words Flashcards
moral legitimacy
in accord with the rules of an ethic
During a time of social and political hierarchy in England, it was believed that the health of a country was directly related to the goodness and moral legitimacy of its king
archetypal
very typical of a certain kind of person or thing
Shakespeare consistently presents the archetypal notion of
integral
belonging as a part of the whole
one of his integral and reoccurring themes
refrain
stop oneself from doing something
more fittingly a warning, to refrain from transgressing beyond the affirmed natural boundaries
paradoxes
absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true
He presents striking paradoxes that unveil consequences
enormity
the great or extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as bad or morally wrong
in order to provide an insight into the enormity of the crime Macbeth has committed against King Duncan
transcends
be or go beyond the range or limits of
when Macbeth transcends his limits
extract
a short passage taken from a text, film, or piece of music
within this extract,
consolidate
make (something) physically stronger or more solid
Shakespeare consolidates the recurring motif of..
analytical
relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning
However, a more analytical reading of this use of metaphor suggests..
transgression
an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offence
Shakespeare is illustrating the gruesome consequences of Macbeth’s transgressive abuse of the boundaries of life and death causing severe disruption to the natural cycle of day and night
sheer
nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis)
Shakespeare exposes the consequences of Macbeth’s shift between good and evil as he exposes the sheer disruption of the natural world
deteriorate
the process of becoming progressively worse
the deteriorating state of patriarchy within the kingdom
patriarchal
relating to or denoting a system of society or government controlled by men
To Shakespeare’s fiercely patriarchal audience
subvert
undermine the power and authority of
whom entirely subverts the natural gender expectations of a passive, subservient, patriarchal female
deviates
depart from an established course
Shakespeare deviates strongly from the affirmed patriarchal gender roles
male-dominated
one in which men have most of the power and influence
reveals a female figure within a male-dominated society
dehumanising
deprive of positive human qualities
her unnatural feminine desires to transgress into a dehumanising state
repress
subdue (someone or something) by force
shows no attempt at repressing her cravings for corruption and vicious desires to be rid of all purity and conscience
engulfing
powerfully affect (someone); overwhelm
foreshadows her descent into engulfing insanity
restriction
a limiting condition or measure
the repercussions of transgressing passive restrictions for a female within the domestic sphere
burden
load heavily
burdened with a restlessly guilty conscience
focal
centre or most important part
focal protagonist, Macbeth
all-consuming
completely filling one’s mind and attention; obsessive
descent into all-consuming insanity
disoriented
having lost one’s sense of direction
he reveals the unsettling, disoriented state
shattered
very upset
shattered the affirmed boundaries of the life cycle
manipulate
handle or control
Macbeth’s attempts to manipulate the natural course of events
tyrannical
exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way
achieve personal ambition and tyrannical power
inescapable
unable to be avoided or denied
integrates a sense of inescapable chaos within Macbeth
guilt-ridden
feelings of guilt
guilt-ridden state of mind
inflicted
impose something unwelcome on
Shakespeare dominantly illustrates that when intentional disruption is inflicted on affirmed boundaries, consequences of insanity, evil and death will certainly follow
phenomenon
a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen
witchcraft and magic sparked into a widespread phenomenon
reigning monarch
to possess or exercise sovereign power
Macbeth reflects his close relationship with the eager audiences of the reigning monarch with its … themes
desolate
uninhabited and giving an impression of bleak emptiness
audience imaginations become captivated by the mysterious meeting on the desolate heath in which the play begins
hysteria
emotionally charged behaviour that seems excessive and out of control
interest in witchcraft bordered on mass hysteria and sparked into a widespread phenomenon
midst
in the middle of
within the midst of the Jacobean era
superstition
excessively credulous belief in and reverence for the supernatural
with king James I extreme superstition towards the dark and mystical forces
captivate
attract and hold the interest and attention of
captivate the audiences of the reigning monarch
capital offense
offense that is punishable by the death penalty
witchcraft was blamed for causing illness, death and disaster and was made a capital offense
preconceived
formed before having the evidence for its truth or usefulness
Shakespeare draws directly on these preconceived expectations
depravity
moral corruption; wickedness
symbols of darkness and forces of depravity of the human soul
vindictive
having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge
he demonstrates their vindictive nature
enforces
compel observance of or compliance with
repeatedly enforces the notion
subsequent
