Overview:
Frankenstein decides to study at a university in Germany but it has to be postponed when Elizabeth becomes sick and then when his mother attends to her, becomes sick also and as a result dies. When Frankenstein finally gets there, he goes to M. Waldman's lecture and this is what gives him the inspiration for his creature.
Point 1:
This chapter is arguably the most important chapter because this is when he gets the idea to create a creature. It isn't told that this is what he wants to do but it is alluded too. He is a self conscious narrator as he keeps relating back to what the eventual ending is- 'enounced to destroy me.' The theme of obsession hasn't taken hold of the narrative yet but we know that it is going to happen soon as from the letters in the beginning, it is clear this is how the novel ends.There is emphasis on the passage when he gets the idea- 'Such were the professor's words- rather let me say such the words of fate, enounced to destroy me. As he went on, I felt as if my soul were grappling with a palpable enemy; one by one the various keys were touched which formed the mechanism of my being: chord after chord was sounded, and soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose... I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation... There only remained a resolution to return to my ancient studies, and to devote myself to a science for which I believed myself to possess a natural talent.' He gives nothing away about what he is going to do which leaves the reader in suspense. It is also interesting that within the same chapter, his mother dies. This may be why he then decides to try and create life, because he wasn't able to save his mothers- could be because of trauma.
Point 2:
Shelley uses a lot of romantic language, especially when talking of M. Waldman. He is describes him as 'mild and attractive' and ' affability and kindness'. It seems that it was this professor that not only gave him the idea but then 'explained to (him) the uses of his various machines'. It is therefore surprising that he talks of him with affection because this is what lead to his downfall. Yet it was his father that he seemed to blame who had a lot less to do with what determined his future. This could be because Waldman describes him as his 'disciple', meaning that Frankenstein may look to him as his leader. Earlier in the chapter he says that his life had 'been remarkably secluded and domestic... (he) believed (himself) totally unfitted for the company of strangers' which may be why he seeked solace in his professor but made no other friends and became more isolated than he had ever been. This chapter ends with the sentence 'Thus ended a day memorable to me: it decided my future destiny'. This tells us that we are probably going to be told about the incident that he keeps referring to.
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Frankenstein- Chapter 2 Reading Journal
Overview:
Shelley begins with a contrasting description between Elizabeth who is calmer and more poetical than Frankenstein, who has always been curious in science. This leads into how this curiosity and passion led to him researching about it. His love of Natural Philosophy is the foundation to both his personality and to what happens.
Point 1:
Shelley uses Frankenstein as the main narrator of the book because he is writing it in the present and this means that he can pick out features of his past that he deems important to the story. His upbringing and the way he is socialised is important to the story because this is when he learns what is right and wrong. He says that his 'parents were passed in considerable seclusion. It was my temper to avoid a crowd.' This foreshadows the way that he isolates and secludes himself from everyone. He also says that his 'parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness'. It is interesting that he uses the word 'possessed' because this makes them sound as though they were almost obsessed by it which shows a very similar correlation between him and his parents. It also brings in the Gothic element to the book as the connotation of possession is when a mystical third party magically manipulates a person.We only hear praises of his parents, yet he says 'My father looked carelessly at the title page of my book, and said 'Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash.' If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded, and that a modern system of science had been introduced...I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside, and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former studies. It is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin.' This passage actually shows Frankenstein blaming his father for what has happened to him, yet it is impossible that his father knew that a small remark would've created Frankenstein's life to be terrible. This perhaps shows that he is reluctant to take responsibility for what he created and is so reminiscent in the first few chapters about his past because he is trying to discover or blame someone else.
Point 2:
Frankenstein makes a point of saying that he has few friends which means that he can talk of each in quiet a lot of detail. From these descriptions it sounds as though they all have very similar personalities. The first friend that we hear of is in the letters that begin the book. This part is narrated by Robert Walton, so rather than hearing a description of him from Frankenstein, it is him talking about himself with means that there is no real bias on his character. Robert Walton 'became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of (his) own creation'. He uses romantic language which backs up the point of him wanting to be a poet and this shows a direct contrast between their characters. The second friend we hear of is Elizabeth and 'she busied herself with following the aerial creations of the poets; and in the majestic and wondrous scenes which surrounded our Swiss home'. The third friend that Shelley tells us about is Henry Clerval who was 'deeply read in books of chivalry and romance. He composed heroic songs, and began to write many a tale of enchantment and knightly adventure.' All of his friends have very similar attributes and are the opposite of him. This suggests that perhaps he doesn't like himself or maybe his own attributes and wouldn't want to surround himself in people that are like him. This also means that he has no one that he can really relate to and therefore leads to his isolation when he becomes passionate about science. However, it does seem that he having this kind of friends has some kind of effect on him as he uses words such as 'fate' and 'destiny' which seems strange for a scientist who believes in facts.
