Two scenes of persuasion:
1) Lady Macbeth's Act 1 Scene 7
2) Macbeth's Act 3 Scene 1
Compare: IOC Topic Discussion
H.W:
Compare both scenes of persuasion and post it on the blog
On the basis of :
1) Thematic-comparison
2) Character analysis- the subconsious qualities surfacing
3) Change in relationship dynamics
4) Literary devices- specially dramatic that makes the scene effective
due date: Monday, 15 October, 2012
The two scenes of persuasion are very important because it is in these scenes that Macbeth is persuaded to commit two significant crimes - the murders of Duncan and Banquo. However these two scenes differ in the nature of the persuasion.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of Act 1 scene 7, through his soliloquy, Macbeth realizes that he would be committing a 3-fold crime by killing Duncan and decides against the murder. This decision is brought out by the lines “we will proceed no further… not cast aside soon”. Lady Macbeth then effectively persuades him against this decision. However in Act 3 scene 1, Macbeth has decided to kill Banquo. The persuasion in this scene, through a soliloquy, is a reinforcement to the decision. It is interesting to note that while in scene 7, soliloquy was used to bring out Macbeth’s decision against killing Duncan, in scene 1, the soliloquy was used to bring out the persuasion.
The persuasion in Act1 scene 7 is largely emotional. Lady Macbeth initially provokes him through a series of questions like “Art thou afeared… i’th’adage”. Then she emotionally attacks him through lines like “What beast… enterprise to me” and “I have given suck… have done to this”. Then she convinces him about why the task will be very easy, by devaluing his worries and skepticism. On the other hand, the persuasion in Act 3 scene 1 is more logical. In his soliloquy Macbeth provides himself with an impeccable rationale to convince himself that it was absolutely necessary to kill Banquo.
There is an evolution of character in between these scenes. Lady Macbeth is often viewed as the fourth witch because it is believed that she was the one who incited Macbeth to kill Duncan. This is very apparent in Act 1 scene 7. Hence it seems that between them, Lady Macbeth was the more ambitious one and she was less reluctant to go down an evil path. Act 3 scene 1 however contradicts this belief that Lady Macbeth was the fourth witch as we see Macbeth himself makes the choice to delve deeper into evil without even consulting with Lady Macbeth. This establishes that Macbeth was also ambitious and wasn’t any less susceptible to evil. In fact it has to be remembered that Lady Macbeth willfully asked the evil spirits to take over her in Act 1 scene 6. It was a conscious choice. She could as easily let go of the evil, as she acquired it. After Duncan’s murder, she was convinced that they should go no further. Hence she wasn’t susceptible to the temptation of power or evil. However for Macbeth it wasn’t a conscious choice. He wasn’t aware that he was delving into evil. This is suggested by the fact that he was giving himself justifications. This suggests inherently that he was more susceptible to the temptation of power and was less resistant to evil. Macbeth becomes more eloquent, more convincing and evolves from someone who needed to be persuaded to murder to someone who was capable to convincing others that killing was the right thing to do.
Relationship dynamics between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth also changes. In act 1 scene 7, they were plotting Duncan’s murder together. Macbeth confided in Lady Macbeth all his worries and fears. Though it seems that Lady Macbeth was more dominating of the two, Macbeth doesn’t seem uneasy with this. In fact the fact that he was so easily convinced suggests that his decision to not kill wasn’t very strong to begin with. However in act 3 scene 1, Lady Macbeth isn’t even aware of the fact that he was planning to kill Banquo. He did not confide in her. This shows a transition where their quest for power was becoming only his quest for power. In act 3 scene 2, it is very apparent that Lady Macbeth was uneasy with this. She did not like the path Macbeth was taking. She is also intimidated by Macbeth. This is the point at which their relationship starts falling apart.
