Q: What do we learn about Macbeth and his mental stability in Act 2 Scene 1?
In the book, Macbeth's mind seems to kind of be all over the place as of late. In previous scenes / chapters, he starts to reconsider killing Duncan. But as the story goes on, he goes more towards thinking that he should in fact kill Duncan. Before doing so, Macbeth has a long internal monologue about his weapon that really seems to hint at him being unstable mentally. He goes on saying that he is basically reaching for a fake dagger. "I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. / Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible / To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?" (2.1.36-40). This quote really highlights Macbeth's inner struggle as he is trying to figure out if his mind created the dagger or if it is a hallucination that his brain had made. This struggle really gives off a feeling to the reader of being unstable, especially in this thoughts. Also, another confusing part about his monologue is that right after he talks about the fake dagger, he pulls out his actual dagger and that he can still see the fake one. "I see thee yet, in form as palpable / As this which I now draw" (2.1.41-42). Macbeth saying he is able "to see" the hallucinated dagger also highlights that he could be pretty unstable. Farther in the scene, Macbeth admits that there is no dagger and that the murder he is about to do is making him believe that he is actually looking at one. "There's no such thing. / It's the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes" (2.1.48-50). This quote shows another huge sign of Macbeth having very low mental stability.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
PMW 2/3: Lady Macbeth
Q: What are the defining attributes of Lady Macbeth's character? What character alignment would you give Lady Macbeth?
I think that Lady Macbeth is not a force to be reckoned with. If she wants something done, then she'll get it done, no matter what the cost. One of her main goals so far in the text is that she wants Duncan dead so Macbeth can become king. No matter what her husband Macbeth says, she wants her goal accomplished. In act one scene seven of Macbeth, Macbeth is starting to not feel so sure on killing Duncan. Since Lady Macbeth wants it done, she starts to try and talk him back into it. "When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man" (56-58). This quote shows Lady Macbeth's attribute of persuasion and how she uses it on her husband to complete her goal. In summary, I think some of Lady Macbeth's defining characteristics are her persuasion and her drive to get things done.
On the character alignment scale, I would put Lady Macbeth at chaotic neutral. Someone who is chaotic neutral have basically no respect for laws and they are mainly focused on their own desires and interests. Also, "they are prepared to commit acts that are immoral or outright criminal" (character alignment packet). Like I stated earlier, Lady Macbeth is driving towards a specific desire of wanting her husband to be king. She is willing to commit an immoral act to do so as well, also characterizing her as chaotic neutral. In the text, she says to herself, "come you spirits / That tend on my mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty" (1.5.47-50). This quote shows her willing to change her mindset to do something evil to accomplish her desire of Macbeth being king.
I think that Lady Macbeth is not a force to be reckoned with. If she wants something done, then she'll get it done, no matter what the cost. One of her main goals so far in the text is that she wants Duncan dead so Macbeth can become king. No matter what her husband Macbeth says, she wants her goal accomplished. In act one scene seven of Macbeth, Macbeth is starting to not feel so sure on killing Duncan. Since Lady Macbeth wants it done, she starts to try and talk him back into it. "When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man" (56-58). This quote shows Lady Macbeth's attribute of persuasion and how she uses it on her husband to complete her goal. In summary, I think some of Lady Macbeth's defining characteristics are her persuasion and her drive to get things done.
On the character alignment scale, I would put Lady Macbeth at chaotic neutral. Someone who is chaotic neutral have basically no respect for laws and they are mainly focused on their own desires and interests. Also, "they are prepared to commit acts that are immoral or outright criminal" (character alignment packet). Like I stated earlier, Lady Macbeth is driving towards a specific desire of wanting her husband to be king. She is willing to commit an immoral act to do so as well, also characterizing her as chaotic neutral. In the text, she says to herself, "come you spirits / That tend on my mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty" (1.5.47-50). This quote shows her willing to change her mindset to do something evil to accomplish her desire of Macbeth being king.
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