says later I do not think he looks at kill Duncan as an achievement. After saying he has done the deed he asked “Didst thou hear a noise?” because he is worried about being caught and punished, but also thinks he is not a person who would commit such a horrid act and does not want to be viewed that way. Macbeth shows he feels dirty and has done something wrong when he says “this is a sorry sight.”, while looking at his hands. Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth’s comment as foolish. She says “A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.” Macbeth seems haunted by what he has done and cannot even “amen”. He begins seeing things that are not there.
Macbeth portrays stereotypical feminine traits like remorse or really just emotion in general. Lady Macbeth shows no sympathy and is not even phased by what has happened. This is how men are today. Soldiers are trained to not feel emotion after killing people, but our brains are naturally made to feel bad after killing our own species, this is so strong that soldiers come home with PTSD.
I like your connection with PTSD. It adds an intriguing, modern connection to the story for clearer understanding of impact of gender roles on the story.
DeleteI agree with how Macbeth portrayed feminine traits. Its weird to see how Lady Macbeth instead took initiative in this scene and acted dominant over him.
DeleteI like how you see Macbeth as being inherently goodhearted, even though he was the one who ended up killing King Duncan. Do you think Lady Macbeth is more or less or equally guilty for his death, since she was the one who convinced Hamlet to do it? I think she's guilty, but not nearly as guilty as he is, because if he's going to be so torn up about it, he shouldn't have allowed himself to be convinced in the first place.
Delete*^ "Macbeth" not "Hamlet"
Delete... lol Hamlet, how'd you get in there??
Also (period 2)
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DeleteI think she is more guilty. Not only did she come up with these ideas, but also brought them to life. Even after Macbeth, or "Hamlet" as you would say, said he did not want to do it she manipulated him and got him to do it. Then she did not tell anyone about what had happened. People are convinced to do things they should not all the time. But you may say "no one should be convinced to commit murder", but I think if you look at it like that then you begin to blur the "line" of what you should and should not be convinced to do. The U.S. kills innocent people all the time, so do you think you should be looked at as just as guilty because you stand by and just let it happen and are convinced it is for "our good"?
Delete(1 point for me or maybe 1000)
I think you make Macbeth look less guilty than he actually is because he seems more regretful than Lady Macbeth. Just because he repents more doesn't make him less guilty. Lady Macbeth obviously feels guilty, else she wouldn't sleepwalk. However, the blood isn't on her hands. From a moral standpoint, she is very guilty. She's the perpetrator of the crime; if it weren't for her, Macbeth probably would not have killed King Duncan at that time. However, you're letting Macbeth off the hook entirely by saying that he is less guilty than Lady Macbeth. If it weren't for Macbeth killing King Duncan, he would still be alive, regardless of Lady Macbeth's ambitions.
DeleteYes, Lady Macbeth is the mastermind behind King Duncan's death. Yes, Lady Macbeth is a bystander who could have stopped Macbeth, who could have told the truth about the murder, when really she just covered it up. I'm not saying she's altogether innocent--not by any means--I'm just saying that Macbeth was the one who killed the king, so he is by default of action more guilty than Lady Macbeth.
(2 points for me or maybe 2000)
You did not address my last point.
DeleteThe U.S. kills innocent people all the time, so do you think you should be looked at as just as guilty because you stand by and just let it happen and are convinced it is for "our good"?
after you address that I will respond to your argument.
Do you mean because I am a citizen of the United States of America and therefore a contributor to every deed the U.S. government does?
Delete(Explain how it relates to your point and I will reply)
DeleteI'm asking do you think you are guilty?
DeleteNo thats not what I'm saying, but you dont stand up and say anything. You just take advantage of the killing of innocent people.
It relates because you have been convinced just like Macbeth aka Hamlet.
I never said that I think it's okay for the U.S. to murder innocent people? So I'm not sure where you get that idea, unless by me being a citizen of the U.S., I automatically am supposed to agree with everything the U.S. government does. I just don't think that's a valid comparison. I think that I am guilty of ignorance, just like most other people in the U.S. (not that it makes it right for me to be ignorant because most other people are also ignorant about government affairs) which is a crime in itself. However, I'm not Lady Macbeth in this instance. I'm not convincing anyone to kill anyone. How would I go about forcing the U.S. NOT to kill innocent people? I assume the same way I would go about forcing the U.S. TO kill innocent people: in the position where I am at this point in time, I can't. So once again, I don't really see how this point furthers your argument.
