- Language is not necessarily tinged with sexuality or eroticism. However, although it isn't explicitly stated, you could interpret the words as such. 'I had DESIRED it with an ardour that far exceed moderation' (Victor talking about his creation). This shows that sexuality depicts Victor's narcissm as he avoids relationships but preoccupies himself with knowledge (displace sexuality onto creation).
- Victor's avoidance of sexuality is blatant as he finds numerous reasons not to marry Elizabeth (similar to Alphonse who remained unmarried for 2 years). He also seems to establish a link between women and sex (avoiding both), especially as he dreams of Elizabeth and his mum decaying at the same time.
- You could say the explanation for aboce is Victor's rejection of sexuality. He described his wedding night as 'dreadful'. Also, by creating the monster, he is rejecting normal sexuality as he also rejects normal human reproduction (through sex). The dream could also depict an inner monstrous sexuality instead of a normal one. Maybe Victor fears incestuous desires. The storm at the beginning of the night and the arrival of the wedding creature during his wedding night could embody Victor's repression of a normal relationship. He also doesn't confront his sexuality as he leaves Elizabeth on the night because he thought the creature was downstairs.
- Another explanation could be homosexuality as he completely rejects contact with women, creates a mal creation unconciously and compliments it highly calling it 'beautiful'. He also has very close male relationships but considering the context that the novel was written in, maybe that was what men were like at the time.
- His sexual repression could also be a symbol of society's repression of women's rights at the time.
- There is however some evidence of sexual language and the presence of normal sexuality through the monster. The monster said he 'perceived a women passing by me' then goes on to compliment her and talks about the fact that 'she cannot escape' and talks about a 'burning passion'. Further on in the novel the monster also talks about wasting in 'impotent desires' as he is preoccupied from unconssumated sexual desire. Whereas, Victor and Walton were 'ever ardent and craving' as they ignore normal sexuality and displace their sexual desires onto their creations or projects.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Drawing upon at least two stories from The Bloody Chamber, explore the ways in which Carter might be considered to re-interpret gothic conventions.
The genre of gothic literature has always been popular and the connotations found in Carter’s stories in The Bloody Chamber are arguably fitting of the criteria of gothic fiction. In the Bloody Chamber story for example, there are a lot of references to blood such as the ‘forming pool of blood’ from one of her husband’s former lovers. There are also many references to ‘monsters’ and ‘vampires’ and death. Also, the protagonist is emotionally battered and at the end of the story, she survived but was left with this permanent red mark on her forehead. She says that ‘no paint nor powder… can mask that red mark’. She even refers to it as a symbol of her ‘shame’. She survived but all she had witnessed and all the corruption that her husband had embedded upon her cannot easily be erased with his death. A conventional gothic text definitely contains a rather sombre ending. Carter ended this story with a sense of survival with a touch of unending entrapment (symbolised by the mark), even after the one she referred to as ‘monster’ no longer existed in her life.
However, Carter’s stories can also be interpreted as a different version of the conventional gothic genre. Some would even say her stories are not gothic at all. In the Tiger’s Bride, there is a particular sense of a happy ending. The image of nature and rebirth is clear and although, similar to all of her other stories in the book, the ending was rather abrupt, the phrases that were used such as ‘beautiful fur’ and ‘nascent patina of shining hairs’ give a very positive feel to the readers. The image of her earrings turning into water again emphasises the huge association to nature. It’s as if the transformation was exactly what the bride had wanted. Even though she did not like the tiger and kept referring to him as ‘The Beast’, the whole story does not refer to her turning into a tiger for him and for love. This happy ending does not fit the gothic genre in a sense that it could be interpreted as a transformation for herself, to give herself a new start. Yes, this image of natural rebirth is extremely similar to Victor’s creation of the Frankenstein monster. However, in that gothic novel the images were ugly and unnatural whereas in The Tiger’s Bride, the images are all of natural happenings and natural elements such as water. They completely contrast each other.
