Journal Entries

1. Many stage productions of MacBeth omit Act I scene i. Is this scene necessary? How  does it prepare us for important themes in the play? What is the effect of this scene's setting? What does the line "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (line 10) mean?

In the play MacBeth, directors keep omitting the scene of act 1 scene i, but however, Act 1 scene i, this scene is importiant. First off, if it wasn't, shakespeare wouldn't have put it in the book, and secondly, this secene draw the audiences attention. They start wondering who the witches are. The effect of this scene's setting is again, getting the audiences attention, the scene is about the witches talking and it gets poeple wondering why there's witches. Witches are bad, why are they in this play? What I believe "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" means is that Good is bad, and bad is good. What I thinks this means it's like the yin and yang symbol, the black part is bad and the white is good. But, in the black there's a white dot, which is the good in the bad. For the white side, there's a black dot, which is the bad in the good. What I'm trying to say with this is there's good in every bad person and bad in every good person.


2. For questions 2-4, consider the classical definition of tragedy from Aristotle's Poetics: a drama about a noble hero with a tragic flaw that causes his/her downfall. The tragic hero's fate evokes pity and terror and creates a catharsis (an emotional release or purging) for the audience.Describe MacBeth's character. Is he completely a villain? Does he have a conscience? What are his admirable qualities? What do the wounded captain's comments (I. ii.) reveal about MacBeth's character? What is his tragic flaw? Is MacBeth aware of his flaw?

Macbeth is brave, he's a Scottish general that gets wicked thoughts from three witches. Macbeth isn't a villain, he only seems like one because of what the witches do to him. He also seems quite curious because of the fact that he does what the witches tell him. He has conscience, when the witches tell him something he gets curious then does whatever is said.  Macbeth's admirable qualities are his loyalty to the towns people, and to the king and his friends. He's also ambitions because of the fact that he wants the titles the witches call for him. Macbeth wounded captain's comments are the fact that Macbeth is courageous, and he never gives up, although it may be a tough task. Macbeth's tragic flaw is the fact that the witches have completely taken over his head and Macbeth wants these higher titles. Macbeth is aware of his flaws, this is because of the fact that Macbeth keeps going for what he wants, no matter if people have to die because of it. 

3. A tragic hero should provoke our sympathy. Do you sympathize with MacBeth? Why or why not? Does his downfall evoke pity and terror? Does he fit Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero?

As Shakespeare wrote this play, the main thing all writer do is make you sympathize the main character. As Macbeth is the main character, I do sympathize him. I sympathize Macbeth because of him wanting more, although he already has everything. His downfall surely evokes pity and terror, this is because Macbeth is extremely greedy, he always wanted more, which led to it not being Macbeth's fault, then you feel pity for him. This is all mostly Lady Macbeth's fault, she pretty much forces/ brainwashes Macbeth into killing the King. Once he kills the King, Macbeth is terrified, and you feel extremely bad for him. You also feel terror as he kills the King, all you can think is "What's going to happen to Macbeth?" or "Can he actually keep this a secret, or will he get caught?". Macbeth fits Aristotle's definition of tragic hero because he had one flaw, which was his ambition. He was a man of higher standings, but still wanted more. His one flaw sent Macbeth to his downfall, which then lead to Macbeth eventually dying. He dies because he realized the mistakes he had made and said he would take his life in return. 

4. What are the forces that determine MacBeth's destiny? To what degree are the witches responsible for MacBeth's downfall? What roles do fate and free will play in MacBeth's destruction?

The forces that determine Macbeth's destiny are the witches, Macbeth's greed, and lady Macbeth. The witches were fully responsible to Macbeth's downfall, because they were the ones that told Macbeth he can have more, and be King. Then, lady Macbeth liked the idea of Macbeth becoming king, and she brainwashed Macbeth into killing Duncan. Then, there was Macbeth's greed that played along with this, he wanted to rule the kingdom, he wanted to be king. The roles that free will and fate play in Macbeth's destruction are that Macbeth was brought down by his own ambition, therefore being free will. Macbeth wasn't forced into making these decisions, but he was sort of brainwashed by his greediness and lady Macbeth. So, it was more free will than fate. 

5. Blood is mentioned over 100 times in MacBeth. What are the most significant references to blood in the play? As a psychological symbol, what does blood represent for MacBeth and Lady MacBeth?

