Macbeth LRJ and Character Journals: Act 5

Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
March 15, 2011

Notes on Act 5 Reading:

•  8 short scenes show upon first look at act that it is faster moving than the preceding events in the play, with the foreshadowing in the end of act 4, more action and violence oriented. 
• "A great perturbation in nature..." (Shakespeare 5.1, 9) Dialogue from doctor, continues long lived theme throughout the whole play that nature is a constant, and is interrupted by abnormal occurrences, such as Lady Macbeth sleepwalking
• Lady Macbeth being seen by one of her own ladies in waiting shows the seriousness of her mental condition, as before Lady Macbeth went to great lengths to hide her husbands hallucinations of ghosts from his own lords.
• Lady Macbeth's subconscious mind is being destroyed by the massive disturbances in nature, ultimately caused by her murderous acts against nature itself. 
• Her demands of 'Out Out!' foreshadow that she is reaching the end of her rope in terms of being able to deal with these murders, as she almost orders away the demons.
• Macbeth has been crowned the tyrant, a perfectly descriptive title given based on all of Macbeth's horrendous actions. 
• Macbeth certainly has that false sense of security Hecate wanted him to have. 
• The witches metaphors are revealed as the army bears trees in front of each one of them, also symbolically displaying their strength in numbers as they can appear to move a whole forest. 
• Lady Macbeth dies as foreshadowed by her seemingly insane behavior in scene 1.
• Macbeth essentially throws in the towel, and proclaims that he is done and 'tired of the sun', and will resort to die fighting, as at least he will die.
• Macbeth still believes no man of woman can harm him, therefor his tyrannical warlike abilities are shown on off on the battlefield.
• Macduff strikes down Macbeth, as he was not born of woman, he was 'ripped from the womb' (c-section?)
• Malcolm to become king
• Macbeth has his head cut off in the way of Macdowell, the way of the traitors. 
• Lady Macbeth's suicide revealed. 

Imagery Pattern: Sleep

"A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching" (Shakespeare 5.1, 9-10) Throughout the entire play sleep is used as a reference point to show either turmoil or peace that one experiences through the image of sleep as a peaceful escape. In the doctor expression of awe to the sight of Lady Macbeth sleepwalking, he uses the image of sleep to image the natural norm of occurrences, one of which is not sleep walking. The sense of awe the doctor exhibits shows the extreme nature of these conditions in Lady Macbeth, foreshadowing that she is possibly near death.

"...here she comes! This is her very guise, and, upon my life, fast asleep..." (Shakespeare 5.1, 19-20) Sleep's image here is clearly shown as what sleep is portrayed as today in popular culture: utter unconsciousness. Sleeps alternate image is used here to show that Lady Macbeth finds no peace in this sleep, and it is in no means an escape for her, she is merely unconscious, which her gentlewoman advocates to the doctor as means for which her sleep talking can be described as strange.

Character Journal: Lady Macbeth
         Well hello my beloved audience, I must first of thank you, for following me, Lady Macbeth, right to my very end. I am currently addressing you from my own coffin, which I reached from my own hands. As I was seen by you my audience and my own gentlewoman, I have gone insane, walking in the night, seeing my actions, and even speaking aloud of what I have done. Too ashamed I must have been, or that at work with my fragile mind, which could not bare knowing what I have done. I did not see my husband since we spoke after the banquet with his lords, and I just wish I could have died with him, as it would have been in death that we could have escaped this life we have made so awful for ourselves. However I ended how I began, merely a woman, incapable of handling my own actions long gone. It is now over. I Lady Macbeth, took my own life as I took those of the innocent.

