MACBETH
POWER AND LEADERSHIP
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MACBETH
POWER AND LEADERSHIP
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The moods
and settings in Macbeth often give a feeling of power. Not a mortal
power but and erie supernatural power. Take for example the scenes
of the play in witch we see the witches. The first time we are introduced
to the three weird sisters is Act I Scene 1. The scene is described
to us as a scene upon the moors. A gray and foreboding sky filled
with thunder and lightning is symbolic of the impending storm.
That is not all that this erie scene is representative of thought.
It is also representative of the evil power that is approaching the land.
This setting and mood of evil and supernatural is foreshadowing the evil
that is soon to fall upon the land.
We again met the witches in a brief scene in Act III Scene 5 but this time they are accompanied by Hecate. The Scene again takes place upon the moors and the scene is typical of the witches that there is thunder and lightening in the back ground witch alone creates the mood of an evil power. This time thought the felling of supernatural power and evil is accented by the appearance of Hecate. Hecate is the feared leader of all witches. The appearance of this fabled creature of evil acts as catalyst for the dark and supernatural felling of power that is typical of the appearance of the evil trio. |
| The final scene (Act IV Scene 1) with the witches is perhaps the most predominant in that the setting and mood of the is reflective of power. The scene opens with witches at the moor enshrouded in an inky darkness. The three are gathered around a bubbling cauldron that into witch they place the most horrid ingredients. Examples of these hellish ingredients are the liver of a blasphemous Jew, the tongue of a dog and the finger of a birth-strangled baby delivered in a ditch. While adding these grisly ingredients the witches are chanting what is believed to be an authentic witches incantation; Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron Bubble. This scene terrified the elizabethan audience because it was so incredibly graphic. The scene and the imagery presented in it created an overwhelming sense of power that sits upon the reader with weight of a press stone. The dark foreboding scene combine with the mood of malevolence and evil that the incantation creates is one of the best examples of power in the entirety of the play. |  |
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In Act III scene 1 we are witness to a plot initiated by Macbeth. In This scene Macbeth contracts two murders to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Macbeth does so out of envy that Banquo's line will take the thrown and his will not. This scene is representative of Macbeths tyrannical rule. Like so many before him Macbeth abuses his power and takes that witch is not his to take. This scene is also presents to us another mood of power. This is that of the power witch Macbeth wields like a child with his fathers gun. The mood and perhaps message of this scene is power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Macbeth is killing his perceived enemies but perhaps the mood of power corrupting comes from the more frightening fact that Macbeth is mercilessly slaying his friend. In the early scenes of the play we are witness to the strong friendship between Macbeth and Banquo and now that bond is shattered with no more than a few words from Macbeth. |
| The murder scene Act II scene 1-2 is an excellent example of settings and moods of power. The setting is Macbeths castles. It is late and pitch black in the court yard. An erie felling of unrest hangs heavy upon the castle robing sleep from those within. The setting creates the mood of an evil power hovering about The mood is progressed further with Macbeths speech and hallucination of the dagger and aging Macbeth comments on his hallucinations when he clams he heard someone utter "sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep" This entire scene is especially eerie when we recall Lady Macbeth's incantation to evil when she first heard of the witches words to her husband. It is not until the scene with the porter that the mood of this power is present when the tensions are dissolved by the clever comic relief. |
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Macbeth links:
Macbeth; an in depth analysis
Shakespeare
for students
Macbeth
Paintings
This page done by Andrew E.
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