One other story from Carter’s collection is The Snow Child. This story has many paranormal connotations, which fit the gothic genre perfectly. The image of the girl beginning to ‘melt’ is one example and another is the image of clothes from the Countess reappearing on the girl – ‘the furs sprang off the Countess’s shoulders and twined round the naked girl’. Also, it is as if the girl was conjured like a potion as she was a perfect version of the Count’s description of ‘snow’, ‘blood’ and a ‘raven’. This shows a slight reference to witchcraft. The themes are also quite dark such as the somewhat incestuous rape as he calls her the ‘child of his desires’, which is very perverse. It is also quite ironic how a rose, which is a symbol love, is what kills her. These all fit quite perfectly within the conventional gothic themes.
However, the fact that the story is quite simplistic and short does not give room for descriptions of emotion. For example, the ending is suspenseful because the rose ‘bites’ and it shows how the girl is avenging her death but there is no description of how she felt. Carter somehow doesn’t give the victim a voice at all and there is an absence of the sense of fear which is present in most gothic novels. The natural elements may refer to witchcraft but it could also be that it is too natural that it’s beautiful. Winter is even personified to be so immaculate and invincible. In Frankenstein, nature played an extremely huge part too but it could be argued that the story is too short to see the gothic themes within it and the beauty of the descriptions of nature overrode the sense of the gothic in this story.
The genre of gothic literature has always been popular and the connotations found in Carter’s stories in The Bloody Chamber are arguably fitting of the criteria of gothic fiction. In the Bloody Chamber story for example, there are a lot of references to blood such as the ‘forming pool of blood’ from one of her husband’s former lovers. There are also many references to ‘monsters’ and ‘vampires’ and death. Also, the protagonist is emotionally battered and at the end of the story, she survived but was left with this permanent red mark on her forehead. She says that ‘no paint nor powder… can mask that red mark’. She even refers to it as a symbol of her ‘shame’. She survived but all she had witnessed and all the corruption that her husband had embedded upon her cannot easily be erased with his death. A conventional gothic text definitely contains a rather sombre ending. Carter ended this story with a sense of survival with a touch of unending entrapment (symbolised by the mark), even after the one she referred to as ‘monster’ no longer existed in her life.
However, Carter’s stories can also be interpreted as a different version of the conventional gothic genre. Some would even say her stories are not gothic at all. In the Tiger’s Bride, there is a particular sense of a happy ending. The image of nature and rebirth is clear and although, similar to all of her other stories in the book, the ending was rather abrupt, the phrases that were used such as ‘beautiful fur’ and ‘nascent patina of shining hairs’ give a very positive feel to the readers. The image of her earrings turning into water again emphasises the huge association to nature. It’s as if the transformation was exactly what the bride had wanted. Even though she did not like the tiger and kept referring to him as ‘The Beast’, the whole story does not refer to her turning into a tiger for him and for love. This happy ending does not fit the gothic genre in a sense that it could be interpreted as a transformation for herself, to give herself a new start. Yes, this image of natural rebirth is extremely similar to Victor’s creation of the Frankenstein monster. However, in that gothic novel the images were ugly and unnatural whereas in The Tiger’s Bride, the images are all of natural happenings and natural elements such as water. They completely contrast each other.
One other story from Carter’s collection is The Snow Child. This story has many paranormal connotations, which fit the gothic genre perfectly. The image of the girl beginning to ‘melt’ is one example and another is the image of clothes from the Countess reappearing on the girl – ‘the furs sprang off the Countess’s shoulders and twined round the naked girl’. Also, it is as if the girl was conjured like a potion as she was a perfect version of the Count’s description of ‘snow’, ‘blood’ and a ‘raven’. This shows a slight reference to witchcraft. The themes are also quite dark such as the somewhat incestuous rape as he calls her the ‘child of his desires’, which is very perverse. It is also quite ironic how a rose, which is a symbol love, is what kills her. These all fit quite perfectly within the conventional gothic themes.
