Macbeth!

[Kendall]

Hey, I have an exam coming up in just under two weeks. I don't know the exact purpose of this post and the desired reply that I am hoping for.
But, just wanted to ask for some tips on writing essays on Shakespeare's Macbeth. Any really, really good quotes that I might've forgotten, etc. Please help! I would really appreciate some replies. Thanks!

[Raven]

I haven't done Macbeth for over four years, but I'll try and help anyways...


This (http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/macbeth/) is an online version of Macbeth, click 'edit' in your tool bar then click 'Find on this page' and type in a word to find a relevant quote.

[Raven]

This (http://www.thinkquest.org/library/site_sum.html?tname=2888&url=2888/) is an analysis of Macbeth, might give you some ideas

[Raven]

Random pages for Macbeth ((hope they help))

http://www.falconedlink.com/Macbeth.html

http://www.clicknotes.com/macbeth/ ((study notes type page))

http://www.allshakespeare.com/macbeth.php

http://www.legends.dm.net/shakespeare/macbeth.html


Hope that gives you a starting point. I'll try to dig out my old GCSE essays, but I doubt they'll be helpful...

[fayefaye]

*completely in awe at the altruistic kindness.* wish I could be so kind.... but... no. ;) :p [*****!!]

well, I don't really know anything about macbeth.

[fayefaye]

ps. new zealand's beautiful.

[IWilKikU]

Kendall, if there's somthing specific that you want to talk about, just ask an intellegent question (as opposed to posting your essay question) and people will jump on it. If you just want to broaden your general knowlege of the play, the links Raven gave you are good. I know alot about Macbeth (as do alot of other users) because I directed a production (and studied it) last semester. So like I said, if you find somthing specific you want to talk about, just shoot! :)

[Kendall]

No, I didn't want anything specific because I've studied it for about two years now, and I love it. I'm thankful for the replies I have recieved so far. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[IWilKikU]

What do you think about Lady M.'s lack of children, her lost child (I know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me), and the contrast between her and Lady Macduff with children? There was a BBC film a few years ago called "Macbeth on the Estate" that did an AWSOME job of pointing these things out.

[Kendall]

Okay, you've given me something I did NOT know. IWilKikU, what are you talking about? Did Lady Macbeth have a child once? I can see the contrast between and her and Lady Macduff, though. Thanks for that. I would appreciate it if you could elaborate.
I think that is something I have really overlooked, damn.

[GapingStarling]

I haven't read Macbeth since high school, so I'm not going to offer any advice. But, just as another point (counterpoint?) to the discussion of Lady Macbeth's children and the quote about "tender 'tis to love...", my prof pointed out an article by LC Knights "How many children had Lady Macbeth?" (Explorations, 1963) where he discusses the dangers of speculating too much beyond the text. I think his article is a bit dated now, but it might offer some interesting discussion of various critics' views on the subject...

[Kendall]

Cool, thanks much.

[IWilKikU]

It can get flubbered up when you asume nontextual things in essay writing, but Lady M. DEFINATLY had children.

Act I, scene vii
I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.

For productions, either stage or screen, the object is to entertain, and if that means throwing in some directorial interpretations that aren't necesarilly textual, then so be it! That makes discussion a little tricky though. You have to figure out if you're talking about the text, or ways to interpret it on stage while staying true to the text. I was (and usually am when it comes to Shakespeare) speaking of the latter. But your right Starling, I hate it when people overspeculate the author's intent. But what else could Shakespeare be intending by throwing that line in there?

[Kendall]

You're absolutely right. Ha, I have analysed that passage many times, but I have never actually picked up on what she is saying, exactly. Perhaps it is over analysing, but it's interesting for debate and what not.

[Kendall]

Hmm, preperation for my exam.

Macbeth

How does this passage make us feel about Macbeth at this point in the play? Refer in detail to the passage in your answer.

In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare ; murder, deceit and manipulation all occur more than once. Although these things surround Macbeth, our feelings continue to change. In this passage we forget about his actions and feel empathetic towards him.

The extract given is from Act 2, Scene 3. Prior to this, Macbeth had murdered the King (Duncan). His ambition and his wife overpowered his rational mind and he let his desires take over what was right. Framing the guards, Macbeth's plan worked out as planned.
From lines 12 to 17, Macbeth talks about his respect for the King and if he had only died an hour earlier he would have lived a great life. "From this instant, there's nothing serious in mortality - All is but toys ; renown and grace is dead". Macbeth refers to the King as 'grace'. Giving the audience the idea that Macbeth idiolizes him to an extent and respects him. This of course, is dramatic irony, because we, as the readers know that Macbeth has killed the King ; yet he speaks so highly of him.
When Donald Bain (The King's Son) enters he asks what has happened, Macbeth tells him. He says "..Is stopp'd ; the very source of it is stopp'd. Your royal Father's murder'd". Macbeth repeats this line because it emphasises that it is real. Whether it is to show his guilt or his sympathy it emphasises the fact that the King is no more.
Macduff then asks Macbeth who has killed Duncan. Macbeth tells him that the guards killed him, and that he had killed them in an act of revenge. "O, yet I do repent me of my fury That I did kill them" here Macbeth is asking for forgiveness and understanding - at this point, as the readers we still remember that he has just killed the King out of desire and jealousy.
Macduff questions why Macbeth did such a thing. Macbeth asks Macduff without hesitation "Who can be wise, amaz'd, temp'rate, and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man...Who could refrain that had a heart to love..to make's love known?" with this question, Macbeth traps Macduff with a rhetorical question. He is asking ; could you control yourself in such a situation? Of course, if Macduff answers 'yes' then he himself would be suspected of the King's murder. It would show that he is not loyal to the King. At this point, we as the readers forget about Macbeth being guilty, we believe that he feels something more than jealousy for the King, we forget that he is a murderer and we feel empathetic towards him.
Macbeth's fatal flaw, unfortunately is his ambition. Aristotle refers to a tragedy as a 'representation of terrible and piteous events'. What follows after this scene are 'terrible and piteous events'. The chain of being is upturned and Donald Bain does indeed have his revenge against Macbeth. His fatal flaw was what killed him, his ambition driving him to become a megalomaniac. In this passage, we do not see so much of Macbeth's ambition, but we see how he can manipulate a situation and 'Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day' (disguise his guilty face). The passage makes us feel empathetic as we forget about the irony of it all, we simply focus on the question and what we ourselves would do. Whether or not Macbeth truely held Duncan highly, it is difficult to believe that he does because of the tragic event that has occured prior to this passage. It is Macbeth's will to succeed and his vaulting ambition which allows him to convince us that he did it all out of love.

[i*need*help]

i am also taking an exam on MacBeth soon and i cant understand the language used. Can anyone help me >?????