[Part 3]- Characters: Macbeth 𤴠Flashcards
âIs this a dagger which I see before me?â đĄď¸
- Macbeth firstly directly addresses the hallucination, questioning if itâs real.
- This conveys how Macbeth is struggling whether he should stick with his conscience, or stick with his âvaulting ambitionâ and kill Duncan. [therefore disrupting the natural order]
What alternative interpretations relate to the quote:âIs this a dagger which I see before me?â đĄď¸
- ; perhaps âthis daggerâ also reflects Macbethâsâ desires: he desires and wishes to murder Duncan, so he can become king.
I= On the other hand, the hallucinated dagger may also reflect how like the dagger is an illusion and hallucination, so is Macbethâs triumph/victory, because he will lose his throne and be usurped of his kingship.
What does the quote: Is this a dagger which I see before me?â đĄď¸ suggest on a dramatical perspective
- Itâs also interesting to note, that from a dramatical perspective, it allows Macbeth to articulate his inner thoughts and [inner] conflict to the audience, in his âheated-oppressed brainâ.
- this is because, the dagger is a metaphorical representation of his brain, which implies there are conflicting thoughts in his head about the murder.
Why does Macbeth question, if his hallucination of the dagger is real ?
- I= Alternatively, by questioning if the hallucination is real, it suggests he is aware this is a hallucination [produced by him] reflecting his guilt.
- Macbeth knows he is hallucinating because of his sense of guilt/he feels guilt and blame, for an imagined crime- he hasnât killed Duncan yet and upset the natural order
What does Macbeth understand from seeing the dagger ?
- Macbeth understands that if he does murder Duncan, it will consequently lead to not only his tragic downfall [as he becomes a tragic hero] but to the destruction of his psyche.
- this is because, his mind will be destroyed if he does this, since he will be tortured and wrecked with guilt.
What evidence suggests Macbethâs psyche is physically tortured with guilt ?
- later in the play, Macbeth confesses to Lady Macbeth in Act 3, that âfull of scorpions is my mindâ
What evidence suggests Macbethâs psyche is physically tortured with guilt ?
- ; however, this is also seen before in Act 2 where he thinks [voices are telling him that] âMacbeth will sleep no moreâ and how he asks that âWhat hands are these?â [in Act 2, scene 2]
- this clearly highlighted how his mind has been ruined because from a psychoanalytic perspective, this would be interpreted as Macbeth suffering from a dissociative disorder.
What evidence suggests Macbethâs psyche is physically tortured with guilt ?
- ; however, this is also seen before in Act 2 where he thinks [voices are telling him that] âMacbeth will sleep no moreâ and how he asks that âWhat hands are these?â [in Act 2, scene 2]
- this clearly highlighted how his mind has been ruined because from a psychoanalytic perspective, this would be interpreted as Macbeth suffering from a dissociative disorder.
Why does Macbeth attempt to separate the physical and the physiological ?
- He attempts to separate the physical and the psychological, to avoid seeing what his hands have done- reflecting how the murder has tarnished/ruined his mind.
How is the dagger that Macbeth hallucinates, ironic ?
- additionally, the dagger in this scene is quite ironic, suggesting how although Macbeth attempts to and successfully gains power with his own hands- those hands will be the cause of his own tragic downfall.
- because, the temporary power Macbeth now has will crumble because of him, and his own self-destructive nature- by choosing to murder Duncan, he will now evolve into a tragic hero.
What is Macbethâs turning point ?
- Macbethâs turning point is where he is now âsteepedâ in blood âso farâ, that stopping no would be as hard to go back to being good, as it is to keep killing people.
-From this point onwards in the play, Macbeth has damned his âeternal jewelâ to hell moreover, he and Lady Macbeth will be given a âfruitless crownâ and a âbarren sceptreâ.
How could the dagger Macbeth hallucinates, be metaphorical of how Macbeth loses his power to Lady Macbeth ?
- in Act, 2 Macbeth refuses to place the dagger back with the servants whom Lady Macbeth has drugged.
- this is because on one hand, he canât stand to see what he has done but on the other hand, Macbeth canât force himself to lose that power he has usurped from Duncan.
How does Lady Macbeth take Macbethâs power ?
- Lady Macbeth is the one who takes the âdaggersâ and with them, Macbethâs power [and psyche]-until later in the play, where her power is handed over to Macbeth, since she spirals due to her guilty conscience and eventually kills herself.
What is the point in Macbeth, in which Lady Macbeth destroys her psyche ?
- by taking the daggers from Macbeth, she also takes Duncanâs blood from the daggers, to her- this is the moment, where she now has the âdamned spotâ and âsmell of bloodâ on her hand.
- alternatively, perhaps this is the moment where she also destroys her psyche, along with Macbeth.
âQuit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!â đ
- L- Macbeth is defeated by one of the senses: sight- [ links to Lady Macbeth claiming the dead are âbut as picturesâ and Banquoâs ghost is simply âthe painting of your fearâ- visual imagery]
