Thursday, April 7, 2016
conversation #5 Group B
Macbeth's reaction to Lady Macbeth's suicide in Act 5 scene 5, the famous "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" speech (p.179-180) is filled with some of the bleakest reflections on life in any work of literature. What, exactly, is Macbeth saying here? Why is he saying it? How does it suggest the way that this powerful protagonist has fallen?
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This is the correct question for #5:
ReplyDeleteThe play ends with Malcolm's speech in which he invites everyone (who is still alive) "to see us crowned at Scone." In what specific ways does this speech bring the play full circle from order to chaos to order? How in this Shakespearean tragedy do we now see a world that was broken made whole again?
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ReplyDeleteThe speech is what will be the ceremony that crowns Malcolm as the new king now that Macbeth has died. The speech brings the play in a full circle from order to chaos to order. I think that the town of Scotland was in order when Duncan was king since everyone respected him. Once Macbeth killed Duncan and became king, Scotland became chaotic since Macbeth wasn’t a king that cared much for the people, but who cared more about himself/his status. The period when MAcbeth ruled grew chaotic since his strategy towards safety was to kill anyone who threatened him or got in his way, a strategy that didn’t benefit anyone but himself. Although, once Macbeth died, Malcolm gained the position as king, a man who was very respected in the town of Scotland. The people of Scotland were fond of him and his values, creating order and peace in the town.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth broke the world of Scotland when he came into power and only cared about himself. Although, once Malcolm came into power, he was able to fix many issues of Scotland, starting with wanting to care for the people and not just himself, making the world one happy whole again. When Malcolm says, “what needful else that calls upon us, by the grace of Grace, we will perform in measure, time, and place.” This quote explained that Malcolm will follow and project orders given by God to the people in Scotland, something that Macbeth never did.
Malcolm, inviting everyone to his crowning allowed us to see peace will always prevail. In the beginning there is peace with a righteous king named Duncan. Then a power hungry man tries to steel the power which sent the land of Scotland into chaos. Yet, when Malcolm invites everyone to see him being crowned it signifies men of god always win. This brings the play into full circle because in the beginning there was peace and in the end there is also peace. He promises to rule under god, which Macbeth never did. Malcolm will always have his people in his their best interest.
ReplyDeleteIf Macbeth were to have won the final battles, what do you all think would have happened. Would he have become so crazy he would have tried to overthrow the king of England and make it his own?
To answer my own question, I don't think he would have made it very far. When there is a corrupt ruler there will always be an opposition. I think an opposition would have risen up and tried to overthrow him quite quickly have he restored power to himself.
I agree with you that Macbeth would not have made it far even if he won the final battle as at this point he does not have many people supporting him since most of his people left due to the fear they had of him.
DeleteBy ending with Malcolm’s speech shows that this tragedy might repeat itself. What leads me to think that is because the play started to develop into chaos when Macbeth was crowned at Scone, and now Malcolm is going to be crowned there as well. This also would show that this play really is a circle since when Scotland is at peace something tragic happens for example when Macbeth thought he had to kill multiple people to cover up killing Duncan, which in the end just makes matters worse for himself and leads people to believe he killed King Duncan. But yet order is then restored once Macbeth is killed and Malcolm is in the process to being crowned.
ReplyDeleteWe see throughout this play a world that was destroyed by Macbeth, but in this speech by Malcolm we can see that they plan on bringing everyone together again and restoring order. “That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace, We will perform in measure, time, and place.” They plan on restoring order by following what God tells them to do as they believe Macbeth did not.
Do you guys think that this story is meant to repeat? (For example at the end of the movie we see a man possibly Malcolm walking near where Macbeth met the witches and got the prophecy.) Do you guys think this is a way of telling the audience that the story is a circle with no end and will always repeat?
I think something could happen again that is similar to what happened with Macbeth and Duncan, but maybe not as drastic. I think now that Malcolm is aware of what happened he will be more careful about who he appoints in the future and learn from his father's mistakes. Like lauren said, history is bound to repeat itself, but the reason we learn from mistakes that have happened in history, and as long as the story of Macbeth keeps getting told throughout the kingdom of Scotland, there will be less of a chance that it will happen again.
DeleteThings have come full circle. The King’s son is being crowned and will take his dad’s place as the true heir to the throne. His dad would have wanted him to be crowned and Malcolm’s speech shows he wants to reward the ones closest to him and make them Earls, a first for Scotland. He wants to do the right thing for these people and with God’s blessing. He realizes he’s getting a chance to do good and be different from Macbeth and his wife - who were evil.
ReplyDeleteTo answer Kylie's question, I do think that this does give us the idea that the story has come full circle. History is known to repeat itself. Many want to be king and only few can be. There will always be jealous, evil people trying to take away what belongs to others and trying to obtain power at all costs including murder.
ReplyDeleteWhen Duncan was king, everyone was happy and everything was in order. After Macbeth killed him, the people of Scotland were overcome with grief and sorrow at the loss of their beloved king. But then, once Macbeth was crowned king, all of a sudden people were starting to be killed. Macbeth cared more about his own power than the lives and happiness of his people, which does not set up a good foundation for a successful and orderly kingdom at all.
ReplyDeleteOnce everyone finds out it was Macbeth that was responsible for the killings of innocent people, they all turn against him. When Malcolm finally kills Macbeth, I think the people of Scotland feel relief that they do not have to live in fear under such a tyrannical and murderous king anymore. Now that Malcolm will be crowned king, there is a light at the end of the tunnel that Macbeth had created, and Scotland can be restored to its original, orderly self and the people will be able to live happily again.