16/03/17

 

Act 3 Scene 4

List Macbeth’s uses: 2I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confin’d, bound in…” The alliterative list firstly highlights Macbeth’s realisation that due to Fleance’s escape the prophecy in which he loses the throne to Fleance could still come true. The word choice in the list of words e.g. “confin’d” suggests having no room, and that he is himself in a cage and locked up as a prisoner – perhaps this is foreshadowing the trapped minds of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, while will, certainly for Lady Macbeth, be the end of her. It also refers to the idea of self destruction and the impossibility of escaping guilt.

It also of note that Banquo died with “twenty gashes” – again another grotesque murder with gratuitous violence (similar to Duncan’s murder)

Macbeth’s reference to Banquo’s dead body as a “serpent” shows his lack of being in touch with reality, he is losing control of his senses and of reality.  Macbeth is deceitful and also shows no emotions regarding the death of his best friend. It is interesting to compare Macbeth’s reaction to Banquo’s death with his reaction straight after Duncan’s – they occur not long after each other but in between these times Macbeth has lost all ability to show remorse.

Furthermore Macbeth’s action (returning to feast) further show his coldness and lack of humanity.

LM: “are you a man?” Again LM calls into question Macbeth’s masculinity and she uses it a bargaining tool, it highlights what it meant to be a male in that time. Her questioning of her husband subverts the stereotypical role of the Jacobean woman.

 

21/03/17

Pg 55

“Let the earth hide thee”. Macbeth wishes for Banquo’s ghost to vanish. This shows Macbeth wishing to be free of guilt, it also hints that he unable to deal with the guilt and the true mental turmoil caused by his actions.

“I am man again” on Banquo’s ghost’s exit it shows his guilt is seen by Macbeth as a weakness. We start to realise his character is crumbling, he is far removed from the “noble” warrior we met at the start.

“You can behold such sights and keep the natural ruby of your cheeks when mine is blanched with fear”.  The contrasting colours show the contrasting natures and responses by Macbeth and LM to their murderous deeds. It shows the divergence of their relationship. Also this shows Macbeth’s persistent beautiful view of his wife, he describes her cheek as a “ruby”. Just as a ruby is precious, beautiful, valued and something unique so Macbeth still views his wife as…

It could be argued thought this furthers Macbeth’s twisted mind as he considers himself “blanche2 which has connotations of purity etc, whereas his wife is “ruby” which is a colour connoted with blood and death. Is Macbeth distancing himself from the guilt and seeing himself as innocent?

Repetition of blood. A key theme throughout the text.

M: “I am in blood stepp’d in so far that should I wade no more”.  Macbeth is aware of the murderous acts he has committed and again knows he should proceed no further. (but will he?/ will he override his conscience). Every act of murder y Macbeth is another crushing blow to the character we met at the start of the play. We are watching the self destruction of a man (and a woman).

Macbeth: “We are yet but young in deed” – again poor self reflection which is inaccurate by Macbeth perhaps also hinting at his wish to portray himself more innocently.