Witches.

The witches significance.

I think the witches in Macbeth are used to emphisis Macbeths darker side. At the begining of the play, Macbeth is see as a noble-man, a good honest warrior who fought for Scotland.

The witches simply, as they say "plant seeds" that in turn slowly pull Macbeth over to the "Dark side" prehaps without Macbeth even knowing. Macbeth even gets refered to as "Black Macbeth" throughout the play, he slowly becomes more evil in the things that he does for example setting murderers after Banquo, Fleaunce, Macduff and Macduff's son and wife. With each visit from the witches Macbeth seeingly gets worse.

I think the witches are a representation of Destiny, and a set path that has been chosen for you.

In the play, you could argue whether Macbeth would have killed King Duncan to become king if it hadn't been for the witches interference. Would he even have known that he would be in line for King? Well my argument is this, Maybe Macbeth's path was to meet these witches, maybe he had no choice, he was destined to kill Duncan the way that he did and to gradually become evil.

At one point Macbeth even said himself that if the witches didn't give him the information that he wanted he would curse them forever. This could possibly connote the fact that Macbeth has become the things he calls "old hags", a witch himself.

I think that the relevence of the witches is just to show Macbeths venture into the dark side.

Act III Reading journal.

Act III shows the death of Banquo. A scene that arguably could in fact be left out of Macbeth all together. I however find this scene very important because of the fact that Banquo tell Fleaunce, his son to "Fly, Fly,Fly". I find this one of the most important phrases in the entire play because of the play reference to birds.

In a previous scene Macbeth talks about an Owl, "taking out" a Hawk. This is important to remember because at the time this is said, Macbeth is the owl and King Duncan is the Hawk. Once Macbeth had murdered King Duncan, He almost instantly became the Hawk himself. Now back to the present scene, Banquo whilst being murdered himself tells his son to "Fly Fly Fly" and get revenge, almost entitling him as a bird, therefore making Fleaunce the Owl, seeking revenge over Macbeth, now the Hawk.

Another thing is the way that we see Macbeth change in this act in particular. He gradually throughout the play changes as surcomes to the witches minipulation. The said at the beggining that they will plant seeds, maybe now these seeds had formed thus altaring macbeth. Another thing that facinates me is Macbeths relationship with his wife Lady Macbeth who seems almost like a witch herself in the way that she doesn't beat around the bush. What she and Macbeth have done has been done and she always just bluntly puts it to Macbeth. Its a bit ironic that Lady ~Macbeth is always trying to cool Macbeth down and reasure him that they will not be caught but at the same time she puts it so bluntly to him that he has no choice but to remember and panic about it.

We also see the introduction of, Hiscat, the "Cheif" witch if you like. Hiscat follows the same trend as the witches but seems to remain much more rule bound. Following set rule about witchcraft and almost telling the other witches off about the way that they told macbeth of future events.

TBC

Act II -

Act II

Act 2, is the scene where Macbeth's first silliquay appears. During this, Macbeth is shown to be hullusinating about a dagger that he can see but not feel. Showing that Macbeth clearly is being effected mentally by what he is about to do.

Another thing is when Macbeth says at the end of this
"Hear it not for it is a knell, That summons thee to heaven or hell"
To me this sound sort of like a chant or something supernatural which makes strong reference to the witches. Im not really sure why this may be, a possibility is that maybe in act 1 the witches discuss planting seeds and such, it could be these seeds that the witches have planted are now beggining to effect Macbeth and therefore he is, if you like "becoming" one of them.

Also in this scene we see the dark side to lady Macbeth. Im not quite sure what it is exactly, but i see Lady Macbeth as a sort of ghost, like she isn't really there. Just the way that i can invision her moving around Macbeth and talking to him. Its almost out of this world, much like the witches in fact. It seems there is something that isn't quite right with her. I think this is shown when Lady Macbeth goes back to frame the guards, she almost does it with no conscience, and after she shows no remorse at-all

Directors Blog.

Acting out Act one scene four, really helped me to understand excactly what was taking place in the scene and gave me a quick look of the emotions iin the scene based on our groups interpritation of it.

What basically enrolls in the scene is King Duncan entitles his son Prince Malcome as the prince of Cumberland. We see the jealous side of Macbeth as he confesses he himself would like to own that title.

I think personally that the scene may have taken place in the kings throne room simply because he entitles there, so i imagine the king sat in a throne with the other characters Malcome, Banquo & Macbeth knelt before him.

