I think that the most commonly recurring theme in MacBeth is the inevitability of fate. Everything that the witches said comes true, often in the most gruesome way. MacBeth becomes Thane of Glamis after the old thane is beheaded. He then becomes king after stabbing Duncan in his sleep. Banquo is also prevented from getting the throne violently. After the assassination of his father and attempted murder on him, Fleance flees and presumably survives to become king. Even MacBeth never gets to father a line of kings and ends up getting beheaded after the forest moves and he is slain by a man born of knife. No one seems to avoid their fate, and I wonder if a better outcome would have occurred had MacBeth reacted differently.
This brings me to another argument, but it involves circular logic. Would everything that the witches foretold come true had the characters reacted differently? I wonder if MacBeth would have come to the throne in a more honorable way. I also wonder if he would have died so horrifically. Maybe that would have negated the story completely. I guess the world will never know, but knowing Shakespeare, of course everything would be awful. I had a fun year. Good luck everyone on exams!
Tues: 45 mins drafting cover letter
Wed: 20 mins Writing Center
15 mins Hits and Misses
Thurs: 30 mins revising cover letter
Fri: 2 hours revision
Monday, May 12, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
MacBeth Quote
"Fair is foul and foul is fair/Hover through the fog and filthy air."
Act 1 Sc1 l. 12
This quotation is probably going to turn into the most overused example in the entire book. That is for good reason. The Weird Sisters are saying that bad things are going to happen to good things and that foul play will be involved. This foreshadows the killing of Duncan and the unrighteous MacBeth becoming king. Duncan is a fair man and very kind, and the foul MacBeth decides to kill him for personal gain. He is practically rewarded with the high position of king, which would be considered fair. "Foul is fair" can also be thought to mean that doing bad things for personal gain isn't necessarily that awful.
The fog and filthy air are an ominous symbol for the horrible things that are about to happen. The fog symbolizes moral ambiguity and clouded judgement. The filthy air is the stench of wrongdoing and the cruelty that lingers. MacBeth is told that he will become king, and his desire for power fogs his judgement and makes him commit treason. The hovering is a symbol for MacBeth trying to cover his tracks and making sure that no one finds out that he committed regicide. He hovers through thicker and thicker fog as he kills Banquo and attempts to murder Banquo's son. He doesn't know what to do anymore, and his judgement is completely clouded by his desire for power and terrible deeds.
Reading Times
Glass, Ellen Hopkins
Tues- 45 mins
Wed-30 mins
Thurs- 15 mins
MacBeth Review
Sun- 15 mins
Mon- 30 mins
Act 1 Sc1 l. 12
This quotation is probably going to turn into the most overused example in the entire book. That is for good reason. The Weird Sisters are saying that bad things are going to happen to good things and that foul play will be involved. This foreshadows the killing of Duncan and the unrighteous MacBeth becoming king. Duncan is a fair man and very kind, and the foul MacBeth decides to kill him for personal gain. He is practically rewarded with the high position of king, which would be considered fair. "Foul is fair" can also be thought to mean that doing bad things for personal gain isn't necessarily that awful.
The fog and filthy air are an ominous symbol for the horrible things that are about to happen. The fog symbolizes moral ambiguity and clouded judgement. The filthy air is the stench of wrongdoing and the cruelty that lingers. MacBeth is told that he will become king, and his desire for power fogs his judgement and makes him commit treason. The hovering is a symbol for MacBeth trying to cover his tracks and making sure that no one finds out that he committed regicide. He hovers through thicker and thicker fog as he kills Banquo and attempts to murder Banquo's son. He doesn't know what to do anymore, and his judgement is completely clouded by his desire for power and terrible deeds.
Reading Times
Glass, Ellen Hopkins
Tues- 45 mins
Wed-30 mins
Thurs- 15 mins
MacBeth Review
Sun- 15 mins
Mon- 30 mins
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