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 wicthes greet Macbeth after the battle? Why?
4. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene?
Allegra Post 1
ReplyDelete1. The witches are the main power source of the play. They set the mood of the story. The lines "Fair is foul, and fouls is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air" foreshadow future events. They give Macbeth and Banquo a prophecy that both of them will be unhappy, however Banquo will still be better off than Macbeth. Banquo learns that his children will be kings and Macbeth will be King.
2.The original Thane of Cawdor lost his title because he was a traitor. They plan to execute him.
Allegra Posr 2
ReplyDelete1. The witches hold power over Macbeth, even though it is hard for him to accept. Macbeth expresses the same fearlessness to them as he did in battle. The witches acknowledge this but know that in the end, they will have the final say and ultimate control.
Allegra Post 3
ReplyDelete2. Macbeth is appointed as the new Thane because of his great strength and bravery during the war.
Arianna Post 1
ReplyDeleteQuestions 1-3
1. I believe that the witches are sort of foreshadowing the events to come in the story of Macbeth. In the first scene Witch 2 says, "When the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won"(1). This is clearly telling the reader that there will be a battle coming up and some will rise while others fall. The witches plan on confronting Macbeth after the battle with news. We meet the witches again in as planned in scene 3 upon the heath. They cry for Macbeth and when he approaches they tell him of his fortune. Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor which leaves Macbeth confused and bewildered. He says, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen"(13). He is excited that he has become king, but feels bad that he has taken the place of King Duncan. It is a bitter sweet victory
2. The Thane of Cawdor was the old king that Macbeth took the place of. Macbeth was told by Ross that the old Thane of Cawdor would be executed due to treason."Who was the thane lives yet, but under heavy judgment bears that life. Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined"(14) says Witch 3. Treason means betrayal and rebellion against your ruler or power. Committing treason is not something King Duncan takes lightly therefore the Thane was put to death. Macbeth has been chosen to replace him which is a huge honor and burden at the same time. He has been given a very high honor and job, but with that comes great responsibility and also dangers.
3. The witches greet Macbeth on the heath like they said they would in the beginning. When he walks up Witch Two exclaims to Macbeth, "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor"(15). They are greeting him as the thane because that is the job he will take now that the other thane has been put to death. They are already talking to him as if he has the power of thane and setting him up for his position.
Grigg- First Post
ReplyDelete1.The play starts out with three witches foreshadowing big events in the future. The witches say, “There to meet with Macbeth” (I.i.8) indicating their interest in Macbeth. It is known that Shakespeare starts all of his plays with a powerful event, many times foreshadowing the events to come. He begins the play with the central power so it is evident that the witches will have a lot to do with the outcome of the story. At the end of act one scene one the witches say in unison, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air” (I.i.11-12). This foreshadows future events as well. This powerful statement indicates the witches’ shady dealings and things are not as they seem.
2.The original Thane of Cawdor was proven a traitor to King Duncan’s nation. In the play it says, “Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, the Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict…” (I.iii.54-55), proving his disloyalty. King Duncan wants the current Thane executed and decides to appoint Macbeth as the replacement Thane for his bravery and loyalty in battle. The king says, “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his death” (I.iii.66-67). He does not want to be betrayed again by the Thane of Cawdor so he pronounces his death.
3.When the witches enter the play again in act one scene four that hail Macbeth. They prophesize he will be named Thane of Cawdor, which Macbeth does not believe. Banquo, with Macbeth, says to the witches, “You should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so” (I.iii.45-47). It is evident that Macbeth and Banquo are mocking the witches and have a false sense of superiority. The witches hold the true power. They hail Macbeth and do not care that he is mocking them because they no they have supreme control over Macbeth’s future.
Grigg- 2nd analysis
ReplyDelete1.The witches come in twice throughout the act. The second time they meet Macbeth and Banquo and prophesize each of their futures. The second witch says to Banquo, “not so happy, yet much happier” (I.iii.66). They are talking about his future and imply that he does not have a bright future for himself but later it will get brighter. They prophesize that his children shall be king. For Macbeth they predict him being crowned Thane of Cawdor, which comes true shortly after they depart. The witches are playing with their futures.
2.Macbeth is pronounced the new Thane of Cawdor because the original is proven to be a traitor to Scotland. The Thane of Cawdor committed treason, giving Macdonwald information about the Scottish army. Macbeth defeats Macdonwald in battle. King Duncan chose Macbeth not only because he is direct bloodline but because of his bravery in battle, killing the Norwegian Macdonwald. The captain (trying to convince Duncan to appoint Macbeth) says, “But all’s too weak; for brave Macbeth well he deserves the name” (I.ii.15-16). He was strong in battle, defeating the enemy of the nation, Macdonwald.
3.The witches to not get angry when Macbeth and Banquo treat the witches as inferior. They hail them as lords. I think that they want to give a false sense of power to both Macbeth and Banquo so that when they strip them of their power. They call him the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future king predicting his great success.
Grigg- 3rd analysis
ReplyDelete1.The initial scene of the play is full of the witch’s foreshadowing future events. They predict the battle, “lost and won”, meaning one side will be defeated and one side will have victory. The witches are clearly planning to mess with Macbeth’s and Banquo’s futures. They predict that Macbeth will be the new Thane of Cawdor. It is possible that they depicted the original thane as a traitor, hence giving the throne over to Macbeth. The witches act very shady and are a force to reckon with.
