Macbeth Plays So Willingly into the Hands of the Witches - Coursework Example

Are you surprised that Macbeth plays so willingly into the hands of the witches? Shouldn't he have learned his lesson by now? Explain your answer. It is not surprising to me that Macbeth went to seek witches counsel again. Once he did evil, it is much easier to follow in its footsteps. As it was said in the previous act, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill" (3.2.60). Also, Macbeth is not portrayed as strong believer who would seek his answers from God, so once falling into temptation of following witches advice and seeing that their prophecy has been fulfilled, he seeks answers to his questions from evil forces. 2. Do you have any sympathy for Macbeth in Act 4, scene 1? We feel sympathy when we learn someone is struggling and suffering, even if they are suffering because of their own sins and faults, in which they sincerely repent. In the case of Macbeth, he is willingly goes to witches; he has seen them before and knows that they are strange, evil and hideous creatures, however he chooses to go to them and, when he comes to their abound, he acts boldly, he commands witches to answer him, even if they will have to call on all the power of hell, and it would mean destruction in nature – he does not care for anything else, he only cares to get his answers. “Even till destruction sicken, answer me / To what I ask you” (4.1.61-62) 3. Imagine you are directing this scene. How would you: design the set dress Lady Macduff and her son direct the characters to act etc. To maximize the sense of innocence - i.e. the more innocent Lady Macduff and her son seem to the audience, the more cruel their murders seem, and the more wicked Macbeth will look. In the castle of Macduff there are usual daily activities that carried out – chores to attend, there are domestic animals, servants. Lady Macduff is in her middle age, tidy, stout woman; she has an apron and a headpiece. She is obviously a head of this household; she speaks gently, yet firmly. Her son is beside her. Now, since his father is gone, he considers himself the man and wants to help his mother to take care of the castle and his siblings. He has good, but simple clothes on. Young children are playing, servants are going about their errands and the boy helps his mother to carry something inside, while they are talking about Macduff. Their chit-chat if full of laughter and joy, they joke with each other. It is easy to see the son and mother really love each other. Also, the boy does not believe his father is dead, neither is he a traitor. Then they enter a room in the house – that is where the messenger comes with the warning. 4. In Act 3, Macbeth begins to act without the counsel of Lady Macbeth. Here in Act 4, after the apparitions are presented to him, he begins to act impulsively, seeming not to consult his own reason. His order to murder Macduff's family is the first impulsive act he takes. Do you think that if he'd stopped and really considered possible outcomes that he would have decided against this action or do you think that he would have killed Macduff's family anyway? Explain. It is difficult to say if Macbeth would spare Macduff’s family if he would have put more thoughts into the matter. It is not only impulse that had driven him; killing also became his “second nature”, something that comes to his mind first. By now it became customary for Macbeth to kill defenseless and innocent people to reach his goal. Of course, there is a chance he would have changed his mind had he stopped and think about it more thoroughly. But he was angry Macduff has escaped his hands and just was seeking an object to poor out his wrath upon, so Macduff’s family was an easy prey. Their death would also hurt Macduff greatly; maybe even break his spirit, so it is likely that even after considering the matter more thoroughly, Macbeth would have killed them anyway. Besides, Macbeth knew Macduff does not approve of him as a king – he did not even come to his coronation (2.4.47) – he went home instead, and then, without letting Macbeth know – to England. At some point Macbeth also took it as a personal offense that Macduff did not come to the banquet. “How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person / At our great bidding” (3.4.156-157) 5. Just after Macduff hears his family has been murdered he says, "And I must be from thence!" (4.3.212) Explain Macduff's priorities, i.e. which is more important to him, country or family? Are you bothered by Macduff's priorities? Do they make you feel differently about Macduff? When Macduff hears the news about his family being murdered, he expresses true human emotions of grief, sorrow, remorse, guilt etc. It was a very difficult moment for him, especially because he knew his family suffered because of no one else, but him. He left his home without even telling his wife he is going away and not thinking about consequences it might have for them. He wanted to be where his country needed him. It was his duty, which he considered above his duty to his family. These priorities seems to be unnatural for a good father, however, if we are to consider the times, it was customary for husbands to be away to the battle and to leave his family behind. Just like in the beginning of the play Shakespeare showed a revolt in the country that had to be taken care of, those were many occurrences in medieval times. There were many war waged both internally as well as with the external enemies. Having said all this, we are not excusing Macduff for putting his family in jeopardy, but all this to say that he shared the priorities of many warriors of his time. Read More