However, the fact that the story is quite simplistic and short does not give room for descriptions of emotion. For example, the ending is suspenseful because the rose ‘bites’ and it shows how the girl is avenging her death but there is no description of how she felt. Carter somehow doesn’t give the victim a voice at all and there is an absence of the sense of fear which is present in most gothic novels. The natural elements may refer to witchcraft but it could also be that it is too natural that it’s beautiful. Winter is even personified to be so immaculate and invincible. In Frankenstein, nature played an extremely huge part too but it could be argued that the story is too short to see the gothic themes within it and the beauty of the descriptions of nature overrode the sense of the gothic in this story.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Act Four: Macbeth Reading Journal
Scene I:
Lines 1-38 show the most horrific and gothic scenes in the play because the witches are engrossed in an ugly ritual (emphasised by the chants and hellish language). They throw in repulsing ingredients to make a sickening brew. Macbeth is obsessed with one thought: the desire to know the future. He appeals to the witches to answer him, irrespective of the appalling consequences that it might bring about and even if the result is the destruction of the world – ‘Though castles topple… Though palaces and pyramids do slope’. His language is also like that of the witches. He starts one of his speeches by saying ‘I conjure you’. It’s as if he is trying to displace the power of the witches onto himself.
The witches show Macbeth the apparitions and let him hear his future. However, he disregards the reassurances and still swears to kill Macduff. It gets you questioning the witches’ motives. Do they want to help him? Or are they just pushing destiny along, knowing how Macbeth would react to the apparitions, and making sure that what is meant to happen will happen? The procession of the eight kings and Banquo is makes the reader quite sceptic as to Shakespeare’s meaning. It could be a warning that many more would rule England and Macbeth’s reign isn’t going to last forever.
In Macbeth’s soliloquy, he shows a great sense of urgency and his brutal first instincts is to kill innocent people and children as to reassure himself that Macduff or anyone related to him will not interfere with his position as king. The depth of his brutality seems to heighten every time after he has an encounter with the witches.
Scene II:
There is an apparent change of scene from Macbeth’s violent thoughts to the innocence that surrounds Macduff’s castle and his family. The son creates a jolly atmosphere and he jokes around about quite serious things such as his father’s flight. Lady Macduff says – ‘our fears do make us traitors’ referring to her husband. However, this is more appropriate for Macbeth’s behaviour. It just emphasises his secrecy and corruption. The blame is put on the people who actually haven’t done anything wrong.
The son’s playfulness has glimpses of dangerous times – traps for the innocent and widespread treachery. He says – ‘the liars and swearers are fools because there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang them up’. The connotation of evil taking over the good is shown in his sudden death. From a very relaxed teasing atmosphere to a horrific murder, Macbeth also shows his sudden change from good to evil with this deed. The murders aren’t usually staged but I think it is actually shown on this scene to emphasise the height of Macbeth’s evilness.
However, despite Macbeth’s reign of terror, some glimmer of goodness still flicker in Scotland. The messenger was willing to risk his life to warn the Macduffs. It shows how there is still hope for good to recover again. Also, the fact that the son tells his mother to ‘Run away, I pray you’, shows how there are still some people around willing to try and save the innocent, even if their own life is already in jeaopardy.
Scene III:
Macduff urges Malcolm to defend Scotland, which is suffering under Macbeth’s tyranny. At first, Malcolm voices his suspicions that Macduff is Macbeth’s agent and he does this by testing his sincerity for the country. He claims that his vices exceed Macbeth’s – ‘bloody’, ‘avaricious’, ‘deceitful’, and many more. Macduff however doesn’t find a problem with Malcolm saying that he is ‘luxurious’ by saying – ‘We have willing dames enough’, suggesting that more women will be willing to prostitute themselves to a king. Macduff’s dismissal of lust as an unimportant quality in a leader emphasises how men were like in Shakespeare’s time.
Macduff couldn’t take any more of Malcolm’s self condemnation and rejects him as unfit to live. This is when Malcolm dismisses his suspicions. Once they talk over Macbeth’s reign, they personify ‘Evil’, which greatly highlights its invasion over Scotland. Ross even describes the country as a country ‘almost afraid to know itself’. Ross knows what happened to Macduff’s family but lies first before actually revealing the bad news. Why does he delay?
Lines 1-38 show the most horrific and gothic scenes in the play because the witches are engrossed in an ugly ritual (emphasised by the chants and hellish language). They throw in repulsing ingredients to make a sickening brew. Macbeth is obsessed with one thought: the desire to know the future. He appeals to the witches to answer him, irrespective of the appalling consequences that it might bring about and even if the result is the destruction of the world – ‘Though castles topple… Though palaces and pyramids do slope’. His language is also like that of the witches. He starts one of his speeches by saying ‘I conjure you’. It’s as if he is trying to displace the power of the witches onto himself.
