How is desire demonstrated in the play Macbeth?
Desire in Macbeth is described by greed. Since everyone is told their fate by seeing the witches, they start acting upon that even if they disagree with it. Their desires become reality as they were once just visions (fake reality) told to them.
What imagery juxtaposes the classical tradition with the Biblical tradition?
The imagery of the witches telling the vision are similar to the bible and their idea of prophets, people who have a vision or connection strongly to god. This all-knowing factor is what connects the two pieces of work together. Additionally, the idea of predestination, the central religious debates of free will choice or fate.
What roles do Lady Macbeth and the witches play?
There are very distinct gender roles and descriptions, in Macbeth, both the wife and the witches play a role in the deception. Their deception comes as talking to a man about making a decision and swaying him to that decision based on key points in his masculinity. When both characters interact with the Macbeth, the witches use his friends, sons, and un-woman born aspects to convince Macbeth of his faith, even if he denies it. Then the wife explains to him how he will be more of a man when he is a king because if he does not, he is not a man, and she will unsex herself in order to help convey him.
How are the many definitions of manliness demonstrated in the play?
Manliness at first was more towards being masculine, killing people, and then having sex. Towards the end of the book, Macbeth dies because he is killed by a man not born by a woman, which translate, not through regular birth (c-section). Manliness is also through the description of other men when we first meet Macbeth, we are introduced to him as “brave” Macbeth. So manliness is also part of unmanliness because there are people like Macduff who can think about toxic masculinity another way. He does not mind feeling things and mourning etc… where Macbeth murders and kills and takes his anger out on everything and anything else.
Is Macbeth a sympathetic character?
No Macbeth is not a sympathetic character. Sympathy means to come to terms with and understand something. Since he did not fully understand his fate, he started panicking and murdering people. He did not care for what anyone said but himself and some of what his wife said. Him learning his future (predestination) was the cause of his demise. He goes from being a hero to an anti-hero.
What details might be of significance/interest in the encounter between Dante and Francesca in Canto V?
I think what might be important is that Dante learns about love and lust through Francesca. Dante learns about the dangers of what could happen when you get too involved or in deep with something or someone making you blinded to other things- your focus makes your vision tunnel. Nevertheless, it teaches Dante more about how this sin affects a personality by weakening the will of the person who possesses it.
Hi Chris, great work here. However, the journal entries need to correspond to the assigned readings for weeks 9, 10, 11, and 12. Please speak with me after class so that your Q4 Weekly Journals reflect the assignment. I’m giving you credit for Q3 (but this is a one time pass). Best, Linda