The last observation is very pertinent:)
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ReplyDeleteIn context of the whole play these scenes are important because they are the turning points and scenes of reversal. Throughout act 1, Macbeth has a positive image. Hence his decision to kill Duncan at the end of this act is a change in the direction of events. In the beginning of act 2, it is apparent that Macbeth is troubled by his murder of King Duncan. There is no reference to his emotions in the rest act 2. Hence it is an unexpected change in the protagonist’s character when suddenly in the beginning of act 3 he is plotting the death of Banquo without any guilt. This scene brings out Macbeth’s choice to delve deeper into evil. This scene is the beginning of his transformation into Machiavelli.
It would be good to point out that Lady M's questions were largely rhetorical in nature adding weight to her logic. The same applies to Macbeth's anguished query about the reason he committed the triple sin of murdering pious Duncan. This refers to Shakespeare's use of a literary device to enhance the persuasiveness of both characters--and it was a popular contemporary devices when you keep in mind the Elizabethan court .
ReplyDeleteMa'am, I mentioned that, by nature, Lady Macbeth's persuasion was more emotional than logical. Is that wrong? Rhetorical questions can be used to heighten emotional distress too right?
DeleteThe scenes of persuasion in the play "Macbeth" play a really crucial role in the molding of the play and bought about very distinct plots into play. for example in the beginning of act 1 scene 7 Macbeth through his soliloquy, he tells the audience that how killing Duncan is committing a sin and that the host is supposed to protect the guests and to provide and care for them, but here he is committing a 3-folld murder and he did not want to commit the sin this is shown to us in the lines” we will proceed no further…..aside so soon” , but then lady macbeth talks persuades macbeth to kill duncan as it would be beneficial to them and to their family and we can see lady macbeth talking like the fourth witch as she effectively persuades macbeth into killing duncan and becoming the king of scotland. Bu in act 3 scene 1 we see a change in macbeth.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth persuades himself and gives reasons in his soliloquy about why he has to terminate Banquo and how he is becoming a continuous threat to Macbbeth’s rule. The witches had stated that Macbeth will become and the king and thou Banquo would never be one , he would be creating a line of Kings thus oviously saying that macbeth would be overthrown by banquo’s son Fleance. This scene also shows macbeths change in character, in act 1 we see macbeth as a valiant warrior who will not even in his wildest dreams think about standing against or even tolerate people opposing Duncan and he had to be persuaded by the the wife to kill duncan.
In act 3 scene 1 macbeth persuades himself and asks the servant to bring the murderers inside after he sends Lady Macbeth away to look towards the arrangements for the banquet. We see that lady macbeth is disheartened. And in the next scene lady macbeth tries to calm macbeth down telling him not to go ahead with the killing and to spare banquo’s life as he was a very dear friend to macbeth, we see a change in roles here , in act 1 scene 7 lady macbeth tells macbeth about how important it is to kill Duncan and in act 3 Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth about how importaant it is to kill Banquo so we see a change in relationship dynamics
Shakespeare uses a lot of literary devices to show the depth and the importance of the scene, he uses a lot of elements and dramatics to make the point and the scene also tells us about how macbeths and Lady macbeth ‘s relationship were degrading.
Macbeth, a masterpiece of English literature, is most notable for Shakespeare’s ability to portray the gradual moral degeneration of a character due to vaulting ambition and desire for power. Yet, Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy is particularly celebrated for the way secondary characters, such as Lady Macbeth and Banquo, play a significant role in developing the character of Macbeth. Act 1 Scene 7 effectively demonstrates the importance of Lady Macbeth’s words as she persuades Macbeth into murdering King Duncan. Thus, this scene is often considered the climax and turning point of the play.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of Act 1 Scene 7, Macbeth has grave misgivings about murdering the King. In his soliloquy, ornate with imagery and biblical allusions to “poisoned chalice” and “Heaven’s cherubin”, he ponders more reasons not to kill Duncan than to commit the murder. Throughout the soliloquy, Macbeth struggles with his conscience, between righteousness and ambition, particularly because the relationship between a host and guest is a sacrosanct one in which the host is deemed the protector of his visitor. To commit such a heinous crime would contradict the very foundation of a feudalistic society. In stark contrast to Macbeth’s eloquent language, Lady Macbeth uses blunt and even dry language, filled with rhetorical questions such as “Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?” to appeal to her husband’s sense of manhood and pride. With this, she represents a determined and resolute force, and chastising her husband, recognises his cowardice. Persuaded by her words, he accedes to her wishes and declares, “Bring forth men-children only! For thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males”. These parting lines are ironic considering that compared to the murderous and single-minded characterisation of Lady Macbeth in this scene, Macbeth appears as the faint-hearted female.
