We discussed equivocation in Monday's class, and how it affected Shakespeare's audience at the time. There was no greater threat to national security than an equivocator, especially a Catholic one. They may claim to be loyal to the crown, but in fact they could be carrying malice and treachery in their hearts, and all without the sin of lying because, well, they weren't lying. Not really.
After witnessing the gruesome ghost of Banquo at his dinner, Macbeth began to doubt everything about himself. Whom could he trust? Were his senses lying to him? He had to return to the witches to demand they show more about his future. Of course, the witches did not seem to mind, though they warned him that he might not like what he saw. What he saw terrified him, but also gave him resolve and courage. He now knew that his was a charmed life, one that would not be ended as easily as others. Well, that's what he thought, at least.
But why did the witches take such interest in Macbeth? Could they really see the future, or did they hope to change the future by swaying Macbeth's opinions? After all, they did not seem to benefit from Macbeth's actions; then again, they do not seem to care as much about this world as do those who actually live on it. Both Macbeth and Banquo at the beginning of the play pondered that the Devil could only speak the truth, and perhaps this is the case for the witches as well. For this post, discuss whether you think the witches intentionally lied to Macbeth, or told him the absolute truth. Were they equivocating to him the whole time, leaving out crucial information, or were they being completely honest? Are witches even capable of being honest - or even capable of lying? What do they stand to gain by Macbeth's actions? Please begin your post with your student number.
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Friday 25 May 2012
Post 8: Interpretations
Macbeth is Shakespeare's most produced play; it is also the play that has been interpreted the most by actors, directors, and artists around the world. Its themes of ambition, guilt, and fate are universal, and translate well into other languages and cultures. Some say this is the origin of the Dreaded Curse, that because it is performed so often, more things are likely to go wrong with Macbeth than any other play (Those people are wrong; it's witches).
As we read the play, we get images in our minds of what the characters are supposed to sound or look. Macbeth is supposed to look like this, and Lady Macbeth is supposed to act like this. We have this idea in our heads of how they sound and look, usually based on our own experiences of film and fiction. In III, iii, I always imagine the first murderer portrayed by an action star. That way, when Banquo says, "It looks like rain tonight," I can imagine Gerard Butler, or Jason Statham, or even Jean-Claude Van Damme, stepping out from the shadows, drawing his sword, and shouting, "Then LET - IT - FALL!!!" Of course, that's just me.
In class today we watched two different film versions of the play: Roman Polanski's Macbeth (1971) and Akira Kurosawa's Kumonosu Jo (Throne of Blood) (1957). The setting for these two fims were very different - medieval Scotland and feudal Japan - but the story remains the same, more or less. What is interesting is how the directors interpreted some of the characters based on their understanding of the play. The character of Lady Macbeth, for instance, was very different in these two films, and both might even be different from how you envisioned her yourself. For this entry, choose one of the four characters of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Duncan, or the witches. Which of the two films did a better job of interpreting the characters, based on what you thought they were like? Were there any changes that you thought did not fit with your interpretation of the play? Was there anything unique about how these characters looked or acted that really caught your attention? Please begin your comment with your student number.
As we read the play, we get images in our minds of what the characters are supposed to sound or look. Macbeth is supposed to look like this, and Lady Macbeth is supposed to act like this. We have this idea in our heads of how they sound and look, usually based on our own experiences of film and fiction. In III, iii, I always imagine the first murderer portrayed by an action star. That way, when Banquo says, "It looks like rain tonight," I can imagine Gerard Butler, or Jason Statham, or even Jean-Claude Van Damme, stepping out from the shadows, drawing his sword, and shouting, "Then LET - IT - FALL!!!" Of course, that's just me.
In class today we watched two different film versions of the play: Roman Polanski's Macbeth (1971) and Akira Kurosawa's Kumonosu Jo (Throne of Blood) (1957). The setting for these two fims were very different - medieval Scotland and feudal Japan - but the story remains the same, more or less. What is interesting is how the directors interpreted some of the characters based on their understanding of the play. The character of Lady Macbeth, for instance, was very different in these two films, and both might even be different from how you envisioned her yourself. For this entry, choose one of the four characters of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Duncan, or the witches. Which of the two films did a better job of interpreting the characters, based on what you thought they were like? Were there any changes that you thought did not fit with your interpretation of the play? Was there anything unique about how these characters looked or acted that really caught your attention? Please begin your comment with your student number.
