1. What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act?
2. What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor and why did he lose his title?
3. How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? Why?
4. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene?
Chisom Oraedu (post 1):
ReplyDelete1. What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act?
At the beginning of Act One, the three witches converse about Macbeth. This foreshadows that there will be a big event involving him in the future. The second witch says to the others, “’When the battle’s lost and won’” (I.i.4). This signifies that there will be a great battle in the future. The witches plan to meet up with Macbeth after the battle. They say, “’Where the place?’ ‘Upon the heath.’ ‘There to meet with Macbeth’” (I.i.5-7). At the end of their conversation, they say that anything can happen in the future: “’Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air’” (I.i.11-12). This phrase is both literal and figurative. Not only is the weather gloomy, which is an ominous foreshadowing in itself, but the line signifies that things are about to get dirty and unethical in the play.
2. What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor, and why did he lose his title?
The original Thane of Cawdor was sentenced to death by the king of Scotland because he was a traitor. Ross recalls of him, “’…that most disloyal traitor, The Thane of Cawdor…’” (I.ii.54-55). Because of his treachery, he lost his title as well as his life. Duncan, the king of Scotland, also speaks of the Thane’s treachery: “’No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest’” (I.ii.66-67). No one in Scotland appreciated that the Thane of Cawdor deceived the their king, so his death will be met with applause. The one who was most happy was probably Macbeth. Duncan reveals about his future, “’And with his [Thane of Cawdor] former title greet Macbeth…What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won’” (I.i.68-70). The original Thane of Cawdor lost his title when he betrayed Duncan, and Macbeth gained it.
3. How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? Why?
After Macbeth returns from the battle against the Norwegians, the three witches greet him by telling him his future. Banquo recounts the witches’ prophesying when he says, “’My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction Of noble and of royal hope…’” (I.iii.54-56). They do not tell Banquo his future, however, which annoys him. Banquo complains, “’To me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favors nor your hate’” (I.iii.57-61). The reason that the witches speak only to Macbeth about his future is because there will be an important event concerning him in the near future. The witches say, “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none’” (I.iii.67). This foreshadows that Macbeth will be the father of kings and that he shall be Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth does not believe them, however, and thinks that he might be going insane.
4. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene?
When Lady Macbeth utters the line, “’Come you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here…’” (I.v.40-41) she is asking the gods to bestow her with more masculinity. She needs the strength to be able to kill King Duncan. She wants so badly for her husband to become king that she is willing to murder someone. This just shows her lust for power. She later says, “’Make thick my blood; Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse…’” (I.v.43-44). Lady Macbeth longs for an immunity from pity and remorse. She wants to be able to kill Duncan without even having a second thought about it afterwards. This longing for indifference portrays her as being a cold and heartless woman. Lady Macbeth wants to be masculine to the point where she overtly denies her femininity. She pleads, “’Come to my woman’s breasts And take my milk for gall…’” (I.v.47-48). She turns away from her maternal capacity and wants so badly to gain the power to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s “unsex me” scene is an important one in the play.
Chisom Oraedu (post 2):
ReplyDelete1. What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act?
At the beginning of Act One, the witches plan to meet with Macbeth after a momentous event occurs. They foreshadow this event when they say, “’When the hurlyburly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won’” (I.i.3-4). This signifies that there will be a great battle in the near future that involves Macbeth. The witches are a powerful force and therefore have the power to foresee the future. They wish to meet with Macbeth and converse with him after the battle. They say, “’There to meet with Macbeth’” (I.i.7). Macbeth is an important figure whose future means something to the witches. They must speak with him, and they plan to do so.
2. What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor, and why did he lose his title?
The original Thane of Cawdor was a traitor. He secretly helped the Norwegians behind the Scottish king’s back. This was the ultimate betrayal. When the Scottish soldiers arrived on the battlefield to fight the Norwegian’s, they found the thane to be on their side. Duncan and Ross discuss the scene of the battle: ‘Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane?’ ‘From Fife, great King, Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky And fan our people cold. Norway himself, with terrible numbers, Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict...’” (I.ii.49-55). The Scottish are completely taken aback when they see that the thane has betrayed them. No one expected it. For this reason, Duncan, king of the Scots, sentenced him to death. He divulges, “’No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death…’” (I.ii.66-67). His betrayal causes him to lose his title. Treachery does not come without repercussions.
