All Hail Macbeth!
We are finishing Act 1, and you can see how twisted our story is going to get. There are many characters and subplots that will compose the 5 acts of this work. Identify something that has happened in Act 1 that has made you think, peaked your curiousity, or that is memorable. Explain the event and the characters involved. Once an event has been mentioned, nobody else can use that one! Look, it’s our own mini notes section on Act 1…
What really made me curious was when the witches appeared for the second time. Being women of such influential power and knowledge, one would think their wisdom and common sense would be as great. This assumption proves to be incorrect. For the fault of refusing to share her chestnuts, the wife of a sailor has provoked most certain doom upon her husband.
Now, what gets to me is the magnitude of the witches revenge for such a seemingly trial act. Perhaps if they’d have given her fleas or maybe lice that would be fit for her selfishness, but imposing harsh weather conditions and ill health is a little much. Their mindset is like a child pitching a fit for being refused the time to play or receive a toy.
Just how reliable and trustworthy could witches of this nature truly be? What lives will depend on their mood? I don’t know, they just seem sketchy to me, like the cliche child with a magnifying glass.
The one thing that really got me was the description of the witches. The thought of women with beards grossed me out! The old women and the picture in our book made me think that maybe in the end they will show their beauty. The whole theme about fair is faul and faul is fair makes me think that the witches will be the good characters and help the right characters to succeed. I wonder if telling the future of the characters will go to thier head and end up being bad…
This may be a little too broad or whatever, BUT… basically the whole paradox of Macbeth. “Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair,” it stays in the back of my thoughts whenever we read something in the play. How much of what is said is reality or true? I personally think its intriguing how the play is building.
Well, I haven’t payed much opinion in the last day, but I do have an opinion about “fair is foul, foul is fair.” It was pretty cool when I first heard it and I like what it means, but after a while it was pretty annoying. I do like how it follows almost every event that happens in this Act and probably through the entire story.
When McBeth is introduced in the part about the battle, it lets us know that McBeth is a tough son of a gun. The introduction to the story lets us know that he is evil, but I think he just a guy who takes what he does to the extreme, leading us to believe he is evil. When he decapitates the Thane of Cowder and puts his head on a spear, it shows how McBeth feals about traitors. He may be a bad man in some ways, but it is probably because he is extremely loyal to his country and may lose his temper and start cutting off heads without thinking how it makes him looks
I do not remember Macbeth’s friend’s name off the top of my head so we will just call him bob. Bob’s apparent jealously and ambition when the witches reveal some of the future to Macbeth is pretty creepy. It is characters like these, who want more power and to be taken out of a servant’s role who pose a real threat to the hero. I think that is some good evidence that bob will do something to betray Macbeth in selfish ambition.
When we talked about the paradox it was very interesting, the idea of foul is fair and fair is foul. It makes you rethink everything you read in the story. I feel that there are many more twisted things to come, but having to rethink everything and not being able to take things at face value will keep us all thinking.
The thing that happened in act 1 that peaked my curiosity was Macbeth’s inner struggle on whether he should assassinate the king to become king or not. Its interesting that he has this struggle because it gives us a good clue on what kind of man Macbeth is. His ambition is shown clearly and he is not very good at hiding his emotions even from his friend Banquo, who has a good idea of what Macbeth is thinking.
One thing that stood out in my head is Macbeth’s friend telling Macbeth to hold back and chill out and not to let his ambitiousness take control of him. This showed me that Macbeth had a history of letting his emotions take control of him and biting off a little more than he can chew. Since this line I have always been a little questionable and skeptical about Macbeth.
The part of act I that has stuck with me the most is when Macbeth has his first aside while Banquo, Ross, and the other (I can’t remember his name) are standing near by. At this point Macbeth’s mind is racing with thoughts and ideas. He has no idea what he is going to do, although his gut instinct is pushing him in a certain direction. However, he keeps returning to the same evil thought of murder. I think this aside in its self is pretty fascinating and extremely realistic. Although Macbeth was written so long ago this whole image of thinking to oneself and thoughts flying by about a decision is something we’ve all experienced.
I think an interesting thing was the comment about someone’s face not accurately portraying their thoughts. This is a very true statement. This also further portrays the idea about foul and fair. It was a small event that gave me something to think about.
I think the scene when Macbeth first discovers his sinful desire was interesting. The way he said in his aside that he did not want his eye to see what his hand was doing is an intriguing way to describe the relationship betweeen the human conscience and the desires of the “id.” It will be interesting to find out if Macbeth gives in to his dark plans, or if he will be able to ignore them.
One thing that has piqued my curiosity is why the witches have something against Macbeth. For some reason the witches have picked out Macbeth and it seems as though they have no reason to curse him and ruin his life. I wish there was an explaination to why they do not like Macbeth, or a reason why.
I think the most interesting part so far in Macbeth is the witches role in the deception of Macbeth. They already knew that he was going to be Thane of Cawdor before Macbeth did, so it made Macbeth believe the prophesy. It is like the witches are showing him bit by bit of what is to come. Banquo realizes this and tells Macbeth not to dwell on the evil prophesies of the witches, but it is interesting that Macbeth will not let things run their course even after telling himself he should.