Shelley begins with a contrasting description between Elizabeth who is calmer and more poetical than Frankenstein, who has always been curious in science. This leads into how this curiosity and passion led to him researching about it. His love of Natural Philosophy is the foundation to both his personality and to what happens.
Point 1:
Shelley uses Frankenstein as the main narrator of the book because he is writing it in the present and this means that he can pick out features of his past that he deems important to the story. His upbringing and the way he is socialised is important to the story because this is when he learns what is right and wrong. He says that his 'parents were passed in considerable seclusion. It was my temper to avoid a crowd.' This foreshadows the way that he isolates and secludes himself from everyone. He also says that his 'parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness'. It is interesting that he uses the word 'possessed' because this makes them sound as though they were almost obsessed by it which shows a very similar correlation between him and his parents. It also brings in the Gothic element to the book as the connotation of possession is when a mystical third party magically manipulates a person.We only hear praises of his parents, yet he says 'My father looked carelessly at the title page of my book, and said 'Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash.' If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded, and that a modern system of science had been introduced...I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside, and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former studies. It is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin.' This passage actually shows Frankenstein blaming his father for what has happened to him, yet it is impossible that his father knew that a small remark would've created Frankenstein's life to be terrible. This perhaps shows that he is reluctant to take responsibility for what he created and is so reminiscent in the first few chapters about his past because he is trying to discover or blame someone else.
Point 2:
Frankenstein makes a point of saying that he has few friends which means that he can talk of each in quiet a lot of detail. From these descriptions it sounds as though they all have very similar personalities. The first friend that we hear of is in the letters that begin the book. This part is narrated by Robert Walton, so rather than hearing a description of him from Frankenstein, it is him talking about himself with means that there is no real bias on his character. Robert Walton 'became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of (his) own creation'. He uses romantic language which backs up the point of him wanting to be a poet and this shows a direct contrast between their characters. The second friend we hear of is Elizabeth and 'she busied herself with following the aerial creations of the poets; and in the majestic and wondrous scenes which surrounded our Swiss home'. The third friend that Shelley tells us about is Henry Clerval who was 'deeply read in books of chivalry and romance. He composed heroic songs, and began to write many a tale of enchantment and knightly adventure.' All of his friends have very similar attributes and are the opposite of him. This suggests that perhaps he doesn't like himself or maybe his own attributes and wouldn't want to surround himself in people that are like him. This also means that he has no one that he can really relate to and therefore leads to his isolation when he becomes passionate about science. However, it does seem that he having this kind of friends has some kind of effect on him as he uses words such as 'fate' and 'destiny' which seems strange for a scientist who believes in facts.
Frankenstein- Chapter 1 Reading Journal
Overview:
Chapter 1 tells the readers about Frankenstein's past. This is not only his childhood, but also of how his parents met and later married. This chapter is important for the rest of the book because it helps the readers to understand some of the things that occur later in the book and perhaps manipulates our feelings towards these.
Point 1:
It is important that we find out that Frankenstein had a very happy upbringing. Both his parents loved him dearly and although for a while he was an only child, he later had a brother and sister who he was also very close to- 'I remained for several years their only child... they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow them upon me. My mothers tender caresses, and my father's smile of benevolent pleasure... I was their plaything and their idol.' This highlights a direct contrast between the way that Frankenstein was brought up by his parents and the way that he treats the creature that he created is the polar opposite to this. The language used is also similar to the incident that happens later. He describes himself as a 'helpless creature' and 'what they owed towards the being to which they had given life'. The word 'creature' suggests a being that isn't human and is later used to describe his own creation. Shelley also uses the phrase 'given life' which is exactly what he does, yet he feels no sense of responsibility or obligation as he runs away from his creation.
Point 2:
We first hear of 'Elizabeth Lavenza' which is his adopted sister. It is important to remember this as they later on marry. Shelley writes a description of when Frankenstein first meets Elizabeth- 'My mother said playfully-'I have a pretty present for my Victor- tomorrow he shall have it.' And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine- mine to protect, love and cherish... a possession of my own... my more than sister.' The thing that is most striking from this passage is that he calls her his 'possession' which implies that he owns her. This shows his protective side and could contribute to why he runs away from his creature, because he is trying to protect himself. It could also suggest the theme of jealousy as he calls her 'mine' meaning no one else can have her. He also calls her his 'more than sister' which suggests that he has always had these feelings that are more than sisterly love for her which is proved when he marries her.
