My Opinion on the Play

Question from the teacher:
1) What do I know/think about the play so far?  What are my thoughts on Shakespeare, Macbeth and this play so far?

Before you read, I must warn you that if you are a big fan of Shakespeare, you may not like this post.  (You can check out a summary of all the acts if you follow this link: http://shakespearenet.net/macbeth/macbreak.htm)

This is a complicated play at first.  It seems confusing and hard to follow.  After reading Act I multiple times, it became easier to understand.  What do I know so far?  Well:

• Scotland is at war with Norway.  
• Scotland is led by King Duncan.
• Scotland is victorious because of the heroic efforts of Macbeth.
• Macbeth captures and executes the Thane of Cawdor who is a traitor.
• Macbeth visits the three Witches who predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually the King.
• King Duncan then announces that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor because of his heroic efforts in the war.
• Macbeth tells his wife of the news.
• King Duncan plans on crashing at Macbeth’s place for the night.
• Lady Macbeth plots to kill King Duncan so Macbeth will become king.
• Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to murder King Duncan while he is asleep and then blame it on Duncan’s servants.
• Macbeth then decides to follow through on the plan.

In Act 1 of Macbeth there are many interesting but difficult to follow events.  I have never really enjoyed reading Shakespeare for a few reasons such as his writing is hard to follow and there are too many characters in my opinion.  I also dislike the fact that I am reading a script for a play and not a novel.  I feel that the personality of the characters is taken away when reading a script.  The personality of characters that are in a novel come out in the book, but when reading a play, the personalities come out on stage.  I prefer a short and sweet style of writing which is contrary to Shakespeare’s style which is overly complicated.  Maybe it’s the old style of English that I do not enjoy reading, but even when converted into modern English, I just cannot seem to be entertained.    

Macbeth is an intriguing character.  He seems brave but is he really brave inside?  He is persuaded easily, such as when his wife persuades him to kill King Duncan.  This makes him almost, weak.  Can you be brave and weak at the same time?  Well this can be compared to the Witches quote in Scene 1 “Fair is foul, and foul is fair/Hover through the fog and filthy air.”  (1.1.12-13)  We see here that apparently fair can be foul.  So, that is like someone being brave and weak.  They are brave on the outside; a mighty soldier fighting in battle, but weak on the inside; letting other people tell you what to do.

Overall, the play seems violent.  I do not think I will enjoy it much.  Like I said before, it seems confusing and hard to follow.  

The Three Witches

"Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair"

Image from: http://melodypam.deviantart.com/art/macbeth-witches-186599190