Last Blog Post :( Macbeth Big Idea

        One of the big ideas we discussed was what a character will do to get what he wants and what the consequences will be. Back when we did a post on the two statements we had to chose, I analyzed the one on whether or not ambition is a desirable trait. It has turned out in this play Macbeth's ambition was a negative trait because it drove him too far, so far as to kill Duncan and many more after. Macbeth's ambition has blinded him and thwarted his conscience, leading to his impulsive acts of murder. Because of his ambition to be king, there were major consequences.
         Very abruptly, the repercussions for killing Duncan caught up to Macbeth. He ended up killing his own friend Banquo and losing much of his sanity. He started out in this play as an honorable man of high status and skilled fighter. But by the end of the play he was living a tortured life by the encumbrance of his guilt and fear of being struck down. He lost all those who were loyal to him, which contributed even more to his demise in the end of the play, because no one wanted to fight for a wicked and corrupt ruler. In short, Macbeth's attempts at achieving the position of king caused the consequences that would lead to his defeat.

Reading/Work Log

Portfolio- probably about 6 hours

WHAP text- 1 hour 30 mins

Macbeth Quote

“We have scorched the snake, not killed it.

She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice

Remains in danger of her former tooth.

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep

In the affliction of these terrible dreams

That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead

Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,

Than on the torture of his mind to lie

In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave.

After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.

Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison,

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing

Can touch him further. (Act 3 Scene 2 pg.93)”

                In this quote we can see Macbeth’s jealousy of the dead and his dread for how his life will be. When he says, “We have scorched the snake, not killed it” he means that even though they have gotten rid of Duncan, they will only have to kill more people to stay where he is without everything falling apart. Even though they have killed Duncan, the ‘snake’s tooth’ is still threatening and everything can still be ruined by Banquo. Macbeth wishes he was with Duncan and dead because he has to live in fear and guilt. He fears what will happen to him if people start to find out what he’s done. His guilt comes from killing Duncan.

                The fear and guilt he has from killing Duncan, is deteriorating his mental state. He says that he would rather be dead with Duncan, who they ‘have sent to peace’. In doing this act of treason ‘to gain our peace’, they unintentionally made their own lives torturous. They live with ‘life’s fitful fever’, plagued by nightmares, and in perpetual fear of being avenged for their actions. This quote tells us the state which Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are living in, what got them there, and what they have to do to keep their heads above water.

Reading Log

Portfolio 30 mins

Maximum Ride 1 hour

Macbeth studying and scene preparation 30 mins