The society today believes women and men to be equivalent. The modern audience wouldn't be surprised by this behaviour, as
Lady Macbeth's behaviour is deplorable considering the hierarchy of Elizabethan women, who are considered subservient to men and raised to believe that they were inferior to men. Moreover, the use of imperative verb 'give' implies Lady Macbeth's supremacy over Macbeth, almost portraying the she's the husband. Shakespeare's use of exclamation mark places greater emphasis on the phrase, helping to convey that Macbeth is weak and worthless. She ridicules him by saying 'Infirm of purpose! ', denoting he's a coward. ' Lady Macbeth is berating him because he is not solid or concrete in his determination to go through with what he wants and needs to do. During the end of Act II scene ii, Lady Macbeth states 'Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood. Lady Macbeth is presented as a tremendously domineering and controlling character, helping to arise tension among the audience. However, Lady Macbeth's behaviour soon changes after the return of Macbeth, scolding him for his guilty attitude. In contrast the modern audience would disapprove the illogical beliefs of Shakespearean audience as owls aren't treated as nature's own 'fatal bellman' in the society today. The Shakespearean audience would be left puzzled because King's were treated as god's representative, beyond humans and supernatural powers they would be unable to sympathise with Lady Macbeth as she lead Macbeth into this atrocious sin. Therefore, Lady Macbeth believes that her husband must be 'about it', committing the dreadful murder.Įspeare's use of Lady Macbeth's behaviour to foreshadow helps build tension and curiosity as to whether Macbeth is actually murdered or still alive. She considers the 'shriek'd' as a good omen, nature's own 'fatal bellman' (the announcer of death). ' During the Jacobean era the hoot of an owl was considered auspicious as people were superstitious that it symbolised a messenger of death however the 'shriek' of the 'owl' implies a virtue for Lady Macbeth meaning impending death for someone. At the beginning of Act II scene ii, Lady Macbeth is overwhelmed at the signs of victory as 'the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, which gives the stern'st good-night. She manages to push Macbeth into committing the blasphemous murder with the dominance and overpowering behaviour. Lady Macbeth's is an extremely essential character throughout the play: her character is stronger, more ruthless, and more ambitions than her husband, Macbeth. Shakespeare constructs dramatic tension throughout the play by utilizing a variety of literary techniques, stagecraft, character's behaviour and relationship. Tension is a tremendously crucial element in Macbeth, helping to intensify the tragedy and suspense created among the audience in Act II scene ii, building up to its ending. Despite, written almost 400 year ago, Macbeth is still equally popular amongst the contemporary audience as to the Shakespearean audience. Shakespeare's most powerful and emotionally intense play follows the journey of betrayal, guilt and murder during the Jacobean era. Macbeth, a Shakespearean tragedy follows the journey of the protagonist Macbeth as he plots to assassinate King Duncan, after hearing a prophecy from the three witches.
0 kommentar(er)
