Blog 18: Female Roles in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Now that our reading of the tragic drama, Macbeth, is complete, we are able to take a more critical eye to aspects of theme, characterization, and plot. Perhaps one of the most glaring observations about the play is the limited influence of female roles. In fact, the two main female characters, Lady Macbeth ad Lady Macduff, are only referenced in terms of their husbands. This detail is very telling of the time period in which Shakespeare wrote and the time period the story takes place.

Visit the following website and read up on Shakespeare's treatment of Gender Roles in Macbeth:

"Gender and Sexuality in Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Reversal in Gender Roles" (Thacker)

Do you agree/ disagree with some of the article's analysis? Choose a quotation from Thacker's writing and argue for or against it.

I agree with the section about power. "In her opinion, an audience watching the play would be shocked at how fiery and forthcoming Lady Macbeth was in her behaviour." Shakespeare did not write to bore his audience. He wanted to shock the viewers/ readers by switching the gender roles. He made the women conniving and evil and the men the more innocent pawns.

Blog 17: Act V Study Guide Questions

Answer the following Act V questions based on your reading from the past two days. You may work with a partner, but your responses should be original. Complete sentences and use of textual support is required [at least two quotations]. Posted: Fri., 1.15.10, beginning of class

Act V, scene ii

1. What does Angus say about the men that Macbeth commands?

Angus claims the soldiers only fight because they are ordered to, not because they love Macbeth. "Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love"

2. How is the "plant" metaphor started in Act I, sc. iv, by Duncan, continued in this scene?

Lennox says they must "drown the weeds."

Act V, scene iii

1. What are Macbeth's troops doing? Why does he remain so confident?

They are turning against him. He believes the witches' statements were literal and true.

2. How does Macbeth acknowledge that Scotland is suffering?

He asks the doctor for advice on what is going wrong in Scotland.

Act V, scene iv

1. Who is Siward? What is his opinion of the king?

Siward called Macbeth the "overconfident tyrant."

2. What tactical strategy does Malcom implement? What is its purpose and why is it significant to the play?

He tells nobody to fight. It explains that everyone is turning on Macbeth.

Act V, scene v

1. How does the sound of the woman's cry affect Macbeth?

"I have almost forgot the taste of fears." It reminds him that he is human and frightened.

2. Who dies in this scene? What are the main ideas of Macbeth's soliloquy after this event?

"The queen, my lord, is dead." He realizes the meaningless of life and his pursuit at royalty.

3. What does Macbeth now recognize about the prophecies? How does his realization relate to the play's central theme?

He believed they could never occur, but now they are. It brings Macbeth back down to earth and he begins to realize that nothing good can come without something bad.

Blog 16: Story Time Macbeth Style

Act III: Story Time

The witches, ghosts, and characters in Shakespeare's Macbeth are sinister and frightening. Suppose you are invited into an elementary classroom to share the play Macbeth with all of the kids.

How would you hold the "story time" without giving the children nightmares? Write an adaptation [another version] of the events in the play, which include the scarier aspects of the play: Macbeth, the witches, and the ghosts.

Post this story to your own blog, and then critique another classmate's version for appropriate content.

A Scottish man named Macbeth went walking with his friend, Banquo when three magical ladies that could tell the future came up and talked to them. The magical ladies told Macbeth that he would soon be greater than he was - the King of Scotland! They told Banquo his sons would be the kings after. Throughout the story, Macbeth does some bad and mean things in order to become king. He gets into fights with a lot of people because they know he is doing wrong things in order to become king. Macbeth sent people out to go hurt Banquo because he was scared of him. Then, Banquo's ghost came to scare Macbeth even more. Then, men were thinking of ways to make Macbeth not be king anymore.. with twizzlers.

Blog 15: New Year's Premonitions

Banquo cautions his war comrade Macbeth about the Three Weird Sisters' [Witches] premonitions: "The instruments of darkness tell us truths;/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray's/ In deepest consequence..." (Act I, scene iii, lines 123-125). Here Banquo clearly states his position on the Witches' statements. Explain in a few sentences what Banquo means with these lines for their futures.

In this post, also consider what you believe for your future in the year 2010. Premonitions are similar to New Year's Resolutions in that they have an element of self-fulfilling prophecy. One sort of resolution has to do only with oneself. You might decide to lose weight, to stop eating candy, to exercise more, or watch less TV. Other resolutions might involve family or friends. You could resolve to be more patient with your little brother or more helpful to mom. Some resolutions are about school and the outside world, such as getting to class on time or trying for better grades. Make one goal for each New Year's Resolution category: Personal Improvement, Family and Friends, and School and the Outside World.

Banquo is warning Macbeth not to trust the witches. They were saying all these good things that were going to happen to Banquo and Macbeth and their families. Because they were witches, they were not to be trusted. All good things come with bad things too.

My resolutions are to be healthier, be nicer, and focus better in my classes. The latter is ironic because I am typing this as Miss Kaser is going over the first part of this Do Now with Melissa. I should be following this probably. I will start my resolutions... tomorrow!