The witches show Macbeth the apparitions and let him hear his future. However, he disregards the reassurances and still swears to kill Macduff. It gets you questioning the witches’ motives. Do they want to help him? Or are they just pushing destiny along, knowing how Macbeth would react to the apparitions, and making sure that what is meant to happen will happen? The procession of the eight kings and Banquo is makes the reader quite sceptic as to Shakespeare’s meaning. It could be a warning that many more would rule England and Macbeth’s reign isn’t going to last forever.
In Macbeth’s soliloquy, he shows a great sense of urgency and his brutal first instincts is to kill innocent people and children as to reassure himself that Macduff or anyone related to him will not interfere with his position as king. The depth of his brutality seems to heighten every time after he has an encounter with the witches.
Scene II:
There is an apparent change of scene from Macbeth’s violent thoughts to the innocence that surrounds Macduff’s castle and his family. The son creates a jolly atmosphere and he jokes around about quite serious things such as his father’s flight. Lady Macduff says – ‘our fears do make us traitors’ referring to her husband. However, this is more appropriate for Macbeth’s behaviour. It just emphasises his secrecy and corruption. The blame is put on the people who actually haven’t done anything wrong.
The son’s playfulness has glimpses of dangerous times – traps for the innocent and widespread treachery. He says – ‘the liars and swearers are fools because there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang them up’. The connotation of evil taking over the good is shown in his sudden death. From a very relaxed teasing atmosphere to a horrific murder, Macbeth also shows his sudden change from good to evil with this deed. The murders aren’t usually staged but I think it is actually shown on this scene to emphasise the height of Macbeth’s evilness.
However, despite Macbeth’s reign of terror, some glimmer of goodness still flicker in Scotland. The messenger was willing to risk his life to warn the Macduffs. It shows how there is still hope for good to recover again. Also, the fact that the son tells his mother to ‘Run away, I pray you’, shows how there are still some people around willing to try and save the innocent, even if their own life is already in jeaopardy.
Scene III:
Macduff urges Malcolm to defend Scotland, which is suffering under Macbeth’s tyranny. At first, Malcolm voices his suspicions that Macduff is Macbeth’s agent and he does this by testing his sincerity for the country. He claims that his vices exceed Macbeth’s – ‘bloody’, ‘avaricious’, ‘deceitful’, and many more. Macduff however doesn’t find a problem with Malcolm saying that he is ‘luxurious’ by saying – ‘We have willing dames enough’, suggesting that more women will be willing to prostitute themselves to a king. Macduff’s dismissal of lust as an unimportant quality in a leader emphasises how men were like in Shakespeare’s time.
Macduff couldn’t take any more of Malcolm’s self condemnation and rejects him as unfit to live. This is when Malcolm dismisses his suspicions. Once they talk over Macbeth’s reign, they personify ‘Evil’, which greatly highlights its invasion over Scotland. Ross even describes the country as a country ‘almost afraid to know itself’. Ross knows what happened to Macduff’s family but lies first before actually revealing the bad news. Why does he delay?
Act Three: Macbeth Reading Journal
Scene I:
Macbeth and Banquo, as in the second act, are portrayed as very contrasting characters. Macbeth has evil intentions for his friend, which he hides through using apparently well-meaning words. For example, Macbeth’s order – ‘Fail not our feast’ is deeply ironic because Macbeth intends that Banquo will never arrive, having been murdered at Macbeth’s command. Banquo, on the other hand tells him – ‘Let your highness command upon me, to the which my duties are with a most indissoluble tie forever knit’. This emphasises his ongoing loyalty and respect for Macbeth.
Also, the fact that Macbeth dismisses his wife in court whilst saying – ‘While then, God be with you’ - makes you think that the balance between evil with the two of them has shifted. It makes the audience think whether Macbeth becoming king has made him more evil than Lady Macbeth, which is a distinctive contrast to the previous act. She used to order him around and now he does the same to her.