Thursday 24 May 2012
Post 7: Ghosts!
Ghosts are usually scary, sometimes friendly, but always not of this realm. They chase Pac-man through mazes and provide targets for the Ghostbusters to bust. They are supernatural, and do not belong on this plane of existence. At least, not for long.
In class today we discussed the history of England leading up to the Elizabethan era and Shakespeare's time. It was a period of conflict between Catholics and Anglicans as the country tried to realign itself after the death of Henry VIII and a brutal civil war. While both religions were Christian and shared many similar beliefs, the details often created confusion among the populace. Ghosts, for instance: if you were Catholic, you knew that a ghost was the soul of a deceased person, forced to stay on Earth to undo a wrong, seek out revenge, or protect a loved one; if you were Anglican, you knew that the souls of the dead went straight to Heaven or Hell, and that any ghosts were either completely imaginary or created by the Devil or some other wicked creature. Shakespeare was Anglican, as were many of his audience members. Many of his audience members also remembered a time when they were Catholic, and may have been forced to convert. Old habits die hard, and the audience's understanding of ghosts would be influenced by both the Catholic and Anglican faiths.
For this entry, describe what you think a ghost is. Do your opinions fall along the lines of Catholicism, or Anglicanism? Are they the souls of the dead, or are they not real at all? Based on your opinon, what do you think is at the dinner table with Macbeth - is it really the ghost of Banquo, or is it created by Macbeth's brain? Please begin your post with your student number.
In class today we discussed the history of England leading up to the Elizabethan era and Shakespeare's time. It was a period of conflict between Catholics and Anglicans as the country tried to realign itself after the death of Henry VIII and a brutal civil war. While both religions were Christian and shared many similar beliefs, the details often created confusion among the populace. Ghosts, for instance: if you were Catholic, you knew that a ghost was the soul of a deceased person, forced to stay on Earth to undo a wrong, seek out revenge, or protect a loved one; if you were Anglican, you knew that the souls of the dead went straight to Heaven or Hell, and that any ghosts were either completely imaginary or created by the Devil or some other wicked creature. Shakespeare was Anglican, as were many of his audience members. Many of his audience members also remembered a time when they were Catholic, and may have been forced to convert. Old habits die hard, and the audience's understanding of ghosts would be influenced by both the Catholic and Anglican faiths.
For this entry, describe what you think a ghost is. Do your opinions fall along the lines of Catholicism, or Anglicanism? Are they the souls of the dead, or are they not real at all? Based on your opinon, what do you think is at the dinner table with Macbeth - is it really the ghost of Banquo, or is it created by Macbeth's brain? Please begin your post with your student number.
Post 6: Friendship
In class yesterday, we were discussing friendship, and what friends do for each other. A stand-up comedian once joked, "A friend is someone who will help you move; a best friend is someone who will help you move a body." We rely on our friends, and make them an integral part of our friends. When we see them, we feel complete; when we let them down, or are betrayed by them, we feel empty, hollow, as if we lost a limb or an organ.
In the film Fast Five, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker play characters that are pursued by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for stealing automobiles in awesome ways. There are love interests in the form of female fugitives and other various characters, but the true relationship is between Messrs. Diesel and Walker: these two, burly, manly men with muscles-on-top-of-muscles spend more time together sharing their feelings to each other than with any female. Heck, they spend more time with stolen cars than with women. In no way is their relationship homosexual, though; it is, rather, a closeness that can only be understood by other men who have gone through or are going through similar events - a "bromance" to use the colloquial terminology. There is this wonderful scene where, after beating our heroes into a pulp, The Rock is betrayed by his own soldiers and barely survives this super-cool grenade explosion. As his vision clears, he sees Vin Diesel, manly frown on his bloody, manly face, standing over him - will he exact his revenge on The Rock? No. Instead, after a tense moment, he offers his burly, manly hand and helps up his former adversary to continue the fight together. I have seen many films in my life, and I have never seen anything more romantic than that scene.