Macbeth LRJ and Character Journals: Act 4

Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
March 15, 2011

Notes on Act 4 Reading:

•  Macbeth referred to by the witches as something wicked that comes near. 
• Song used in Harry Potter-significance being the wickedness being expressed in both situations
• Macbeth is significantly curt with the witches and nearly demands prophesies in explanation. 
• The three apparitions all converse with Macbeth however he simply says 'had I had ears' that he would hear them. Meaning he knows of his ignorance in this situation and is in too deep to go back.
• Macbeth is warned of the Thane of Fife, Macduff, who's flight to England Macbeth has been made aware of, and is told then by the apparitions that he is in no danger of a man born of Woman, who Macbeth assumes to be every man, and that he is safe until the Birnam Wood moves against Dunsinane Hill. 
• Witches do not explain 8 kings in procession. 
• Macbeth again orders mass murder of Macduff's castle 
• Lady Macduff distraught that Macduff has fled to England
• She tells her son Macduff is dead
• He knows Macduff is alive
• Entire castle murdered as Lady would not flee, starting with son
• Malcolm interrogates Macduff, and pretends to be have truly awful characteristics and asks Macduff would he make a good King
• Essentially, Macduff passes the test and gains Malcolms trust
• Relevance of Doctor?
• Ross makes Macduff aware of the massacre of his wife and children, and he asks several times out of disbelief, showing he is appalled by the actions that the initially noble Macbeth has committed. 
• Revenge planned on Macbeth, and Malcolm and Macduff band together to find an army.

Imagery Pattern: Sleep

"...days and nights has thirty-one sweltered venom sleeping got..." (Shakespeare 4.1, 7-8) Short lived as image pattern of sleep is in Act 4, there is one outstanding strong image of sleep which has a pattern that is opposite to that of the images in the previous act. Here in the witches canter, the image of sleep is distorted into an evil image pair with venom, suggesting a poison that came to be from sleep. The three Weird Sisters are the appointed villains in the story, therefor it is fitting that they provide the imagery of sleep as something venomous, that they add to the potion from which bloody apparitions will appear.

Character Journal: Lady Macbeth
           As I am not present in this act, a mere summary of my situation will suffice. I remain Lady Macbeth and I always will, I shall not abandon my husband regardless of the turmoil I go through at this time. Throughout this act I have remained inside my chambers, away from the stage and out of sights of all who would respond harshly to my weakened state, even my husband. I still believe that death would be better than the life that I carry, but for all you know, I have not chosen to take my own life. In essence I have not changed from last act.
          During Act 4 Lady Macbeth was likely in her chambers in bed throughout the whole act, however it is unknown for this act did not take place in her castle. Her absence shows she is getting nearer to insanity from where she was left in Act 3, which is confirmed in act five, with her sleepwalking and insanity.

Macbeth LRJ and Character Journals: Act 3

Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
March 15, 2011

Notes on Act 3 Reading:

•  Banquo realizes all of the weird sisters promises have come true for Macbeth
• "May they not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope..." (Shakespeare 3.1 8-9) Show's Banquos growing suspicions as to the validity of the allegations made by the weird sisters. His frustrated tone could also suggest a growth of jealousy within himself that Macbeth has been given so much and he has yet to be shown any truth of the witches prophesy for him. 
• Banquo's feelings bode ill for himself as he is seen as a threat from Macbeth
• Macbeth appeals to his servants manliness to commit the murder of Banquo, just as Lady Macbeth did to coerce Macbeth to commit the murder of Duncan 
• These actions show the growth in Macbeth's character towards a more relentless evil character. 
• Ironic how hard the first murder was compared to the second, as Macbeth orders his former friend killed. 
• Lady Macbeth starts to falter
• Lady Macbeth is done with the murders, however her husband continues in the downward momentum that she pushed him in in the first place. 
• Macbeth does not tell his wife of plan to murder Banquo.
• Fleance escapes from being killed as Banquo is killed.
• Lady Macbeth does not welcome the guests at the table of the king, shows she is beginning to decline. 
• Macbeth gives the murderer of Banquo sick twisted praise at cutting his throat. 
• The escape of Fleance ensured in a way that Macbeth's killing streak would not end with Banquo
• Macbeth's seeing of the ghosts show that at this point Macbeth still has a remorseful side.
• Ironically, after Macbeth feels no remorse to kill again and Lady Macbeth wishes to stop, Lady Macbeth dismisses his remorse in front of his court. 
• Lady Macbeth mentions the 'man complex' again as according to her soliloquy men should feel no remorse. 
• Quick to accuse Macduff of Treason
• Hecate wishes sisters to give Macbeth false security 
• Fleance blamed for Banquo's murder, Macduff fled to England-King and Malcolm there.