The murders are also a crucial part of the scene. Macbeth gets two other men to do his dirty work, instead of doing it himself. He has made himself like all other typical tyrants in other stories. This is a colder approach to what he did with Duncan, which suggests that his morality has changed from earlier scenes. Or maybe he fears to feel the same conscience again?
Scene II:
Shakespeare uses contrasting words or phrases, which suggest uneasiness between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and also Macbeth’s troubled conscience (e.g. – ‘our desire… without heart’s content). The scene also shows how Lady Macbeth feels weary and isolated with the marriage, which is a huge contrast to previous speeches from her of a sexual nature – ‘unsex me’.
Macbeth’s lines also use terrifyingly intense images (‘thy bloody and invisible hand’ and ‘night’s black agents to their preys do rouse’), quite similar to his previous soliloquy about the dagger. This is not a good sign as at the time that speech led to a very evil Macbeth. It implies that Macbeth is just going to turn more and more evil.
Scene III:
This is a very short scene but it is full of action. It is set in the darkness, which sets out the gothic theme within the play again. Also, the murder is actually set out on stage and not behind the scenes. I think this shows how greatly the change is with Macbeth. The level of his evil is rising and it is emphasised with the murders he performs or initiates.
Scene IV:
A banquet is meant to be a harmony between the king and his subjects. It is ironic that this scene is of a banquet because Macbeth has violated that harmony by killing the previous king and Banquo. His behaviour is pretence. Also, once again, Macbeth avoids naming the deed he has just asked the murderers to perform – probably to avoid feeling conscience. He uses evasive language by calling it words or phrases such as ‘dispatched’ and ‘the like’ and ‘it’.
The ghost is a very significant part of this scene because it emphasises the supernatural and gothic element of the play. Not only that, but it mirrors Macbeth’s guilt and irrational decisions. The fact that Duncan’s ghost did not appear is also questionable. He felt conscience then but maybe because he did not do the deed himself, he had to face the consequences of his actions by seeing Banquo’s ghost.
Macbeth’s starts to lose his cool and so does Lady Macbeth and whispers of Macbeth’s role as a king start to surface. Their guilt is proving harder to cover up.
Scene V:
The return of the witches continues to drum in the fact that the supernatural element in Macbeth plays a big part in the events that have happened and will follow. The fact that a higher power – Hecate – comes in to tell the witches how wrong they were by interfering suggests that there is a bigger picture to everything that is happening. It is just destiny’s plans for Macbeth and Scotland. Words such as ‘spells’ and ‘charms’ also emphasise the supernatural’s influence on the play.
Scene VI:
The unnamed Lord has a similar dramatic function as to the Old Man in the second act. However, his words are of hope and peace whilst the old man’s was of the strangeness and chaos. This could be connotations of future peace in Scotland.
Macbeth and Banquo, as in the second act, are portrayed as very contrasting characters. Macbeth has evil intentions for his friend, which he hides through using apparently well-meaning words. For example, Macbeth’s order – ‘Fail not our feast’ is deeply ironic because Macbeth intends that Banquo will never arrive, having been murdered at Macbeth’s command. Banquo, on the other hand tells him – ‘Let your highness command upon me, to the which my duties are with a most indissoluble tie forever knit’. This emphasises his ongoing loyalty and respect for Macbeth.
Also, the fact that Macbeth dismisses his wife in court whilst saying – ‘While then, God be with you’ - makes you think that the balance between evil with the two of them has shifted. It makes the audience think whether Macbeth becoming king has made him more evil than Lady Macbeth, which is a distinctive contrast to the previous act. She used to order him around and now he does the same to her.
The murders are also a crucial part of the scene. Macbeth gets two other men to do his dirty work, instead of doing it himself. He has made himself like all other typical tyrants in other stories. This is a colder approach to what he did with Duncan, which suggests that his morality has changed from earlier scenes. Or maybe he fears to feel the same conscience again?
Scene II:
Shakespeare uses contrasting words or phrases, which suggest uneasiness between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and also Macbeth’s troubled conscience (e.g. – ‘our desire… without heart’s content). The scene also shows how Lady Macbeth feels weary and isolated with the marriage, which is a huge contrast to previous speeches from her of a sexual nature – ‘unsex me’.
