What about my masterpiece?

My masterpiece has been particularly troubling when coming down to a topic of discussion and personally the unknown fields of science were quite entertaining in interest but not something that fundamentally encompasses my life. That being said I’m changing my masterpiece to a topic that troubles me and keeps me in a state of perpetual paralysis whenever I think of it. The fact is why are we here in this troubling universe? Just because we were gifted with cognitive thought for the existence around us? How long do most people spend thinking on this matter? Are others also ensued with this state paralysis? These are some of the question I will ask in personal interviews until I develop a common theme and hopefully end up with a book of essays sort of like Montaigne’s essays.

Love is Blind

Macbeth Act 1 Study Questions

Collaboration: Jayce, Jared, Hikaru, Marcel, Danielle

 Jayce - My first picks are the first two study questions 1.1-1.2.

1.1

 The effect of the witches at the beginning of the play gives off a gloomy, dark, wicked aura. Nothing beats a supernatural setting based on evil remarks and foreshadowing from the witches, yet they detest their true objective in meeting someone of value. From further reading of the play, the witches are going to meet Macbeth and Banquo when the air is unclear to see, just like fog.

1.2.

 The “bloody sergeant” comes to meet the king and his attendants to describe the fierceness of Macbeth and the experiences he’s had with him on the battlefield. Macdonwald was a rebel fighting the king’s army and mercilessly slain many men. The one to kill him was Macbeth and so chopped his head and stuck it to a pike. This did not drop the moral of the enemy soldiers, so the king of Scotland regrouped with new troops and retaliated with another assault. None of the rebels faltered after such display of intimidation

Danielle- my picks are 1.3 #1, 2

1.3

In lines 1-27, the witches are talking about sinking the ship of Macbeth. The effect the witches create is one of disgust to hear them talking about sinking a ship as if it were a game. These specifics foreshadow that Macbeth will arrive by the sinking of his ship. The witches are here to create the plot while the other characters are merely dancers. Line 9 is talking about sailing in a typical sieve sailing to sink the ship. The witches prepare for Macbeth by literally casting a spell. Giving thee a wind means to help you out. But this spell could be seen as basically winding up the plot so that Macbeth will play the part the witches want him to.

Macbeth’s first line reminds me of the witches line fair is foul and foul is fair. Those that we see as evil see us as evil. The witches look really ugly and look almost demonic. They portray the typical image of a witch. The witches tell Macbeth that he will be king of Cawdor as well as Glamis. He becomes captivated in the witches visions of him as king. We know this because that’s how Banquo describes him as being. Banquo asks the witches to tell him what they see in his future and they tell him that he will be greater than Macbeth though he is lesser and he will be happier though not so happy. We know that Macbeth will kill the king and rise to his throne that way.

Jared Dube- My first picks are the 2 questions of 1.4.

1.4

Cawdor died honorably after confessing and repenting his own crimes. The basically replies that Cawdor was a chivalrous man who had completely trusted.

The king greets Banquo and Macbeth with guilt that he can never truly repay them for their heroic deeds. The king then announces that he is going to make his eldest son, Malcolm the heir to the throne. Duncan then declares that he intends to dine at Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth states he is happy for the new heir but then realizes that Malcolm is just another obstacle getting in his way of becoming king.

Hikaru - my first two picks are 1.5 #4, 1.6

1.5

Lady Macbeth’s name is Gruoch, modeled after the name Gruoch ingen Boite

1.6

Macbeth is not ready to kill the king. He expresses his doubts and troubles of killing Duncan. In lines 1-12, Macbeth is worried that the same assassination will happen to him once he replaces the current king. Just as he is eyeing the king’s throne, other people will also want it if Macbeth is to spill Duncan’s blood. Macbeth’s violates the code of friendship with Duncan. He is his “kinsmen and his subject” so he has some sympathy towards him. His “vaulting ambition” is his motivation.

MEET MACBETH

1. How is Macbeth introduced through in/direct characterization?

Macbeth is introduced through indirect characterization by the sergeant who elevates him as a glorified warlord due to his sudden entrance where he brandished a head on a pike.

2. What elements of foreshadowing do the witches provide?

The witches provide an idea of his Macbeth’s future and possible fate through their conversation with him and details of his life.

3. How does Shakespeare's approach to exposition give the reader background information about the setting and characters and a sense of what's to come without spoiling the play?

Shakespeare allows the witches to give a sense of upcoming turmoil through Macbeth’s wife who is described as an overzealous ambitious woman who will strike Macbeth’s personality at every chance, which gives a clear image of her characterization. This does not spoil the play because this is just foreshadowing or ominous to the reader.

4. How does Shakespeare's characterization of Macbeth reflect a sense of tone (i.e., the author's attitude toward the character/s, audience, and/or subject matter)?

The tone given off by Macbeth’s characterization would be one of foreboding or somber due to the present state of the atmosphere.

5. What themes appear evident in Macbeth's character and conduct?  To what extent do you think these themes will drive the rest of the play?

The theme that could be most argued would be one ambition and how far the protagonist is willing to go when pushed for ambitious goals as well as when you’ve gone too far for ambition.

MY MACBETH RESOURCES

-I found these pretty helpful resources to just get down any scraps of the story you might have missed after reading or a better understanding of the passages.
1. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/macbeth/macbethresources.html
2. http://www.aptv.org/Shakespeare/PDF/macbethFINAL.pdf
3. http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/
-A rap someone created about Macbeth.
4.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyytzE13iV4
5. http://blog.shakespearegeek.com/2005/09/tips-for-memorizing-shakespeare.html

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