Imagery Pattern: Sleep

"...we will eat our meal in fear and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly. Better be with the dead..." (Shakespeare 3.2, 19-21) In Macbeth's dialogue with Lady Macbeth he proclaims that sleep shall no longer be peaceful for them as they have committed crime against sleep, by killing. Here sleep is mainly used as a reference point from which the affect of the murders on Macbeth and his wife are magnified by showing that they no longer have even the peace of sleep to escape from what they have have done.

"...in restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; after life's fitful fever he sleeps well" (Shakespeare 3.2, 24-25) Continuing through his dialogue, Macbeth continues to use sleep to reference how much better off late Duncan is than he and his wife. Sleep has been referenced throughout the entire play so far as a peaceful state, and thus far it has been but a commodity for Macbeth. Even though Duncan is dead at the hands of the Macbeths, Duncan is in forever peace, as he is sleeping in a sense, which Macbeth and his wife can not do, even being alive.

"You lack the season of all natures, sleep" (Shakespeare 3.4, 142) Simply stated here by Lady Macbeth in response to his 'ghost sitings' at the table with the lords, Macbeth is becoming affected by his lack of sleep. As has been clarified, sleep is imaged as an escape from reality, which Macbeth and Lady Macbeth lost after they committed murder. The strengthen the image of sleep being something that was taken away from the pair, it is referred to as the season of all natures, as nature is what Macbeth and Lady Macbeth defied in the act of murder.

"...that were slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?" (Shakespeare 3.6, 13) Lord Lennox here uses the image of sleep as a companion of man to disprove that Duncan was killed by his sons, as to be slaves of sleep is not of the guards, for sleep, as imaged thus far, does not capture rather provides an escape.

Character Journal: Lady Macbeth 
          My dearest audience, I, Queen Lady Macbeth do present myself to you. I must confess to you I find myself fatigued! In my own castle here in Scotland an ounce of sleep can I not get! E'ery time do I shut my eyes am I joined by cursed thoughts of violations against murder, and I fear that my femininity hath betrayed me in this instance. Ironic as it may be, since I found no problems in my actions initially whilst my husband did, I now am plagued with these effeminate thoughts. I feel as though I have pushed my husband too far, as now murder is his companion. Just as I speak with Banquo, the next minute it seems he is dead. How could this be! Remorse he felt not me! Now he continues to violate nature in the most awful of ways! I do not believe there is anyway to mend such a situation as awful as this! Only in death will sleep be granted to me, and better off will I be, that I will not have to put on such a strong face for my husband at his table and interact with his lords. I daresay I never changed at all, forever plagued I will be by my sex. I am a woman, and barely a living one at that. I feel myself drifting in and out of life, I fear I am losing my grip and going mad. Only time shall tell

Macbeth LRJ and Character Journals: Act 2

Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
March 15, 2011

Notes on Act 2 Reading:

• Moonless night, image of darkness.
• "The candles all are out" (Shakespeare 2.1, 5) Further enhances image of darkness
• All subtle images and metaphorical descriptions in first scene foreshadow the dark events that will take place that same night (the murders)
• Sleep imagery in Banquo's dialogue, says he it draws in 'cursed thoughts' introducing sleep in a new sense, perhaps it being able to show what can not be seen while awake
• Macbeth hides his secret agenda from Banquo, dismissing his dreams, perhaps wishing to hide his desire
• After, he convinces Banquo the murder of Duncan would be to their mutual benefit, and they conspire.
• Macbeth seeing of the dagger further express him being out of his element in the act of killing. admitting his emotional troubles with the murder
• Macbeth's unawareness to wheter the dagger was real or imagined shows his overall unsureness as to whether he should murder Duncan or not, yet he still proceeds.
• Strong blood imagery shows the pain of violence. 
• Lady Macbeth takes charge of murder, ironic as she herself wished away her sex, however she still carried out these actions as a woman.
• Lady Macbeth's shows a sign of civility by not killing Duncan, as he looks like her father in sleep. This foreshadows that her murderous ways are not permanent.
• Repeated imagery of owl, shriek, overall sinister image of the night
• Can not say amen, whilst doing such an ungodly task.
• Mentions his 'heat-oppressed brain'  acknowledging his emotional stress
• "The innocent sleep" (Shakespeare 2.2, 40) further describing the importance of sleep in Macbeth, now describing it as a state of complete innocence.
• Lady Macbeth is scolding to her husband at his lack of ability to stomach the murders.
• Drunken porter seems to symbolize the rest of the castle's incapacitated state at the night of the murder. 
• His self comparison to the porter of hell symbolizes the hell-worthy deeds gone on in the castle, and the hell deserved residents in it.
• Malcolm and Donalbain flee
• Darkness during daytime symbolize the horrible murder, as do the other odd goings on, such as Duncan's mighty horses eating on another
• Macduff does not go see Macbeth's coronation, foreshadows a conflict. 