Macbeth and Banquo were brothers-in-arms. They fought alongside one another, drew blood together, relied on each other for survival; this bond is one of the strongest that can be formed between masculine characters. And yet, the witches' prophesy seems to give more to Banquo than to Macbeth, being the father of a line of kings. Despite all they have gone through, Macbeth feels so threatened by his only friend that he has to send murderers to dispatch him. In your opinion, did Macbeth do the right thing in ordering the death of Banquo? Would you choose lifelong friendship, or your destiny as king? Would you have done anything differently, and why? Please begin your post with your student number.
In the film Fast Five, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker play characters that are pursued by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for stealing automobiles in awesome ways. There are love interests in the form of female fugitives and other various characters, but the true relationship is between Messrs. Diesel and Walker: these two, burly, manly men with muscles-on-top-of-muscles spend more time together sharing their feelings to each other than with any female. Heck, they spend more time with stolen cars than with women. In no way is their relationship homosexual, though; it is, rather, a closeness that can only be understood by other men who have gone through or are going through similar events - a "bromance" to use the colloquial terminology. There is this wonderful scene where, after beating our heroes into a pulp, The Rock is betrayed by his own soldiers and barely survives this super-cool grenade explosion. As his vision clears, he sees Vin Diesel, manly frown on his bloody, manly face, standing over him - will he exact his revenge on The Rock? No. Instead, after a tense moment, he offers his burly, manly hand and helps up his former adversary to continue the fight together. I have seen many films in my life, and I have never seen anything more romantic than that scene.
Macbeth and Banquo were brothers-in-arms. They fought alongside one another, drew blood together, relied on each other for survival; this bond is one of the strongest that can be formed between masculine characters. And yet, the witches' prophesy seems to give more to Banquo than to Macbeth, being the father of a line of kings. Despite all they have gone through, Macbeth feels so threatened by his only friend that he has to send murderers to dispatch him. In your opinion, did Macbeth do the right thing in ordering the death of Banquo? Would you choose lifelong friendship, or your destiny as king? Would you have done anything differently, and why? Please begin your post with your student number.
Monday 21 May 2012
Post 5: Destiny
I hope you are all having a wonderful long weekend. Please enjoy your Victoria Day festivities with the same personal restraint and diplomacy as Queen Victoria would have done in her time.
Speaking of whom, Victoria was Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India longer than any other monarch, at over 63 years. After her grandfather George III and her father the Duke of Kent died in 1820, she was crowned as Queen at the age of eighteen. Then again, what else could she have grown up to become? A doctor? A police officer? A lawyer? No, she had to be Queen; that was her role in life.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we discussed the idea of destiny. English monarchs are traditionally crowned on the Stone of Scone (pronounced Scooooone) as a sign of their authority over the people, and Scotland especially. It represented the culmination of their very existence, as they were born to become ruler of England; even if they did not want to, it was their destiny to rule.
The Scotland of Macbeth's time (around 1000 CE) was different: rulers were chosen by merit, not by birth. On their coronation, the king or queen stood on the Stone of Destiny and raised up by their peers, indicating their newly earned status and distinction. Anyone could be ruler, as long as they were worthy of the job. Very rarely were children of rulers appointed as Duke of Cumberland, a title that often went to allies of the king to cement bonds. Malcolm's appointment as heir apparent probably caused a lot of mumbles and grumbles beyond Macbeth's that day.
For this posting, answer the following question: Is it Macbeth's destiny to be king? Or is he unworthy of the title? What qualities does he have that would make him a suitable leader, and what deficits does he suffer from that would hinder his leadership? Or are these qualities insignificant when compared to his destiny as prophesied by the witches?
Please begin your comment with your student number, and Happy Victoria Day!
