Monday, November 13, 2017

Journal Entry to Macbeth Act 1-2

Act 1:  The play starts off with an ominous opening scene with three witches. They are stirring a cauldron. They all say "Fair is foul and foul is fair", as it refers to one of the themes of the play. Good and evil personas will be misled by the actions of the characters in the play. Scene two is the Captain of the Scottish army to bring King Duncan the great news of Macbeth's victory against the traitor, Macdonwald. Macbeth brutally assassinates Macdonwald by disemboweling him from his belly button to his navel. The Captain also informs King Duncan about Macbeth's advance to capture the Thane of Cawdor on the other side of Scotland. King Duncan is understandably happy about the news he just received. Scene three is where the witches stop Banquo and Macbeth while they are on their way to Macbeth's castle. The three witches reveal to them three prophecies that will be set in motion very soon. Banquo and Macbeth are skeptical about the prophecies, but their skeptic minds are convinced as one of the three prophecies are fulfilled and Macbeth is promoted to Thane of Cawdor. In scene four, Macbeth writes his wife a letter in regards to the prophecies that are said to transpire. Lady Macbeth reads this in the letter. Her plan is to speed up the process of Macbeth becoming king by killing King Duncan. She informs Macbeth about her agenda, but he refuses. Macbeth has no true motive to kill King Duncan, other than his deep ambition to be King. He then agrees with his wife and the act ends there.

Act 2: The first scene starts off with Banquo and his son, Flenace, talking about a strange occurrence. There are no stars nor moon in the night sky. Macbeth walks in and Banquo asks him has he been thinking about what the three witches said to him. Macbeth denies this but he is lying to him in order hide his intents of killing King Duncan. An imaginary dagger then guides Macbeth to King Duncan; This is when the murder was committed. Macbeth meets up with his wife, who did not want to kill King Duncan herself because he reminded her too much of her father. Macbeth is shaken by what he has done and refuses to commit any other heinous acts. Macduff knocks on the door to the Macbeth's castle. While the porter answers the door. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth wash their hands of blood. Macduff soon discovers the dead body of King Duncan and alerts everyone in the castle; This includes King Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalblain. Both of King Duncan's sons flee the castle in fear of their own lives, but this act only adds suspicion towards them. Ross does not buy the explanation given by the old man and will presumably figure out the real killer of King Duncan. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.         

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