Act One, Scene 1: The introductory scene is short, involving solely the introduction of the Three Witches, Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy to demonstrate the evil and maliciousness of the witches through their entrance alongside 'Thunder and lightning'. The scene foreshadows conflict in the play "When the battle's lost, and won." and language such as 'fog and filthy air' insinuates acts of deceit and corruption. The witches present the Gothic element of the Supernatural through their chants e.g. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" which incite that magical forces are at play. The scene uses many short, single lines by each of the Witches, this creates a rhythm and quickening pace likened to that of a witches chant.
Act One, Scene 2: The scene takes place at a Scottish military camp after a battle between the Scots against the Irish and Norwegians. Macbeth is ironically glorified for his prestige and courage during the battle by his fellow captains. Stemming from a battle, there are numerous references to blood, which may foreshadow bloodshed that is to come. Macbeth's ascension to Thane of Cawdor signals a rise of power and this coupled with the other nations fighting against Scotland may give the impression that Macbeth is rising to power against the King, this betrayal is reinforced by the betrayal by the previous Thane of Cawdor.
Act One, Scene 3: There is a recurring association of Thunder with the entrance of the witches, asides from the opinion that the thunder may represent their evilness, the thunder may also express the witches as a Godly power, this coincides with the possibility of the witches being past, present and future making them supernaturally omnipresent. The evil of the witches is emphasized when they meet and mention their own recent activities and each one has been 'killing' or 'plotting'. The rhyming chant of the First Witch which may be interpreted as like that if a nursery rhyme is contrasted to the reality that these characters are dangerous and sinful. This is also the scene where it is revealed to Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland by the witches and that he is the new Thane of Cawdor by Ross, confirming the Witches' prophecy. Macbeth contemplates whether the crown will come to him or whether he will have to do a deed.
Act One, Scene 4: It is revealed that King Duncan "built An absolute trust." with Macdonwald foreshadowing again that a future betrayal by the Thane of Cawdor is at the midst. This is the first time Duncan and Macbeth speak together and being after the prophecy, Macbeth's words to the King may be interpreted as half-hearted or tongue-in-cheek "the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself.". With attention to Macbeth's last portion in the scene, his line's assume the rhyming pattern of the Witches placing him alongside their devious ranks, this is shown further by the line "that is a step, On which I must fall down" which symbolises his fall from grace in betraying the King; the word 'must' here may also mean that Macbeth has already decided his course of treason. Duncan's decision to make Malcolm his heir to the throne also poses another obstacle for Macbeth, will he have to kill Malcolm in addition to Malcolm?
Act One, Scene 5: This scene places heavy focus on the character Lady Macbeth (LM) who is heavily stirred by the notion that her husband is to be King. She may be interpreted as the raw and brash incarnation of Macbeth himself, this interpretation however goes against the previous proceedings that Macbeth is a valiant and honourable man. Shakespeare's decision to introduce LM through her reading a letter may illiterate that LM is not acting upon her own accord entirely in the scene, where she behaves much unlike a typical woman of her time, spewing words such as "Come you spirits....unsex me here," which is supernatural and goes against God much like Frankenstein with his Creation and that met dire consequences. LM believes that to go forth with her merciless plan, she must "uneffeminate" herself, to have strength and no remorse like a soldier. She dominates Macbeth and criticises his hesitancy.
Act One, Scene 6: This scene shows Lady Macbeth's (LM) other side to her persona, she gives the impression of utter gratitude and dedication to the King, whilst simultaneously plotting against him; showing her cunning and ruthlessness.
Act One, Scene 7: This scene entails Macbeth's procrastination and resultant decision to act upon his and Lady Macbeth's (LM) constructed plan. In the dark and left alone to his thoughts, Macbeth begins his long soliloquy, considering and procrastinating his plan to kill the King save the consequences that could follow. His sentences are short bursts; like a train of nervous thought. Macbeth's values the King's good virtues and see's only his own ambition as a factor pushing him to do commit treason. Macbeth attempts briefly to regain his honour "We will proceed no further in this business:" but like Eve tempting Adam, LM, almost representing the woman of sin, soon enters to quell his hesitation and steal his remorse. It seems as though Lady Macbeth acts as the voice in the back of Macbeth's mind, doubting him and pushing him to carry out his dark deed; she does this by attacking Macbeth's manhood and dignity "live a coward in thine own esteem?". The scene is very sexual with LM likening Macbeth's desire to become King like his desire for a woman "Such I account thy love...To be in the same in thine act...As thou art in desire?" There is a strong theme of betrayal here as Macbeth ponders the betrayal of his King and country and LM betrays her womanly virtues "while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,". With all this switching of gender roles; Gothically, it plays out as if Macbeth is the '"woman" at threat from a tyrannical male' (LM). Macbeth ends the scene with two lines "Away and mock the time....what the false heart doth know" that are of striking similar fashion to the ending two lines from Act One, Scene 1 by the Witches, these two lines follow up on the themes of deceit and forthcoming sin.
This is good. It shows that you are thinking deeply about the play. The reversal of gender roles is interesting and should be looked at further. You have also made good close connections with the text.
ReplyDelete