Act 3 Scene 1 serves to portray the changing nature of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. While Act 1 Scene 7 delineated Macbeth as hesitant to commit murder, Act 3 Scene 1 presents a ruthless individual who has undergone a transition from a “warrior’s minion” to a Machiavelli. Intriguingly, Macbeth no longer depends upon his wife for advice, and challenges her previous words, “yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness…”, as he desires to murder his dear comrade, Banquo. Furthermore, Macbeth appears to lack the guilt he overtly displays in Act 1 Scene 7, and instead takes on the dark role of “the butcher of Scotland” who kills unnecessarily and has lost his humanity. While Lady Macbeth was considered the ‘fourth witch’ in Act 1 Scene 7 because of her calculating and manipulative nature, audiences observe how this characterisation is dramatically altered as Macbeth no longer requires his wife to coax him into murder. In fact, the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 7 is distorted as Macbeth, in Act 3 Scene 1, assumes the more dominating role as he demonstrates alarming acumen and finesse when successfully persuading the murderers to kill Banquo. Yet, although the scenes demonstrate an apparent exchange of roles between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, the similarity between the scenes is apparent in the way Macbeth’s closing words in Act 1 Scene 7, “I’m settled on it then” parallel the murderer’s resolve in Act 3 Scene 1, “We’ve made up our minds, my Lord.”
Two scenes are persuasion
ReplyDeleteMacbeth is a play written by Shakespeare. The play has two significant scenes of persuasion; first one in Act 1 sc vii and the second one in Act 3 sc i. There are stark similarities and differences that draw attention of the audience.
In Act 1 sc vii, Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan when he was invited to the castle and was fast asleep. And in Act 3 sc i, Macbeth persuades himself and the murderers (and to certain extent Lady Macbeth) to kill Banquo.
Quasi-similar characteristic between the two scenes is that a character who is exhorting/persuading the other character is convinced of what should be done before convincing the other character in the play. Lady Macbeth is firm and obstinate that her husband should be the king of Scotland as soon as she received the letter from Macbeth in Act 1 sc v –“and shalt be/ What thou art promised”. She invites the dark forces of nature in the same scene to aid her husband. On the day the king Duncan comes to dine and sleep in Macbeth’s castle in Inverness, Lady Macbeth firmly believes that it is perfect time to kill him - “They have made themselves, and that their fitness now/ Does unmake you”. Since Lady Macbeth believes it was perfect time for deed to be done, she can convince Macbeth. Likewise, Macbeth is convinced of necessity of killing Banquo before convincing any other character in the play. It does seem reasonable when he makes a stand through his soliloquy. If he does not kill Banquo and his son, Macbeth has committed regicide for no one but Banquo’s family- “for Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind, For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered”. Since Macbeth is certain that Banquo is going to be a stumbling stone in his way, he can go to an extent of making false accusation against his friend in front of other people.
