|
|
|
| Sunday, 12 March 2006 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Macbeth by William SHAKESPEARE ACT 4 SCENE I A cavern - the background is set for the witches to enter. In the middle a boiling cauldron symbolizing the evil and mysterious attitudes and repercussions of the witches. This is a remarkable aspect of witchcraft. The witches uttering the names of demons, and venomous ingredients being boiled in the cauldron. "Mummy - a preparation for magical purposes made from dead bodies" . The scheming of the witches are manipulated of unlucky times, which are favourable to witch craft. All:- "Double / double / toil and thro/uble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble The rhyme pattern matching the actions of the witches. These two lines are repeated stressing the ulterior motives of the witches, extremely dangerous and venomous promoting devastation. The song of the witches, it self "BLACK SPIRITS" suggestive of wicked rituals and evil attitudes. BLACK is always used to symbolize evil. The second witche's words.
"---- something wicked this way comes open locks, whoever knocks!" Signals the arrival of Macbeth, favoured by the witches and Macbeth himself possessing the qualities of a wicked and ambitious man. He deceives himself; caring nothing, his only desire is to make sure of his status and safety; determined to be "gratified at all costs". The witches present before Macbeth the apparitions - our master's apparitions". Amidst thunder the first apparition an armed head - appears on the scene. "Macbeth ! Macbeth ! Macbeth ! beware Macduff: Beware the thane of fife" The apparition "armed head" may symbolize Macbeth's own struck off by Macduff. Second Apparition - a bloody child. "Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. The bloody child may symbolize Macduff The third apparition a child crowned; with a tree in his hand. Represents Malcolm, who gives orders to the soldiers to cut down a bough each; of Birnam Wood. The words that; none of the woman born could harm Macbeth, makes him courageous and resolute, and the words of the third apparition: "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinanehill shall come against him" Macbeth gets motivated, filled with hope for the moving of Birnam Wood could never happen, but Macbeth gets overanxious to know whether "---- shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom ?" The show of eight kings, the last with a glass in his hand and Banquo's ghost following. "That twofold balls and treble sceptres carry: Horrible sight ! Now I see 'tis true !" "Two fold ball" may symbolize the two islands Great Britain and Ireland and the "treble sceptres" , the three kingdoms England with Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Here Macbeth's "start eyes" emphasise his own words. "The sight of one king alone scorches his eye balls" . After seeing four would make him "wish to be rid of his eyes altogether." The Descendants of Banquo shown and none of Macbeth's which irritates him to extremes. He cursed himself for being in touch with the witches. The information of Macduff "Macduff is fled to England" disturbs Macbeth to extremes; swearing to "seize upon fife : give to the edge the sword His wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line" These words of Macbeth mirror forth his ulterior motives; to destruct, to put an end to all obstacles on his way, thus secure himself and tighten his security. Macbeth becoming more tyrannous, dangerous and inhuman. ACT 4 SCENE 2 This scene highlights the "Savagery into which Macbeth has deteriorated". The tone of the opening episode Its tone of domestic calm is a contrast." The child's appearance in the scene is "a bit of pure pathos in the play" . Shakespeare's best of portraits is that of the child and mother, lady Macduff's subjected to a crucial situation. The childish but intelligent response of the children could keep the audience in applause. Ross informs Lady Macduff of the coming danger and advises her to run away for safety. Mother and son carry on their arguments. When Lady Macduff tells her son that a person who 'swears and lies' must be hanged and that the honest men must do that. Son:-"Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them" A Messenger rushes into the scene asking Lady Macduff to "fly" for safety as danger is ahead. But before she could run for safety, murderers enter the scene and kill the little son, her life and treasure and as she exits she is being pursued by the murderers; creating the most pathetic sight, revealing the inhuman, beastly behaviour of Macbeth killing innocent people for his safe survival. ACT 4 SCENE 3 This scene begins with Malcolm and Macduff discussing the outcome of Macbeth's criminal devices and his ambitions. "Rebellion takes time to work" and the climax would be "reached gradually". The ironic wording; (Macduff being ignorant of the fact that his family is being subjected to great destruction). Macduff's abandonment of his wife and children instils some doubt in Malcolm's mind. He doubts whether Macduff had has come as a spy for he could win Macbeth's favour by betraying Malcolm. Malcolm's suspicion alone does not make Macduff a traitor. Ross enters and Malcolm and Macduff are surprised. Rose gives the exact description of the horrible and unhappy state of affairs prevailing in the country. Almost afraid to know itself ! It cannot be called our mother, but ourgrave: where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs and groans and shrieks that vent the air Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems A modern ecstasy: ----" Ross unfolds how each minute is teemed with grief and sorrow and assures Macduff that his wife and children were doing well when he last saw them. Malcolms unfolding the news that England has lent "ten thousand warlike men, already at a point, was setting forth".---- Ross enters and reluctantly unfolds the saddest news to Macduff "Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes Savagely slaughtered; to relate the manner, Were on the quarry of these murdered deer, To add the death of you." Macduff's deep sorrow, his utter despair is expressed when Malcolm requested him to be comforted. Malcolm:- "Be comforted: Let's make us medicines of our great revenge" Macduff:- "He has no children. All my pretty ones? Did you say all ? oh hell-kite ! All ? What, all my pretty chickens and their dame At one fell swoop ?" The repetition of the word 'ALL' emphasises and depicts clearly Macduff's deep love for his children and spot lights the brutal beastly qualities of Macbeth whose ardent desire is to achieve greatness, achieve what is not his and be crowned with supreme power. Macduff is deeply affected for his family; his children and his wife getting slaughtered to pay for his sins - his leaving the country. Malcolm inspires him to treat this tragic incident as the "whet stone" for his sword. Macduff determines to fight and kill Macbeth. He would encourage Malcolm and his supporters who would serve as the instruments "by which providence executes vengeance on Macbeth" This scene displays the joint effort of Malcolm and his supporters to take revenge on Macbeth, the traitor and murderer; suffering from the delirium extreme anxiety and desire for power. Thus getting converted himself into a TYRANT. n Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng. Lit. St. Anne's College, Kurunegala. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
