Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Act II Characterization
Characterization via Soliloquy and Dialogue. Early soliloquies by Mac and Lady Mac help you gauge their motivation. In Act II, Mac’s dagger soliloquy opens his mind to the audience. WHAT IMAGES ARE REVEALED? What is his state of mind now? Has he changed? Soon after the murders of Duncan, the dialogue between the Macbeths reflects the impact of these deeds on them. HOW IS THIS DIALOGUE DIFFERENT FROM EARLIER CONVERSATIONS? How do their reactions differ? Who seems to recover more quickly? What does all this suggest about soul of each?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Lady Macbeth seems to have recovered from the murder, or been less affected by it, than Macbeth. One can compare Macbeth's lines, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / clean from my hand? No: this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / making the green one red." (2, 2, 63-66)to the Lady's, "A little water clears us of this deed." (2, 2, 70) The ambitious wife believes that it will be easy to forget the murder and enjoy the crown at peace. Macbeth says that he would rather not be himself, "To know my deed, 'twere best not know my self." (2, 2, 76)
Post a Comment