Skip to main content

How is Duncan's dead body discovered in Macbeth?

Macduff discovers King Duncan's body. He arrives in the morning after the murder, saying that the king ordered him to call on him at that time. Macbeth leads him to the room, and after a short time, he emerges describing the horror of the scene, which he likens to a "new Gorgon," meaning, like the fabled Medusa, the sight of the King's bloody corpse is so terrible it will "destroy" them. Macduff is clearly shaken...

Macduff discovers King Duncan's body. He arrives in the morning after the murder, saying that the king ordered him to call on him at that time. Macbeth leads him to the room, and after a short time, he emerges describing the horror of the scene, which he likens to a "new Gorgon," meaning, like the fabled Medusa, the sight of the King's bloody corpse is so terrible it will "destroy" them. Macduff is clearly shaken by the sight, and Macbeth pretends he does not know what has happened. His wife also feigns ignorance when she arrives from her bedroom, awakened by Macduff's shouting. Macbeth enters the room after Macduff leaves and kills the two guards, who he blames for the murder. Malcolm and Donalbain flee the country, fearing for their own lives. Macduff, the man who discovers the king's dead body, will ultimately be the one who avenges his death.

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 did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
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