Strong Feelings in William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
Macbeth
The opening scene of ‘Macbeth’ is set in an wild and isolated place – the moorland is far removed from society and away from the usual social rules. The weather too is poor and hostile: the ‘fog and filthy air’ suggests gloom and unhealthiness. This is a place alien to human values, of darkness and foulness, and is a sinister challenge to ordinary goodness. The Witches’ use of rhyme in their speech is used throughout the play to bring a sense of incantation and magical charms. We are presented with a paradox when they chant, ‘When the battles’ lost and won’ and ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ as the phrases seem to be impossible opposites. This instantly creates a sense of confusion, upsetting the natural order of things. This is echoed by the use of thunder and lightning, which is also associated with evil.
After hearing the Witches’ prophecies the audience is shown different characters’ emotions in their reactions to the Witches’ predictions. Banquo appears concerned that men are easily tempted into sin by ‘instruments of darkness’, only to be betrayed. We can see that Banquo is feeling sceptical as witches are ‘instruments of darkness’; something representing evil which therefore cannot be trusted. He continues to say that the Witches’ ‘tell us truths’ to ‘win’ or earn trust and then ‘betray us’ when the most damage will be inflicted. The audience can see that Banquo is thinking rationally as although the Witches’ prophecies promise kingship for his son, Banquo understands that evil has no good intentions and refuses to allow the intriguing and appealing prophecy to influence his actions, unlike Macbeth. In comparison, Macbeth seems much more intrigued by the Witches’ predictions. He describes the ‘supernatural soliciting’ by saying it ‘cannot be ill’ but also ‘cannot be good’. This shows the audience that Macbeth shares the same feelings of doubt in the good intentions of the supernatural as Banquo; however, he is so excited and flattered by the
The opening scene of ‘Macbeth’ is set in an wild and isolated place – the moorland is far removed from society and away from the usual social rules. The weather too is poor and hostile: the ‘fog and filthy air’ suggests gloom and unhealthiness. This is a place alien to human values, of darkness and foulness, and is a sinister challenge to ordinary goodness. The Witches’ use of rhyme in their speech is used throughout the play to bring a sense of incantation and magical charms. We are presented with a paradox when they chant, ‘When the battles’ lost and won’ and ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ as the phrases seem to be impossible opposites. This instantly creates a sense of confusion, upsetting the natural order of things. This is echoed by the use of thunder and lightning, which is also associated with evil.
After hearing the Witches’ prophecies the audience is shown different characters’ emotions in their reactions to the Witches’ predictions. Banquo appears concerned that men are easily tempted into sin by ‘instruments of darkness’, only to be betrayed. We can see that Banquo is feeling sceptical as witches are ‘instruments of darkness’; something representing evil which therefore cannot be trusted. He continues to say that the Witches’ ‘tell us truths’ to ‘win’ or earn trust and then ‘betray us’ when the most damage will be inflicted. The audience can see that Banquo is thinking rationally as although the Witches’ prophecies promise kingship for his son, Banquo understands that evil has no good intentions and refuses to allow the intriguing and appealing prophecy to influence his actions, unlike Macbeth. In comparison, Macbeth seems much more intrigued by the Witches’ predictions. He describes the ‘supernatural soliciting’ by saying it ‘cannot be ill’ but also ‘cannot be good’. This shows the audience that Macbeth shares the same feelings of doubt in the good intentions of the supernatural as Banquo; however, he is so excited and flattered by the