Chapter 1 tells the readers about Frankenstein's past. This is not only his childhood, but also of how his parents met and later married. This chapter is important for the rest of the book because it helps the readers to understand some of the things that occur later in the book and perhaps manipulates our feelings towards these.
Point 1:
It is important that we find out that Frankenstein had a very happy upbringing. Both his parents loved him dearly and although for a while he was an only child, he later had a brother and sister who he was also very close to- 'I remained for several years their only child... they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow them upon me. My mothers tender caresses, and my father's smile of benevolent pleasure... I was their plaything and their idol.' This highlights a direct contrast between the way that Frankenstein was brought up by his parents and the way that he treats the creature that he created is the polar opposite to this. The language used is also similar to the incident that happens later. He describes himself as a 'helpless creature' and 'what they owed towards the being to which they had given life'. The word 'creature' suggests a being that isn't human and is later used to describe his own creation. Shelley also uses the phrase 'given life' which is exactly what he does, yet he feels no sense of responsibility or obligation as he runs away from his creation.
Point 2:
We first hear of 'Elizabeth Lavenza' which is his adopted sister. It is important to remember this as they later on marry. Shelley writes a description of when Frankenstein first meets Elizabeth- 'My mother said playfully-'I have a pretty present for my Victor- tomorrow he shall have it.' And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine- mine to protect, love and cherish... a possession of my own... my more than sister.' The thing that is most striking from this passage is that he calls her his 'possession' which implies that he owns her. This shows his protective side and could contribute to why he runs away from his creature, because he is trying to protect himself. It could also suggest the theme of jealousy as he calls her 'mine' meaning no one else can have her. He also calls her his 'more than sister' which suggests that he has always had these feelings that are more than sisterly love for her which is proved when he marries her.
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Macbeth- Act 5 Reading Journals
-Act 5, Scene 1 is a very important scene for Lady Macbeths character. This is because we really see her with a mental illness, establishing her as a human character, rather than a 'fiend-like queen.' It is demonstrated that she isn't coping as she sleep walks, the Doctor asks 'when was it when she last walked?'. She then enters herself, sleepwalking but also giving away her true emotions. She says 'out, damned spot!'- this implies a spot of blood that she can't get off her hand, alluding to the murders that she partook in. She then goes back to bed but not without convincing the audience of her remorse, making us confront our own morals about whether or not we should feel sympathy for her character.
-Scene 2 is shorter, Menteth, Cathness, Angus, Lennox and Soldiers are all talking of the battle ahead. Describing 'those (Macbeth) commands move only in command, nothing in love' suggesting that everyone is scared of him and that perhaps if they get the chance, they will desert him. This is an important scene because we truly see what others opinions of him are and the true extent to which they hate him. This almost detaches us from his character, allowing us to weigh up what we really think of him.
-Scene 3 shows Macbeth throwing his weight around a bit, he insults the Servant at any chance he can get. He calls him a 'cream-faced loon', a 'lily-livered boy', 'whey-face'- emphasising his belief that he is untouchable. He was told that 'none of women born shall harm' him- meaning he thinks he cannot be harmed and so shall never die. He wants his armour on but when Seyton says 'tis not needed yet' Macbeth says 'I'll put it on' which is strange because even though he doesn't need it, he wants to wear this heavy armour. This could suggest that he's being brave and getting motivated for the battle or that he is a coward and trying to cover himself up and protect himself from everyone. As an after thought, he asks 'how does your patient?' meaning his wife. He simply says 'cure her of that', with no emotion what so ever, as if he doesn't really care. This makes us dislike Macbeth more as we have started to feel sympathy for his wife.
-Scene 4 is a short scene, Malcolm wants the soldiers to dress as part of 'the wood of Birnan' to camouflage them in battle. We know that this was one of the prophesies that Macbeth doesn't believe, suggesting that all the others will come true.
-In Scene 5, Macbeth is told that Lady Macbeth is dead. He gives an emotionless and detached response saying- 'she should have died hereafter'- implying that she was always going to die anyway. He has a bleak tone throughout this scene, says that 'life's but a walking shadow.' It almost sounds as thought he has given up with his cause and ultimately his life. After this, he is told that 'the wood began to move', proving that the prophecies are beginning to come true, perhaps making him fearful.
