Coursework Ideas

I  have thought about focusing on the use of symbolism and how they create meanings in many ways for the reader, also to show whether the use of symbolism is useful in my chosen text. Taking a critical approach I will show how my text may lack symbolism or how symbolism could be portrayed in a better way.

So far my idea for my Critical coursework text is the Poem of Fra Lippo Lippi. The text studied at AS lit came to mind as it shows the symbolism and importance of art as well as the stability of society. Based on the Florentine Monk living in the 15th century will also enable me to explore theories of Marxism, Functionalism and Feminism which can also help provide explanations for how the poem can be critically analysed. If I do focus on symbolism I could explore should art be realistic and true to life or should it be idealistic and didactic? this thought is highlighted a lot throughout the poem.

Chapter 9-Chapter 10
The death of Justine, we see how Frankenstein quickly changes the tense to forget what his creation had done to his family 'Justine's died; she rested'.

• 'The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart'. Frankensteins worries become almost untangled, the heat has come of his shoulders and the intense atmosphere of Justine's trial. The use of personification emphasis the guilt and pain he truly feels.
• Frankensteins character is shown again 'self-satisfaction'.
• 'I was now free' questions the reader what is he free from? the past is always going to haunt him, Frankenstein is aware of the past coming back.
• page 73- 'I was encompassed ...type of me' describes a reflection of himself the things he has done.
• also on page 73 Shelly's use of pathetic fallacy after the Mountain and surrounding echos the mood of guilt and remorse, though its used throughout the novel.
• the ending of chapter nine shows how Frankenstein has almost found peace with nature which he connects best with. 'sleep crept over me' suggests a new story of the past coming upon him. Or sleep can be seen as a world for him of unconscious desires which are repressed, in which his imaginations are achievable.

The natural world has effects on victor's mood: the beauty of nature enlightens his character. Though nature makes him joyful it also bring him the feelings of regret, guilt and shame. 'The rain depressed me; my old feeling recurred, and i was miserable'. The significance of the connection to nature is purely based upon the creation of the monster. The monster becomes a symbol of Victors madness in trying to emulate the natural forces of his creation.


We see how the monster becomes a verbal and emotional almost human like creature that communicates his past to victor, this gives Victor a fuller understanding of how his creation, now we see the intellect behind the creature. We see how the monster understands his position in the world, and the abandonment by Frankenstein he now seeks revenge. For the first time Frankenstein realises what he has actually made, the creature has needs and demands which are out of control. We see the natural side of the monster, one way in which the monster shows eloquence is similar to the novel Paradise Lost - when the monster tries to convince Victor to listen to his story. “remember, that I am thy creature: I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel.” By comparing Victor to God, the monster heaps responsibility for his evil actions upon Victor, scolding him for his neglectful failure to provide a nourishing environment.


Chapter 11-Chapter 12


Chapter 11 summary- Sitting by the fire in his hut, the monster tells Victor of the confusion that he experienced upon being created. He describes his flight from Victor’s apartment into the wilderness and his gradual acclimation to the world through his discovery of the sensations of light, dark, hunger, thirst, and cold. The monster visits a village, where more people flee at the sight of him. As a result of these incidents, he decides to stay away from humans.


chapter 12 summary-
Observing his neighbors for a period of time, the monster notices that they often seem unhappy, though he is unsure why. He eventually realizes however, that their despair results from their poverty, to which he has been contributing by surreptitiously stealing their food. Torn by his guilty conscience, he stops stealing their food and does what he can to reduce their hardship, gathering wood at night to leave at the door for their use.
The monster becomes aware that his neighbors are able to communicate with each other using strange sounds. Learning their language, he tries to match the sounds they make with the actions they perform. He acquires a basic knowledge of the language, including the names of the young man and woman, Felix and Agatha. He admires their graceful forms and is shocked by his ugliness when he catches sight of his reflection in a pool of water. He spends the whole winter in the hovel, unobserved and well protected from the elements, and grows increasingly affectionate toward his unwitting hosts.