3. How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? Why?
Upon returning from his victory against the Norwegians, Macbeth encounters the three witches. They greet him by telling him his future. They prophesy, “’All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor…All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!’” (I.iii.50-51). According to them, not only will Macbeth soon inherit the title of Thane of Cawdor, but he will also become king in the future. The witches tell him these prophecies because it foreshadows that he will be an important figure as the story progresses. It’s foreshadowing. Shakespeare wants to establish early on that Macbeth is a force to be reckoned with. He means something in the outcome of the story. The three witches discuss Macbeth’s importance in the beginning of Act One: “’When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?’ ‘When the hurlyburly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won’” (I.i.1-4). Macbeth will be at the forefront of a great conflict in the near future. The witches wish to hint at this when they speak to him after the battle.
4. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene?
Lady Macbeth longs for her husband to become king. She wishes that he had the strength to be able to kill King Duncan for the crown, but she knows that he doesn’t. For this reason, she exclaims to the gods, ”’Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here…’” (I.v.40-41). She knows that men are stronger than women and that if she was a man, she would be able to kill Duncan for her husband. She completely rejects her feminine side and only longs to become a strong man. She pleads, “’Come to my woman’s breasts And take my milk for gall’” (I.v.47-48). Lady Macbeth wants more gusto and passion so that she can slay Duncan. This scene shows that Lady Macbeth is cold-hearted and that she is willing to do anything to ensure the crown for her husband.
Chisom Oraedu (post 3):
ReplyDelete1. What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act?
At the beginning of Act One, the three witches foreshadow a looming event in the future. They convey to the audience that the conflict will have Macbeth at the forefront. The witches plan to talk to Macbeth after this conflict occurs. The witches are a powerful force throughout the play that holds great significance. They have the power twist fate and make things happen the way that they want it to. They cast a spell before the meet with Macbeth. The witches chant, “’The Weird Sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about, Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, And thrice again, to make up nine. Peace! The charm’s wound up’” (I.iii.32-37). The witches’ power is great and they are willing to do whatever they can to make sure that Macbeth’s fate is how it’s supposed to be. The witches plan to talk with Macbeth about his fate after the great conflict involving him is resolved.
2. What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor, and why did he lose his title?
Duncan sentences the original Thane of Cawdor to death because he betrayed the Scots and aided the Norwegians in the battle. This is treason, which caused him to lose his title. Macbeth does not know that the thane is a traitor, so he is surprised when Ross and Angus inform him that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth says confusedly, “’The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?’” (I.iii.107-108.). No one has informed Macbeth yet of the thane’s treachery. When he later realizes that the thane was a traitor, he accepts the title with slight wariness.
3. How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? Why?
After the battle against the Norwegians, the witches greet Macbeth by prophesying his future. They tell him that he will soon become Thane of Cawdor, which confuses him because he already has a title. He asks confusedly, “’By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis, But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives A prosperous gentleman…’” (I.iii.71-73). Macbeth does not know that the Thane of Cawdor was found to be a traitor and will be stripped of his title. Macbeth is also confused when the witches tell him that he will eventually become king: “’…and to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief, No more than to be Cawdor’” (I.iii.73-74). He cannot picture in his mind that he will one day be king. For now, the only king that he sees is Duncan. The witches prophesy these things to Macbeth to show him that he is an important figure to many people and to show him that his life is important. He must understand these concepts so he can rise to his full potential in the world.
4. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene?
During this scene in the play, Lady Macbeth pleads to the gods to make her a strong man so she can kill Duncan and ensure the crown for Macbeth. She conspires against Duncan when she says, “’The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements’” (I.v.38-40). If her plan prevails, Duncan will enter her house but will not come out. Lady Macbeth knows that if a man killed someone, he would be honored. If a woman did, however, it would get a negative connotation and would not be a good thing. This is why she wants to be “unsexed.” A man would be able to kill Duncan and be praised for it. In this scene, Lady Macbeth conspires against Duncan.
Shelley:
ReplyDeleteMacbeth
1. What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act?
They plan to meet with Macbeth and ruin him. They want evil go everywhere they want. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. /Hover through the fog and filthy air” (1.1.11-12).