Macbeth’s lines also use terrifyingly intense images (‘thy bloody and invisible hand’ and ‘night’s black agents to their preys do rouse’), quite similar to his previous soliloquy about the dagger. This is not a good sign as at the time that speech led to a very evil Macbeth. It implies that Macbeth is just going to turn more and more evil.
Scene III:
This is a very short scene but it is full of action. It is set in the darkness, which sets out the gothic theme within the play again. Also, the murder is actually set out on stage and not behind the scenes. I think this shows how greatly the change is with Macbeth. The level of his evil is rising and it is emphasised with the murders he performs or initiates.
Scene IV:
A banquet is meant to be a harmony between the king and his subjects. It is ironic that this scene is of a banquet because Macbeth has violated that harmony by killing the previous king and Banquo. His behaviour is pretence. Also, once again, Macbeth avoids naming the deed he has just asked the murderers to perform – probably to avoid feeling conscience. He uses evasive language by calling it words or phrases such as ‘dispatched’ and ‘the like’ and ‘it’.
The ghost is a very significant part of this scene because it emphasises the supernatural and gothic element of the play. Not only that, but it mirrors Macbeth’s guilt and irrational decisions. The fact that Duncan’s ghost did not appear is also questionable. He felt conscience then but maybe because he did not do the deed himself, he had to face the consequences of his actions by seeing Banquo’s ghost.
Macbeth’s starts to lose his cool and so does Lady Macbeth and whispers of Macbeth’s role as a king start to surface. Their guilt is proving harder to cover up.
Scene V:
The return of the witches continues to drum in the fact that the supernatural element in Macbeth plays a big part in the events that have happened and will follow. The fact that a higher power – Hecate – comes in to tell the witches how wrong they were by interfering suggests that there is a bigger picture to everything that is happening. It is just destiny’s plans for Macbeth and Scotland. Words such as ‘spells’ and ‘charms’ also emphasise the supernatural’s influence on the play.
Scene VI:
The unnamed Lord has a similar dramatic function as to the Old Man in the second act. However, his words are of hope and peace whilst the old man’s was of the strangeness and chaos. This could be connotations of future peace in Scotland.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Significance of the Witches in Macbeth
I think the witches are present in the play because they act as the instigators for the dreadful events that follow their predictions. They create a tense environment in the sense that at the time, christianity was abundant and witchcraft was frowned upon. By Macbeth acting on the witches' predictions, he therefore becomes evil. The witches not only initiate his thought of murder and corruption but also represent the evil that has corrupted his own thoughts, feelings and judgement.
Some would argue that they are pawns in the events that happen, as is Macbeth. However, I think differently. The usual supernatural characters that are present in Shakespeare's plays are ghosts. Witchcraft is a completely different matter and I think this emphasises the evil surrounding Macbeth and the country whereas ghosts act more as a memory or a symbol of the past.
Some would argue that they are pawns in the events that happen, as is Macbeth. However, I think differently. The usual supernatural characters that are present in Shakespeare's plays are ghosts. Witchcraft is a completely different matter and I think this emphasises the evil surrounding Macbeth and the country whereas ghosts act more as a memory or a symbol of the past.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Act Two: Macbeth Reading Journal
Scene I:
Gothic connotations – night time, the moon
Shakespeare contrasts Macbeth and Banquo. Banquo says – ‘Restrain in me the cursed thoughts’ – which shows how he is being honourable. He does not want to betray Duncan. This is reinforced when he says ‘keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear’, emphasising his loyalty as well.
Macbeth on the other hand is full of deception and scheming. He lies about Duncan. He says he was ‘unprepared’ and that he did not entertain Duncan as much as he wished - quite in contrast to his plans of killing him. He also lies when Duncan said he dreamt about the wishes by replying – ‘I think not of them’. He then tries to recruit Banquo and force him into his plans when he says – ‘If you shall cleave to my consent… It shall make honour for you’.
Macbeth’s soliloquy – He is hallucinating about a dagger, referring it to death – ‘fatal vision’. He says that the vision is ‘proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain’. This could have a double meaning. He could mean that he is just feverish because he is nervous about what he is about to do. However, the reference to oppression could mean Lady Macbeth’s domination over his mind and his morality.