• The monster’s growing understanding of the social significance of family is connected to his sense of 'otherness' and solitude. The cottagers’ devotion to each other underscores Victor’s total abandonment of the monster; ironically, observing their kindness actually causes the monster to suffer, as he realises how alone he is. This lack of interaction with others, compounds the monster’s lack of social identity. As a marxist would argue the feeling of being alienated.
• The theme of nature’s sublimity, of the connection between human moods and natural surroundings, relfects the monster’s childlike reaction to springtime. Nature proves as important to the monster as it is to Victor: as the temperature rises and the winter ice melts, the monster takes comfort in a suddenly green and blooming world, glorying in nature’s creation when he cannot enjoy in his own.
• Like Victor, the monster has awareness that knowledge is dangerous, After realizing that he is different from human beings, “Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind, when it has once seized on it, like a lichen on the rock.” Knowledge is permanent and irreversible; once gained, it cannot be dispossessed. Just as the monster, a product of knowledge, spins out of Victor’s control, so too can knowledge itself, once uncovered, create irreversible harm.
• Certain elements of the narrative style change as the perspective transitions from Victor to the monster. Both narrators are emotional, sensitive, aware of nature’s power, and concerned with the dangers of knowledge; both express themselves in an elegant, Romantic tone. The similarity of their tones arises as a function of the filtering inherent in the layered narrative: the monster speaks through Victor, Victor speaks through Walton, and Walton ultimately speaks through the sensitive, Romantic Shelley. However, we can explore whether the structure of the novel itself helps explain these narrative parallels. The growing list of similarities between Victor and the monster suggests that the two characters may not be so different after all.

Chapter 13-Chapter 14


The monster learns to read, and, since Felix uses Ruins of Empires to instruct Safie, he learns a bit of world history in the process. Now able to speak and understand the language perfectly, the monster learns about human society by listening to the cottagers’ conversations. Reflecting on his own situation, he realises that he is deformed and alone. “Was I then a monster,” he asks, “a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned?” He also learns about the pleasures and obligations of the family and of human relations in general, which deepens the agony of his own isolation.
The monster is able to reconstruct the history of the cottagers. He realises that their wealth was stripped away.

• A new narrative voice is introduced gives another perspective of the novel. Their story is transmitted from the cottagers to the monster, from the monster to Victor, from Victor to Walton, and from Walton to his sister, at which point the reader finally gains access to it. This layering of stories within stories enables the reworking of familiar ideas in new contexts. For example the sense of “otherness” that many characters in Frankenstein feels. His deformity, his ability to survive extreme conditions, and the grotesque circumstances of his creation all serve to mark him as the ultimate outsider. 
• The monster’s fascination with the relationship between Felix and Safie lies in his desperate desire for Victor to accept him. Felix’s willingness to risk everything for the sake of someone who has been unjustly punished gives the monster hope that Victor will recognize the hurtful injustice of abandoning him. However, just as Felix’s bravery in helping Safie’s father escape stands in stark contrast to Victor’s shameful unwillingness to save Justine, so does Felix’s compassion for Safie underscore Victor’s cold hatred for the monster.

Chapter 15- Chapter 17

• Chapter 15- While searching for food in the woods around the cottage one night, the monster finds an abandoned leather satchel containing some clothes and books. Eager to learn more about the world than he can discover through the chink in the cottage wall, he brings the books back to his hovel and begins to read.
  Chapter 16-In the wake of this rejection, the monster swears to revenge himself against all human beings, his creator in particular. Journeying for months out of sight of others, he makes his way towards Geneva. On the way, he spots a young girl, seemingly alone; the girl slips into a stream and appears to be on the verge of drowning. When the monster rescues the girl from the water, the man accompanying her, suspecting him of having attacked her, shoots him.
  Chapter 17- The monster tells Victor that it is his right to have a female monster companion. Victor refuses at first, but the monster appeals to Victor’s sense of responsibility as his creator. He tells Victor that all of his evil actions have been the result of a desperate loneliness. He promises to take his new mate to South America to hide in the jungle far from human contact. With the sympathy of a fellow monster, he argues, he will no longer be compelled to kill.. Victor becomes skeptical about the creation of a female monster, the monster tells Victor that he will monitor Victor’s progress and that Victor need not worry about contacting him when his work is done.
  Analysis:
  • Paradise Lost, here and throughout the novel, provides development for the monster as he tries to understand his identity. Comparing himself to both Adam and Satan, perceiving himself as both human and demonic, the monster is poised uncomfortably between two realms. “Like Adam,” he says, “I was created apparently united by no link to any other being in existence,” but “many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me.” Scolded like Adam and cursed like Satan, the monster is painfully aware of his creator’s utter contempt for him.
  • The theme of  nature reappears in the monster’s narrative, and nature’s ability to affect the monster powerfully, as it does Victor, humanizes him.Whereas Victor seeks the high, cold, hard world of the Alps for comfort, as if to freeze his guilt about the murder, the monster finds solace in the soft colors and smells of a springtime forest, symbolizing his desire to reveal himself to the world and interact with others. “Half surprised by the novelty of these sensations, I allowed myself to be borne away by them; and, forgetting my solitude and deformity, dared to be happy,” the monster says. Unlike Victor, he is able to push away, at least temporarily, the negative aspects of his existence.
  