-Scene 6 displays much death, Macbeth kills Young Seyward and then he meets Macduff. Macbeth tries to fight Macduff but then he says 'I will not yield', demonstrating that he perhaps shows some remorse and realising when he is beaten. Macduff then kills him but then re-enters with Macbeths head, indicating that he may not be any better than Macbeth as he has so gruesomely killed and slaughtered him. At the end of the scene, we hear that Lady Macbeth 'by self and violent hands took off her life', implying that she has committed suicide. We only feel more sympathy for her because she was so riddled with guilt and to some extent feel sympathy for Macbeth as he death was very brutal.
-Scene 2 is shorter, Menteth, Cathness, Angus, Lennox and Soldiers are all talking of the battle ahead. Describing 'those (Macbeth) commands move only in command, nothing in love' suggesting that everyone is scared of him and that perhaps if they get the chance, they will desert him. This is an important scene because we truly see what others opinions of him are and the true extent to which they hate him. This almost detaches us from his character, allowing us to weigh up what we really think of him.
-Scene 3 shows Macbeth throwing his weight around a bit, he insults the Servant at any chance he can get. He calls him a 'cream-faced loon', a 'lily-livered boy', 'whey-face'- emphasising his belief that he is untouchable. He was told that 'none of women born shall harm' him- meaning he thinks he cannot be harmed and so shall never die. He wants his armour on but when Seyton says 'tis not needed yet' Macbeth says 'I'll put it on' which is strange because even though he doesn't need it, he wants to wear this heavy armour. This could suggest that he's being brave and getting motivated for the battle or that he is a coward and trying to cover himself up and protect himself from everyone. As an after thought, he asks 'how does your patient?' meaning his wife. He simply says 'cure her of that', with no emotion what so ever, as if he doesn't really care. This makes us dislike Macbeth more as we have started to feel sympathy for his wife.
-Scene 4 is a short scene, Malcolm wants the soldiers to dress as part of 'the wood of Birnan' to camouflage them in battle. We know that this was one of the prophesies that Macbeth doesn't believe, suggesting that all the others will come true.
-In Scene 5, Macbeth is told that Lady Macbeth is dead. He gives an emotionless and detached response saying- 'she should have died hereafter'- implying that she was always going to die anyway. He has a bleak tone throughout this scene, says that 'life's but a walking shadow.' It almost sounds as thought he has given up with his cause and ultimately his life. After this, he is told that 'the wood began to move', proving that the prophecies are beginning to come true, perhaps making him fearful.
-Scene 6 displays much death, Macbeth kills Young Seyward and then he meets Macduff. Macbeth tries to fight Macduff but then he says 'I will not yield', demonstrating that he perhaps shows some remorse and realising when he is beaten. Macduff then kills him but then re-enters with Macbeths head, indicating that he may not be any better than Macbeth as he has so gruesomely killed and slaughtered him. At the end of the scene, we hear that Lady Macbeth 'by self and violent hands took off her life', implying that she has committed suicide. We only feel more sympathy for her because she was so riddled with guilt and to some extent feel sympathy for Macbeth as he death was very brutal.
Macbeth- Act 4 Reading Journals
- Act 4, Scene 1 opens with the witches- reminding the audience of the supernatural elements. They chant things using rhyme and then Hecat is reintroduced. Hecats attitude changes significantly from the first time she is introduced, she scolds them almost as if they are her children -'How did you dare to trade and traffic with Macbeth' to her praising their good work, again like they are her children- 'O well done! I commend your pains.' Macbeth then enters the scene and the witches magic up apparitions which is the first time that we see them do magic- although it is suggested in the past.
-Although they prophesise his future again, this time it is more of a warning which Macbeth decides not to believe. This scares him so much that when Lennox enters he says to him 'give to the edge o'the sword his wife, his babes, and all the unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.' Macduff is in England so he can't protect his wife and children.
- Scene 2 shows that no time is wasted as it opens with Macduffs wife, his son and Ross. Already knowing the information we know, it is clear that this is going to be the scene where they are murdered. His wife says to Ross 'to leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles, in a place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not.' This almost foreshadows what is going to happen, as if she knows that something is going to happen as he has left everything he loves in a dangerous place. The murderers then enter, killing all of Macduff's family.