He pulls out his own dagger, telling it to ‘marshall’st’ the way to Duncan’s death. He is, in a way, personifying the dagger. It has authority power over him. It’s as if he is displacing the deed he is about to perform to the dagger. It is going to be the dagger’s fault and not his. His hallucination then intensifies as he starts seeing ‘gouts of blood’ on the imaginary dagger. This is the turning point to his speech because the dagger represents his thoughts and the blood is almost like a premonition about what is going to happen next. His mind is decided.
His speech then turns rather sinister. It’s as if the balance of his morality has altered. He thinks the evil things are good and the good things are bad which leads up to his final decision to kill the king. (Image – slowly turning evil)
Scene II:
An owl shrieking – nocturnal creature that preys on small animals
The owl shrieks while Lady Macbeth is talking. She calls it ‘the fatal bellman’ – a connotation of the deed that had just been performed. The owl could be her character, who preys on the helpless king, or even Macbeth who seems to oblige to her whims.
Macbeth shows his nervousness through the short rapid lines showing paranoia while Lady Macbeth keeps her calm and justifying everything, trying to ease Macbeth’s worries. The short lines also show how quick their conversation is going, emphasising on the suddenness of the deed and also Macbeth’s nervousness. There is an imbalance of power between both characters, Lady Macbeth taking the lead (‘Give me the daggers’, ‘Go carry them’) The imperative verbs that she uses emphasise her control.
There is a clear moral difference between both of them. Macbeth is conscience-striken. He struggles to say ‘Amen’, which suggests that his prayer is thwarted or suggests that even if he finished the deed, it will still live on and he will still carry it forever. He has self-condemned himself as he hears voices that drill into him what a horrible thing he has done. Lady Macbeth seems in control and devoid of neither conscience nor fear, as opposed to Macbeth who is full of both. As Macbeth is in shock, appalled at what he has done, Lady Macbeth’s only concern is to avoid blame.
Scene III:
The porter comes in and gives the audience a space for laughter after the very dramatic scene previously. Some may argue that this part of the scene was completely unnecessary but some of the jokes the porter makes seem to have implications of what was going on so far in the play. For example, his reference to ‘th’everlasting bonfire’ could be the damnation that Hamlet is feeling after he committed Duncan’s murder.
Macbeth shows Macduff to Duncan’s room and Macduff comes out horrified after finding out. Macbeth continues as if he doesn’t know anything. Lady Macbeth also pretends concern and amazement. There is a huge buzz around the castle and the scene seems very alert, contrary to what it was like in the past two scenes where the atmosphere has been quiet and secretive.
Macbeth uses very elaborate words to convince people that he is devastated by the news (‘renown and grace is dead’, ‘The wine of life is drawn’). His calmness and way with words completely contrast his fear and paranoia in the previous scene. Lady Macbeth faints and Macduff becomes suspicious. As the king’s son’s fear for their lives, Donaldbain says – ‘There’s daggers in men’s smiles’. The theme of deception comes up again suggesting a mysterious air in the Macbeth castle.
Scene IV:
The old man’s appearance in the play shows the event’s universality – how the murder of Duncan reflects in nature and society. It brings an outsider’s perspective into account, which is a nice break from all the royalty. It emphasises how people from the outside can still be affected by what happens with royalty. The old man’s speech also reflects on Macbeth’s soliloquy in the first scene of this act – ‘nature seems dead’. Everything is weird and strange and not how they are supposed to be. Macbeth’s deed has altered what is morally right. We also learn that Macbeth is going to be named king during this scene.
Gothic connotations – supernatural taking over?
Gothic connotations – night time, the moon
Shakespeare contrasts Macbeth and Banquo. Banquo says – ‘Restrain in me the cursed thoughts’ – which shows how he is being honourable. He does not want to betray Duncan. This is reinforced when he says ‘keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear’, emphasising his loyalty as well.