DeleteI never said you thought it was ok.(dont know where you got that) You seem to be convinced that your voice means nothing. It is a valid comparison. I didn't say you were like lady Macbeth(again I dont know where you got that from) My point is everyone is convince to do things that are wrong and that doesnt make them any better or worse than Macbeth aka Hamlet. (You seem to be insinuating I'm saying things I'm not, so you should probably work on that)
Delete"You just take advantage of the killing of innocent people.
DeleteIt relates because you have been convinced just like Macbeth aka Hamlet"
~Elijah Bader
^How can I take advantage of something if I don't even agree with it or think that it is by any means okay? (That's where I got "that".)
But I'm not convinced to do anything or to not do anything! That's why I don't see why you made the U.S. comparison in the first case. I'm not convinced to wholeheartedly, brainlessly accept everything my government does, so using that as the basis for an example is invalid.
Yes, we are having two different arguments. I was responding to your "Lady Macbeth is more guilty than Macbeth" argument.
Thanks for the tip, coach!
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DeleteYou can take advantage of something even if you dont agree with it.(duh)
DeleteIf you aren't convinced why do you say you cannot do anything about people being killed? Are you not convinced your voice/opinion doesnt mean anything? Also how do you know you havent been convinced? You have heard the pledge most mornings of your life you've probably been convinced by similar messages throughout your life, but whatever you win.
Yes, my seventeen-year-old voice does seem to mean nothing to the big, scary United States government. That doesn't mean I don't/won't ever try to change things. You're the one who doesn't plan on ever voting!
DeleteI win? Cool, you should take me out to fro-yo.
I didnt say you dont want to change anything.
DeleteFine! I will! When would you like to go?
Like...as a date? Ooh, awkward. I have a boyfriend. But I guess he'd be okay with us going. He trusts me. Uhm how about after school one day the week after spring break?
DeleteWhen did I say as a date?
DeleteAwkward I have a girlfriend and invited her to come as well.
Oh okay. Well then I guess it's a good thing I'm her because it would be awkward having some other chick third wheel! <3
DeleteTruee!<3
Delete(Extra credit?)
lol we are nerds. (We're hot though, so whatever.)
DeleteBettylenah Njaramba (2nd Period) -- Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteMacbeth had struggled greatly with his decision to murder Duncan. When he succumbed to the request of Lady Macbeth and took his life, it ceaselessly haunted him with guilt and remorse. Nevertheless, Lady Macbeth, the mastermind behind the murder, mocked him for his reaction and pestered him to move on.
In today's class discussion, we established the reversal of gender roles in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth strays far from the expected conduct, such as the cult of domesticity, of women at the time. She is manipulative and strong-willed. She utilizes both qualities to persuade Macbeth to commit the murder. In contrast, Macbeth is more sensitive and doubtful preceding the murder. The death of Duncan took a huge toll on Macbeth.
I agree with your point about the reversal of gender roles. Do you think that that reversal happens a lot with villains? I think a lot of female villains are like Lady Macbeth and don't show remorse because they are only focused on their goal.
DeleteI like that you pointed out the gender reversal. I find it bit interesting how much of an impact Lady Macbeth had on her husband because I didn’t think wives were that respected during this time. I didn’t think they were allowed to talk without being spoken to let alone their opinions be considered.
DeleteVickie Wang (2nd period) - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteMacbeth begins to experience hallucinations even before the murder itself, showing his extreme anxiety about the situation. As he kills Duncan, he hallucinates again, thinking that Duncan's two guards--whom Lady Macbeth had drugged--have awoken and are speaking about murder. He is horrified with himself and expresses such to Lady Macbeth: "I'll go no more. / I am afraid to think what I have done. / Look on 't again I dare not. (2.2.65-67)"
Throughout this conversation, Macbeth fearfully tells Lady Macbeth in detail about his hallucinations, while Lady Macbeth curtly tells him not to think too much on it. When she realizes Macbeth has taken the murder weapon out of the room with him, she becomes frustrated with him and goes to replace the daggers herself, insulting Macbeth on the way. Macbeth is clearly distraught over the murder, while Lady Macbeth shows no sign of regret whatsoever.
From these two scenes, it is obvious that Macbeth retains some semblance of morals so far and regrets the murder, whereas Lady Macbeth is wholly consumed by her ambition. This brings up an interesting point about the nature of evil in literature when considering gender. Stereotypically, women are supposed to be softer, kinder, and weaker, whereas men are more aggressive and less emotional. However, when it comes to villains, the roles are commonly reversed.
