Macbeth
In the play Macbeth, motifs are found in numerous scenes. The motifs represent a more intense meaning then just the word itself. The motifs change with their meanings along with the setting and the mood of the play. The functions of the motifs are important to the play if the subtleties of the the play are to be understood. Motifs that run throughout Macbeth include blood, sleeplessness, and equivocation. Blood being the first motif has many meanings in Macbeth. As Lady Macbeth plans to kill Duncan, she calls upon the spirits of murder to " make thick my blood; stop up the access and passage to remorse (Act 1/scene 5) ." Thick blood was considered poison, and Lady Macbeth wants to poison her own soul so that she can kill without remorse. Macbeth is also a guilty one, just before he kills King Duncan, Macbeth stares at the " dagger of the mind", and as he does so blood appears on the blade and hilt. " I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before (Act 2/scene 1) " , as Macbeth speaks to the sword just before he commits his "bloody business". Macbeth is seeing the dagger that he plans on using to kill
We have seen many meanings of the motifs blood, sleeplessness, and equivocation. The motifs changed from honor at the beginning to treachery and guilt. Blood is not the only motif, there are others such as sleeplessness. We often say that we need to "sleep on " a problem, but what do you do when you murder sleep as Macbeth does? On the night of King Duncan's murder, Banquo says to his son , " A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep... (Act 2/ scene 1) ." Banquo doesn't say just what thoughts are disturbing his sleep, but one can assume that they have to do with the prophecies of the witches. In the scene in which Macduff discovers the bloody corpse of King Duncan, the Porter, still suffering the effects of a night of drinking, pretends that he is the gatekeeper of hell. Among the sinners that he pretends to welcome into hell is an " equivocator, that could swear in both scales against either scale (Act 2/scene 3) ." It occurs to the Porter that if he were the gatekeeper of hell, he would have plenty of opportunities to turn the key. So instead of turning the key and opening the gate, he describes some people he might welcome
Some common words found in the essay are:
Duncan Macbeth, King Duncan's, Duncan Porter, , Ross Ah, Lady Macbeth, Thane Cawdor, Banquo Banquo, act 2/scene, duncan's murder, wicked dreams, King Duncan, king duncan's murder, act 2/scene 1, duncan macbeth, lady macbeth, welcome hell, banquo doesn't, sleep act, blood sleeplessness equivocation, night king duncan's, 2/scene 1, kill duncan,
Approximate Word count = 784
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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