"Macbeth" is one of the most famous plays written by William Shakespeare. The play tells the story of Macbeth, Thane of Glamis whose dark ambition will lead him to murder the king and take his crown. This passage is Macbeth's first soliloquy extracted from the Scene I of Act II, also known as the "dagger scene ". This is the scene that precedes Duncan's murder. Many themes are recurring throughout the play and this passage. First, we will deal with illusions and reality and their consequences on Macbeth's state of mind, then we will move on to order and disorder and finally to the murder Macbeth is about to commit. In this passage, the theme of illusion and reality is clearly shown. Macbeth is the victim of his illusions. The ultimate questions would be to know if we can rely on our senses and if what we see is real. Those questions are at stake in this passage. .
Macbeth asks a lot of rhetorical questions in his soliloquy, the first being "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? (l.32-33). He doesn't know what to think about the dagger as shown l.35 "I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. " Is the dagger real? He doesn't understand hence why he starts questioning his senses (l.36-37) "Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight?"". He knows that he can see it but he wonders if he can touch it. The word "vision"" is used which emphasizes the fact that it is an illusion, an image created by his brain. He then thinks that something might be wrong with him to see such a thing "A dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?"" (l.38-39). In other words, he is starting to doubt himself and wonders if he is becoming crazy and if it could only be his mind tricking him and making him see the dagger. .
An allusion to the witches is made, with the word "witchcraft"" and the reference to Hecate, a Greek goddess depicted in the triple form hence the three weird sisters.
(Act 1 Sc ii, line 1). ... In the next passage, in which the sergeant says, "Which smok'd with bloody execution"(Act 1 Sc ii, line 18), he is referring to Macbeth's braveness. ... (Act 2, Scene ii, 55-58). ... Another example of bloods use as a symbol was Act 2, Scene ii. ... In Act 2, Scene ii, Lines 11-12, "I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss them". ...
Scene II first implants ambition into Macbeth's head well also showing Macbeth's excellent reputation in Duncan's court. ... (Act.1 Sc. v. 60) which orders Macbeth to murder him in there own house. ... (Act.1 Sc. vii. 45). ... In scene ii Macbeth's mental illness develops continuously, as his reports of hallucinations head from sights to sounds. ... Also Macbeth can not answer "Amen" to a single prey to god "Listening there fear I could not say 'Amen'"(Act II Sc.ii. 29). ...
In the beginning of scene 1, Macbeth experiences a powerful hallucination. In his hallucination he ponders over a dagger, his murder weapon for King Duncan's eventual death. ... In scene 2, Macbeth is violently awoken by the act he has just committed. ... Throughout scene 1, the diction helps create a strong and ongoing motif of sight. ... In scene 1, there is a use of personification when Macbeth is pondering over his confusion on what is real when he says, "Mine eyes are made the fools of the other senses" (II.44). ...
In Act II, Scene 1, lines 33-34: "Is this a dagger which I see before me,/The handle toward my hand? ... In Act II, Scene 2, lines 62-64: "I go, and it is done: the bell invites me.... Lady Macbeth plays it off with great surprise, as shown in Act II, Scene 3, lines 82-83: "Woe, alas!... In Act II, Scene 3, lines 87-88: "There's nothing serious in mortality:/All is but toys. ... As in Act V, Scene 8, lines 54-55: "Hail, king! ...
(Act I, Scene 5). ... In Act II, Scene 1, Macbeth speaks of a dagger floating before him. ... (Act III, Scene 1) and "Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding." (Act III, Scene 1). ... (Act IV, Scene 1). ...
He spills so much of Duncan's blood that, "their daggers unmannerly Patel 2 breeched with gore" (II, 3, 110). ... (II, 4, 22) By referring to it as a "bloody deed" it aids in portraying the murder as an act of violence. ... The end of the play is filled with scenes of Macbeth's downfall. ... That is the final act of Macbeth's downfall, his demise at the hands of his own enemy. ... Depiction of violence is in every act of Macbeth. ...
Describing the dagger, Macbeth says, "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. ... (II. 1. 54-57). ... (II. 2. 71-75). This passage illustrates that the act of murder has changed Macbeth's character. ... (V. 1. 30-34). ...
In Act Two, Scene 1, the main character Macbeth finds himself spiraling into turmoil and an utterly deranged state of mind while preparing himself for the murder he is about to commit on his honorable friend King Duncan, due to his unresting ambition. ... does two separate jobs; paints a picture in the audience's mind of a dagger being just out of the reach of Macbeth, as well as foretells what Macbeth will be doing soon with a real dagger. ... Shakespeare also compares Macbeth to the Roman King Tarquin as well as having, "Moves like a ghost," (II, 2, 55 & 56). ... Finally, another major ...
This is supported by Macbeth's dialogue and actions in the introductory scenes. ... "Let not light see my black and deep desires" (act 1, scene 4). ... This is evident in his dialogue with Seyton "And that which should accompany old age, as honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I can not hope to have " (act 5, scene 3). ... For example, in the first scene of act II an imaginary dagger points Macbeth toward Duncan's chamber. ... A lengthy monologue delivered by Hecate (act 3, scene 5) foreshadows complications in the plot regarding this change of nature within Macbeth, as well a...
