Aim: How is the tone, mood and theme in Macbeth illuminated by the symbols in Act II, scene ii, while contributing to the work as a whole?
Before we started the Do Now, Mrs. Peterson wanted us to re-analyze Macbeth’s 3rd Soliloquy, “Is this a dagger…”. We were asked to interpret the meaning and obtain a central idea.
Analysis of Macbeth’s 3rd Soliloquy: “Is this a dagger…”
With the research and analysis on The Rape of Lucree, we can connect the main idea of this poem to Macbeth in that both has to do with violently attacking a defenseless person sleeping. We came up that The Rape of Lucree is ultimately an allusion used in Macbeth, in order to compare Tarquin’s villinaous deeds to represent Macbeth losing his sanity, and perhaps even a descent towards savergy, as could be compared to the plot of Lord of the Flies.
Summary on The Rape of Lucree: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ieCaQ5YCoE
During share out, Mrs. Peterson taught us that the first two sentences of the Soliloquy define the central idea of it. “Is this a dagger which I see before me”, shows that Macbeth is still uncertain as he brings his dagger to where Duncan rests, having nervous thoughts in his mind and illusions made from his mind. I realized from the share out analysis that Shakespeare incorporated many different ideas in each line that would have been missed if Mrs.Peterson did not point this out. Another example of meaning behind the line is when Macbeth states,” Hear it not Duncan, for it is a knell”, which was learned that knell is a bell, usually played before a funeral. The last line,” That summons thee to Heaven or to Hell”, was used because Macbeth does not know if Duncan prayed before his last breath. This analysis was done to examine the mind of a criminal during his actions of his crime, which shows the insanity, tension, and nervousness of Macbeth.
Dictionary definition for Knell: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knell
Movie Scene of Macbeth’s Soliloquy:
After our discussion, Mrs. Peterson played the movie scene of Macbeth’s soliloquy. During the scene of Banquo speaking with Macbeth, Mrs. Peterson explains the foreshadowing of Banquo not wanting to follow Macbeth if he finds that Macbeth would kill the king. The scene of Macbeth’s soliloquy captures the madness and the insanity that Macbeth is in, where he is able to see a dagger even though it was not actually there. This could be compared to the actions of Hecate, as she is the Goddess of Witchcraft. The soliloquy and the movie scene was able to give me a better idea of the inner conflict of what Macbeth was going through, with his confusion of suddenly taking a dagger to kill Duncan, even though he did not wish to moments ago. The analysis that was accomplished before watching the scene in the movie helped polish our understanding of the actions of Macbeth and what he was doing.
“Is this a dagger…” Movie Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj6gQhpMW30
We began today’s lesson after the pause in the video of the cliffhanger in which Macbeth finally enters the room in which Duncan was sleeping in.
Do now: Work collaboratively to compile a list of tactics that someone might implement to evade getting caught, after they have committed a crime?
List of tactics that Criminals may do to evade getting caught after a crime that my team has came up with:
Hiding
Getting rid of evidence
Implementing fake evidence
Flee
During our share out, Joel from group 5 discussed that an alibi would also be effective. This was because an alibi may give proof to the criminal that he or she wasn’t actually the one who commited the crime. To an extent, I agree that an alibi is able to give some proof of innocence. However, I believe an alibi would also be ineffective, especially in the scene of Macbeth, since he was seen being still awake after Duncan has already slept, and if Lady Macbeth became the alibi for Macbeth, it would not matter much since they were from the same family.
In depth look on the mind of a criminal: https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/forensic-psychology/historys-famous-crooks/
Macbeth Act II Scene II
We continued reading Macbeth Act II Scene II. Edward was the stage director, William was Lady Macbeth, and Joel was Macbeth. Mrs. Peterson explains that this scene was after the “deed” was done.
From the reading, I noticed two ideas that may be important pertaining to the aim of the lesson. The first was when Macbeth brought the dagger along with him, which he killed Duncan with, and refuses to put it back when Lady Macbeth tells him it may be a symbol that represents guilt. The second symbol I noticed is nature, specifically, water used in this scene. Lady Macbeth says,”A little water clears us of this deed” to Macbeth which may be an allusion to baptism and how water is used to wash away one’s sin.
About symbolism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR9VbSXxouM
Article on symbolism:
Teamwork: Questions based on Act II Scene II
After reading, Mrs. Peterson wanted us to examine the questions and try our best to answer them.
For question 1, Andy from my group explained that Shakespeare may have left out the murder committed for off-stage to give the audience their own interpretation of the crime, making us either believe Macbeth brutally killed Duncan or did it in a clean stab. I agree with this because I imagine there is a tension built up, and the anticipation of how Macbeth would assassinate Duncan was high, just for Shakespeare to skip the crime shows his intention.
In question 2, my groupmate described that the theme of nature surrounds the shrieking of the owl, to compare it to the bellman, who would ring it’s bell to the death of one. This would imply that Duncan has been killed. I added that the aspects of death and nature could also be compared in that they are both uncontrolled, while also showing the life and death between the two.
Unfortunately, the period ended before we could continue our analysis and answer each question.
Reflection
From today’s lesson, the discussion of a criminal’s mind and the thinking process of before, during the crime, and after the crime demonstrated by Macbeth helps us understand the nervousness or confusion a criminal may feel. From the reading, I got a better understanding of what allusions were, and how there were many details in each line of Shakespeare’s play, especially in the soliloquy. By understanding the mind of a criminal, we can put ourselves in the shoes of Macbeth to fully understand his whole thought process in the soliloquy “Is this a dagger…”. The inner conflicts of Macbeth and the thought process of a criminal may not necessarily have to do with the ideas of a criminal. We can also apply this idea and incorporate it in our everyday lives to understand what we want and what is right. Macbeth chose to kill Duncan based on his ambitions, or the tragedy of Macbeth may not have happened, but we should also be thinking if the actions that Macbeth is doing was morally right. Nevertheless, the ultimate main takeaway from today’s lesson was learned towards the end of the lesson, during share out with teammates. Question 2, which asked the theme of nature, helped me understand a life lesson in that nature, just like death, is uncontrollable. Nature may be a symbol of both life and death, and this lesson teaches us to understand the decisions of life, and how nature’s unbiasedness in taking away life is just like how death would do so as well. I will definitely use today’s lesson in my daily life when choosing to make a decision, and to value the life that I have, as death is sudden and could not be controlled.
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