 Imagery Pattern: Sleep
 "A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to in repose" (Shakespeare 2.1, 6-8). Here in Banquo's dialogue sleep is introduced as something that Banquo wishes to avoid, as it brings him cursed thoughts. Essentially, Banquo is having nightmares, in which nature is defied. Banquo saying nature gives way references murder, which in turn shows his cautious mentality; he wishes to not sleep, but stay up and guard.

"...and wicked dreams abuse the curtained sleep" (Shakespeare 2.1, 51-52) As Macbeth makes his way to the King's chamber, a slew of actions point to his emotional instability at the brink of his seizure of power. Aside from hallucinating the dagger, Macbeth shows that even the powerful escape that sleep is is being protruded by these thoughts of murder. Here sleep is used to foil the awful action that is murder, by showing that it is capable of interrupting even the center of innermost peace, which has been shown so far in the play to be sleep. 

"Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't" (Shakespeare 2.2, 12-13) When Lady Macbeth gives her reasoning for simply not killing Duncan herself she compares the image of her sleeping father to Duncan sleeping, which shows initially that Lady Macbeth does have limits to her own wretched deeds. Sleep here is portrayed as an international state of peace in which many people can look alike through there innocence, which is why Lady Macbeth can not kill Duncan.

"...I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep,' the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care..." (Shakespeare 2.2, 39-41) The piercing outcries from this voice use extensive emphasis of sleep to show the atrocity that is Macbeth's action. By saying 'sleep no more, Macbeth does murder sleep' the voice is saying all innocence is over, as thus far sleep has been characterized as ultimate innocence, which Macbeth murders. Macbeth is fully aware of the meaning of this outcry as he continues describing the innocence of sleep that he has just destroyed.

Character Journal: Lady Macbeth
           I would offer you the most of wonderful greetings to you, however there is no purpose, I have had to take the role of something that which a woman should never take. For those of you with a memory as faint as my husband's wits, I am Lady Macbeth, and I present myself to you once again from my castle's walls, inside which exists much chaos as of right now. As we have previously discussed, I much wish to be able to take upon myself the actions on which my husband hath struggled so! After much convincing my husband was acting on plan to carry out the deed that needed be done. Oh Heavens! Such an array of times did he trip and fall over his own responsibilities. As I mentioned to him I would have taken this burden upon myself had he not resembled my father! These complications have forced me to be stern with my husband, and alas at that, I much dislike this. I have however found much courage in me not common of a woman, however as shown by my lack of ability to carry out this task on my own, my husband is still much a man, one of which was of the utmost necessity in carrying out this deed.

