The development of evil and its effect in the play Macbeth Essay Example for Free

The development of evil and its effect in the play Macbeth Essay Unnatural deeds to breed unnatural troubles. Trace the development of evil and its effect in the play Macbeth. Shakespeare wrote his plays during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I (James IV of Scotland) who succeeded Elizabeth in 1603. He was a Scot, interested in witchcraft and supported the theatre. Macbeth was written during his reigns as king. The main topics of Macbeth are regicide and witchcraft. During the Elizabethan period, people were thought to have lived life according to a hierarchical structure. At the top was the king (who was Divinely Appointed by God) and the peasants at the bottom. During this period, people started to question the hierarchy. In Macbeth, regicide comes into the play. Regicide is when someone murders the King and breaks the order, defying God. This then led to the thought of unnatural things happening (i.e. witches). Shakespeare tries to use the play Macbeth as propaganda and to show that people should follow the rules of hierarchy. Regicide was considered the worst possible sin. James I also had an interest in witchcraft and the supernatural element in life. The theatre was a good way of entertainment for the King, and James asked Shakespeare to write the play for him. Even from the very beginning of the play, there is a sense of mystery. It is mostly created by the witches. Fair is Foul, and foul is fair, Hover through fog and filthy air. (Act1, Scene1 The witches) The first line is a contradiction and already shows the violation of natural order. When the witches speak, the lines only contain seven syllables, but all the other characters use ten syllables in a line. There is also the use of alliteration, with the constant repeating of F. Shakespeare is setting the witches character as different and spooky compared to the rest of the characters. The witches prediction of Macbeth gaining power, are correct but is seen as evil by the audience. This is because the witches dont tell Macbeth the price hed have to pay and the consequences hed have to face. Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife (Act 4 Scene1 Apparition one) For none of women born shall harm Macbeth (Act4 Scene1 Apparition Two) Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill (Act 4 Scene1 Apparition Three) These apparitions make Macbeth feel stronger and more confident because he thinks that all men must be born from a woman, and that the woods can not move. Macbeth doesnt feel threatened by Macduff either. He feels he can not be harmed by Macduff. Macduff: What need I fear of thee? (Act4 Scene1 Macbeth) Macbeth feels if Macduff becomes a concern he can just kill him. This shows how he grows in fear over Macduff as the play progresses. It is seen in Macbeth that the witches And the apparitions are worse than unnatural and are supernatural. Banquo calls the witched Instruments of the darkness (Act 1 scene 3). This basically means they are being referred to the workers of the devil. Nature also seems to get upset by the evil deeds. Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with mans act, threaten his bloody stage (Act 2 Scene4) This quote means that the actions of men are threatening natures land scape. The animals are also acting unnaturally too. Tis unnatural, even like the deeds that done. On Tuesday last, a falcon towering in her pride of place was by a mousing own hawked at, and killed Rosse: And Duncans horses a thing most strange and certain beauteaous, and swift, the minions of their race, turned wild in nature as they would make war with mankind OldMan: Tis Said, they eat each other (Act 2 Scene 4) In this quote, an old man is talking about his experiences of seeing an own eating a falcon where normally the own is the prey of the falcon and Duncans horses eating each other. In act 3 Scene 4, Macbeth sees Banquos ghost. Our graves must send those that we bury back He is scared by the ghost, no one else can see the ghost except Macbeth. Earlier on in the play, Lady Macbeth is the strongest character, while Macbeth struggles with his conscience. Later on in the play, her conscious catches up with her, she cant cope with it and goes mad. Lady Macbeth keeps referring back to washing her hands in the hope that she can wash off her conscious as easily as she washed the blood off after the Kings death. In the end it gets to her so much that she kills herself. Go, get some water, and wash this filthy witness from you hand. (Act 2 Scene 2) Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth that a bit of water will wash it all away and make things beter. Out, damned spot! Out, I say! What, will these hands neer be clean? (Act 5 Scene 1) Lady Macbeth is struggling with the guilt of the murder, she is obsessed with washing her hands and trying to clean them. When Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan, she calls upon the spirits and the supernatural to help her. Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts (Act 1 Scene 5) Lady Macbeth wants to get rid of her femininity. Unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty She wont kill the King herself, because she believes a man should do it, which is why she wants to make the spirits make her a man so she doesnt feel guilty. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look happy and cover up the plans of there murder schemes but putting on an act. Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it (Act1 Scene 5) Lady Macbeth feels the guilty, but doesnt show it, she is not afraid of the conciquesnces at this point in the play. She is cold hearted. My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a white heart (Act 1 Scene 5) Macbeth is the main character in the book. In this play, the supernatural stuff affects him the most. He sees a dagger when hes going to kill Duncan, and hes the only one that could see Banquos ghost. Is this a dagger I see before me (Act 2 Scene 1) Macbeth knows that he is seeing things that arent really there. He then goes on a says how it was pointing in the way to kill Duncan. In Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeth makes a link with the witches as the first thing he says. So foul and fair a day I have not seen This echoes the first thing that the witches say and immediately suggests an evil link between the two lots of characters. At the end of Act 1 scene 7, Macbeth echoes what Lady Macbeth has said. False face must hide what the false heart doth know. This means, he doesnt show his feelings, and puts on an act, and doesnt let anybody know his plans of murdering the king. During the play, Macbeth seems to get a very guilty conscience. The first signs of this is in Act 2 Scene 2, where Macbeth says: As they had seen me with these hangmans hands. Listening their fear I could not say Amen when they did say God bless us Macbeth knows he has done something really bad, broke the rules and violated the order of God. He begins to feel guilty. Lady Macbeth manages to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan at the begeining of Act1 Scene7. Macbeth We will proceed no further in this business This shows that at the beginning of this scene he didnt want to kill the King, but by the end he slowly changes his mind. I am settled; and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat (Act 1 Scene7) Along with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth refers to washing his hands, as a way of getting rid of his guilt. Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No This hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red (Act 2 Scene 2) Macbeth is saying that no water can wash the guilt inside of him away from him. I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more returning were as tedious as go oer (Act 3 Scene 4) This quote from Macbeth is saying that he has done the murder now, and its hard to go back to the way it was before, because now he is living in constant fear and guilt. Just before Macbeth is about to get hung, he makes a speech. In this he says: Lifes but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. (Act 5 Scene 5) In this, Macbeth talks about how life is just a journey to death and how hes isolated, he believes Duncan is better off than he is. In this point in the play, he has lost the will to live, and in this quote, he is very emotionless. Macbeth realises that Banquo was right. To doubt th equivocation of a fiend, that lies like truth He doesnt trust witches like what Banquo said. The witches promised theyd take him up in life and make his life better, but instead they brought him down. Gradually, the other characters in the play, realise that Macbeth is not a true king his evil actions have betrayed him. Scotland is described as being sick under Macbeths rule. In Act 4 Scene 3, Malcom says that every day a gash is added to her wounds. Even Macbeth recognises there is something wrong with Scotland and calls it a disease. If thou couldst, doctor, cast the water of my land, find her disease, and purge it to a sound and pristine health. (Act 5 Scene 3). But, in Act 5 Scene 2, Cathness describes Malcom as the medicine that will cure Scotland. Meet we the medcine of the sickly weal, and with him pour we in our countrys purge each drop of us. In Act 5 Scene 9, Macduff turns up with Macbeths head. Malcom makes all the Thanes into Earls to reward them for helping him. Then Malcom invites everyone to him coronation, as he is soon to be the new king.

