violence/horror Flashcards
overview
M desire for power is what drives him to become more violent. At the start of the play, the violence is softened through how M is described by others to sound heroic. After receiving the prophecies by the witches his ambition is sparked and he is easily susceptible to LM and the witches manipulation which drives him to kill Duncan. He then kills Banquo through fear and MacDuff’s family for no reason at all. By the end of the play M is a tyrant and the violence increases due to the actions of M.
A1
M is described to be ‘noble’ after the king hears of his efforts in the war. His fighting and violence is presented as good because he is fighting for his country. The violence is also off stage and told from another persons perspective which softens the violence.
- M is given the prophecies (Glamis, Cawdor, King) by the witches and he becomes TOC. This leads to him having violent images about killing Duncan to fulfil the prophecies. He begins to ‘yield’ to the ‘horrid image that doth unfix my hair.’ – he is only thinking about violence.
- To persuade M to kill Duncan LM describes how she would have ‘dash’d’ her baby’s brains out if she had promised to do it. She compares this to his promise to kill Duncan. The violent imagery would’ve been shocking to the audience as at the time women were expected to be weaker suggesting how LM would be a frightening character as she does not shy away from violence. The metaphor is also made more horrifying and violent through the contrast of an innocent baby and LM’s brutality.
A2
M murders Duncan offstage. However, the brutality of his actions is softened by his guilt. M says how not even ‘neptunes ocean’ can wash the blood off his hands. The hyperbole and the exaggeration of a whole ocean being unable to wash away the reminder of his violent actions suggest how guilty he feels. This makes the murder of King Duncan seem less violent as the audience may feel sympathy for M.
A3
Once M has ascended to the throne his actions become motivated by fear which only increases the violence throughout the play. This leads him to kill Banquo, his once trusted friend, because Banquo suspects M. The murder of Banquo is the first onstage murder which suggests how M’s character is becoming more violent.
- M claims that he is in ‘blood stepp’d in so far.’ This suggests how he is in a river of blood, wading through it and has gone too far to turn back around. The violence will only increase from here.
A4
M is still ruling by fear and seeks reassurance from the witches and receives a second set of prophecies. He is told that he cannot be killed by anyone born of woman but ‘to make assurances double sure’ he kills MacDuff’s family. There was no reasoning behind their murder which suggests how reckless and brutal M has become. This violence is emphasised further by the cruelty of M’s actions and the domestic scene that he destroyed.
- The family was ‘savagely slaughtered.’ The word ‘savagely’ suggests how merciless and out of control the murder was and the word ‘slaughtered’ suggests how M butchered them.
A5
M is preparing for battle and he tells his servant that he will fight until “my flesh be hacked.’ M uses violent language and imagery to paint a gruesome picture of the battle that will come and also suggests how M is now desensitised to the brutality of his own actions.
- When the messenger tries to warn M he threatens him M says how he will hang him on a tree until ‘famine cling thee.’ This suggests how M cares very little for his people and is a tyrant because he uses violent imagery to show how he would make his servant suffer by hanging him from a tree until he dies of starvation.