-Scene 3 is the last but the longest scene of the act. It shows Macduff being told that his family has been killed, but he almost does believe it. He repeats what Ross tells him- 'my children too?', 'my wife killed too?', 'all my pretty ones? did you say all?'. We know that there is going to be some sort of revenge because he says 'let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.'- It's clear that he is going to go after Macbeth, along with the prophecies, it is likely that he will kill him.
-Although they prophesise his future again, this time it is more of a warning which Macbeth decides not to believe. This scares him so much that when Lennox enters he says to him 'give to the edge o'the sword his wife, his babes, and all the unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.' Macduff is in England so he can't protect his wife and children.
- Scene 2 shows that no time is wasted as it opens with Macduffs wife, his son and Ross. Already knowing the information we know, it is clear that this is going to be the scene where they are murdered. His wife says to Ross 'to leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles, in a place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not.' This almost foreshadows what is going to happen, as if she knows that something is going to happen as he has left everything he loves in a dangerous place. The murderers then enter, killing all of Macduff's family.
-Scene 3 is the last but the longest scene of the act. It shows Macduff being told that his family has been killed, but he almost does believe it. He repeats what Ross tells him- 'my children too?', 'my wife killed too?', 'all my pretty ones? did you say all?'. We know that there is going to be some sort of revenge because he says 'let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.'- It's clear that he is going to go after Macbeth, along with the prophecies, it is likely that he will kill him.
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Macbeth- Act 3 Reading Journal
Act 3, Scene 1
- Act 3 opens with Banquo who immediately mentions the 'weird women' and he fears that 'thou playedst most foully for't' demonstrating that he suspects Macbeth.However he doesn't seem to believe himself to be in danger even though it is clear he is a threat to Macbeth's ambitions. Macbeth has been made King and him and Lady Macbeth are going to have a 'great feast' that evening and Macbeth says 'I'll request your presence' which is strange because it seems as though he is specifically asking him to come.
- Macbeth is then left alone and he speaks a soliloquy saying 'There is none but he (Banquo) whose being I do fear.' This implies that Macbeth is feeling threatened by Banquo, perhaps because of the prophecy saying that it is his sons that will become King. This then ties in with the idea that Macbeth has requested him at the feast. Macbeth has already killed people because he felt threatened so he might have something planned for him that night.
-The murders then enter, Macbeth tells them that they share the same enemy in Banquo. He says 'Both of you know Banquo was your enemy... So he is mine' (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 112-115). He also says that he wants his son, Fleance, killed along with him. This bring in the theme of morality because Macbeth doesn't seem to have a problem with killing a child. He just wants him out of the way so that he can have and keep the crown.
-In scene 2, Lady Macbeth speaks in rhyme, this is similar language to the witches. As soon as Macbeth enters the scene, she goes back to speaking normally, perhaps she doesn't wish for him to know what she is doing. Lady Macbeth also asks a lot more questions such as 'what's to be done?' (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 45). This suggests that she may be less sure of herself and has to turn to Macbeth for the plan. This shows a power shift between the characters as in the Kings death, she was the one that told Macbeth what to do. Instead of the idea that Lady Macbeth was manipulating him to do it, he is manipulating her to do it instead.
-Macbeth uses violent imagery such as 'thy bloody and invisible hand' (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 48). There is a link between this imagery and the first time that we hear of Macbeth, when the Captain says 'he unseamed him from the nave to the chops' (Act1, Scene 2, Line 22). Macbeth has always been violent but instead of it being within battle, it is to the people that trust him the most which creates the idea of it being more sinister.
-Within Scene 3, we actually witness the murder of Banquo. This is an important scene because not only do we see Banquo's reaction, we see Fleance escape which is the first time that we see something go wrong within Macbeth's plan. This means that Macbeth isn't quite as untouchable as he thought that he was.
-Scene 4 is the feast, which has some very important people invited to. Macbeth see's Banquo's ghost, this is the second time that Macbeth see's an inanimate object. Many of his friends are witnesses to this and so the fact that Macbeth may be crazy is now known to other people. He may not be quite as stable as people first thought and this could lead to people making connections between him and the deaths.
-The audience meet the head witch, Hecat, in Scene 5. This is quite an important scene because we have always seen the witches to be within power and perhaps even manipulating situations but now we see someone that is above them. Hecat seems to be angry with them because they have acted against her will. When this play is acted out, this scene is not always used but I believe it to be an important one because the witches are almost humanised because they also have an authoritative figure. They manipulate Macbeth which is a human quality, meaning that maybe the witches aren't supernatural at all, it perhaps was a combination of manipulation from the witches and self fulfilling prophecy from Macbeth.