Essay --

It is difficult to know whether a negative reaction to the leader or other members in the group is because of a true feeling toward that person, or if it is because of transference of feelings for someone significant in the life of the person having the reaction. One of the most obvious signs that there is transference taking place is when a member has a really strong reaction to me, the leader, without having spent much time with each other. I think this is the most obvious because how could such strong feelings transpire in such a short period of time. Another sign is negative feelings over time. There may be a way that I behave or articulate myself that brings up feelings of someone in the member’s outside life. After all of the reading that we have done for this class though, I feel like the only way to really know if it is transference is to discuss what the individual is feeling and why they think they are having such a strong reaction. Transference between members is probably more obvious. The leader can look at the interactions between members more objectively. The signs are the same as transference toward the leader, but the members that seem to be in conflict may not understand what is potentially happening. Just like with transference toward the leader, discussion about feelings and personal reactions needs to take place. 2. There are a few steps that I can take to be more aware of if I am having some countertransference reactions to members. First, understanding my own issues with people in my life. If I am having issues with someone in my life, then a member exhibits behavior in the group that I associate with the individual in my personal life, I cannot provide the best help to them. Next, if I am having strong re... ...goals they will have for themselves when the group does end. Once they establish the goals they would like to achieve when the group ends, the leader can help guide them in ways to reach those goals. My job as a leader would be to help the members deal with their feelings about the group ending. As the reading makes clear some people may have anxiety about not having the support of the group, or maintaining the changes that they have made. I also will need to address any concerns about confidentiality once the group ends. The members need to know that the work they did is going to stay confidential, even though the group is ending. Helping members set goals and the ways they can achieve them when the group ends is also important. Giving any final feedback that can help the members after the final session will also aid in the member in reaching/setting their goals.

Important Element in the Story Essay

In the two short stories, â€Å"Little Things† by Carver and â€Å"The End of Something† by Hemingway, both authors make the title significant to the story’s message. The title â€Å"Little Things† is somewhat ironic in that the word ‘little’ could refer to the baby or could in fact be calling their argument petty, even though the child that they are fighting over is a major issue. This irony is significant to the story because even though the parents appear passionate about their infant, the argument clearly lies deeper. The title â€Å"The End of Something† could also refer to a number of things. In this story many things are coming to an end. The end of the mill and the town at Horton’s Bay, the end of Nick and Marjorie’s relationship, the end of their fishing trips and the end of their day. Both stories are about the end of relationships however, in â€Å"Little Things† the breakup is angry and violent whereas in â€Å"The End of Something† the breakup is calm and brief. The story â€Å"Little Things† is about the violent breakup of two parents. It is implied that they are married but Carver does not explicitly state this. The opening paragraph describes the weather and the time of day, which reflects the mood of the piece, the darkness of the evening mirroring the dark mood inside the house, â€Å"it was getting dark. But it was getting dark on the inside too. † This shows that although the mood was dark, it was not completely pitch black outside implying that there may still be a slight glimmer of hope for the young couple that is soon introduced. As the fight and the emotions become more reckless and brutal the light begins to fade, showing that all hope is lost. The characters in the story are not named. This gives their predicament a deeper sense of urgency and immediacy. This is used to great effect as when we first meet the man and women, the absence of names throws us directly into the middle of their quarrel. In this piece there is no need to build up the characters with a descriptive foreplay as it is not important to the story, making it more urgent. However in â€Å"The End of Something† we feel more sympathy for the characters as we have learned about them in more detail. From the line â€Å"he was in the bedroom pushing clothes into a suitcase when she came through the door,† we can deduce from the subtext that these people are in some kind of long-term relationship, and the second line of the same paragraph draws attention to the fact that they are having a heated argument. It is extremely common that in short stories a lot of information is insinuated rather than being clearly stated and so the reader must draw a meaning from the subtext. The woman is the first to speak. Carver does not use speech marks at all during the story in order to draw more immediacy to the article. The first line of speech â€Å"I’m glad you’re leaving! I’m glad you’re leaving! Do you hear? † shows that although the woman appears to be angry at her partner and glad that he is