Male villains, though despicable, are often redeemed by their kindness towards a particular person or their rare display of ethics in a certain situation. On the other hand, female villains are often so consumed by whatever it is they desire that they show no remorse and are never able to be redeemed.
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DeleteAngel Johnson Pd 6 Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteI believe that we tend to blame some of our wrong doings on fate. Yes I believe we have fates but what we do that leads up to them is completely up to us. Just because the weird witches said it was Macbeth’s fate to become King doesn’t mean he had to kill King Duncan. I believe if he had of been a bit more patient as Heavenlee Burt pointed out he could’ve became king for many years to come but he got too to worked and was pressured to make such an irrational decision. Macbeth could’ve prevented his tragic death if he had of approached his fate differently.
agree he create his own fate and he let th influences of others get to him
DeleteFate or Free Will 2nd pd
ReplyDeleteI think that we as individuals make choices upon our own free will Macbeth was given a prophecy by three witches that he was going to become king , he wasn't to when or how it wa goin to bee achieved. The decision of killing Duncan was all Macbeth idea not fate, Macbeth is full will as much ambition and greed as Lady Macbeth this takes me back to the question ( people will do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals) this proves that when people i given the option and free will they get consume by greed and the need for power that they will do anything . Shakespeare has proven his point that even the most loyal character will turn on you when given th chance to, fate is created by your own free will whatever you do always have a consequencce in the end.
Meredyth Albright Period 2
DeleteI agree that the three witches gave Macbeth the prophecy as to what was to happen, the means by which the end is conceived depends on what Macbeth chooses to do. It makes me wonder if Macbeth could have made things a lot easier for himself by letting fate just fall into place, rather than try to rush fate and become king by killing King Duncan himself.
Kevin Gao (2) Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Macbeth didn’t have anyone else to blame for his actions other than himself. To me, it was clear that part of him wanted to kill Duncan to claim the position of king, and while he was under some pressure from Lady Macbeth to go through with the killing, he could have decided on his own not to do so. Even though he knew that he would be guaranteed the crown, he could have thought it through more carefully; perhaps, he could have interpreted the witches’ predictions in a more negative context, or he could have tried to weigh the consequences, because there definitely could’ve been more ways to become king rather than assassination. Whatever the case, I was expecting that Macbeth would end up killing Duncan, because that reflects the typical tragic hero behavior and course of action, which could have been avoided if he had let fate run its course instead of being influenced by Lady Macbeth and the three witches to take matters into his own hands.
What's interesting is thinking what would have happened if Macbeth didn't meet the three witches - the play does seem to have this paradox, that because he did meet the witches, they may have convinced him to go ahead with the murder. However if he didn't meet the witches, would the prophecy still have been fulfilled?
DeleteGordon Ma (6th) – Macbeth’s Psyche
ReplyDeleteIn scene I of this act, it becomes apparent that the stress and anxiety from having to kill Duncan is getting to Macbeth. I interpret his hallucination as his “inner evil” calling to him, as if the dagger is telling him “yes, do the deed”. What’s interesting is that Macbeth is fully aware of his impaired state (“…proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?) but nonetheless goes ahead with the deed out of other exterior motives. In psychology we talk about repressed desires and the idea of a “Freudian slip” being the release of those repressed desires. Perhaps deep down Macbeth actually agrees with killing Duncan, and the dagger is only a representation of those repressed desires. Additionally, though we haven’t read on yet, this is only first of many hallucinations that Macbeth makes in the play. His psyche is slowly deteriorating, which also degrades his ability to make rational decisions and think rationally.
Riley Edwards 1st period
DeleteWhile I agree with you that some part of his psyche wants to kill Duncan and as such hallucinate the dagger, I am not sure I agree with the statement that his rationality has depreciated. There is no inherent value in morality, and the loss of his morality is the gain of his power. He is acting rationally in his best interests to achieve his goals at the expense of his morality. Even as he goes insane, he still interacts rationally with the world around him as he sees it.
KAyla Curry Pd 2
DeleteThis is the same one I picked and I completely agree with you.