Speaking of whom, Victoria was Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India longer than any other monarch, at over 63 years. After her grandfather George III and her father the Duke of Kent died in 1820, she was crowned as Queen at the age of eighteen. Then again, what else could she have grown up to become? A doctor? A police officer? A lawyer? No, she had to be Queen; that was her role in life.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we discussed the idea of destiny. English monarchs are traditionally crowned on the Stone of Scone (pronounced Scooooone) as a sign of their authority over the people, and Scotland especially. It represented the culmination of their very existence, as they were born to become ruler of England; even if they did not want to, it was their destiny to rule.
The Scotland of Macbeth's time (around 1000 CE) was different: rulers were chosen by merit, not by birth. On their coronation, the king or queen stood on the Stone of Destiny and raised up by their peers, indicating their newly earned status and distinction. Anyone could be ruler, as long as they were worthy of the job. Very rarely were children of rulers appointed as Duke of Cumberland, a title that often went to allies of the king to cement bonds. Malcolm's appointment as heir apparent probably caused a lot of mumbles and grumbles beyond Macbeth's that day.
For this posting, answer the following question: Is it Macbeth's destiny to be king? Or is he unworthy of the title? What qualities does he have that would make him a suitable leader, and what deficits does he suffer from that would hinder his leadership? Or are these qualities insignificant when compared to his destiny as prophesied by the witches?
Please begin your comment with your student number, and Happy Victoria Day!
Thursday 17 May 2012
Post 4: Ambition
Ambition is a desire for some type of achievement or desire, such as power, wealth, fame, or honour. A person who is ambitious is driven to succeed, and reach their goal. This sounds like a good character trait to have; you are always trying to do your best, and get what you want. But what lengths are you willing to go to in order to reach your goal?
SPOILER ALERT! If you are one of the eight people who care about the Transformers movies but have not yet seen the last film, read on with caution.
In Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Sentinel Prime, the previous leader of the Autobots, is charged with restoring his home planet of Cybertron, but in order to do so, must work with the treacherous Decepticons against humanity. He is ambitious, but is willing to betray even his closest friends and work with his enemies to achieve his goal. Similarly, Patrick Dempsey's character, Dylan, works with the Decepticons because they can provide him with technology which will continue to make him wealthy. He does not care that their goal is to enslave humanity; all he cares about is his ambition for wealth and power.
Macbeth states that he has "no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself / and falls on th'other" (I, vii, 25-27). He has ambition, he has desire, but he does not have the drive to achieve his destiny and become king. Then again, his wife seems to have that drive he lacks in spades.
For this post, think of another fictional character, historical figure, celebrity, or even something from your own experiences, where ambition was the reason for action. Explain what action or actions was or were taken, and what the results were. Did the ends justify the means? What lessons could Macbeth learn from your example of ambition? Please do not use Transformers: Dark of the Moon as your example. I did not like that film.
Please begin your post with your student number.
SPOILER ALERT! If you are one of the eight people who care about the Transformers movies but have not yet seen the last film, read on with caution.
In Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Sentinel Prime, the previous leader of the Autobots, is charged with restoring his home planet of Cybertron, but in order to do so, must work with the treacherous Decepticons against humanity. He is ambitious, but is willing to betray even his closest friends and work with his enemies to achieve his goal. Similarly, Patrick Dempsey's character, Dylan, works with the Decepticons because they can provide him with technology which will continue to make him wealthy. He does not care that their goal is to enslave humanity; all he cares about is his ambition for wealth and power.
Macbeth states that he has "no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself / and falls on th'other" (I, vii, 25-27). He has ambition, he has desire, but he does not have the drive to achieve his destiny and become king. Then again, his wife seems to have that drive he lacks in spades.
For this post, think of another fictional character, historical figure, celebrity, or even something from your own experiences, where ambition was the reason for action. Explain what action or actions was or were taken, and what the results were. Did the ends justify the means? What lessons could Macbeth learn from your example of ambition? Please do not use Transformers: Dark of the Moon as your example. I did not like that film.
Please begin your post with your student number.
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Post 3: Masculinity and femininity
Thanks again to the students who are on top of their postings. I am still figuring out ways to reveal comments without giving away all the answers as well. And I'm getting my homework done before I leave the school!
