Macbeth Lens Analysis

2010 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Emotions throughout macbeth

Macbeth lenses essay lenses help a reader to look at a book in a different light. Different lenses can all view the same work in different ways, and they can all be correct as long as they are supported. Lenses can add different perspectives to a piece, that would usually require multiple people with different dispositions to look at the piece to see everything. This class has taught multiple lens types that can all help improve a story’s message. The play Macbeth can be viewed with many of these different lenses. Foremost, the reader response lens looks at the piece considering the reader’s own experiences and thoughts. Most importantly, I dislike the part of the play were Banquo dies, as he states, “O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! / [Exit Fleance.] / Thou mayst revenge. O slave! [Dies] (47)” This part reached out to me in a negative way because I felt a close connection with Banquo, especially since his character received some of my heart as I read his lines to the class. Moreover, I dislike that Macbeth betrayed the king, as the story shows, “King: ‘Give me your hand. / Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly, / and continue our graces toward him (19).’” I believe that trust should be more important to people, so the …show more content…

Foremost, when Banquo talks about the witches Macbeth lies saying that “[he thinks] not of them (23).” This is the first time he has shows a poor trait and foreshadows the huge fall he is about to take. Moreover, Macbeth hears someone say “‘Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more (27).’” This is diction, because it matches with what the witches said earlier about cursing someone so they could not sleep. Additionally, Macbeth asks if “All great Neptune’s ocean wash [the] blood / clean from [his] hand? (27).” The blood in this sentence symbolizes Macbeth’s guilt for killing the

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Peer Pressure In Lady Macbeth's '

    439 Words  | 1 Pages

    “Was the hope [Macbeth’s ambition] drunk. . . And wakes it now, to look so green and pale . . . Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valor/ As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that ” (1, 7, 35-41). Lady Macbeth would never be able to commit the crime herself because of the role she believes she has as a woman, but she knew her husband could. To make sure he follows through she makes fun of him and uses peer pressure by saying he is just afraid to actually kill Duncan. The blood that will be shed is a symbol of loyalty Macbeth to Lady Macbeth. Even when he killed Macdonwald, it was to prove his loyalty to king Duncan, but Lady Macbeth still does not trust her husband enough. Macbeth starts to act delusional when he sees the ghost of Banquo, but Lady Macbeth tries to reassure the guests to simply ignore him. “Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus/ And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat . . . If you much note him/ You shall offend him and extend his passion” (3, 4, 53- 57). Lady Macbeth feels more embarrassed by her husband instead of trying to be there for

    Read More

  • Guilt is a Potent Emotion in Shakespeare's MacBeth

    650 Words  | 2 Pages

    ​As the play progresses, the consequences of Macbeth’s deep seated guilt assume such gargantuan and vivid proportions that they actually get personified as the apparition of Banquo that materializes before Macbeth, as he sits amidst the mos...

    Read More

  • Free Macbeth Essays: The Importance of Guilt

    626 Words  | 2 Pages

    Guilt surrounds Macbeth for the second time when he sends out the murderers to kill Banquo, his old friend. Macbeth had no other choice but to get rid of Banquo. Banquo had witnessed the three witches and the prophecies. One prophecy was that his son would become king one day "To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings"(Act3 scene1 line70). In order for Macbeth to be safe is to kill Banquo. Banquo may assume what had happened and tell the people of Scotland. "For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; Put rancors in the vessel of my peace only for them, and mine eternal jewel".

    Read More

  • Macbeth Banquo Quotes

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    “How far is't call'd to Forres? What are these So wither'd and so wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught That man may question? You seem to understand me, By each at once her chappy finger laying Upon her skinny lips: you should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so.” A shown from this quote Banquo asks many questions regarding on what they want and examines them carefully as stated before “…chappy finger laying Upon her skinny lips: you should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so.” And unlike Macbeth he doesn’t just simply ask what are you. As you continue to read on you notice how Banquo shows little not fear regarding the three mysterious witches. As there is no evidence of him feeling any fear. Macbeth, however, starts, or flinches, recoils, according to the statement Banquo says. “Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair?” the reason why he flinches shows how he reacts to him being called the Thane of Cawdor and that the prediction that he will be

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Macbeth And Oedipus The King