2. What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor and why did he lose his title?
The Thane of Cawdor committed treason to his country. The Thane of Ross tells King Duncan that “Norway himself, with terrible numbers, /Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, /The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict” (1.2.53-55). So the king responds with, “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive /our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death, /And with his former title greet Macbeth” (1.2.66-68). For conspiring against the king, the Thane of Cawdor lost his title and was executed.
3. How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? Why?
The witches praise him. Each witch uses his current or future title. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! /All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.49-51). The witches know his fate and they make a prophecy. They want Macbeth to also know his fate.
4. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene?
Lady Macbeth wants to become like a man to support Macbeth. She wants to be mean and powerful, which are characteristics of a male.
“Make thick my blood; /Stop up th’access and passage to remorse” (1.5.43-44)
1. The witches are planning that something big is going to happen. I think that they are saying that a large battle will happen and Macbeth will be the biggest part of the battle. “When the battle’s lost and won.” This witch is saying their either a battle has just ended or that it will soon start. Also using the phrase “hover through he fog and filthy air” that is saying that the fog will keep them from seeing what will really happen in the end.
ReplyDelete2. While they were in battle they immediately found out that one of their own had betrayed them and had began to join forced with their enemy. “assisted by that most disloyal traitor the thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict” in this scene Ross, the king and his sons are discussion the previous situation that they must deal with since they trust was just brutally torn when their own left them and joined their competition. So their final decision on what the Thane did was to simply take away his title.
3. When the witches see Banqou and Macbeth after the battle, Banqou immediately begins to degrade them “upon you skinny lips. You should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so.” So the witches use this and begin to praise Macbeth instead of Banqou. Banqou questions why they don’t recognize him and the witches say that in the end he will be happier and greater than Macbeth.
4. After Lady Macbeth and the messenger have their conversation lady Macbeth is left by herself. She cones to the conclusion that is Duncan were to be killed that Macbeth would be able to get the amount of power that they both want. However she knows that if she were to get this power that she wouldn’t be able to kill Duncan herself. Since she is a woman she has certain stereotypes and expectations that women are given. Women are supposed to be delicate and committing a murder would be unheard of for a women. So if she were to be unsexed then she wouldn’t have to worry about her gender and societies view on women to get in her way. So unsexing her will give her the opportunity to kill Duncan.
deidre
1. In the very beginning of the novel we immediately see that the witches are having a conversation with each other. As they are talking they are talking about the battle that was just finish. In this passage there are a lot of paradoxes. When the second witch says “ when the battle’s lost and won” and when they all say” fair is foul, and foul is fair” having these paradoxes are leaving questions the writing and gives the reader the ability to interpret the scene. In the same passage the witches also foreshadow that Macbeth will be a big part in the play as well. So maybe by saying that the air will be filled with fog and filthy air they are saying that Macbeth’s further is also not clear and as everyone is walking through the fog and unable to see clearly that once the filthy air is gone that all will be revealed and all will be fair.
ReplyDelete2. In the middle of scene one all of the men are talking about the news that they have just received. They have been informed that their own Thane of Cawdor has betrayed them and has begun work for the opposing side. In conclusion they decided to strip him of his title but they all want him to suffer a greater punishment and want him dead. “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth”. So in this scene Duncan and Ross say that he is punished by no longer having the title of Thane of Cawdor but in the end death will be his ultimate punishment for betraying their trust and their country.
3. When Banqou and Macbeth both meet the witches they immediately start praising Macbeth. “all hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis…Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” after they call him Thane of Cawdor Macbeth questions why he is called Thane of Cawdor as well. “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more! By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis. But how of Cawdor...say from whence you owe this strange intelligence, or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting? speak, I charge you” Macbeth does not know that he has been granted the title of Thane of Cawdor and by the witches giving him this news he wonders how they got this information and if it is even true. And at the same time Banqou wonders if any good news will be given to him.
4. When Lady Macbeth is devising the plan to have Duncan killed she says that she wishes she could be unsexed and not have people see her as a woman so that she would be able to kill Duncan. “ and take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers, wherever in your sightless substances you wait on nature’s mischief.” In this time period it was completely un heard of for a women to commit a crime and unthinkable for a woman to kill or have the desire to kill. Women were weak and frail and not seen as murders. So she wished that the feminine part of her could be taken away so that she won’t have to fight the gender barrier that is keeping her from killing Duncan.
deidre