In every relationship, there is a dominant and a submissive part: parent and child; teacher and pupil; yin and yang. Balance should be achieved between them, but one will always be just a little higher. Traditionally, this was seen as a masculine and feminine conflict, though this is not as much the case today. In fact, masculine and feminine roles are much more flexible today than they were even fifty years ago. But when talking about 400 years ago, gender roles were much more rigid and unchanging. A woman was a woman and a man was a man; if one were to break away from that idea, it could be disastrous. Imagine: a man who likes baking cakes, or a woman who fixes car engines! Preposterous!
Examine the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Who in this relationship is more masculine, who is more feminine, and why? Include at least one quote from the play that supports your position. Feel free to discuss behaviour, actions, or lack thereof, of these characters. Remember: we are not asking who is the man, and who is the woman, but rather, who is the most masculine.
Please begin your post with your student number.
In every relationship, there is a dominant and a submissive part: parent and child; teacher and pupil; yin and yang. Balance should be achieved between them, but one will always be just a little higher. Traditionally, this was seen as a masculine and feminine conflict, though this is not as much the case today. In fact, masculine and feminine roles are much more flexible today than they were even fifty years ago. But when talking about 400 years ago, gender roles were much more rigid and unchanging. A woman was a woman and a man was a man; if one were to break away from that idea, it could be disastrous. Imagine: a man who likes baking cakes, or a woman who fixes car engines! Preposterous!
Examine the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Who in this relationship is more masculine, who is more feminine, and why? Include at least one quote from the play that supports your position. Feel free to discuss behaviour, actions, or lack thereof, of these characters. Remember: we are not asking who is the man, and who is the woman, but rather, who is the most masculine.
Please begin your post with your student number.
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Post 2: Macbeth and the Witches
I just got out of the staff meeting. I will try to make posts in advance, so questions for the rest of the act should be up within a few days.
Thanks to the students who have responded to the first posting. I am still working out the bugs of this blog, but it seems to be working so far. Keep posting anonymously, and begin each with your student number.
Today in class we were reading Act I, scene ii and iii. Duncan bestowed on Macbeth a new title (Thane of Cawdor) for his heroic efforts to defend Scotland against internal and external foes. The witches, hideous creatures with beards, scraggly voices, and an unhealthy sexual appetite, greet Macbeth with his new title, as if they have a knowledge that he does not.
Should Macbeth trust these witches, and the prophesies they make to him? Why or why not? What would you do in a similar situation? Answer using complete sentences.
Thanks to the students who have responded to the first posting. I am still working out the bugs of this blog, but it seems to be working so far. Keep posting anonymously, and begin each with your student number.
Today in class we were reading Act I, scene ii and iii. Duncan bestowed on Macbeth a new title (Thane of Cawdor) for his heroic efforts to defend Scotland against internal and external foes. The witches, hideous creatures with beards, scraggly voices, and an unhealthy sexual appetite, greet Macbeth with his new title, as if they have a knowledge that he does not.
Should Macbeth trust these witches, and the prophesies they make to him? Why or why not? What would you do in a similar situation? Answer using complete sentences.
Sunday 13 May 2012
The Very First Post
This is the very first posting for The Indomitable Mr. Allilomis. As this is my first time with blogging, I am putting my effort into our class reading of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Every day, and hopefully a few days in advance, I will post questions based on class readings. Responses will usually be a paragraph or so in length, unless otherwise stated. Reply to every post as soon as possible; I may close postings after a few days.
When replying to a prompt, you MUST select "Anonymous" from the "Comment As" drop-down menu beneath the posting. The very first thing in your post MUST be your student ID number. Please DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR REAL NAME.
For your first task, please respond to this post with a greeting and a line from I,i. I should have around forty or so by Tuesday.
When replying to a prompt, you MUST select "Anonymous" from the "Comment As" drop-down menu beneath the posting. The very first thing in your post MUST be your student ID number. Please DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR REAL NAME.
For your first task, please respond to this post with a greeting and a line from I,i. I should have around forty or so by Tuesday.
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