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    These lines show Macbeth’s paranoia to the subject of Banquo’s death. When he says these lines, he is in a room full of people and seems rather crazy because they think he is talking himself or he is seeing things, which in fact he is. This example shows that Macbeth is so paranoid that he is imagining things in his head. This shows that he is terrified of what would happen if the truth came

    Read More

  • The Inner-Conflict Effect In Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is first shown in Act 2 where Macbeth begins his monologue, “I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.” (II I 46-48) Before reuniting with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth sees a bloody dagger floating in the air. The dagger appears shortly before Macbeth proceeds to murder Duncan. The dagger in this instance is used to symbolize Macbeth’s hesitation as at this point in time, Macbeth could have chosen to turn back and abandon his pursuit to becoming king. Macbeth chose to persist however, and the blood covering the dagger was a prognostication of the crime he would soon commit. Shakespeare imparts here that emotions like hesitation are meant to be pondered over, not skimmed over. Macbeth took reckless actions, and his abysmal situation reflects that. Macbeth’s inner-conflict is further shown in Act 4 where he states, “For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me And points at them for his.” (IV I 129-130) Macbeth is visibly shaken by the sudden appearance of a bloody Banquo. The appearance of Banquo is due to the three witches summoning him by ceremony, much to Macbeth’s dismay. Macbeth’s petrified reaction tells of how he is still constantly tormented by his murdering of Banquo. Macbeth begins to shout and command for Banquo to disappear. The summoning of Banquo continues to tell of Macbeth’s human nature

    Read More

  • Importance Of Morality In Macbeth

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth says, “Avaunt! And quit my sights! Let the Earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold” (Shakespeare 3.4). This quote shows that Macbeth is haunted by Banquo’s ghost. The appearance of Banquo’s ghost is Macbeth insanity in his imagination. This is because Macbeth’s conscience is getting to him; he may be losing his mind because of his guilt. Macbeth says, “Our fears In Banquo/ Stick deep; and his royalty of nature/ Reigns that would be fear’d: tis/ much he dares;/ And to that dauntness…….. Mark Anthony’s was by Caesar” (Shakespeare 3.1). In this quote, Macbeth is referring to Marc Anthony and Caesar when he talks about fearing Banquo. Also, it is a simile, while Macbeth compares himself and Banquo to Anthony and Caesar. He is afraid of Banquo because seems that Banquo’s might outsmart him and end up beating him to death. Macbeth says, “No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so, for Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind” (Shakespeare). The significance of this quote shows that Macbeth is talking to himself, saying if he has no child to be his descendants after he dies. He says “Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind”, he means that why on Earth should he bother Banquo’s life since he already has a son. Concluding this paragraph as Macbeth yet to continue is the action of morality. Then in topic sentence # 3, Macbeth

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Character Changes in Macbeth

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    & nbsp; Later in the play, Banquo starts to have a bad feeling about Macbeth. " Thou hast it now: King, Cowdor, Glamis, all,/ as the weird women promised, and I fear/ thou play'dst most foully for t." III i 1-3, this is a quote from Banquo explaining how he feels about Macbeth's predictions coming true.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Essay

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    “This tyrant whose sole name blisters our tongues, was once thought honest…” (77). This quote represents the change of Macbeth throughout the play. The use of blood imagery is used to represent the character development of Macbeth from a noble thane to a murdering tyrant. We first see blood imagery characterizing Macbeth when he is called noble for defeating Norway. Then, the idea of un-washable blood shows that Macbeth’s character will change. When Macbeth begins to experience the blood of others on his own hands, it leads him to ultimately become the “villain” or antagonist of the play. Finally, before the death of Macbeth, blood imagery has been used to characterize Macbeth so much that he is now over confident and seems to be fueled by the idea of it. By examining the use of blood imagery, one can determine that blood represents Macbeth’s character development from an honorable thane to a disrespected tyrant.

    Read More

  • The Isolation of Macbeth

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...le Macbeth tells them that ‘every man be master of his time’ so that he can ‘keep alone’. By choosing to isolate himself and not inform Lady Macbeth of his plans to murder Banquo we see how Macbeth feels as if he can’t even trust his closest companions. After turning his back on Lady Macbeth, Macbeth becomes fixated not only on the prophecies of the witches but when he hints to Lady Macbeth that ‘a deed of dreadful note’ will fall upon Banquo and his son he talks like the witches. This shows how Macbeth has turned his back on seeking council from his lords and advisors and begins to act as a king who instead of rationally thinking things out, he chooses to justify his reasons on prophetic predictions from a world of sorcery.