Macbeth LRJ and Character Journals: Act 1

Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
March 15, 2011

Notes on Act 1 Reading:

• Witches introduced in foul weather
• "As two spent swimmers that do cling together" (Shakespeare 1.2, 7) shows tiresomeness in battle, no end in sight.
• Macbeth's nobility praised by Duncan and company
•  Sarcastic metaphor with sparrows to eagles, hares to lions enhances image of Banquo and Macbeth's courage
• Witches entrance again accompanied with thunder and lightning
• Witches torture with harsh winds, more weather imagery, eventually leading to death
• Witches prideful of killing, foreshadowing to more murder
• "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" (Shakespeare 1.3, 38) Foul in the sense of violence, fair in the sense of nobility and bravery for his country.
• Metaphorically ill fitting image to the earth-the witches
• Comparison of Macbeth's description from the witches to Banquo's shows Macbeth with become greater as King, but Banquo will be shown to be a far more noble person, and possible come out successfully in a sense in the end. 
• Ill fitted clothes imagery with the Thane of Cawdor still living. 
• Realization of road block to the kingship: Malcolm and Duncan
• Witches prophesy lead to desire within Macbeth
• Lady Macbeth insinuates murder as the solution in her monologue, expresses fears that Macbeth be too great and noble a person to end a life, and wishes that God would 'unsex' her to give her the brutality without remorse of a man than women are supposedly incapable of. 
• Continuous references to air
• Lady Macbeth appeals to Macbeth's dignity as a man

Imagery Pattern: Sleep
"Sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid. He shall live a man forbid." (Shakespeare 1.3, 19-21)
          Sleep is an image pattern abundant throughout Shakespeare's Macbeth and is first introduced by the Weird Sisters, as they boast amongst themselves of their terrorizing actions towards humans. The second witch describes the torment she gave to a sailor as his wife would not give away her nuts. The sister plagues the sailor with a terrible storm at sea and takes away his ability to sleep. By doing this she takes away his last outlet for peace, as sleep would be an vessel in which he could escape the storm. By saying he shall be forbid, he shall have no more peace as he can not sleep for seven days as everything is destroyed around him.
         The recurrence of sleep as an image in the play shows that it is important to the characters and seen by them as a place of utter peace where the terrors of the earth can be escaped. The character's reverence for sleep is shown in the witches' actions of depriving the sailor of it in wishes to punish him.
"
Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale..."(Shakespeare 1.7, 37-40)
          In this passage Lady Macbeth is addressing Macbeth's ghastly appearance as he avoids Duncan, contemplating the murder. As the murder is almost a definite plan at this point in the story, Lady Macbeth's mentioning of sleep in her critique is ironic, as Macbeth has not slept since Duncan has arrived, and murdering Duncan would in a sense destroy his sleep. This passage further emphasizes the importance of sleep to the characters and shows it to be a necessary element in one's sanity, as Lady Macbeth compares drunkenness to lack of sleep in her dialogue. 
"...when in swinish sleep...what cannot you and I perform upon th'unguarded Duncan" (Shakespeare 1.7, 68-71)
           In this next piece of dialogue from Lady Macbeth sleep is, for the first time in the play, introduced as a pint of vulnerability, in which one is out of reach of any control, as Lady Macbeth says anything can be done to him. This shows that Macbeth and particularly Lady Macbeth herself are willing to take advantage of others' weakened states, such as sleep.

Character Journal: Lady Macbeth
           Well, many fine greetings to you my audience; allow me to offer my introduction. I am the Lady to the new Thane of Cawdor, the finest Macbeth. And I must tell you how I love my husband so! Not my master be Macbeth, and nor me his, however forever partners in equality we shall be, even be me only a dame. Forever shall we work together as lovers and partners and he shall have my eternal support.
           And now to move on! Here in Scotland I reside in the castle of my husband and it is usually here I stay, being the Lady of this Manor; you can usually see me entering to converse with my husband, or to soliloquize.  And when you see me conversing with my husband you will see me having to convince him to be the man that he is! As Duncan enters our Manor we both know he must die for my husband to be king; it is what we both want! And yet, I find myself carrying the burden of achieving said task as my husband questions the choice. I wish not to posses these womanly characteristics as they make me weak! I wish the brutality of a man to carry out the dead that must be done! Alas, as children I still bear, I must go about convincing my husband to proceed by ways of appealing to his pride as a man. Despite this, I maintain good relations with my husband, as we have pledged to forever do so. My only dedicated relationship lays with my husband, as I put aside my two-faced interactions with King Duncan and his party. By my actions, I am most certainly breaking away from my constraints as a woman. I leave you with this thought to show you: A woman capable of murder, has thou ever heard of such a thing?