October 28 2013

Clothing Imagery 

• references to aspects of wearing, having, using clothes as a way of showing character or internal situations (feelings, thoughts, etc)

There is the other little motif (a repeated image, idea, series of ideas, symbol, etc) about having a disconnect between what you show and what you think

Modern culture - we almost assume persona and thinking are different

In old times, people assumed that inner and outer were more linked. ie remember me saying that “bad guys LOOK LIKE bad guys”?

Another little situation of contrast - some characters are capable of hiding what they are.

There’s something thematic in here about what we think based on the surface of things and what is true about the reality of things. 

(Frankenstein is all about this)

Drama is enhanced by making something REALLY good and then smashing into something REALLY bad

Dramatic Irony - when characters are ignorant of something that the audience knows

Tragic Hero

A hero who starts on a HIGH note, in the peak of his/her life and career and, due to some horrible flaw in him/herself, has a terrible FALL that takes him/her to a miserable death. 

The flaw is called HUBRIS. 

This idea comes from ancient Greek theatre. 

Hubris is the sin of PRIDE in oneself. A sense of one’s greatness that is not in balance with what is deserved. 

Sometimes, hubris results in AMBITION that is beyond what is earned or deserved. (this sounds like Macbeth)

Read the intro of Lady Macbeth (Act 1, Sc V) and add her soliloquy to your translation list. “The raven himself...Hold, Hold.”

Be prepared to keep a log of her character attributes for a possible character study. 

Lady Macbeth is referring to a quality that leaders need that allows them to make very brutal and difficult decisions (or so it seems)

In her mind, he is too kind and gentle and EMOTIONAL.

Evidence for this? The way he treats his wife. 

“pour my spirits in thine ear” manipulation

Maybe sexual. - tongue, ear, spirits, and also the idea of his great love for her would play into this

Maybe something alcoholic - spirits = drugs, liquor?

Maybe magic! spirits = demons, ghosts! 

There is a definite link to the witches here!

HEY! Potions? Drinks? Spirits? 

Sexuality might be a component in witchcraft as well. 

OR we see the obvious - she is more powerful than him and EXPECTS to be able to control and manipulate him - PERIOD - one way or the other, she thinks she’s better and smarter than him

retinue - the king’s attendants - many servants, hangers on, etc

Host Rights and Responsibilities

• in the old days, there was literally a religious nature to host responsibilities
• for Lady and Mac, it is their DUTY to honour and protect and treat their guests with the utmost respect - “putting on the dog”
• her plan to kill their guest is an abhorrent sacrilege - AWFUL
• add to it - he’s the king - Divine Right
• add another layer - he’s a kinsman - FAMILY
• add another layer - the king is a symbolic father - PATRICIDE

Lady Macbeth is shocking the audience and breaking rules of culture and society - breaking the STATUS QUO (the way things are)

HOWEVER, there is a good precedent in religious culture for her behaviour (and everyone in the audience in the old days would know it)

• witchery - women of power who are “outside of male dominance”
• Lilith - symbol of a powerful and controlling woman - independent
• Eve - foolishly ambitious or greedy or manipulative woman who steers her man wrong

Next soliloquy!

start of Act 1, Sc vii