    Read More

  • Ambition In Macbeth Essay

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    Based on the text it states, “And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There’s no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one-half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse…..I have done the deed.” This illustrates that Macbeth went through with the plan his wife cameup with. He killed King Duncan so he could become King. His ambition caused him to take part and do a bad action such as killing Duncan. The killing and wrong doings don't stop there however. Macbeth’s ambition pushes him to the limit. Macbeth then kills his close friend Banquo and attempted to kill Banquo’s son, based on fears that Banquo’s son will become king. Macbeth brings forth murderers and states, “ Know That it was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self…. So is he mine, and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near’st of life. And though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight.” Macbeth deceives the Murderers and tells them that Banquo is to blame for their misfortune. He then convinces them that Banquo is the enemy and he must be killed. Macbeth also tells them, “The moment on ’t, for ’t must be done tonight….Fleance, his son, that keeps

    Read More

  • The Power of Fear in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    Here, Macbeth realizes that if something is not done to Banquo, his sons will become Kings.  Macbeth can not have this. He had already worried that his soul will go to hell for what he had done. His fear become evident in this scene also, "But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo Stick deep;" [Act III, S I, L 53-54] Macbeth has Banquo murdered,

    Read More

  • Macbeth: The Evolution of Corruption

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    These ambiguities are iteratively explained, corresponding with the changes in characterization; for example, when the second vision granted to Macbeth by the Weïrd sisters advises him to, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.90-92). Upon hearing this, Macbeth appears to simply disregard the earlier prophecy that it will be Banquo’s children, not his own, that will take the throne after him and believes himself to be effectively invincible, which coincides with another shift in Macbeth’s nature, more specifically his growing arrogance that eventually leads to his defeat at the hands of

    Read More

  • Interpretations of Macbeth

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    As with all great works of literature, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth has spawned countless essays concerning its interpretation. Two such essays, “Shakespearean Tragedy” and “General Macbeth,” produced by two eminent literary critics, A.C. Bradley and Mary McCarthy, find themselves in conflict. The essays’ respective authors diverge on subjective points such as interpretation of character, original intent, and meaning. Bradley’s Macbeth is courageous and encumbered by the dregs of guilt, while McCarthy’s version takes a less orthodox path. A.C. Bradley’s interpretation of Macbeth finds him human, conflicted, and comparable to his wife, Lady Macbeth, in many respects.

    Read More

  • Macbeth As A Tragedy According To Aristotles Definition

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    Key elements in the play substantiate the fact that Macbeth is a serious story, the first elements of Aristotle’s definition. From the first lines of the play, the mood is set featuring witches whom speak of witchcraft, potions and apparitions. Not only do the three witches aid in making this a serious story but also, they appealed to Elizabethans whom at the time believed in such supernatural phenomena. War for centuries has represented killing and feuding, thus, the war taking place between Scotland and Norway provided a dark component. The Thane of Cawdor’s rapidly approaching execution due to his deceiving the king also plays a role in this grim work. Murder throughout all of Macbeth is an essential aspect when dealing with the seriousness of the play. From the beginning, Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to do anything to overthrow King Duncan, whom is the king of Scotland, the role Macbeth desperately yearns for. During the excursion to become king, Macbeth successfully murders King Duncan, Macduff’s wife and children, and with the help of a group of murderers Banquo; a brave general who will inherit the Scottish throne. Through the whole play, while such dank occurrences are used to create deep mood, Shakespeare also uses strong language and words. Such as when Lady Macbeth calls upon the gods to make her man-like so she will have the fortitude to kill King Duncan herself in this quote, “Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here… Make my blood thick… Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark.” This type of language provokes thoughts of death, blood and darkness though the imagery such dank words create. The play also follows through with its theme of blood by in the end of the play, having both of its lead characters die. Lady Macbeth, distraught by guilt over the bloodshed, commits suicide while Macbeth is murdered and beheaded by Macduff, a Scottish noblemen.

    Read More

More about Macbeth Lens Analysis

Open Document