-Lennox speaks of how Macbeth killed the two servants outside of Duncan's room, saying 'was not that nobly done?' (Act 3, Scene 6, Line 14). People are still looking up to Macbeth at this point, thinking that the reason he killed them was because he was so upset that he did it in honour of Duncan when in actual fact, we know that it was to cover his own tracks. People still believe that it was the Kings sons that murdered their father though, so Macbeth is still clear of being called guilty.
- Act 3 opens with Banquo who immediately mentions the 'weird women' and he fears that 'thou playedst most foully for't' demonstrating that he suspects Macbeth.However he doesn't seem to believe himself to be in danger even though it is clear he is a threat to Macbeth's ambitions. Macbeth has been made King and him and Lady Macbeth are going to have a 'great feast' that evening and Macbeth says 'I'll request your presence' which is strange because it seems as though he is specifically asking him to come.
- Macbeth is then left alone and he speaks a soliloquy saying 'There is none but he (Banquo) whose being I do fear.' This implies that Macbeth is feeling threatened by Banquo, perhaps because of the prophecy saying that it is his sons that will become King. This then ties in with the idea that Macbeth has requested him at the feast. Macbeth has already killed people because he felt threatened so he might have something planned for him that night.
-The murders then enter, Macbeth tells them that they share the same enemy in Banquo. He says 'Both of you know Banquo was your enemy... So he is mine' (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 112-115). He also says that he wants his son, Fleance, killed along with him. This bring in the theme of morality because Macbeth doesn't seem to have a problem with killing a child. He just wants him out of the way so that he can have and keep the crown.
-In scene 2, Lady Macbeth speaks in rhyme, this is similar language to the witches. As soon as Macbeth enters the scene, she goes back to speaking normally, perhaps she doesn't wish for him to know what she is doing. Lady Macbeth also asks a lot more questions such as 'what's to be done?' (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 45). This suggests that she may be less sure of herself and has to turn to Macbeth for the plan. This shows a power shift between the characters as in the Kings death, she was the one that told Macbeth what to do. Instead of the idea that Lady Macbeth was manipulating him to do it, he is manipulating her to do it instead.
-Macbeth uses violent imagery such as 'thy bloody and invisible hand' (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 48). There is a link between this imagery and the first time that we hear of Macbeth, when the Captain says 'he unseamed him from the nave to the chops' (Act1, Scene 2, Line 22). Macbeth has always been violent but instead of it being within battle, it is to the people that trust him the most which creates the idea of it being more sinister.
-Within Scene 3, we actually witness the murder of Banquo. This is an important scene because not only do we see Banquo's reaction, we see Fleance escape which is the first time that we see something go wrong within Macbeth's plan. This means that Macbeth isn't quite as untouchable as he thought that he was.
-Scene 4 is the feast, which has some very important people invited to. Macbeth see's Banquo's ghost, this is the second time that Macbeth see's an inanimate object. Many of his friends are witnesses to this and so the fact that Macbeth may be crazy is now known to other people. He may not be quite as stable as people first thought and this could lead to people making connections between him and the deaths.
-The audience meet the head witch, Hecat, in Scene 5. This is quite an important scene because we have always seen the witches to be within power and perhaps even manipulating situations but now we see someone that is above them. Hecat seems to be angry with them because they have acted against her will. When this play is acted out, this scene is not always used but I believe it to be an important one because the witches are almost humanised because they also have an authoritative figure. They manipulate Macbeth which is a human quality, meaning that maybe the witches aren't supernatural at all, it perhaps was a combination of manipulation from the witches and self fulfilling prophecy from Macbeth.
-Lennox speaks of how Macbeth killed the two servants outside of Duncan's room, saying 'was not that nobly done?' (Act 3, Scene 6, Line 14). People are still looking up to Macbeth at this point, thinking that the reason he killed them was because he was so upset that he did it in honour of Duncan when in actual fact, we know that it was to cover his own tracks. People still believe that it was the Kings sons that murdered their father though, so Macbeth is still clear of being called guilty.
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Macbeth- Act 2 Reading Journal
Act 2, Scene 1
-Scene 1 opens with Banquo and Fleance which is interesting because Macbeth has just decided to murder the King and Banquo is a possible threat because his 'children shall be Kings'. They then meet Macbeth in a dark corridor which is fortunate for Macbeth because his 'face..is a book where men may read strange matters'. There is dramatic Irony when Banquo says to Macbeth 'I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters' and Macbeth replies 'I think not of them' which as an audience, we know to be untrue because he has become obsessed by them. This highlights that Macbeth realises that even to his best friend, he has to keep this secret which only further isolates him and allows him to fester in his own thoughts. This could possibly mean that he is planning Banquo's murder and by veiling the truth is makes Banquo unguarded and vulnerable.
