Blog Thursday (November 11)
Duncan
Duncan was a kind and just leader. He rewarded those who followed him loyalty and punished the ones that would betray him. Duncan's chief failing appears to be trusting his thanes too much, a fault that ultimately lead to his death. The original Thane of Cawdor betrayed Duncan. The king ordered him to hanged: "No more the Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death," (1.3.63-64) however afterward he reflected; "He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust." (1.4.13-14) Duncan recognized Macbeth's bravery on the battlefield: "O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman" (1.1.24) and promoted him for it; "With his [Thane of Cawdor's] former title greet Macbeth." (1.3.65) King Duncan was revered by his subjects; Lennox referred to him as "The gracious Duncan..."(3.6.4) and Macbeth thought highly of him "Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office..." (1.7.16-18) Unfortunately Duncan was to trusting of Macbeth, who murdered him as he slept. This was Duncan's ultimate failing, and the reason for his death.
Macbeth
Macbeth's rule was established through an act of murder, Machiavelli would justify this with is quote: "The ends justify the means." Macbeth also adhered to the quote "A prince never lacks a legitimate reason to lie" by killing Duncan's servants, and saying "O, yet I do repent me of my fury that I did kill kill them." (2.3.102-103) Claiming that the servants killed Duncan, though in reality he killed them to cover his tracks. "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." Macbeth followed this quote too, evaluating Banquo to be a threat and sending murderers to eliminate him: "Both of you know Banquo was your enemy." He reveals that he has soies in the households of all his lords: "There's not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee'd" (3.4.135) Overall Macbeth is a dishonest and mistrustful ruler, but by Machiavelli's standards he was an effective and powerful leader.
- Appearance vs. Reality:
Machiavelli was a strong believer in using deceit to gain power. Lady Macbeth is the epitome of this idea. Machiavelli's quote "A prince always has a legitimate reason to lie" highlights this perfectly. Lady Macbeth appears to innocent and helpless, when she is really cunning and ambitious. For example here is her planning to murder Duncan: "...That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of dark..."(1.5, 50-51) She shows this when she convinces Macbeth that he should murder King Duncan and take control for himself. She also plans the intricate details of his murder: "...What cannot you and I preform upon Th'unguarded Duncan? What not put upon his spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our great quell?" (1.7, 69-72) However she still maintains a face of innocence in front of others. Complementing the king and playing the courteous hostess. All of this lends to the idea of appearance vs. reality. Things are not as they seem, and people hide behind masks of deceit.
- Gender Roles:
A majority of the characters introduced in the first scene of Macbeth are male. They display the typical male expectations oh honor, bravery, loyalty, and strength. Macbeth and Banquo are described to be these things. They probe themselves by fighting for the king against his enemies. As a captains description of Macbeth goes as follows: "For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name!- disdaining fortune , with his brandished steel which smoked with bloody execution, like valour's minion." (1.2, 16-19). After bravely winning two conquests they return and are well received by the king. In contrast, the traitorous Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death for disloyalty to the king: "No more that than of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death..." (1.2, 63-64)The only woman introduced is Lady Macbeth. She displays the typical values associated with a woman of her time: meekness, innocence, and loyalty. However she is revealed to the audience to be the opposite of these values. Lady Macbeth does not seem to fill in her gender roll. She shows ambition, and often manipulates Macbeth to reach towards her goal. In medieval times the wife was often subordinate to the husband, however she often reverses these roles. Shakespeare both included and ignored gender rolls in his play, varying them by character. Overall those that adhere to the expectations of their gender are portrayed as good, while those who do not appear to be evil.
- Loyalty and Honor:
Loyalty and honor are considered positive traits for an individual. Loyalty pertains to being loyal to one's king. Subjects were expected to follow their leader, and maintain his rule. Honor is typically referred to in battle. Those that fought bravely and did not flee from their opponents were considered honorable. An honorable death could only be attained if one was facing their enemy, not with their back turned. Remaining loyal is also an aspect of honor. Upholding truth and justice is the task of an honorable man. Those that were disloyal or un-honorable were shunned by society. One could even be sentenced to death for disloyalty. Macbeth honor and loyalty are put to the test when he has the option to kill the king and take power for himself. In the final scene of act 1 he must decide between loyalty and ambition: "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. If th'assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success: that abut this blow might be the be-all and the end all, here..." This is the most important way that Shakespeare's play focuses on honor and loyalty, the choice between right and want.