Macbeth on the other hand is full of deception and scheming. He lies about Duncan. He says he was ‘unprepared’ and that he did not entertain Duncan as much as he wished - quite in contrast to his plans of killing him. He also lies when Duncan said he dreamt about the wishes by replying – ‘I think not of them’. He then tries to recruit Banquo and force him into his plans when he says – ‘If you shall cleave to my consent… It shall make honour for you’.
Macbeth’s soliloquy – He is hallucinating about a dagger, referring it to death – ‘fatal vision’. He says that the vision is ‘proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain’. This could have a double meaning. He could mean that he is just feverish because he is nervous about what he is about to do. However, the reference to oppression could mean Lady Macbeth’s domination over his mind and his morality.
He pulls out his own dagger, telling it to ‘marshall’st’ the way to Duncan’s death. He is, in a way, personifying the dagger. It has authority power over him. It’s as if he is displacing the deed he is about to perform to the dagger. It is going to be the dagger’s fault and not his. His hallucination then intensifies as he starts seeing ‘gouts of blood’ on the imaginary dagger. This is the turning point to his speech because the dagger represents his thoughts and the blood is almost like a premonition about what is going to happen next. His mind is decided.
His speech then turns rather sinister. It’s as if the balance of his morality has altered. He thinks the evil things are good and the good things are bad which leads up to his final decision to kill the king. (Image – slowly turning evil)
Scene II:
An owl shrieking – nocturnal creature that preys on small animals
The owl shrieks while Lady Macbeth is talking. She calls it ‘the fatal bellman’ – a connotation of the deed that had just been performed. The owl could be her character, who preys on the helpless king, or even Macbeth who seems to oblige to her whims.
Macbeth shows his nervousness through the short rapid lines showing paranoia while Lady Macbeth keeps her calm and justifying everything, trying to ease Macbeth’s worries. The short lines also show how quick their conversation is going, emphasising on the suddenness of the deed and also Macbeth’s nervousness. There is an imbalance of power between both characters, Lady Macbeth taking the lead (‘Give me the daggers’, ‘Go carry them’) The imperative verbs that she uses emphasise her control.
There is a clear moral difference between both of them. Macbeth is conscience-striken. He struggles to say ‘Amen’, which suggests that his prayer is thwarted or suggests that even if he finished the deed, it will still live on and he will still carry it forever. He has self-condemned himself as he hears voices that drill into him what a horrible thing he has done. Lady Macbeth seems in control and devoid of neither conscience nor fear, as opposed to Macbeth who is full of both. As Macbeth is in shock, appalled at what he has done, Lady Macbeth’s only concern is to avoid blame.
Scene III:
The porter comes in and gives the audience a space for laughter after the very dramatic scene previously. Some may argue that this part of the scene was completely unnecessary but some of the jokes the porter makes seem to have implications of what was going on so far in the play. For example, his reference to ‘th’everlasting bonfire’ could be the damnation that Hamlet is feeling after he committed Duncan’s murder.
Macbeth shows Macduff to Duncan’s room and Macduff comes out horrified after finding out. Macbeth continues as if he doesn’t know anything. Lady Macbeth also pretends concern and amazement. There is a huge buzz around the castle and the scene seems very alert, contrary to what it was like in the past two scenes where the atmosphere has been quiet and secretive.
Macbeth uses very elaborate words to convince people that he is devastated by the news (‘renown and grace is dead’, ‘The wine of life is drawn’). His calmness and way with words completely contrast his fear and paranoia in the previous scene. Lady Macbeth faints and Macduff becomes suspicious. As the king’s son’s fear for their lives, Donaldbain says – ‘There’s daggers in men’s smiles’. The theme of deception comes up again suggesting a mysterious air in the Macbeth castle.
Scene IV:
The old man’s appearance in the play shows the event’s universality – how the murder of Duncan reflects in nature and society. It brings an outsider’s perspective into account, which is a nice break from all the royalty. It emphasises how people from the outside can still be affected by what happens with royalty. The old man’s speech also reflects on Macbeth’s soliloquy in the first scene of this act – ‘nature seems dead’. Everything is weird and strange and not how they are supposed to be. Macbeth’s deed has altered what is morally right. We also learn that Macbeth is going to be named king during this scene.
Gothic connotations – supernatural taking over?
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