I'd rather hear your thoughts about the film and the specific ideas we've discussed in class than asking you to do a second or alternative comment on Act 3, 2-4. So please do respond to the previous posting. But here also are a few questions to guide your reading which can enrich our time together on Monday.
1. Several of you already commented in class about Banquo's short soliloquy to open Act 3, where he both expresses suspicions about Macbeth's situation and a "wait and see" attitude because, after all, his children are likewise fated to be kings. What now do you notice about Macbeth's questions in the brief encounter? What is the "verb" here?
2. Macbeth's "to be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus" signals the strategy he now choses to protect himself. In that speech, what is his chief beef with Banquo?
3. How do you picture the murderers? Think physically, as if you are directing, or at least casting the play. What posture, age, and other description do you think would befit these roles?
4. Consider the interaction between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in 3,2. What state of mind is Macbeth in? Has his relationship with Lady Macbeth changed already? How so? What consequences do you imagine for any of these thoughts or behaviors?
5. We'll block Act 3,3 in class. But as you read, what problems do you imagine will arise as we try to make this scene come to life?
6. Act 3,4 is the famous Banquet Scene. What role does Lady Macbeth play here? Pick a moment when the "verb" of a particular beat is absolutely clear to you, and note that for class.
The side-notes say that the "murderers" are not in fact murderers yet, but rather very poor, dumb men who will do anything for the king. With this knowledge, I do not picture them as sly assassins, but instead, dirty, unshaven men who seem scared yet eager to kill for the upper class.
ReplyDeleteNice! You'll be interested to see what Polanski does with them. See you soon!
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