Is this a dagger I see before me?
Consider for a moment one of the following elements of Act 2 of Macbeth:
The dagger
The bell (also called "the knell" by Macbeth)
The knocking in 2.2
Bloody hands (bottom of page 57)
The word "Amen" (page 55)
Please pick one of the motifs listed above and analyze what you think this object symbolizes--what deeper conflicts, themes, or flaws does it represent and how? Be sure to show me your thinking as clearly and specifically as possible.
As always, read the comments of those who have posted before you and comment on whether or not you agree with others' interpretations. I also strongly suggest that you type your response in Microsoft Word first to catch any grammar or spelling errors and to prevent any loss of work due to technological difficulties.
posted by Kristin L at 11:41 AM
27 Comments:
For the motifs I choose to do the "Amen" one. Macbeth talks about how he cannot utter Amen out of his mouth. He says its "Stuck in my throat." I think Shakespeare is showing here that this is Macbeths' way of knowing he did something unholly. He knows he sinned but can't really say that he did sin. The thought of saying anything that has to do with God makes him sick and gulity. So not bringing it up makes him forget about it.
I think it also brings up what kind of period it is. He doesn't seem to be much of a holly man sense he just comitted murder, but he believes of a heaven and hell. He knows that the crime he committed will stick with him forever.
I along with Brigid chose "Amen" as my symbol. I am not a very religious person however I do know that amen is the ending to a prayer. So since Macbeth has done something unholy and has broken one of the ten commandments, he cannot allow himself to say the ending of a prayer because he has done something so bad. Morals come into play here also because he cannot make himself say it does that make him a moral person? Or does it make him an unrighteous freak that is sentinced to hell? He did choose to commit the crime but now he is repenting for his haneous actions by feeling bad.
The motif that I picked was the knocking in 2.2. In this scene Macbeth begins to have small hallutionations and the knocking that he hears is one of them. I think this is a sign that Macbeth is going to be having more hallutionations throughout the play along with the guilt that he feels.
The Dagger-I think that the dagger symbolizes false hope. The reason that I think this is because Macbeth really wants to use the dagger in order to insure him king, but he also wants to do it fairly. I along with Taylor think that it shows that he is going to have more hallucinations through out the play.
This post has been removed by the author.
The motif I chose was the dagger. To me, it symbolized temptation, fear, and sin. When Macbeth sees the floating dagger, it is almost as if it is calling to him. He is afraid to kill the king, but he is tempted by the dagger. The dagger seems to be calling to him, telling him to kill the king, which causes Macbeth to commit a sin and a huge crime.
It can also symbolize that Macbeth is mental. He is seeing something that is not there. Shakespeare likes to use this element in his play to confuse and attract his viewers.
I chose the motif of the knocking in 2.2. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both imagining the knocking but are also hearing someone knock. I think that this shows how frantic and scared they both are. In any other instance, they would not have freaked out at someone knocking at the door. I think the knocking symbolizes the way that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are welcoming in the idea of murdering someone for the throne and in a way are intruding on the plans of Duncan and on his life by murdering him. I think that Shakespeare uses the knocking to show that even though Macbeth and Lady Macbeth committed a huge crime, they still have some common sense.
I chose the dagger. In my opinion, the dagger symbolizes temptation to do the wrong thing. He sees this dagger which I think shows his desire to become king. His selfish feelings are seeping through his speech as the dagger becomes bloody. Honestly, I think this hallucination of his also represents all that is evil egging him on to commit this act. Throughout this situation, he is not thinking clearly, and he is letting this act take him over. After he wants this so bad and commits the crime, he does not feel satisfied. He wants more; he wants to not feel guilty and actually be able to sleep. This is unfortunate because this hallucination has taken enough of him where he will never be the same. Never again will he be “with it”. He will have to suffer the consequences of actions whether it’s through guilt or something else.
The word “Amen” told by Macbeth is a symbol of acceptance. He says that he cannot say such a blessing and that it was stuck in him throught. He had killed Duncan and couldn’t find himself to be ok with himself doing such a thing even though he wanted to and felt he had to. He wanted the blessing of an “Amen” but the words couldn’t come together with all the thoughts running through his head. I agree with Briged and that he knew what he is was unholly. It makes him feel guilty because he knows what he did was wrong. Amen is saying that he did it, it is good, and acceptance, and that is the opposite of what he did. An “Amen” is usually used with something good that can be remebered by everyone and appreciated, but most importantly, like Nathan said, Moral. Macbeth has trouble with saying Amen and it being stuck in his throat knowing it wasn’t a moral thing to do.
This post has been removed by the author.
The dagger was the motif i chose. To me the degger is a sign of fear and a sign that somehting bad is going to happen. I agree with taylor in saying that I think the few hallucinations he has been having is just the start to him having many more hallucinations.
