Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Do you have sympathy for Macbeth? Give quotes and textual references for the answer. From Act 1 Scene 7 Lines 1 Act 4 Scene 1 Lines...

Macbeth takes a journey as a character and in Act I, scene
7, we hear his inner thoughts as he weighs everything.  He definitely has opportunity
since the king is visiting.


In this speech, he gives all
the reasons he can think of not to kill Duncan.  He is his subject and also a kinsmen,
plus he is his host.  If Duncan had been an evil or a bad king, his murder could be
justified but Duncan has been a good king.  He knows that if he kills Duncan, he will
die a violent death.  He reasons that his ambition just isn't enough for him to kill
Duncan and has decided against killing him.  At this point we can feel for
Macbeth.


By the time we get to Act IV, scene 1 he has gone
down the the highway to hell, so to speak.  He has killed Duncan and the grooms and
framed Malcolm and Donalbain.  He has killed Banquo and tried to kill Fleance.  In this
scene he has sought out the witches for information.  He doesn't like what he sees at
the end of this encounter since it concerns Banquo and his line of future kings.  He
damns all who trust them and in so doing, damns himself.  At this point, it is difficult
to have any sympathy for Macbeth.  He is too steeped in innocent
blood.


I have given you information about Macbeth and what
those lines are about, it is your job to find the textual support since it is your
paper.

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