The Murder of Duncan and the Crowning of Macbeth - Coursework Example

Do you find it satisfying that the major events of the play - the murder of Duncan, the crowning of Macbeth - happen offstage, or do you think they should be included in the action of the play? Explain. The play is bloody enough and cruel enough to bring the king’s murder on the stage. And the coronation is only mentioned as a fact that it did happen. There is nothing that seems to be significant; probably that is why Shakespeare chose with events to be off stage. 2. Explain the irony of Macbeth's seeming indifference to Fleance. Is he really unconcerned with whether Fleance dies or not? Explain Macbeth does see Fleance as a threat to his throne as, according to witches’ prophecies, Banquo’s sons will rule the country. However, he does not see the bay as a threat yet – the boy is too small. Macbeth is more afraid of the boy’s father – Banquo. 3. Do you feel any sympathy at all for Lady Macbeth as she talks about her "doubtful joy" in scene 2? Explain. It is a pathetic sight – a queen, having no joy in life, because the way she got what she wanted was so wrong. She lives in fear that their guilt will be discovered.  Nought's had, all's spent, / Where our desire is got without content; /'Tis safer to be that which we destroy / Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. (3.2.6-9) Her life is empty and she even envies the king Duncan - she says it is “safer” to be in his place. On the other hand we do understand that she suffers greatly because of her own evil choice. Her ill conscience and a lack of joy is the sad consequence of the conspiracy and murder she took a part in. She finds no peace either during the day, nor can she sleep peacefully at night. 4. Quote and explain a line in this scene which helps develop the theme of sleeplessness. The theme of sleeplessness started back in the act 2 when Macbeth murdered the king. He heard the voice then: “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor /Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.” (2.2.54-55) Maybe it was the voice of conscience, but it also was a prophetic voice. Both Macbeth and his wife cannot sleep well, they a haunted with what they did to “gain [their] peace”and wish it would never happen, but “what's done is done”. (3.2.14) Now neither of them have peace, and they envy Duncan – he does not have to go through the mind’s torture.”Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep /In the affliction of these terrible dreams /That shake us nightly.Better be with the dead, /Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, /Than on the torture of the mind to lie/In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; /After life's fitful fever he sleeps wel.” (3.2.19-21) 5. What mood is created in this scene with all Macbeth's talk of snakes, scorpions, etc.? Reading about snakes and scorpions gives the reader the felling of creepiness, torture, confusion, and suffering. Macbeth’s mind is tortured and in darkness – thus the creatures of darkness come into his mind. Snakes represent different temptations, lies and vices; scorpions – they are stinging, just like his conscience, and torturing him. 6. Explain what Macbeth means when he says, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill" (3.2.56). Be explicit as you explain what Macbeth means/plans, and comment on the chaos of a world where this statement could seem true. When someone does wrong – commit a murder in Macbeth’s case – to keep covering up for the wrongdoing, more evil deeds usually follow. Such was the case with Macbeth. First, he murdered the king Duncan, then he had to kill the grooms – because they might have proven his guilt; next thing he has to do – is to murder Banquo, both because he believes the prophecy that Banquo’s sons will be kings as well as because Banquo knows about prophecies and might suspect Macbeth. And the sequence continues. 7. There is quite a bit of literary debate about the identity of the Third Murderer in scene 3. While the question is not clearly answered in the play, who do you think the Third Murderer might be? Explain. The details of who the third murderer is not provided – we can only be guessing. From few mentions in the text it seems that the third murderer is someone who knew Banquo: “but he does usually— /So all men do—from hence to the palace gate /Make it their walk.”(3.4.18-20) It is difficult to tell, if the mysterious stranger followed the murderers at Macbeth’s command: that is the explanation he gives to the men; or if somehow he is there of his own accord. There are not many people in the play who are described as trusted by Macbeth. His wife does not know about the plan to kill Banquo. 8. In scene 2, Macbeth lets the murderers think that Fleance's murder is an afterthought, just to make things clean and tidy. Do you think the First and Second Murderers would have acted differently in scene 3 if Macbeth had told them how crucial Fleance's death is to him? Explain. I think the murderers would not act much different if they would have known that Macbeth wants to kills the boy too. To me they appear clumsy, ignorant, simple men. What did not allow them act more efficiently is that they were not fully convinced of the importance of this murder altogether. When Macbeth talks with them, they do not discuss any kind of reward for what they are about to do. Macbeth only appeals to their possible ill feelings toward Banquo. The murderers started whining about their life, but in response to that Macbeth only appealed to their manhood, and, once they agreed they are men, he ridiculed them that they are man only nominally. Murderers had no motivation to please Macbeth. 