Sunday, December 12, 2010

Be A Man Macbeth

Quote 1:
Lady Macbeth
unsex me here,
and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full,
of dirtest cruelty.  Make thick my blood.
Stop up th' access and passage to remorse,
(Act 1, scene 5, line 48-51)
Description of text: Lady Macbeth is saying that she wants to be a man and be filled with cruelty so she can do what she wants.
Interpretation: Shakespear is showing us that men are filled with evil and will not feel guilt for what they do. Because of this Lady Macbeth wants to be a man so she can kill the king and not feel bad about it.
 
Quote 2:
Lady Macbeth
What beast was it then? That made you break this enterprise to me?
when you durst do it, then you were a man;
And to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man.

(Act 1 Scene 7, Lines 55-58)
 
Desciption Of Text:  Lady Macbeth is saying that Macbeth was a man when he broke that enterprise to her, but now he is less of a man and she is dissapointed in him.
 
Interpretation: Shakespear is saying that even if you can be a man once, that dosnt garuntee that you will always act like a man. This means that men can change the way they act very easily and will just shrug it off like it was nothing.
 

Quote 3:
Malcom
Macduff, this noble passion,
Child of integrity, hath from my soul
Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts
To thy good truth and honor. Devilish Macbeth
By many of these trains hath sought to win me
Into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me
From overcredulous haste. But God above
Deal between thee and me, for even now
I put myself to thy direction and
Unspeak mine own detraction, here abjure
The taints and blames I laid upon myself,
For strangers to my nature. I am yet
Unknown to woman, never was forsworn,
Scarcely have coveted what was mine own,
At no time broke my faith, would not betray
The devil to his fellow, and delight
No less in truth than life. My first false speaking
Was this upon myself. What I am truly,
Is thine and my poor country’s to command.
(act 4, scene 3, lines 133-151)
 
Description of text: When Malcom realizes that Macduff is actually very concerned and is not trying to kill him, Malcom decides to show Macduff his true thoughts and let him know that he actaully cares about his country.
 
Interpretation: In this quote, Shakespear is saying that men are smart, and to be a man you must think on your feet. I say this because Malcom dosnt right away express his love and concern for Scotland because he knows that if he did, and Macduff was indeed trying to kill him, he wouldve died on the spot. So men must be quick thinkers and realize what to say at what time.
 
Quote 4:
Macbeth
Bring it after me.
I will not be afraid of death and bane,
Till Birnam Forest come to Dunsinane.
(act 5, scene 3, lines 72-74)
 
Description of text: Macbeth is telling Seyton, one of his men to bring his armor and to go with him. Macbeth also says that he will not be afraid of death but rather focus on his task.
 
Interpretation: In this Quote, Shakespear is showing that no matter what is at steak, even their own lives men will perservere and get the job done. It is showing that men are determined and dont give up no matter the consequences.
 
 
 
Quote 5:
Macbeth
"Why should I play the Roman fool and die On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them" (Act. 5 sc. 8 lines 1-5)
 
Description of text: Macbeth states that he will not fight like the Romans and let himself die. Instead he will buck up and fight off his enemies untill he dies.
 
Interpretation: Shakespear is showing that to be a man you must be strong and fight it out. It is a typical female thing to back out of a situation when it gets tought, but shakespear clearly says that to be a man you must fight untill you cant fight anymore, or never give up.
 
 
 

Friday, December 3, 2010

Odyssey Theme Assignment

Theme: The overall theme of the story the odyssey is to listen to your elders and take their advice and orders to heart.

PIE 1:
         In book 12, The Cattle of the Sun, Odysseus and his crew arrive on the island of the sun. Earlier in the story Circe had told Odysseus to tell his men not to eat the Cattle of the Sun, but the hungry men did not listen to their leader and decided to eat the cattle anyway. "Then in the same breath Zeus hit the craft with a lightning bolt...shipmates pitched out of her, cutting short their journey home forever." (Pg. 284 Ln.447-552). Zeus killed the sailors because they ate the Cattle of the Sun, this connects to the theme because if they would have listened to Odysseus and not ate the cattle, they could've lived. Even when something seems like it won't matter, if someone older says not to do it, don't or you will end up like Odysseus' crew.

PIE 2:
         In book 16, Father and Son, Odysseus and Telemachos are plotting their massacre of the suitors and Telemachos does not agree with his fathers ideas right away. But he is willing to see what his dad has to say, and its a good thing he was. Odysseus says, "If we pit ourselves against all these in a house, i fear the revenge you come back home to take will recoil on our heads- a bitter, deadly blow." (Pg. 346 Ln. 284-286). This connects to the theme because when Odysseus explains why they can't attack right away his son realizes that going in for the kill right away would have been a bad idea and he respects his dad's wisdom in the situation. Therefor  listening to your elders helped save Telemachos' life.

PIE 3:
         In book 22, Slaughter in the Hall, Odyesseus is still disguised as an old man and has just strung the bow. Odysseus and Telemachos are in the hall with the suitors and suddenly Odysseus kills Antinous with the bow and reveals himself to the suitors. Eurymachos tries to reason with Odysseus and asks him what they did wrong and if they can live. Odysseus replies, "No Eurymachos! Not if you pay me all your father's weath...not even then would i stay my hands from slaughter till all you suitors pay for your crimes." (Pg. 441 Ln. 66-68). Odyesseus will not budge on killing the suitors because while he was gone they took advantage of his palace and did not listen to Odysseus' orders. This is a great example of the bad things that can happen when people don't listen their elders rules.