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ReplyDeleteLanguage used for persuasion scenes changes according to who the character is addressing to. Although speakers are different in two persuasion scenes, both of them are directed to men. Therefore, similar approach of persuasion is used. Lady Macbeth uses two methods while persuading Macbeth to kill Duncan; she challenges his manliness and emotionally blackmails him. For a brave soldier, manliness does matter. To be called as “coward” by a woman, and to be compared to “the poor cat” is derogative for any man, any soldier and especially for Macbeth. It is evident that Macbeth’s ego is hurt. He responses to Lady Macbeth by saying “I dare do all that may become a man”. Lady Macbeth tweaks the same phrase and retorts “when you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man”. Macbeth’s ego is challenged and he is obliged to do what he has promised. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth uses a sensitive emotion- love- to induce him. “From this time /Such I account thy love”- by making him look like a man who does not keep a promise to his “partner of greatness”, Macbeth is made to feel guilty and sorry to her wife. Her anecdote of what she would have done for her husband- “I have given suck, and know….. had I so sworn as you/ Have done to this” turns the table for Lady Macbeth’s favour. She successfully persuades him-“I am settled”. Lady Macbeth has cleverly challenged ego of a man and questioned the integrity of love to persuade his husband.
Macbeth uses similar approach when persuading murders to kill Banquo. He challenges murderer’s manliness. However, there is no emotional element being involved, because they are not related either by marriage or blood. Hence, Macbeth delves down to the level of philosophical question about nature of man. Shakespeare depicted a balanced man as someone who responses to situation appropriately and who possesses various facets of emotion/personality. Therefore, when Macbeth asks “Do you find/ Your patience so predominant in your nature,/ That you can let this go?” he is challenging murderers’ ideology, ego and pride. The response of the question clearly shows that their pride is hurt –“We are men, my liege”. Murderers swallow bait laid out by Macbeth. Then Macbeth elaborates and compares men with dogs. Although men are classified biologically as “men”, like all dogs are “dogs”, “catalogue ye go for men”- there are different types of men- those who are brave, coward, truthful, wistful, courageous, shrewd..etc. Macbeth hints that if they can let this go, they would fall under category of coward men. Macbeth also uses his position as a king. Macbeth has a advantage of covering up –“For sundry weighty reasons” and the murderers have to accent to what he says –“ We shall, my lord,/ Perform what you command us”
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ReplyDeleteBoth Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have plan of what should happen next when they are persuading others. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth the details about how should kill Duncan, and Macbeth tells murderers how and when to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. When persuading others they are so convinced by themselves they see it as necessity that their thought of action proceeds before anything is done.
Despite the similarities, there are a number of differences that can be found in the two scenes of persuasion.
The first persuasion of Lady Macbeth inducing Macbeth to King Duncan seems much simpler than the second persuasion scene. It is oddly enough, because regicide normally requires more crafty ploy compared to killing a colleague soldier. Lady Macbeth just needs to convince Macbeth for a few minutes and then the murder is done. However, Macbeth requires several days of planning and involvement of lot more people to kill Banquo. Then answer can be related back to witches. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, from the first day believed witches and their prediction. Macbeth referred that witches had “strange intelligence” and gave him “prophetic greeting”, and Lady Macbeth utters that Macbeth “shalt be/ What thou art promised”. It was easy for Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to kill Duncan because it seemed as the only possible way for Macbeth to become the king- the third prophesy. However, witches never mentioned anything about Banquo except that Banquo would “get kings, though thou be none”. Lady Macbeth has borrowed power from “spirits”; and Macbeth had entire trust on witches’ prophesies when killing Duncan, but Macbeth has none of that when plotting against Banquo. Therefore, it takes longer time for Macbeth to convince himself. In the process of convincing himself that killing Banquo is necessary step, he convinces audience at the same, gaining sympathy and to expressing that it was a logical and rational step that he had to take. Shakespeare deliberately persuades audience through Macbeth in the second persuasion scene (and not the first one) because Shakespeare wants the audience to put themselves in the shoe of Macbeth and get involved in the play as 1st person, not 3rd. Now conflict is present not only on stage but also in the mind of the audience since it becomes difficult to judge whether Macbeth was an assassin or innocent victim.
Persuasive nature of human works in favour of the witches –something witches already seem to know. Witches can avoid sole condemnation of tragedy and consequences in life of Macbeth and his wife. They prophesied blessings not curse, and they never mentioned there should be bloodshed. Witches knew that human beings have persuasion skill to convince themselves and others if they wanted something desperately. Until the end of the play, audience cannot decide whom to blame.