11/1/19 Rachel Yang PD5

11/1/19

Sophomores 2020
Rachel Yang
Period 5
Blogger #27

Aim: How does Macbeth’s multiple or conflicting motivations compare with his interaction with other characters advance the plot or develop the theme?

      In today’s lesson, we were able to read through scenes 3&4. These two scenes uncovered some important traits of the characters.

Act 1 Scene 3
      The beginning of Scene III starts off with the three witches meeting up and explaining a situation they have just been in. The First Witch expresses her anger over a sailor’s wife not giving her chestnuts. Although this complaint may seen very minor, it provided us with the knowledge of the fact that the witches do not have total control. After this part of the scene was read, we took a pause to answer an important question:
                   What are the limits to the Witches’ powers?
- all three witches had to be together/ chant together to use their powers
- their power was in a form of a ritual not magic
*- have no control over the person’s free will
*- cannot kill anyone, but may manipulate people (Quote PG15: “though his bark cannot be lost”)

      After that, we were introduced to asides which are a form of dramatic device in which a character is “speaking” to the audience while other characters are also on stage, but cannot be heard by the other characters. An aside can often be a confused with a soliloquy, but in a soliloquy the character is alone.
      We continued to read scene III, moving into the part where the witches deliver their prophecies to Banquo and Macbeth and Ross and Angus deliver news to Macbeth. Macbeth starts to get excited as he believes the witches’ prophecies are 100% true while Banquo  is not as sure about the witches’ legitimacy, he believes that the witches are manipulating Macbeth by telling his small pieces of truth to make him vulnerable in believing them and using it to their advantage so that the witches can cause trouble. Banquo’s reaction to this shows his wisdom and perceptiveness
             
Act 1 Scene 4
       In this scene we are introduced to King Duncan revealing how he’s a kind king that places all his trust in his Thanes causing him to be foolish by having so much trust. Macbeth also witnesses King Duncan saying that his son, Malcom will be Prince of Cumberland. This goes against the prophecies the witches deliver to Macbeth, but he continued to believe that he would be king causing him to feel anger and have a strong desire to take the position away from Malcom.

Reflection
 Overall today’s lesson gave a me a stronger insight over what Macbeth is about. I learned that asides were important pieces of a play as it is not like a show where a voiceover can be placed to indicate a character thinking out loud. The discussions about the witches’ powers helped me realize that although the witches seem to want to control so much, they are limited and are rather just messing with the person’s mindset and decision and having the individual take it from there. I also learned that Banquo will most likely be a voice of reason in the play as he is not as gullible as Macbeth. I will use the information learned today to help me understand future actions the characters made and how it reflects upon their traits.