moving out it is easily noted that she in fact feels exactly the opposite. This is illustrated by the repetition of the line â€Å"I’m glad you’re leaving† showing that she is trying to reassure herself that she doesn’t need him. This shows irony. The woman continues to barrage the man with slurs, â€Å"son of a bitch†, obviously in an attempt to provoke his attention and convince him to stay. When she states â€Å"you can’t even look me in the face can you? † it is blatantly obvious that the man has had some kind of affair. The woman fails in catching the man’s attention and therefore when she spies the baby’s picture on the bed she takes it, out of spite. The man follows her; turning off the bedroom light as he leaves symbolising the end of their relationship, â€Å"looked around the bedroom before turning off the light. † The baby is also not named showing that although it is the child that they are fighting over, the battle about more and the baby is merely a pawn in their game of spite or revenge. The man states â€Å"I want the baby. † This immediately provokes maternal instincts from the mother who rushes to keep her child. The infant is continuously referred to as ‘the baby’ or ‘this baby’ showing that their child is solely an object that the couple are focusing their anger on. The man’s request for the baby is not because he necessarily wants the child from love but more because he sees it as a prize that he can win over the woman. Gradually their battle becomes more physical and violent as the man tries to take that baby from the woman, â€Å"in the scuffle they knocked down a flowerpot. † The baby senses the tension in the room and starts to cry which adds to the anxiety and desperation in the mood of the text, â€Å"the baby had begun to cry. † Throughout the rest of the story Carver intensifies the atmosphere by using urgent and effective words such as â€Å"screaming,† â€Å"red faced,† â€Å"gripped† and â€Å"hurting†. Nearing the end of the story the light is involved again, â€Å"the kitchen window gave no light,† this line exemplifies that there was no hope left for the couple and the baby. The lines become shorter to add to the fierce battle that the couple is suffering. The man and the woman both grab the child and pull it in different directions in a hope that one will triumph but we do not know the victor. The last line â€Å"in this manner the issue was decided,† leaves us pondering a number of possible out comes. The man or the woman may have succeeded in snatching the infant for themselves or they may have pulled their baby in two. If so the story appears to be a parody of the biblical story ‘The Two Women and Solomon’, in which a man offers to cut a baby in half to settle a quarrel between two woman as to who the mother of the baby is. In this story we are left with an ambiguous end. It is very common in short stories that the resolution of the story is left undecided, again leaving the reader to make their own conclusion from the clues given. The second short story â€Å"The End of Something† is also about the end of a relationship, however it is handled in a calmer and less violent manner. The first paragraph sets the scene of a calm deserted bay, once a busy lumbering town, now reduced to a citizen-free ghost town. The couple, Nick and Marjorie, are rowing through this bay in a calm fashion â€Å"they were trolling along the edge of the channel bank,† but they soon head towards â€Å"dark water† which shows that they are heading towards trouble. They are rowing soundlessly until Marjorie breaks the silence and begins to talk about the old mill on the shore, describing it as â€Å"our old ruin†; this shows that their relationship stretches back a long way. Nick answers unenthusiastically. Marjorie tries to keep up the conversation describing it as a castle, which shows that she sees ‘their’ ruin in a fairy-tale manner. However Nick is still distant which makes Marjorie have to work hard to keep their conversation alive. Marjorie appears to love everything about their fishing trips. She obviously loves Nick very much and is enjoying spending time with him, â€Å"She loved to fish. She loved to fish with Nick. † Clearly Nick is quite qualified at fishing and Marjorie tries to make him feel good by putting him in charge and asking him questions to boost his ego, â€Å"‘They’re feeding,’ Marjorie said. ‘But they won’t strike,’ Nick said. † By this Nick means that he will not strike that night. The couple carries out their actions of fishing with scarce communication and we can tell that something is clearly upsetting Nick as Marjorie is trying to provoke conversation but to no avail. When Marjorie questions Nick â€Å"What’s the matter Nick? † he replies â€Å"I don’t know. † The couple set out a picnic on the beach but we can tell that Nick is merely going through the motions as he says â€Å"I don’t feel like eating† and all it takes is one line from Marjorie and he agrees. They eat silently until finally Nick breaks the tension. â€Å"There’s going to be a moon tonight,† but when Marjorie agrees Nick becomes angry as if he was waiting for anything to release the pent up emotions held inside. Marjorie tries to divert the conversation from an argument and begins to talk about the moon. As in â€Å"Little Things†, the weather and setting play a part in describing the mood of the piece. The moon could represent chastity, coldness or even the passing of time. Silence follows and they do not touch each other until Marjorie ventures to ask Nick â€Å"What’s really the matter? † Marjorie is desperately trying to make their evening enjoyable and romantic but Nick is making it extremely difficult. Nick tries to avoid the