Natalia B. 2nd Period
ReplyDeleteFate or Free Will
Fate is defined as the development of events beyond a person’s control. Everything is predetermined so every decision made in life, you were going to make whether you wanted to or not. In Macbeth, the witches tell him that he will become Thane, which is an honorable position, and their prophecy comes to past. They also prophesied that he will be King of Scotland. Quickly he is consumed by ambition and greed and doesn’t see Thane as enough. Macbeth now believes that he might as well kill the current King Duncan and become King now instead of waiting until later since it’s going to happen eventually. It’s evident that Macbeth the character and Shakespeare the author strongly believe in fate although I personally believe in free will. There is a future that is in the unknown and every decision we make is in that present moment. Our future is deeply impacted by our choices yet it remains unwritten.
Riley Edwards 1st period
DeleteOne thing about free will however is that it is influenced by forces outside of control. There must always be some limitations on ability and choice, so even if the witches cannot tell fate, which is certainly debatable in the world of Macbeth, they have an incredible ethos on the topic.
KAyla Curry PD. 2
DeleteThis was a good analysis of fate and free will.
Riley Edwards 1st Period
ReplyDeleteMacbeth features a rich, complex central character that the central story of the play is shown through. The play centers around his damaged psyche. His central downfall is not physical but mental. Sure, his destiny may be death at the hands of a hero who is not motherborn, but his spiritual death occurs the moment he kills Duncan. As he advances into insanity, the play is so focused on Macbeth that his character functions as an audience avatar. It is a heavy burden to bear, and audiences are prone to tuning out when they are faced with material as dense as Macbeth.
That burden is alleviated by the sex scene. Not only does it harken back to his days as a classical hero, when he deserves the favors given to him. It also advances the scene by drawing a parallel between his now corrupted self and his previous self. The audience gets to think less whilst also advancing the thematic elements of the play.
Quinton Champitto- fate or free will. 1st period
ReplyDeleteFor centuries human kind has wondered as to whether or not people were destined to be by a higher power, or if we truly are free to choose anything we want. Macbeth shows how it may be a combination of the two; when Macbeth meets with the witches they tell him he is destined to be king but they never explain when or why. Macbeth makes his own choice to take that as a sign to kill the king when it's possible he might have become long through a better light.
I believe Shakespeare wanted to show that people have a destiny, but the means by which we all drive there are not predetermined. Every human has the choice to do or not to do, but they are set to have a certain end to their life.
Divya Agarwal Pd 1 Fate vs free will
ReplyDeleteI believe that for the purposes of this play, the fate plays a more prominent role. Once the witches spoke their prophecy and Macbeth heard it, he was destined to fulfill it. I think the prophecy was only true because it was spoken out loud and the rest was inevitable. Macbeth doesn't seem to really be able to make decision for himself anyways- his wife knows how to manipulate him. If anyone were to exercise free will in this play, it would be Lady Macbeth because had she not encouraged and nearly forced her husband to murder the king, it is doubtful that Macbeth would meet his downfall. However what the reader is unaware of is whether Macbeth would become king had he just left the natural course of events take place. Perhaps it was unnecessary for this decision to be made and that would sincerely solidify my belief that fate plays a more prominent role in this play.
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ReplyDeleteJulio Derteano- Fate or Free Will
ReplyDeleteperiod 1
Macbeth had to the choice to kill Duncan or not. In my opinion, Macbeth had choose his decision by free will, although he had many influences and encouragements to do the killing, they didn't make him do it. Another idea that had come across to me was the discussion of how people may be influenced by supernatural support. The witches had only told Macbeth he would become king, thus resulting to Macbeth being highly influenced to do the killing. All of Macbeth's actions were of his own will, but greatly influenced, which can then convey Macbeth possibly had wanted to kill Duncan for his own desires. This can then show the good and bad sides of Macbeth either telling him to do it because of greed or to not do it because it's clearly wrong. As this dilemma continues with Macbeth, his psyche slowly is demonishing making his rational thinking weaker.
Camry Dixon (6th period English Honors)
ReplyDelete- Fate or Free Will
I think all people act of their own free will, Macbeth just acted out on his own whim due to the Weird Sisters fortune. When the Weird Sisters propheci that Macbeth would become king, they never specifically said that he would need murder his current king, that was just what he assumed. It's very possible due to the actions he would go on to become king by getting closer, if not closer than what he already was, to the king. Then would go on to rise through the ranks and become king that way, needing not to be blood of royalty. When he killed Duncan, he thought that this too had to happen in order to become king and to fulfill the Witches prophecy. He assumed due to the Weird Sisters prophecy and that assumption was his terrible misjudgment ultimately leading to his downfall.
