Macbeth discussion ENG125

Week 4 discussion 2

Lee Long Email this Author

10/25/2012 9:37:48 PM

I definitely believe that Shakespeare’s Macbeth reveals a lot about human nature and people you will or have met all though out life.

From the very beginning of the play you see the three witches, or weird sisters, are evil and represent temptation. They did not tell Macbeth to murder the king, but he did anyway because they told him that he would one day be king. In the end Lady Macbeth takes her own life out of guilt because she could not live with herself knowing that she instigated her husband into killing the king. Macbeth also has bloody hands which represents his guilt. He believes that Neptune’s ocean will turn from green to red after he washes his hands because he feels the blood will never be able to be washed away... or guilt. Yet his wife believes it will take only a little bit of water,

 To me this play shows exactly how much one would do for power. And all throughout time people have murdered others for their positions in society.

I think that since Macbeth kills the king the message of this play as a whole would be about the greed and temptation of humans, also the guilt of what you have done after you accomplish getting what you want. Maybe Shakespeare was trying to tell us not to fall into temptation because the end result isn’t worth it.

RE: Week 4 discussion 2

Joshua Haltom Email this Author

10/29/2012 2:37:05 AM

Lady Macbeth as the ultimate antagonist, saying, upon "re entrance" in Act II, Scene II

My hands are of your color, but I shame

To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within.] I hear knocking

At the south entry:—retire we to our chamber.

A little water clears us of this deed:

How easy is it then! Your constancy

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Hath left you unattended.—[Knocking within.] Hark, more

knocking:

Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us

And show us to be watchers:—be not lost

So poorly in your thoughts.

She "shame To wear a heart so white", as the tempter is as a familiar in the human experience, and accusing Macbeth that his constancy left him unattended, which, existentially, becomes a scheme our appointed Accuser lures us with.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is often considered one of literature’s greatest tragedies and is said to reveal much about human nature. Do you agree or disagree that the play conveys much about humanity or about the human experience?

I agree that Macbeth conveys the fallen nature of humanity, and the human experience of judgement for the intention behind receiving.  Macbeth wanted to receive power and sought his goal through a fallen nature, murder.  His consequence was getting what he gave.  The textbook calls this "catharsis--spiritual purging produced by an ordeal."  (Clugston, 2010)

What, if anything, does the work suggest about human beings or society? Support your views with textual details and analysis.

Macbeth suggests that society is corrupted by a tainted intention of lower-nature.

In the play, a soldier says "Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds / or memorize another Golgotha".

Golgotha is an Aramaic word that means "place of the skull."  It is the name given to the place where Jesus was crucified.  (John 19:17-18)

This links the meaning of atonement for sin nature to the karmic judgement Macbeth received.

Address how Macbeth’s subject matter, themes, form, or other literary elements might (or might not) be characteristic of tragedy. How do tragic qualities of the play contribute (or not) to the story’s larger message(s)?

"In Shakespearean tragedy, the essence of the human spirit is communicated strongly through an awareness of the greatness and weakness of the protagonist's character in the face of defeat."  (Clugston, 2010)

The story's larger message is one of cause and consequence.  It is tragic when a person chooses to follow the desire for the self alone, for the consequence is inevitable.

The theme tells so, and almost every line encrypts this truth.

Reference

Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

I agree, it's time to be better than before

Albert Baugh Email this Author

10/26/2012 11:18:37 PM

As of lately, ones in power seek to remain in power at all cost even through treachery.  Not much has changed between monarchies of long ago and aristocracies of today.  With power comes great responsibility.  And to be king or ruler, the responsibility of king is primarily to the welfare of the people under their rule.  If kingship is obtained through deceit and personal lust, no right can come from it, only civil unrest and war will surface.

In “Macbeth”, urged by tempest desire, Macbeth attains his short-lived rule only to fall by the same means by which he ascended, body-less head on a spike.  This play is karma unfolded.   Self-cherishing and self-grasping dissolves all semblance of compassion.  Knowing that this corruptive attitude never fruits well-being, why then do humans reenact this tragedy to this very day? Fool-hearty, we play this malevolent game for a mere brief stay at the top only to have it all come crumbling down.  A humble servant would be our best post to take.

The best antagonist, who once was ally and comrade, will seek to dethrone you mercilessly in lieu of your murderous way.

RE: I agree, it's time to be better than before

Joshua Haltom Email this Author

10/29/2012 1:53:44 AM

You say it is tragic how people in power will do misdeeds to keep their assumed stature.  I guess that would have leaders hell-bent on domain.

I think the most tragic reality this play includes is the structural violence that has long wrought a contemptuousness project like that of the submission to authority perceived as in ego or the antagonism of a neighbor.

"Blood on the hands" and the desire to wash them.

That is a catharsis and the recognition of an offense had.

This is poignant in the following line of Shakespeare's Macbeth in  Act II, Scene I,

MACBETH:

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If you shall cleave to my consent,—when 'tis,

It shall make honor for you.

BANQUO: So I lose none

In seeking to augment it, but still keep

My bosom franchis'd, and allegiance clear,[36]

I shall be counsell'd.

"A humble servant would be our best post to take."  This is, if I understand you correctly, you mention is the larger tragedy than the literal 'blood on the hands'.

Perhaps that is sorts of what the 3 witches alluded to in Act I, Scene III,

FIRST WITCH: Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

SECOND WITCH: Not so happy, yet much happier.

THIRD WITCH: Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:

So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

FIRST WITCH:

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Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!