Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Act 3 Questions

Continue the coversation with the questions you have over Act 3 that we have not answered in class.

34 Comments:

Blogger Kjerstinl said...

Alee, I think that Lady Macbeth might of been talking about IF she had a child she would have bashed its' brains out, but that is a good question.

Good questions about the murderers and whether or not they will have the same reaction as Macbeth after he killed Duncan. I think that they won't though, because Macbeth has a lot to lose and he gains being King, while the murders really have nothing to lose and there isn't really a given result other than they think that life will be better without Banquo.

Tue Sep 19, 03:05:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I think that aleea made a good point about the confidence levels of the murderers after they kill Banquo. If Macbeth became more brazen and confident enough after he killed King Duncan to kill Banquo, will the murderers not also become more confident and possibly kill whoever they believe is blocking their way to a better life? Will they assume a bigger role in the tragedy than just murdering Banquo for Macbeth?

And also, to answer sarahc's question, in the quote where Banquo says "Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, and Galmis, all...I fear thou play'dst most foully for't" he is saying, "Just like the witches predicted, you have evrything you ever wanted- to be King, Thane of Cawdor, and Thane of Glamis. But I think you have gotten these things through plots and underhandedness." I hope that helps!

Tue Sep 19, 03:36:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

One of my questions while reading Act III was why Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are all of a sudden acting like they love each other. Macbeth calls his wife endearing names, like "dear wife" and "dearest chuck". That just doesn't make sense to me because before Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth seemed controlling,cold, and unloving. Macbeth was just a doubtful man who followed whatever his wife said. They just didn't seem like a loving couple.

Another question I had was what does Macbeth mean when he says, "...Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and tear to pieces the great bond which keeps me pale!"?

Tue Sep 19, 03:49:00 PM  
Blogger EmilyLu said...

This is for paigen and elyseh.

I believ that so far Lady Macbeth prefers to operate in the spotlight so its unlikley that she will kille her husband. I think she likes to control who's in power more than being in power herself.
I hope this helps! Again this is my own personal opinon.

Tue Sep 19, 05:24:00 PM  
Blogger shaunam said...

With what christa was talking about how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are all of a sudden affectionate to eachother I think that Macbeth is planning on killing Lady Macbeth since she knows too much already. He also might think that she will break under the pressure. Since Macbethis killing Banquo, will he keep on going and kill everyone in the castle? And since that would look suspicious, will Macbeth eventually kill himslef?
I had more questions but they have been answered.

Tue Sep 19, 05:24:00 PM  
Blogger erinl said...

I think that it is really ironic that Macbeth is using the same persuading tools to have the murders kill Banquo and that Lady Macbeth used on him. I also noticed how Lady Macbeth keeps bringing up the "manlyness" issue and still accuses Macbeth of not being manly enought. I also agree with Chrisa in that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth seem to go all lovey dovey on us which has really taken and intrusting turn in the play. I would still like to know what is the deal with Lady Macbeth and all her crazyness. It's getting really wierd.

Tue Sep 19, 05:41:00 PM  
Blogger sarahc said...

aleea, i don't think Lady Macbeth is losing confidence. I think MAcbeth has gained so much confidence that it just seems that way because MAcbeth just brushes her off. We never see her do anything about the brush-offs, but I don't think she has lost confidence.
paigen,
at the very end of the play, a little before MAcbeth sees Banquo's ghost, one of the murderers come back and tell Macbeth that Fleance has escaped. You can read it and gauge his reaction on that.

Tue Sep 19, 05:58:00 PM  
Blogger tanal said...

Okay well i think i sort of know what is going on, but i am really confused about Lady Macbeth. So does Lady Macbeth know anyhting that Macbeth has done or planned at all. Does she even know about Duncan or the murders yet. If Lady macbeth was pushing Macbeth into killing the king so badly and she challenged his manly hood, then why isn't Macbeth sharing anything with Lady Macbeth. Wouldn't he be proud and want prove himself to Lady Macbeth?

Tue Sep 19, 06:11:00 PM  
Blogger BenH said...

tanal: I think that Macbeth has almost proved his manliness to himself. He does not need Lady Macbeth's approval anymore. Sine he killed and is now king, he feels that he is in control and has resolve. He can handle things on his own. The act of regicide boosted his confidence.

Tue Sep 19, 07:41:00 PM  
Blogger briang said...

Although I do have questions about Act III so far, im going to wait until we finish the act to blog my questions.

Tue Sep 19, 08:02:00 PM  
Blogger KariB said...