9. Do you think Lady Macbeth would have acted sooner to cover Macbeth's suspicious comments at the banquet table if she'd known of Macbeth's plan to kill Banquo? Do you think Macbeth made the right choice in not telling her? Had Lady Macbeth known about the plan to kill Banquo, she probably would have started covering up Macbeths’ comments sooner. She is smart, and though Macbeth did not tell her about his plans, he did hint to her that “they are assailable” (3.2.43), and that there is a plan to be fulfilled before the night finishes “a deed of dreadful note” (3.2.48) He does not tell her what kind of deed it is. He decides to keep it a secret from her. But mentions, that once everything is done, “Then be thou jocund” (3.2.44), and “thou [will] applaud the deed.” (3.2.51). Macbeth thinks it is a right thing to do – not to get her involved in yet another murder, seeing she is already suffering because of Duncan’s murder. Also, Lady Macbeth challenged him manhood several times before, and he wants to prove to her she is capable of doing this “deed” without her involvement. However, he asks her to “go with him.” (3.2.61) 10. How do you think the Thanes around the table are feeling after Macbeth's outburst and Lady Macbeth's hasty dismissal of them? After the hasty dismissal guests leave, and though nothing is mentioned about them, we may assume they started to discuss among themselves the meaning of what has been happening before their very eyes just now. They saw that Macbeth was obviously beyond himself, he saw something others did not see. His words revealed parts of his vision and, no doubt, Thanes were perplexed about everything that happened. 11. What does Macbeth mean when he says, "There's not a one of them but in his house/ I keep a servant fee'd" (3.4.132-33)? Macbeth refers to the “pay servant” or spy he has in every house of the people who attended the banquet. The only household that does not have a living with them is the house of Macduff 12. Carefully read the second half of Hecate's speech. As specifically as possible, explain what Hecate plans to do as she plays on Macbeth's desire to be safely on the throne. Hecate knows that Macbeth will come tomorrow to seek their counsel. She scolds three weird sisters for only talking to him in riddles. As they prepare to meet him, the weird sisters are to prepare vessels and spells in order to show Macbeth things as they are, without riddles. Hecate herself is to prepare for the meeting by catching a drop of vapor from the moon. Then she wants to use this drop to call out such unnatural spirits, that Macbeth will be even more confused and charmed into cruelty. If now Macbeth is confused, Hecate wants his to become fully persuaded in the path he chose, to put all the natural feelings aside. She wants to give him a sense of security, which he should not fear for his throne, and destroy him by it. “He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear /His hopes ’bove wisdom, grace, and fear. / And you all know security /Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.” (3.6.30-33) 13. Describe the tone of the discussion between Lennox and the Lord. Do you think as a reader/audience member, you are properly prepared for this absolute change in the opinions of Macbeth's Thanes? Explain. Two men walking and talking about Macbeth, and about the state of their country. Lennox tells about his thoughts that it is Macbeth who killed Duncan, they he uses sarcasm to talk further about their Thane of Cawdor. This is the first time in the play we hear of anyone talking about Macbeth in such manner. It is probably the fear of consequences that silence Macbeth’s subjects. However, just walking on the road like this they let themselves speak freely of what they think. Here they call Macbeth Tyrant and Usurper: “The son of Duncan, /From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth,” (3.6.25-26) 14. It is a common Elizabethan notion that when there is corruption in the royal family, this corruption "trickles down" to every aspect of the kingdom. The natural world, the King's subjects, even the economy can fall apart as a result of the King's wrongdoings. Quote at least three examples the speakers in scene 6 give of the negative impact of Macbeth's leadership on the rest of Scotland. There is a tyranny in the country – absolute tyranny. They talk that there are strange things happening in the country, which suffers for it greatly” our suffering country /Under a hand accursed!” (3.6.51-52) They are looking forward to the day when ”we may again/Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,/Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,/Do faithful homage, and receive free honors” (3.6.34-37) During the time of Macbeth’s tyrannical rule the economy suffered greatly, so there is not enough food; there killings are rampant so much so that people have to keep watch at night; they have to be at the king’s bidding any time he calls, failure to do so may have serious repercussions, as in the case with Macduff, which did not go to the king’s feast, and now he is disgraced for it:“ ’cause he fail'd /His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear, /Macduff lives in disgrace” (3.6.21-23) Read More