In my opinion, the most significant references to blood in the play are when Macbeth sees blood all over his hands and dagger after killing Duncan, then Lady Macbeth has blood all over her hands and she constantly rubs them trying to get the blood off. What I believe that blood represents for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are, for Macbeth's (having the blood on his hands and dagger), to me the blood symbolizes the guilt that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel after the killing of Duncan. Since the blood on Lady Macbeth's hands cannot be washed away, I believe it represents the fact that the killing of Duncan can't be undone, and that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both feel guilty, because they had killed Duncan due to their greed. 

6. How are storms, omens, and prophecies used as psychological symbols in the play?

Storms in the play are used as psychological symbols whenever the witches are shown, this is due to the fact that it creates mysterious, and dark feelings. The storms symbolize that something bad is bound to happen, or something bad is happening. Omens are used as psychological symbols whenever something bad is going to happen as well. An example of an omen is when Macbeth imagines the dagger. Omens are usually a phenomenon predicting the future. Prophecies are used by the witches throughout the play, which is the main cause for Macbeth's downfall. Prophecies use visions, whether they're real or not and they pass on knowledge. Without all these elements throughout the play, Macbeth wouldn't be the character he is.

7. Discuss the following characters as doubles of Macbeth: Duncan, Malcolm, Banquo, the Thane of Cawdor, and the King of England. How would you compare each character to Macbeth? If we interpret these characters as reflections of various facets of Macbeth's personality, what facet would each character represent?

Duncan- Macbeth is actually a good man until he makes a bad decision. They are alike due to the fact that they are both kings in this play and they are both show pride in who they are. Macbeth and Duncan have different personalities due to Duncan being older and Macbeth being a younger man. Both men are born in nobility, but later on in the play Macbeth is not noble anymore. If Duncan were part of Macbeth's personality I think it would be his nobility. 
Malcolm- they both fight for what they believe in, and they also both have equal rights to become king after the passing of Duncan, and nothing is stopping them from becoming king. Both have ambition, courage, and greed to some sort of degree. If Malcolm were a part of Macbeth's personality I believe he would be Macbeth's ambition. Due to them both having high ambition. 
Banquo- Macbeth becomes king and Banqo's children will become king as well. This shows Macbeth's nobleness because he's noble to his relatives, before and after he had killed Duncan, not during. Banquo and Macbeth are similar due to the fact that they both believed in the witches prophecies. If Banquo were a part of Macbeth's personality, I believe he would be his naivety, because both of them believed in the witches prophecies. 
Thane of Cawdor- Thane of Cawdor betrayed his king, as did Macbeth. Macbeth took his position as Thane of Cawdor. The Thane of Cawdor got hung after he was called a traitor. Macbeth was also somewhat a traitor, due to him betraying king Duncan. I believe if the Thane of Cawdor were a part of Macbeth's personality, it would be his traitorism. 
King of England- Due to Macbeth's ambition, he will do anything in his power. As does the king of England, because he wants to serve his country with pleasure. If the King of England were part of Macbeth's personality it would be his ambition. 

8. Consider the use of the dream/sleep motif in Macbeth. Bad dreams and disturbed sleep often represent psychological turmoil. What examples of disturbed sleep do you find throughout the play? What do Lady Macbeth's dreams in the famous sleepwalking scene (V. i.) reveal about her character?



An example of disturbed sleep throughout the play is when Macbeth dreams about Banquo's son coming after Macbeth, killing him, and taking the crown from him. Macbeth then becomes restless, then sends men off to go kill Banquo and his son. Also, another example of bad dreams in the play "Macbeth" is when Lady Macbeth sleepwalks in the scene (V.i). What this reveals about her character is that she's restless, probably because of the fact that she can no longer sleep due to the fact that Macbeth is a guilty man for killing all these people and no one knows the truth about Macbeth.

9. What is the purpose of the Porter scene (II. iii. 1-45)? Does it seem out of place in the play? How does this comic scene reflect the play's darker themes?

The purpose of the Porter scene is to make people in the audience laugh, it was used for humor. To me, the scene doesn't seem out of place in the play because it makes the audience aware of the devil and hell. This scene reflects on the play's darker themes because it again talks about hell and the devils, and it's humorous due to the fact that Shakespeare wanted a different mood to be set other than suspense and fear throughout the play.