-Macbeth is then left by himself and Shakespeare gives him a soliloquy. Within this, he speaks of a dagger that is floating before him- 'Is this a dagger which I see before me'. This is a supernatural event as he is seeing an inanimate object. This is the first time that we possibly start see Macbeth having psychological problems as his mind reacts to murder. This is the scene before he kills the King, as he says 'A dagger of the mind, a false creation' suggesting that he understands it is a hallucination. There is a chance that this is because of the trauma of him knowing what he is about to do. This isn't the first time that he has killed a person so perhaps, the trauma is a result of the person he is about to kill rather than the act itself, to some extent celebrating murder as in one instance it is portrayed as a positive and heroic act while another it can be portrayed as something sick and masochistic.
Act 2, Scene 2
-Lady Macbeth enters and her speech is full of animal imagery, saying 'the owl that shrieked' which suggests that the act of murder is possibly an animal instinct and this makes them seem quite simple characters as they don't use their knowledge and logic. Animal imagery is a theme used throughout the play. She also says at the end of her speech while she is alone that 'had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't'. She is suggesting that she would have done it, had he not looked like her father. She may being trying to justify to herself that she is not weak and if she wanted, she would be able to do it herself or possibly this is her mind playing tricks as she is carrying out a sin that her father would've instilled to be wrong.
-Macbeth has 'done the deed' meaning that he has killed the King. At this point in the play, we know that there is no turning back. We don't actually see Macbeth kill the King and this could be to keep some sort of detachment from Macbeth and the act so that as an audience, we don't feel repulsed by him. Although he did it, it didn't go quite to plan because he brought the daggers with him, he then refuses to go back into the room and so Lady Macbeth commands him 'give me the daggers'. This may be because she wants to have done something to prove it to herself that she can. Even though she didn't kill him, she was still able to go into the room to plant the evidence that the guards had killed the King.
Act 2, Scene 3
-The Porter is drunk and portrays a comic character. This brings a comic relief after such a serious scene. When he meets Macduff, he is trying to be crude and shocking when he says that 'urine' is provoked by drink. Macbeth then enters the scene and Macduff asks him whether the King is up yet. Macbeth tells him no so Macduff goes to wake him. This is an important scene because we see the way that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth react to the news. In the mean time Lennox suggests that he heard 'strange screams of death'. Macduff enters very shocked and then goes to wake everyone to tell them the news. It is Lady Macbeth the comes out first, this is probably because she hasn't actually been sleeping and has been waiting for Duncan to be discovered. When she is told the news, she acts to be horrified and shocked 'woe'. Macbeth suddenly admits that he 'did kill them' and the attention shifts onto him however Lady Macbeth needs the attention to be away from them so she pretends to swoon. It is also possible that she did this to act as though she is sickened by what has happened meaning that no one will suspect her.
-The King's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, are left together. They conclude that running away would be the best thing so one goes to England and the other to Ireland. As far as they are aware, it was the guards outside the room that killed the King meaning that they have been given no reason to suspect anyone else. However they believe that 'there's daggers in men's smiles' implying that they can't trust anyone.
Act 2, Scene 4
-Macbeth killed the guards which seems like it was in vain as now they are not the suspects. Macduff tells Ross that because Malcolm and Donalbain have fled, it 'puts upon them the suspicion of the deed'. So now, it seems that everyone believes that both the sons have killed their father rather than the guards and this means that they will never become King as they have committed murder and treason. Macduff goes on to say that Macbeth 'is already named and gone to Scone to be invested'. This means that Macbeth will soon become King and the three witches prophecy will come true however it is interesting that no one suspects Macbeth. This could be a natural ending for the play because both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have got what they wanted however further turmoil is needed in order for there to be punishment, ultimately Shakespeare is reinforcing society's values.
-There also seems to be freak events happening as the horses 'ate each other' which could be a result of the witches. It could also be a reference to Macbeth as he is harming his own race, just like the horses that 'turned wild in nature' much like Macbeth.