I have one major question:
Why didn't Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth about his plot to murder Banquo and Fleance? Does he not trust her any more or does he think he is better than she is?

Answering Shauna's question, I don't think Macbeth will kill himself. He worked too hard and sacraficed too much to throw it all away, even if he has nothing left. He is determined, and I think he will fight for power until his death.

Tue Sep 19, 08:03:00 PM  
Blogger lauraf said...

I think that Fleance will kill Macbeth either for revenge or for other reasons. Although Banquo was killed, the prophecy of the witches said that his decendents would become kings. Since Fleance is Banquo's only relative that we know of, he must have to come back into the story in order to take over the throne and complete the prophecy. There is a chance that the prophecy will not come true, but since everything up to this point has fulfilled what the witches said, there is a good chance that Banquo's descendents will be kings.

Tue Sep 19, 08:20:00 PM  
Blogger Phillip said...

Why the sudden change in Macbeth's attitude? He is suddenly willing to kill Banquo and now he is the one wearing the pants in his marriage, not lady Macbeth.

Tue Sep 19, 08:40:00 PM  
Blogger EmilyH said...

I think he changed because of a couple things:
1) He has already killed before
2) He is king now and likes it, he doesnt want anyone to take his power, he will do anything to keep it.
3) I think the killing of the king changed him in a way we cannot describe or really acurately pretend we understand. By taking that leap, by allowing his lust for power beat his morals he has broken down a wall in his mind, maybe its a wall of sanity, a wall of morals, a wall of goodlieness, but what ever it is it is broken and he can now pass from morality, from being a just person to being a ruthless killer, without any struggle. It becomes as easy as going through a door.

Tue Sep 19, 08:53:00 PM  
Blogger endsleye said...

Since the murderers weren't able to kill Fleaonce what is going to happen?

Tue Sep 19, 09:11:00 PM  
Blogger Kjerstinl said...

Ok. I'm confused. Hoe does Fleace know that Macbeth was the one who planned everything?? Or does he not know that yet? I really don't think that Fleance will come and kill Macbeth because if it were that easy, I don't think that the play would be all that long. In three acts we're had three murders, I think that there will be more happening in the story to know what will REALLY happen. I do think that Macbeth will kill Lady Macbeth though. I agree with the statement that she knows too much already with being with Macbeth. And one more question, Where did Banquo go (before he was killed obviously) and why?

Tue Sep 19, 09:13:00 PM  
Blogger hannahs said...

Why doesn't Macbeth seem more worried about Fleance and his escape? What if Fleance recognized the murderers? Couldn't Fleance's end in Macbeth being blamed for the death of Banquo?

Tue Sep 19, 09:15:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I am curious to see what will develop with Lady Macbeth. She seems to be losing the power in the relationship. How will this alter the course of the story? Will she, as some of my peers above have said, end up killed by Macbeth?

Tue Sep 19, 10:29:00 PM  
Blogger Mphair said...

I agree with lane--It is an interesting idea concerning Lady Macbeth...It is my personal belief that she will become suicidal and kill herself...

Hannahs-I think that the main reason Macbeth is totoally worried about Banqo's son--is because according to the prophecy "Banquo's Sons will be king."

A quesion of my own: What is the REAL reason for Macbeth's sudden mistrust of Lady Macbeth?? Is there something deeper than guilt going on here?

Wed Sep 20, 06:08:00 AM  
Blogger AnnaD said...

Act 3 has been fairly easy for me to understand. The only part of Act 3 that I have a bit of a prediction about is the Macbeth's loss of trust in Lady Macbeth. I believe that eventually both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will lose trust in each other, and that will lead to hardship for both of them, but it will lead to Lady Macbeth's demise more directly than Macbeth's.

Wed Sep 20, 12:29:00 PM  
Blogger Kjerstinl said...

One question I have right now is what is the purpose of the dinner with Banquo (or whatever it was) at the beginning of act three??

Wed Sep 20, 03:24:00 PM  
Blogger erinl said...

I have a few questions:
1)How does Macbeth live with himself after he has talked to Banquo for the last time and knows that he will be killed? Why does greed get in the way of all your morals and everything that you believe in?
2)Why does Macbeth at first not want to be part of the "plan" and then later on in the play seem to belive in it fully? What changed his mind into thinking that killing Duncan would turn out to be a good idea?
3)If Macbeth wanted Banquo to be killed so badly then why didn’t he do it himself? If he had done it he wouldn’t have to convince other people that it was a good thing to do.

