Thursday, January 27, 2011
Rolling into Act 5 of Macbeth
To finish the week, your charge is to choose: either comment here about anything at all in tonight's reading that catches your fancy, or memorize five lines. My suggestions include your reaction to the odd scene with Malcolm and Macduff, and what you make of the shift there, or some aspect of Act 5, 1. If you would, tie you comment to specific lines, which you site at the beginning of your comment.
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4.3.133
ReplyDelete"Macduff...Child of integrity..." I was very surprised by this sudden disapproval and warning from Malcolm that HE would be an unfit and evil ruler. There isn't much discussion of his reign before this scene, and it struck me to read of this particular section of the conversation, where Malcolm has a "change of heart." It seems that he was trying to trick Macduff into admitting a crime or betrayal, which was also a bit unexpected. Aside from this odd "lie" that Malcolm tells, it also seemed like he was a bit intimidated by Macduff's words of King Duncan being "sainted" and how the Queen "died every day she lived." Though Malcolm comes off as if he was testing Macduff, I think he was also trying to avoid the fact that he in fact cannot lead, not because of corruption, but because of inexperience and fear. 4.3.151-155 shows that Malcolm wants to follow Macduff's leadership, instead of being the new King most would anticipate. I was not surprised at all by Macduff's response to this strange outburst - "tis hard to reconcile."
4.3 28-30
ReplyDeleteMalcolm: 'Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so.'
This quote, spoken by Malcolm to Macduff seems to fully embody the prominent theme throughout the play of appearance vs reality. We first see it arise early in the play with the witches where one says 'Fair is foul, and fair is foul.' Then we see it again after Macbeth accepts the fact that he is going to kill Duncan, he states, 'False face must hide what the false heart doth know.' After the murders of Duncan, the chamberlains, and Banquo take place, many important characters are believed to be something that they are not. The chamberlains were thought to have been murderers, while they were actually framed. Similarly, Malcolm, Donalbain, and Macduff are thought to be traitors, while they fled mainly out of fear. On the other hand, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth must appear to be righteous and loyal even though they are the source of all the bloodshed. This quote could be talking about many of the characters in the play including Banquo, the weird sisters, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth, though I believe it's directed primarily toward Macbeth. It's saying that although evil people (Macbeth) attempt to appear graceful or nice, the true loyal characters must also attempt to appear nice. This makes it very difficult for others to realize who is truly good and who is evil.
I think the biggest thing I'm noticing in these scenes is how quickly things are beginning to fall apart not only for the Macbeths, but for Malcolm, Macduff, and their company as well. I believe their mutual destruction is being foreshadowed when Malcolm pretty much personifies Lady Macbeth by telling Macduff to, "let grief convert to anger" after Macduff was just informed of the murder of his wife, children, and servants. I say Malcolm acts like Lady Macbeth because he challenges Macduff to be stronger, to "Dispute it like a man". That allusion must be there for a reason. To my mind what this is saying is that revenge is as much of a vice as is the power-lust that Macbeth displays. Again, what I get from this is that most of the characters who were once virtuous will soon cause their own tempestuous ruin. And that's why this is called a tragedy, because all who for a time seemed to be innocent or at least positive characters soon will change due to the temptation of vice until all that is left is a shadow of their original self, consumed with despair. I honestly can't wait to see what happens next, to see how far down this abyss we go.
ReplyDeleteWe suspected earlier that Lady Macbeth feigns confidence and nonchalance about the murder when she tells Macbeth, “A little water clears us of this deed. How easy it is, then!” (2.2.86-87). Her comment that “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t” (2.2.16-17) seemed to diverge from the strong, masculine, and resolute persona that she projects throughout the first part of the play. In 5.1, our suspicions of her character are confirmed: we see that she too is tormented by the murder. Unlike Macbeth, however, she reveals her pain (at least thus far) only when her subconscious is in control. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are unable to rid themselves of the memory of blood on their hands. While Macbeth asks despairingly, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” (2.2.78-79), Lady Macbeth moans in her state of sleepwalking, “Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O!” (5.1.53-55).
ReplyDelete5-1-45: “What, will these hands ne'er be clean?”
ReplyDeleteI think that Act 5, Scene 1 was one of the most important passages in understanding Lady Macbeth’s character. Throughout the scene, Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, seemingly worried and nervous: “Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. Look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on ’s grave” (5-1-65). As a class we’ve speculated about whether or not she’s genuine in her bloodlust. The obvious anxiety and worry that the murders have caused Lady Macbeth furthers the notion that she may not be as bold and brutish as she makes herself appear. This scene also serves to further embellish how Lady Macbeth is becoming what may be considered “weaker” as the play continues, as opposed to Macbeth whose hesitation in murder is only fading.
4 - 3 - 113-116:
ReplyDelete"Nay, had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, uproar the universal peace, confound all unity on Earth."