(1st period) That's interesting that you think that all people act out of their own free will. I don't necessarily agree with that, because some people may be forced to do things given the situation. I agree that Macbeth did have free will to kill the king, but he assumed that it was his fate to do so.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKadijah Holder (1st period) - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteInitially, Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were very jumpy and nervous after the murder. They kept saying, “Hark!” and were paranoid that someone would come along and notice them. However, Macbeth becomes more worried about what he’s done than Lady Macbeth. He fears that the guards in the next room have heard him and even believes that he’s cut off his relationship with God cause of his sin. Lady Macbeth dismisses everything, she isn’t fazed by the murder anymore. It’s obvious that Macbeth has more a conscious than Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth doesn’t want to dwell on what’s been done. This reveals that in those times, the nature of women is more evil than a man which could also go back to the bible with Adam and Eve. Eve at the forbidden fruit, then convinced Adam to do so as well, banishing them both from the Garden of Eden. Macbeth is similar because Lady Macbeth is hungry for power and convinces Macbeth to do whatever it takes, which will eventually lead to his downfall.
Eve ate* the forbidden fruit
DeleteSanjay Akkina (2nd Period) - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteIn this part of the play, it shows the many various differences between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth was considered a coward and paranoid during this part of the play. When he kills Duncan in order to become king, he immediately feels guilty for his actions. He realizes he did something wrong and was so scared that he even forgot to lay the dagger near the guards. Lady Macbeth on the other hand shows more ambition than Macbeth to kill Duncan. She calls Macbeth a coward and makes sure to cover any leads that may show that they may be involved like their blood stained hands. Even during the prayer she was able to say "Amen" while Macbeth was unable to. She expresses no sadness during this scene and proves to the audience that she has a more wicked mind than Macbeth.
(1st period) I agree, Lady Macbeth did show more ambition even though she didn't actually kill King Duncan herself. I think it's ironic that she found an excuse not to kill him, but Macbeth was a coward if he didn't do it.
DeleteKayla Curry pd.2 Macbeth's Psyche
ReplyDeleteMacbeth has has internal struggles since the beginning of the play. His wife, Lady Macbeth, wants the power more than he does. Macbeth is okay with just a little bit. Before Macbeth goes to kill Duncan he has a hallucination of a floating dagger with blood on it and in other words is freaking out. He is not sure if murdering Duncan is the right thing to do. This is another internal struggle he is having. But even though his mind is telling him it is wrong he obviously wants to please Lady Macbeth. His relationship with God is affected as well because he is not able to say "Amen" anymore. Macbeth is shaken by the whole situation and really does not know what to do with himself. He then goes and kills the guards because he is scared.
Aayanna Bellamy (2nd period) - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteIn Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is often seen as a demonic figure whose evil manipulation causes the murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is one of the strongest women in all of Shakespeare's plays. However, consider how she must contend with the role of women in her world. In order for Lady Macbeth to carry out her plans, she feels she must pray that the gods "unsex [her] here." Even then, it is not her intent to carry out the murder of Duncan herself, but to spur on her husband to "catch the nearest way." To me gender is a prominent theme in the play. I will argue that Macbeth reflects strict gender expectations and that the protagonists are in turn governed and constrained by these stereotypes. Macbeth also reflects a deep mistrust of women in Shakespeare’s society.
Meredyth Albright - 2nd period - Murder Reaction
ReplyDeleteShakespeare really nails in the idea that women have an evil nature during Act Two Scene Two. After Macbeth commits the cardinal sin by murdering innocent King Duncan, Macbeth comes running to Lady Macbeth, begging in agony for some form of reassurance. However, she counters him with cold words and an even colder heart. Macbeth admits that he tried to pray, but the word “Amen” got stuck in his throat and did not even make it past his lips. He is terrified for what he has done: the moral as well as the physical consequences. Lady Macbeth basically tells Macbeth “stop your blubbering, you cowardly buffoon! You’re driving me and yourself crazy.” However, this fails to comfort him, and Macbeth sinks deeper into confusion and guilt; he feels as though the whole world knows that he has killed King Duncan, but Lady Macbeth is unconcerned. Lady Macbeth’s ambition and hunger for power allow her to push the guilt aside and reprimand her husband for his “cowardice” in feeling guilty. Thus, Shakespeare’s old adage that women are inherently evil (which is re-sung in several of his other works) is once again repeated.