I imagine the decor of the throne room to be quite fancy, royal blues and reds with gold, we also decided that King Duncan should have a ring which all three other characters kissed on introduction.

All together it seemed quite a formal meeting of the characters.

Coursework.

Focus:
The struggle for power in the text i've studied. (How characters struggle for power)

I've made notes on my novels so far.
With "The body theif" i've confirmed this as my first book and my main focus, Simply because i feel that i know this novel very well. I think Lestat in this novel is essentual for my studies because he struggles at one point with the power he had, once had and posseses in both human form and his Preternatural form.

I think with him struggling more mentally then physically with his power, makes it a more interesting focus because it will tie in with other mental factors that would be great to address in my essay. Essentually, my second novel which unfortuantly i have not yet confirmed will have to contain a similar aspect of power, or an issue with power, i think i'd like to use a physical power in my second novel rather then a mental struggle because it would make a good comparison.
(to be continued)

Macbeth - Act Overview - Act 1

So far Act one of Macbeth has displayed numerous gothic elements. Firstly the scene starts with three witches, casting spells and chanting and so forth. Witches are almost primarily associated with the gothic scene being supernatural. Next, practically the whole play is set within a castle, obviously another gothic horror trend. Also there seems to be a lot happening at the night time, like the witches so far, and other scenes that I know of yet to come, like murders at night.

There seems to be many references to death and blood also. Another thing is that there is a lot of scheming and betrayal going on.

Lady Macbeth appears to be almost like a conscience to Macbeth, influencing his thoughts and actions. She seemingly has more power then he does, this could be seen in a different light though as she is aware of the power Macbeth himself has due to his status, and therefore she knows he can get rid of the king without being touched.

Another thing is that when Lady Macbeth says "unsex me here" it seems to me as this is almost like a spell, maybe a link between the witches and herself. which could be another gothic horror trend.

(to be continued)

What is Literature?

Personally, I dont think you can define literature. You cant categorize it into a novel containing certain things. You could look at a novel and ask 100 different people what made that novel literature, and its almost certain that you'd get 100 different answers. Defining literature as " it has the ability to grab you, enthrill you, and enlighten you are all just factors that many novels, believed to be literature or not possess.

Shakespeak for example, the most well recognised figure in all of literature. Is it possible to pin point excatly what it in that his novels and/or plays contain that make them literature?

For me the answer is no, Personally, there is no way of underlining the key aspects of a novel that makes it literature. Can new writers not share the same qualities that Shakespears novels contain, and if they did, would they get the same recognition and status?

Again my answer would have to be, Although i'd like to say yes, it would have to be no simply because Shakespeare is know so greatly for his literature that when anything gets compared to it, there is no comparrison because the expectations are so high.

A bit like saying Shaheen Jafagholi posseses the same qualities as Michael Jackson.

Coursework Progress.

At this point, I currently am in the process of reading my second book. I should have read them both by now but i had slight doubts with "the Wasp Factory".

I have fully read Anne Rice The Body Theif and completly know the book 100%. I enjoyed reading it actually. I can apply both marxism and feminism to the novel although im not sure whether that is compulsary.

I have made notes on "the Body Theif, and am planning to post them on the blog for future reference.

Marxism

Marxism in Anne Rise – The Body Thief.


At a certain stage of the novel, Lestat (the main character) enters a “deal” in which he trades bodies with a human for 48 hours. During this time as a human Lestat is evidentially weaker physically than he previously was as a vampire. Mentally on the other hand, due to his supreme power as a vampire, he still thinks he is as powerful and invincible and intimidating as he once was.

Because of the status given to him by society, and not having a place in society, to him means he doesn’t have to follow the rules set by society due to his strength and power. Nobody is going to stop him. Physically although he is a human, he still sees himself mentally as the same, powerful lestat, and because of this mindset he rapes a woman. Although showing not much regret, he does offer to buy the lady whatever she wanted in order for her to forgive him. He soon forgets about this woman though as he sees her as insignificant.

I think this shows that without power you are worth nothing. Today with the power hierarchy you can basically get anything you want, if you have the power to take it yourself. This is shown frequently in the novel.

Another time is when Lestat finally retrieves his Vampire body back, he sort of has to remind himself that he is all powerful once again and makes his closest and oldest mortal friend David a vampire against his will. Telling him that he himself “is one with the devil” and can do as he so pleases.

I think the fact that society has not allowed Lestat to have any moral fibre, means that although naturally he has got morality, he needs not show it because he isn’t a part of society as he has been excluded.

(Im not sure if this shows marxism, i think it does, but im not 100% on the definition)