One thing that i noticed was the graphic representations of Macbeth’s defeat of the traitor. I was wondering if we could expect more scenes and description like that and the same type of brutality from Macbeth as we continue reading the play.
i haven’t payed a whole lot of attention the past couple days to Macbeth, but i have payed attention to the whole “foul is fair and fair is foul.” I like the way that goes in saying that theres really not a specific right or wrong behind meanings. This act has been hard to understand but this is probably the only thing that makes scense to me.
The most memorable part of act I for me was the introduction of the theme: “fair is foul, foul is fair.” It was interesting the way the witches revealed this so openly within the first lines of the play. It makes me wonder about each event and whether it will turn out to be for good or bad. It also makes me wonder if the events being told are actually true. The paradox of the play keeps me interested and gives the play a different twist.
so far I have liked the story of Macbeth. I like the constant them of “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” If gives us something to listening for and try to understood the meaning each time is brought up. I also like the witches prophesying Macbeth and Banquo futures. Plus, im interested to see what happens with Macbeth and his ambitions to fulfill his predicted future.
The fair is foul and fould is fair paradox is very interesting. You can match it up with most of the story. I can’t wait to see how twisted the story will get when we read more. I wonder how Macbeth is going to “leap over” the problem with Malcolm. I feel that he is going to kill Malcolm, or find another way to get him away from the throne.
Today we were introduced to Lady Macbeth. I think I remember you mentioning in class that she is extremely evil. I am interested to see what her part in the play is. I wonder if she has a relationship with the witches because they are also seen as an evil figure. Maybe tomorrow we will really see Lady Macbeth’s character?!
I think the part that struck me most is Macbeth’s soliloquy at the end of one of the scenes. I was definitely able to relate to the conflicting thoughts in Macbeth’s head. He reflects, “If this is bad, why am I getting something good out of it?” If he is going to reach the third prophecy of the witches, why is there this suggestion of something horrible–to kill the king–in his head? He is definitely conflicted in this situation. I know personally that I have conflicting thoughts in my head, (though they are nothing like killing a person!). Therefore, I definitely can relate to how Macbeth feels in this scene.
I love the part about when the witches tell Macbeth’s friend that he wont be king, but his kids will. That seems like a serious blow to Blanco’s ego. Macbeth has it great because he keeps on getting promotions and hears that he is going to be king. I would love to be in his shoes knowing that everything is going to go well for you. Well, that scene seemed very neat to me which is why I am commenting on it. Also, I would have to think that Blanco has a lot of jealousy towards Macbeth, and that would be hard for me. Its like in Taladega Nights because Ricky Bobby is always first and his partner is always second. His partner doesn’t like it and is very jealous even though he is rather quiet about it. I thought that was a good connection between Macbeth and an amazing piece of work “Taladega Nights”.
The three witches remind me a whole lot of the three witches in the anglo saxon religion. There are also three witches in the movie hercules. Maybe this is some kind of archetype. The witches are always evil and use a lot of symbolism. Also, the witches can never directly kill anyone.
The one thing in Act one that got me thinking was when the witches told MacBeth and Banquo their predictions of what might happen in the future. My grandmother usually calls a psychic about once a year and asks about all of her grandchildren and i know when she would tell me everything the psychic saw in my life, it completely freaked me out. Knowing that two out of the three predictions have already come true makes me wonder about withches and psychics as a whole…. just made me wonder…
The most memorable part for me was Macbeth talked about that guy he killed. He was telling someone like Banquo or the king that he killed the guy by cutting him from his stomach to his chin. Then he cut his head off and put it on a spear. I remember that part the best.
The story of Macbeth is probably one of the strangest stories I have read in quite some time. The part of the story that makes me think is that the crowd knows more than the characters. It really creates a unique type of story line. I think that this must have been a very hard story to write. Also there are many strange and mysterious characters thoughout the story. The witches seem to come and go as the story progresses. This is a little odd to read because it is hard to imagine witches. I personally have never seen someone disapear, but I am sure it is quite a sight.
What really sparked me was Banquo’s clothing metaphor. When MacBeth had just recieved the title of the Thane of Cawdor and Banquo got to talking about that MacBeth’s new honors fit him like a set of new clothing. When you first get clothes they still have their folds and creases in them and are not yet fit to your body. THis is just like how MacBeth has earned the honor of the Thane of Cawdor but he is not yet used to it and will need some timw to get used to his newly appointed honors; just like a set of clothes takes a couple of washings to get to the way that you like it to fit you.
At first i did not pick up on the “fair is foul, foul is fair” paradox. After thinking about it, and hearing it over and over I comprehended it. It has a deap meaning that deals with Macbeths actions. The witches have put ideas in his head, and he is confused about what he plans on doing. I was excited to find out what he intends to do with his new found information.
Meeting Macbeth’s wife really made me think. She is a scary, dominant woman whom clearly wears the pants in the relationship. I think that she plays the biggest role in Macbeth’s life, for she persuades him to do the great evil that he does. I would like to see how they first met, and what happened to cause them to be wed. She probly threatened to kill his family if he broke up with her and then frame it on him. It is going to be interesting to see what tricks she has up her sleeve and what other evil she is full of. I really hate research papers.