-Scene 1 opens with Banquo and Fleance which is interesting because Macbeth has just decided to murder the King and Banquo is a possible threat because his 'children shall be Kings'. They then meet Macbeth in a dark corridor which is fortunate for Macbeth because his 'face..is a book where men may read strange matters'. There is dramatic Irony when Banquo says to Macbeth 'I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters' and Macbeth replies 'I think not of them' which as an audience, we know to be untrue because he has become obsessed by them. This highlights that Macbeth realises that even to his best friend, he has to keep this secret which only further isolates him and allows him to fester in his own thoughts. This could possibly mean that he is planning Banquo's murder and by veiling the truth is makes Banquo unguarded and vulnerable.
-Macbeth is then left by himself and Shakespeare gives him a soliloquy. Within this, he speaks of a dagger that is floating before him- 'Is this a dagger which I see before me'. This is a supernatural event as he is seeing an inanimate object. This is the first time that we possibly start see Macbeth having psychological problems as his mind reacts to murder. This is the scene before he kills the King, as he says 'A dagger of the mind, a false creation' suggesting that he understands it is a hallucination. There is a chance that this is because of the trauma of him knowing what he is about to do. This isn't the first time that he has killed a person so perhaps, the trauma is a result of the person he is about to kill rather than the act itself, to some extent celebrating murder as in one instance it is portrayed as a positive and heroic act while another it can be portrayed as something sick and masochistic.
Act 2, Scene 2
-Lady Macbeth enters and her speech is full of animal imagery, saying 'the owl that shrieked' which suggests that the act of murder is possibly an animal instinct and this makes them seem quite simple characters as they don't use their knowledge and logic. Animal imagery is a theme used throughout the play. She also says at the end of her speech while she is alone that 'had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't'. She is suggesting that she would have done it, had he not looked like her father. She may being trying to justify to herself that she is not weak and if she wanted, she would be able to do it herself or possibly this is her mind playing tricks as she is carrying out a sin that her father would've instilled to be wrong.
-Macbeth has 'done the deed' meaning that he has killed the King. At this point in the play, we know that there is no turning back. We don't actually see Macbeth kill the King and this could be to keep some sort of detachment from Macbeth and the act so that as an audience, we don't feel repulsed by him. Although he did it, it didn't go quite to plan because he brought the daggers with him, he then refuses to go back into the room and so Lady Macbeth commands him 'give me the daggers'. This may be because she wants to have done something to prove it to herself that she can. Even though she didn't kill him, she was still able to go into the room to plant the evidence that the guards had killed the King.
Act 2, Scene 3
-The Porter is drunk and portrays a comic character. This brings a comic relief after such a serious scene. When he meets Macduff, he is trying to be crude and shocking when he says that 'urine' is provoked by drink. Macbeth then enters the scene and Macduff asks him whether the King is up yet. Macbeth tells him no so Macduff goes to wake him. This is an important scene because we see the way that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth react to the news. In the mean time Lennox suggests that he heard 'strange screams of death'. Macduff enters very shocked and then goes to wake everyone to tell them the news. It is Lady Macbeth the comes out first, this is probably because she hasn't actually been sleeping and has been waiting for Duncan to be discovered. When she is told the news, she acts to be horrified and shocked 'woe'. Macbeth suddenly admits that he 'did kill them' and the attention shifts onto him however Lady Macbeth needs the attention to be away from them so she pretends to swoon. It is also possible that she did this to act as though she is sickened by what has happened meaning that no one will suspect her.
-The King's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, are left together. They conclude that running away would be the best thing so one goes to England and the other to Ireland. As far as they are aware, it was the guards outside the room that killed the King meaning that they have been given no reason to suspect anyone else. However they believe that 'there's daggers in men's smiles' implying that they can't trust anyone.
Act 2, Scene 4
-Macbeth killed the guards which seems like it was in vain as now they are not the suspects. Macduff tells Ross that because Malcolm and Donalbain have fled, it 'puts upon them the suspicion of the deed'. So now, it seems that everyone believes that both the sons have killed their father rather than the guards and this means that they will never become King as they have committed murder and treason. Macduff goes on to say that Macbeth 'is already named and gone to Scone to be invested'. This means that Macbeth will soon become King and the three witches prophecy will come true however it is interesting that no one suspects Macbeth. This could be a natural ending for the play because both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have got what they wanted however further turmoil is needed in order for there to be punishment, ultimately Shakespeare is reinforcing society's values.
-There also seems to be freak events happening as the horses 'ate each other' which could be a result of the witches. It could also be a reference to Macbeth as he is harming his own race, just like the horses that 'turned wild in nature' much like Macbeth.
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