coming after something in time; following
or simply just the catalyst for his subsequent descent into barbarism
eponymous
giving their name to something
Shakespeare’s eponymous tragedy, Macbeth
catering
to provide a supply of
catering to their interests and fascination for blood
encompasses
surround and have or hold within
His play, Macbeth encompasses an array of
barbarousness
the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane
one of his most gruesome works, containing absurd amounts of unspeakable barbarousness
entail
involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence
this predetermined term for violence does not necessarily entail dishonour
infused
fill; pervade
infused in his characters of grey morality
metaphorical
characteristic of or relating to metaphor; figurative
Lady Macbeth’s sadistic metaphorical act of violence against a baby
ambivalence
the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
displays a certain ambivalence to (topic e.g violence) throughout.. (scene)
renowned
known or talked about by many people; famous
where he is renowned as a noble warrior and commended as valiant and patriotic
defies
openly resist or refuse to obey
defies the Divine right of kings
derive
obtain something from
kings derive their authority from god
accompanied
go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort
lead to his eventual demise due to his involvement with sin and crime that are undoubtedly accompanied with penalty and repercussions
damnation
condemnation to eternal punishment in hell
Macbeth’s fall into damnation
contrary
opposite in nature, direction, or meaning
he carries out crimes contrary to his nature
divulge
make known
introduces such imagery of heaven and hell to divulge the ever-present roles of God and Satan and the gravity of committing crimes
emblematic
serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept; symbolic
This Shakespearean play is emblematic for the omnipresent feeling of uncertainty it bears
flaws
a mark, blemish, or other imperfection
almost every situation carries paradoxical elements that flaws moral judgements
ostensibly
as appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; apparently
plot is set in motion ostensibly by the prophecy of the three witches
impetus
the force or energy with which a body moves
serving as the primary impetus for the couple to plot the death of Duncan
heinous
(of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) utterly odious or wicked
would Macbeth have committed such heinous crimes if not for the prophecies
futile
incapable of producing any useful result; pointless
Ultimately, appears futile since the prophecy itself is self-fulfilling
inclined
be favourably disposed towards or willing to do something
Not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds - deeply desires power and advancement
unchecked
not controlled or restrained
destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints
withstand
remain undamaged or unaffected by; resist
even the greatest of evils cannot withstand the repercussions of immoral acts
siege
a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling those inside to surrender
begins in battle and ends not just with a climatic siege but the suicide of Lady Macbeth and beheading of Macbeth
mutilation
inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on
Macbeth’s mutilation of Macdonwald’s body is graphic and disturbing
disembowelled
cut open and remove the internal organs of
not only is he disembowelled, Macdonaldwald is then decapitated
duplicity
deceitfulness
Macbeth’s duplicity is displayed when Duncan greets Macbeth by saying “O worthiest cousin” to which he responds “the service and loyalty I owe in doing it pays itself
grotesque
comically or repulsively ugly or distorted
Shakespeare composes a grotesque warning for the reader; exposing the consequences of..
juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
juxtaposition between life and death and death and nature
privilege
a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group
the privilege of such a natural act as sleep may only be granted to those whom are innocent
mimic
imitate
as she appears to mimic the grotesque, macabre language of the witches; “Pour my spirits in thine ear,/ And chastise with the valour of my tongue.”
corruptive
producing or tending to produce corruption
sly figure in which the audience should remain cautious and untrusting towards; especially for a Jacobean audience, whom would have perceived the supernatural as a very real, corruptive threat.
conventional
based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed
perceived her to be a conventional representation of the patriarchal female
externalised
make (attitudes or behaviour) part of one’s nature by learning or unconscious assimilation
she begins to speak freely her own externalised desires and determination to fulfil the prophecy
social status
relative rank that an individual holds
fears that her husband possesses too much morality and kindness to ever consider murder as a means of improving his social status
martial
relating to fighting or war
specific quote merely to accentuate the subversion of these martial roles, placing a strong emphasis on Macbeth’s weak nature, which makes his later shift to tyranny and immorality even more..
tampered
interfere with (something) in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations
cannot be tampered with
sacrilegious
involving or committing sacrilege
