Skip to main content

How would you explain the following quotation from Macbeth?"My plenteous joys,Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselvesIn drops of sorrow.Sons,...

Duncan, the king, speaks these words after his forces have won the day and secured his throne and Scotland against Norway and traitors at home. Duncan is so pleased with Macbeth's victories that he's given him the title Thane of Cawdor as a reward and had the old thane executed for treason. Therefore, when Duncan says, "My plenteous joys, / Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves / In drops of sorrow," he means that he is...

Duncan, the king, speaks these words after his forces have won the day and secured his throne and Scotland against Norway and traitors at home. Duncan is so pleased with Macbeth's victories that he's given him the title Thane of Cawdor as a reward and had the old thane executed for treason. Therefore, when Duncan says, "My plenteous joys, / Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves / In drops of sorrow," he means that he is so happy, so pleased, that it threatens to make him cry. Next, he speaks to all those loyal nobles who are so close, like family to him, because he wants them to listen to him. He names his older son, Malcolm, the prince of Cumberland; this is the term for the next in line to the throne. Thus, Duncan has made Malcolm his heir. Duncan assures them all that he will honor them as well for their loyalty and bravery. When he speaks to Macbeth, he says that they will now go to Macbeth's home in Inverness, where Macbeth's hospitality toward him will further obligate him to Macbeth in honor.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
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