This quote by Malcolm lends to an interesting theme of the play: being that good and evil is represented as an internal battle of the conscience versus one's lust for power. Malcolm is much purer and realistic than Macbeth about leadership, stating that he would literally destroy all peace on Earth in a leadership position. This brings the question: what does it take to be a leader? Does it mean one accepts that they are truly the one to take power, or is it rather the fact that they disregard how unqualified to be in charge they are and accept the title of king, president, etc. anyways? Perhaps in saying this, Malcolm himself is showing that his modesty makes him perfect to lead a nation, where Macbeth uses arrogance and treachery to fill out his own selfish desires.
4.3.113-114
ReplyDelete"Nay, had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, uproar the universal peace, confound all unity on Earth"
I was thoroughly appalled at Malcom's initial speech to Macduff admitting all of his cruel intentions and evil nature. Beyond the fact that we discover this is all a test, and he is, in fact, a good man, I think his character - both through the lie he tells Macduff and his real pure spirit - provides an interesting contrast to Macbeth's character. Even if he were the cruel man he claims to be, he is admitting his darker side and seems to be afraid of it and how it will take a toll on the country. I found this to be a self-conflicting action, considering if he were truly so greedy, he would not say anything to inhibit his chances of attaining that which he desires. This illustrates a difference between him and Macbeth, and also a possible alternative way in which Macbeth might have dealt with his conflict between desire versus morals. The characteristics Malcom describes in himself are as bad as those of Macbeth, though unlike Malcom, instead of admitting this, Macbeth is in a much deeper abyss of self-denial. Because he cannot see this in himself, or makes up excuses to cover it up (such as seen in prior scenes, i.e: in regards to Duncan's murder "To know my deed 'twere best not know myself" - 2.3.93), his character continues to be much more complex and helpless than that of most of the others.
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him."
ReplyDeleteThese lines really stuck me because they show how guilty the murders are making Lady Macbeth feel. In this way it shows the transition of her character from a seemingly cold and hard woman to a sensitive and more human character. I think it is really interesting to see this character develop because it is essential to understand this part of her. I am also interested to see where this "subconscious release" will go in the play. This could possibly serve as a sort of foreshadowing to Lady Macbeth accidentally revealing her and Macbeth's secrets. This passage has also made me wonder how she feels about the murders when looking back; because although she may feel guilty about them, she may still be proud of what she did or happy with her decision. But I am wondering if she feels a bit of regret and now that Macbeth seems to have become a brutal ruler, if she feels like it was the wrong decision to have taken the throne? I think that this is showing the beginning of the fall of the Macbeth's. Just thoughts I'm having that I'm curious t find out about later in the play.
4.3.104-117
ReplyDeleteWhen Malcolm tests Macduff to determine his motives for visiting, it reveals a key thematic element within the play. In this conversation, Malcolm wants to ascertain the reason Macduff wants Macbeth dethroned. After all, Macduff could be doing this out of personal ambition; perhaps it’s a plan to gain higher standing in society. However, when Malcolm makes himself out to be epitome of sinfulness and selfishness, just like Macbeth, it forces Macduff to show his cards. Due to the fact he immediately descends into a state of hopelessness, it shows that Macduff’s actions are guided by his love for Scotland. The overall point of this whole dialogue is that a great leader must be selfless.
I agree with Sarah's posting. Lady Macbeth is finally being exposed for who she truly is. Throughout the play thus far she has been portrayed, with a few exceptions, as strong and masculine. But in this scene it seems that Shakespeare is making her look weak and fragile. One way I think Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth look weaker by making her sound like a "whining woman". Before in the book Lady Macbeth asked to be "unsexed" but now in 5.1.42-44 when she says "Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!" she sounds like a stereotypical "weak woman". I think that Shakespeare is playing with Lady Macbeth's sex to show how her confidence and power shifts throughout the play.
ReplyDelete5.1.75-83
ReplyDeleteI found the Doctor's final words to be captivating and significant. Throughout all of Act 5, Scene 1, I felt an intense interplay between the Gentlewoman and the Doctor's concern for Lady Macbeth's mental health and their suspicion of her recent involvement in the murders of Duncan and Banquo. The Doctor's final words suggest that he believes that Lady Macbeth requires the help of God above that of a physician. This concept interwove the previously mentioned two lenses for me because I was able to see that the Gentlewoman and the Doctor truly fear for Lady Macbeth's mental health and soul because of the murders that they strongly suspect her to be involved with. I also found it very interesting that the Doctor says, "God, God forgive us all," as he reflects upon Lady Macbeth's behavior. This line seems to signify a certain religious sentiment of the time. The Doctor does not blame Lady Macbeth alone for the murders or the corruption of her own mind. Instead, the Doctor employs an "us", a collective shadow of society that has sinned.