2.The original Thane of Cawdor was caught giving battle tactics and strategies to the enemies of his country. For this King Duncan released him from his title of thane and wants him executed. Macdonwald was able to deceive the Thane into giving him secrets. However King Duncan was surprised that he would betray his country because the Thane was always so noble. He went to his execution accepting his downfall; he went with nobility.
3.After watching the video today we see the witches greet Macbeth with “Hails” just like in the book. However something that is not noticed in the book is that the witches are betrayed as being scared of Macbeth and Banquo. This was interesting because they have so much power over the two of them that seeing them as mortal only deeper portrays their control. It makes their defeat over Macbeth seem even greater.
Allegra
ReplyDelete4. Lady Macbeth says "unsex me" because she wants to strip herself of her gender. As a man, she would have more power and strength. She wants to go against her maternal instincts. This way, she'll be able to be ambitious and pursue her desires to kill Duncan.
Grigg- 1st analysis question 4
ReplyDelete4.In lady Macbeth’s “unsex me” seen a lot about her character is portrayed. Lady Macbeth seeks power and in her society she cannot possess it because she is a woman. She receives all of her power through a man, her husband. She knows that her husband, Macbeth is plotting to kill King Duncan to gain power, her ultimate goal. She is basically saying, “Take away my womanly feelings so that I can help in the plot to murder King Duncan.” She says, “Make thick my blood; stop up th’access and passage to remorse” (I.V.43-44). She wants courage so that she can help Macbeth and she doesn’t want to feel guilty afterwards for committing the deed.
Grigg- 2nd analysis question 4
ReplyDelete1.Since she is trying to rid herself of her maternity and motherly instincts it is clear that she is still feeling these things. This is ironic because many women struggle with these decisions today, will women give up their career to raise children? She would rather give up these feelings and help her husband. She is driven by her ambition.
Grigg- 3rd analysis question 4
ReplyDelete1.She longs the power and ability to kill King Duncan. She is a rare woman for the time-period, seeking the throne. She realizes that her gender prevents her from her ambitions so she is basically asking the gods to “unsex” her. She essentially wants to be a man. She also asks for courage and strength so that she has the bravery to commit the murder. She also needs the courage to talk her husband into the murder.
Arianna Amini Post #1
ReplyDeleteQuestion 4
Basically when Lady Macbeth says to "unsex me" she means that she wants to shed herself of the average women image. Lady Macbeth is uncomfortable with lady lick things including cooking, dressing up, and most importantly having children. She is a powerful women who longs for the abitity to lead and work like her husband. She is uncomfortable with herself as a women and would rather have the duties of a man. When she says, "What tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood. Stop up the access and passage to remorse" She is saying that she wants to be stripped of all her female duties and instead be a man and do powerful man things. She wants to be ruthless and cruel instead of king and gentle like shes suppose to be.
Arianna Amini Post #2
ReplyDelete1.The witches in the story are kind of like the narrators. In this first part they are setting up the readers for what is to come. They foreshadow Macbeth becoming the thane and Cawdor and will continue to do this throughout the play. In this specific part the witches are setting up the mood and plot of the play.
2.The original Thane of Cawdor was a traitor and was therefore unworthy of King Duncan. Even though Duncan is a kind man he sent the old Cawdor to his death for treason. Now Macbeth will become Cawdor.
3.The witches greet Macbeth in a quirky way. They know that Macbeth is unaware of his new position and when they greet him as Cawdor they are not taken back by his sense of surprise. They do this because they know that Macebeth is judging them and thinks lowely of them and it gives them joy and power knowing that they are aware of his new position before he is.
4.I think that Lady Macbeth wants nothing to do with her womanly roles. If she could I believe she would live the life of her husband Macbeth instead. She does not want to have kids or do anything that a normal housewife should do. Instead she wants to deal with the gore, power, and greed that her husbands along with all other men deal with everyday.
Arianna Amini Post #3
ReplyDelete1.Allegra, I agree with what you said about the witches being the source of power of the play. They do foreshadow and look over all events that go down throughout the play
2.Macbeth was chosen as the new Cawdor because Duncan saw him as a brave, loyal, and trust worthy person which is the complete opposite of what the old Cawdor was. He was committed with treason
3.Grigg, I agree with what you said about the witches not being angry. They were kind of teasing Macbeth and Banquo and acting like they were less superior and that they knew nothing compared to these brave and noble men.
4.Grigg, I also agree with what you said about Lady Macbeth anting courage. She wants courage and strength to help her husband gain power so they can lead their land.
Allegra Post 5
ReplyDelete1. Shakespeare often starts his plays with the central power. This tells the audience that they will play a huge role on the story. The lines “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air” (I.i.11-12) make it evident that things are not what they seem in the story. It foreshadows future contradicting events. When they arrive for the second time to tell Macbeth and Banquo of their prophecies, Banquo’s future is “not so happy, yet much happier”. Again, contradicting and confusing words are used. This implies that Banquo will not have a good future, but Macbeth’s will be worse. The fact that the witches are stating this makes it evident that they have complete power over events to come. They plan to mess with Macbeth’s mind and fate.
2. Macbeth replaced the Thane of Cawdor. He was a traitor but died with dignity. The Thane’s death, who “under heavy judgment bears that life which he deserves to lose”, gives Macbeth the power he wanted. This is the start of Macbeth’s greediness. With this first power, he will then become more and more hungry for more.