Skip to main content

The scene begins with a soliloquy in which Macbeth contemplates the action of killing Duncan. When Lady Macbeth enters, what decision does he...

Macbeth is experiencing an inner conflict about killing King Duncan; his soliloquy reflects that.  He thinks through the consequences of killing the king step by step.  The first, and most important, consequence is his immortal soul.  Macbeth knows that murder, no matter how secret, will not escape God’s notice “Bloody instructions, which being taught, return/To plague th’ inventor” (Act I, Scene vii).  Macbeth knows that although he may not face consequences on earth, he will...

Macbeth is experiencing an inner conflict about killing King Duncan; his soliloquy reflects that.  He thinks through the consequences of killing the king step by step.  The first, and most important, consequence is his immortal soul.  Macbeth knows that murder, no matter how secret, will not escape God’s notice “Bloody instructions, which being taught, return/To plague th’ inventor” (Act I, Scene vii).  Macbeth knows that although he may not face consequences on earth, he will face them in the afterlife.  He is also worried about his relationship to the King.  Macbeth says he should not betray the king because not only is he the King’s subject, but he is also Duncan’s cousin and host.  Finally, Macbeth reasons that Duncan has been such a good king that his assassination will cause a huge outcry. “…tears shall drown the wind” (Act I, Scene vii).  As a result of these very good reasons not to kill the King, Macbeth’s announcement to Lady Macbeth is: “We shall proceed no further in this business” (Act I, Scene vii). He tells his wife that Duncan has honored him and people currently have a high opinion of him.  He doesn’t want to change that.  Unfortunately for Macbeth, his wife does not agree.

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more