Wed Sep 20, 03:32:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This kind of ties to what elyse was talking about. I think that Macbeth didn't kill Banquo himself because they were friends. Macbeth was able to kill Duncan himself because he thought of Duncan as more of a boss who trusted him. It is different with Banquo because Banquo was someone Macbeth had confided in before all of the witch business, and he felt guilty about killing someone with whom he had had such a strong bond.
For adamb's last question, I think that the witches do have a larger part to play in the grand scheme of things because I remember in the presentations we did in the first weeks of school, and one presentation was about Macbeth. I think they said that the witches eventually die, so I don't think their role in the play is over yet.

Wed Sep 20, 03:42:00 PM  
Blogger shaunam said...

Alee, for your first quote, I think that Macbeth means that he is abusing himself and keeps thinking about all that he has done and is realizing the levelof wrongdoing that he has preformed.

Wed Sep 20, 05:47:00 PM  
Blogger Aylar said...

Ok This is the 7th time I've tried this.... FRUSTRATING
anyway my main question is:
when the murderers killed Banquoe, Fleance would have been able to their faces, so when they came back to tell the king the had killed Banquoe wouldn't Fleance have recognized them?

Wed Sep 20, 07:27:00 PM  
Blogger briang said...

My two questions pertain mainly to the final two scenes of the act. I understand that Hecate is the witch leader, but what is she talking about in that really long passage? I get the impression that she is angry at the witches, but why and what role does Hecate play in the play? I think Smith said that that scene was added years later... Why would Hecate be added there, what is her purpose? My second question is about the final scene. Why will Macduff not return to Scotland? Why is he staying in England to stay with Malcom and the English court? PLEASE HELP!

Wed Sep 20, 08:08:00 PM  
Blogger Kjerstinl said...

Aylar, to answer your question, Fleance was not at the dinner where the murderer came to tell Macbeth about the murder. I'm not sure WHERE he is though.

Wed Sep 20, 08:52:00 PM  
Blogger chelseah said...

I have a few questions about Act III. Why do you think that Lady Macbeth is acting so ashamed of Macbeth when he sees the ghost? Why is she so persistent to cover up for him? Is it because she is embarrassed, or because she doesn't want to loose her appearance of power? Also, why is Hecate never even mentioned before, and then all of a sudden appears, and has a huge speech and rant? Furthermore, why does she scold the witches in such detail, and then within a second just disappear again?

Wed Sep 20, 09:09:00 PM  
Blogger endsleye said...

Since Macduff was in England, Macbeth thought he was plotting against him. But how come Macduff said no to coming to the banquet?

Wed Sep 20, 09:10:00 PM  
Blogger briang said...

First of all chelseah nice vocabulary, and secondly, I think I can help you out on your first question a little bit. Lady Macbeth was embarressed, but I don't think she didn't want them to think she had less power. I think she didnt want Macbeth to go insane and reveal his secret that they killed Duncan and Banquo.
And sara, I believe personally that if the witches said Banquo shall get kings that it can only be Banquos son. If the witches didn't say that Banquos family shall be kings or what ever, then I don't believe that will come true. But there is always that possibility like you said.

Wed Sep 20, 09:53:00 PM  
Blogger BenH said...

adrianag: I was also wondering what that meant. I mean, I thought it might be just that theme that a man can face down his actions, do a deed and not have second thoughts. But by seeing the ghost of banquo, it was his actions coming back to haunt him, and bcause that terrified him, he beleived it was taking away his manly resolve.

Sat Sep 23, 08:36:00 AM  
Blogger BenH said...

What I wonder most now is what Fleance will do. I think if both he and Macduff attempt to overthrow Macbeth, they might even get in each others ways. I wonder if they will join forces, if one will get rid of Macbeth first, or if they will inadvertently hinder each other.

Sat Sep 23, 08:38:00 AM  
Blogger bawachmu said...

I thik that Macduff suspects him--he didn't show up at the banquet, so it would make sense if he had figured it out and could be plotting revenge

Sun Sep 24, 10:13:00 AM  
Blogger TyC said...

Some people have been asking questions about Macbeth and Lady Macbeth killing each other. I think that Macbeth will eventually kill himself. It seems like his guilt for killing Duncan and sending the Murderers to kill Banquo is slowly driving him crazy. He is seeing things, such as the dagger and Banquo's ghost. The guilt will cause him so much pain and agony that he will take his own life.

Mon Sep 25, 06:06:00 PM  

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