I chose the motif of amen. I believe that it is so important because it shows how physical the conscience can be. How our fears can tell manifest themselves. Macbeth doesn’t feel like he deserves to be blessed so he can't say Amen. I think that this is so important because it shows that he feels remorse for what he's done.
The dagger symbolizes fear, temptation and desire. Macbeth's desire to become king leads to his hallucination of the dagger which is a temptation for him to murder Duncan. The dagger in a way is luring Macbeth to Duncan and convincing him to kill.
I agree with saryn when she said that the dagger caused Macbeth to commit the sin/crime that he did.
I think the dagger foreshadows hallucinations that could possibly come in the future of the play from Macbeth's feeling of guiltiness.
The motif I chose was the dagger. I think that the dagger symbolized fear, truth, sin, temptation, strong, and powerful. The dagger is all of these elements because Macbeth is weak and falls for the daggers signs and fear. When Macbeth sees the dagger floating above him with the handle towards his had, it seems like the dagger is telling him to follow it. Macbeth then is afraid to go ahead and kill the king. The dagger is calling him it tempts him. Macbeth is a weak person for falling for his hallucinations and he follows the dagger to the king.
I think that the dagger shows Macbeths inner desires to become king. On the surface, Macbeth is hesitant to kill the king because he doesn't know how true the witches prophecy is. On the inside, he believs the witches and will do whatever he can to become king. When he see's the dagger, the two sides clash and Macbeth becomes confused about what he sould do. I think this inner conflict will end up hurting Macbeth when it is all said and done.
I choose the dagger because it doesn't just symbolize a weapon used for death but there is a much deeper meaning. I think that the dagger symbolizes Macbeth. When Macbeth cant grasp the dagger in his hands ita almost as if he cant grasp his emotions and actions. I think the dagger also represents his feeling of guilt the dagger floats around like the feeling of guilt lingering inside of him. The dagger will never leave his head because its the one thing that will kill and Macbeth knows deep down that killing is not right and will bring bad karma to him in the long run.
The motif I chose was the dagger. I agree with Saryn in the fact that the dagger represents fear. In my opinion it shows Macbeth's fear of killing the king. He sees the dagger calling to him, beckoning him to kill the king. But when he tries to grab it, it's not real, and it suddenly becomes covered with blood. Then Macbeth bagins to fear the dagger and I think this represents his fear of mudering someone. He's afraid to grab it when it is covered in blood.
I am going to analyze the "Dagger" motif. This motif shows not only Lady Macbeths want for power, but also Macbeth. The dagger symbolizes human nature, and the greed to which each human posseses. Macbeth was scared of the dagger, because he knew what he was about to do was wrong, but he could not let go the riches the would supoosedly come. The bloody dagger gave Macbeth a feeling of what the deed really meant, what the enjoyable consequenses felt like.
I think that the bloody hands symbolizes the dirty deed that Macbeth just committed. When Lady Macbeth tells him to go wash his hands, she is basically saying to think no more about what he did and wipe away his guilt. The blood on his hands marks his involvement in the crime.
The motif i choose was the dagger. I think it symbolizes not just murder but the fact that Macbeth could not grab it symbolizes that maybe he cant really hold onto his emotions and himself as a person. Also when the dagger started bleeding that symbolizes his emotions and how he really feels about what he is going to do. The dagger also symbolizes temptation in that its doing the wrong thing.
I think there is really one reason that Macbeth could not say amen. I think it is pure guilt. Back then religion had a lot of control and influence over most peoples’ lives, especially royalty. I think that since killing is against the Bible, he felt so guilty that he couldn’t say the word amen in fear of being blasphemous.
I agree with Jesse (and most of the class) when I say the dagger is a symbol of temptation and lust for power. The fact that the handle is toward Macbeth's hand represents the presence of said desire in Macbeth's consciousness. The increasing amount of blood symbolizes desire’s (blood) ability to grow and cover the mind’s sharpness and reasoning (dagger)
I also agree with Taylor in that this is also Shakespeare’s way of foreshadowing more hallucinations
I believe the bloody hands are one of the most effective motifs because i think it represents the guilt that is being put onto Macbeths hands.
i choosee the dagger because the dagger symbolizes that he can be doing something wrong at the wrong time and be there at the place at a wrong time. Macbeth was thinking to his self that he could imagine a dagger being bloody.
just testing
I chose the "Amen" motif because I think macbeth couldn't say it because he would be saying it in vain. And since most people at the time were religious he probably is to. He knows what he's done and he kows it is wrong and unholy.
i agree with ben that the dagger shows the inner side of macbeth and how he wants to become king. when he has the Hallucination about the dagger he does not know what to do.
Post a Comment
<< Home