question until he starts to explain that it wasn’t fun any more and that he was mixed up inside. â€Å"I feel as though everything was gone to hell inside of me,† the use of the word ‘was’ instead of ‘is’ shows that he is confused and suffering a confidence crisis. Marjorie is evidently shocked as she barely speaks except to say â€Å"isn’t love any fun? † which is swiftly followed by an answer from Nick, â€Å"No. † Unlike in â€Å"Little Things†, there is no major battle about to be released, instead Marjorie leaves calmly, dignity intact, in the boat. Nick offers to help push the boat out, which shows that he still cares for her, but is refused. When Marjorie leaves Nick lies on the blanket for a long time until mysteriously a new character named Bill emerges from the woods. Bill is a curious character. Obviously he is related to Bill in some way and Hemingway makes his sexuality and Nick’s dubious when we read the line â€Å"Bill didn’t touch him either. † Bill appears as insensitive when he barrages Nick with questions about his extremely recent breakup, provoking Nick to lash out and tell him to leave. This story again is left at a loose end. We are left questioning the sexuality of Bill and Nick. It is implied that Nick and Bill were in a homosexual relationship together. This would explain Bill’s presence hiding in the wood and the fact that it states â€Å"Bill didn’t touch him either. † The last line shows that Bill has replaced Marjorie because Bill walks over to check the fishing rods which was previously Marjorie’s job. However, Nick appears to be insecure about his choice to be gay, as we can see from the fact that he tells Bill to go away. Bill has clearly pressured Nick into breaking up with Marjorie, as we can see from the list of questions he asks and his quick appearance from the wood. Both the short stories are about the breakup of relationships but under different circumstances. As always in a short story the reader is left thinking many things from one brief text. All short stories consist of and introduction, a main conflict, a resolution and a conclusion. In â€Å"Little Things† the conclusion was the questionable death of the child. In â€Å"The End of Something† the conclusion was the appearance of Bill and the question of Nick’s sexuality.

Essay about Oprah Gail Winfrey Is an Idol to Many - 514 Words

Oprah Gail Winfrey is a remarkable woman that should be recognized in Black History Month. She has made a huge difference and impact on so many lives. Often times people cannot express their gratitude and thankfulness for her. She is an idol for so many people. CNN and Time Magazine named Winfrey â€Å"the most influential woman in the world† from 2004 to 2011. Time Magazine even named her â€Å"the most influential black person of the twentieth century†. Two of the countless ways Winfrey has affected America and the world is her major support for educational programs and financial support for charities. Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She lived with her grandmother until she was six years old, and was so†¦show more content†¦In 1998, Winfrey created the Oprah’s Angel Network, a charity that supported charitable projects and provided grants to nonprofit organizations around the world. Winfrey invested forty mill ion dollars establishing the Oprah Winfrey Academy for Girls in Johannesburg, Africa. Oprah has made a huge impact on many different parts of society. She has made a big impact on the way America thinks about weight loss. Over the years, she has provided countless tips on how to keep healthy and maintain a balanced life. Oprah has also been a big supporter of reading and education. She has had a book club for the last fourteen years. Every book on her list has made the New York Times bestseller list. She has been a huge inspiration to African Americans all over the world. Winfrey is a very well known civil rights activist. Due to her generosity, She has made a very big difference in so many peoples’ lives. Therefore, Oprah Gail Winfrey has affected America in several ways. For example, she donated four-hundred million dollars to educational causes, twelve million dollars to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and invested forty million dollars establishing the Oprah Winfrey Academy for Girls in Johannesburg, Africa. She is thanked and honored by many people. In 2013, Winfrey was even awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. As Oprah once said, â€Å"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the moreShow MoreRelatedOprah, By Oprah Gail Winfrey1019 Words   |  5 PagesOprah Gail Winfrey is a television and film producer, along with being a talk show host. Through media, Oprah is known mostly for The Oprah Winfrey Show. It is the highest-rated talk show of all time, running for 25 years. She has dealt with many early life issues which has made her the tough, devoted, and inspirational person she is today. Oprah can be known a s â€Å"The Queen of All Media.† Her loyalty to her audience has inspired many, along with the entertainment she gives her fans. Experts call herRead MoreOprah Winfrey - Owning the Media825 Words   |  4 Pagesshow can change someone’s life. One of these influential shows is the Oprah Winfrey Show. It was one of Oprah Winfrey’s greatest achievements that gave her the opportunity of a lifetime to speak to the world around her. She was able to help people that were just like her, and make people’s lives better. She was the first black female talk-show host, and even at the age of 60, she still reaches out to people. Oprah Gail Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on January 29, 1954. From an early