  Chapter 18-  After his fateful meeting with the monster on the glacier, Victor puts off the creation of a new, female creature. He begins to have doubts about the wisdom of agreeing to the monster’s request. He realises that the project will require him to travel to England to gather information. His father notices that his spirits are troubled much of the time Victor, still racked by guilt over the deaths of William and Justine, is now newly horrified by the task in which he is about to engage and asks him if his impending marriage to Elizabeth is the source of his melancholy. Victor assures him that the prospect of marriage to Elizabeth is the only happiness in his life
  Victor and Alphonse arrange a two-year tour, on which Henry Clerval, eager to begin his studies after several years of unpleasant work for his father in Geneva, will accompany Victor. After traveling for a while, they reach London.

  Summary: Chapter 19-Victor and Henry journey through England and Scotland, but Victor grows impatient to begin his work and free himself of his bond to the monster. Victor has an acquaintance in a Scottish town, with whom he urges Henry to stay while he goes alone on a tour of Scotland. Henry becomes reluctant, and Victor leaves for a distant desolate island in the Orkneys to complete his project. Quickly setting up a laboratory in a small shack, Victor devotes many hours to working on his new creature. He often has trouble continuing his work, however, knowing how unsatisfying, even grotesque, the product of his labor will be.

• Analysis: Chapters 18–20

  •  An appreciation of nature is not the only aspect of Victor’s character that Henry seems to have adopted: Henry is now enthusiastic about natural philosophy and eager to explore the world. “In Clerval I saw the image of my former self.” Henry represents the impending ruin of another young, brilliant man by science; this can represent the healthy, safe route to scientific knowledge that Victor never took. In either case, Victor’s emotional outbursts strongly foreshadow Henry’s death: “And where does he now exist?” he asks. “Is this gentle and lovely being lost forever?The theme of the passive, an innocent woman manifested in the mother who sacrifices herself for her daughter, the fiancée who waits endlessly for her future husband, and the orphan girl who is rescued from poverty culminates in this section with the female monster whose creation Victor suddenly aborts after being struck by doubts about the correctness of his actions. Though never alive, the female monster is a powerful presence: to Victor, she represents another crime against humanity and nature; to the monster, she represents his one remaining hope for a life not spent alone.

  • Victor sprinkles his speech with metanarrative comments that remind the reader of the relationship between storyteller and audience, shape the upcoming narrative, and demonstrate the narrator’s deep emotional investment in his story. “I must pause here; for it requires all my fortitude to recall the memory of the frightful events which I am about to relate, in proper detail, to my recollection,” Victor says, illustrating that he is overwhelmed by emotion and offering a glimpse of the horrific story that he is about to tell. Victor’s apostrophes to his absent friends serve the same purposes, adding to the emotional impact of his speech, emphasizing his nostalgic memories, and calling attention to the layered narrative. When Victor cries out “Clerval! Beloved Friend! Even now it delights me to record your words,” the reader senses the power of Victor’s emotion and its ultimate uselessness against the force of fate. Additionally, the mention of “record[ing]” Henry’s words underscores the fact that it is only through Walton that the reader has access to the other characters and their narratives.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Frankenstein Chapter Summaries

chapter 1-  Introduced to Frankenstein and his family, gives us context of life he was living (only child). we learn about his Genevese origins. description of his father Alphonso Frankenstein a wealthy and respected benevolent man that rescued Frankenstein's mother.

• Introduced to a loving relationship between Frankenstein's parents- important as relationship between parents can affect a child's experiences as they tend to pass these traits on later. 
• Adoption of an orphan girl Elizabeth being raised by a peasant family. See Frankensteins attachment to his 'more than sister'... 'till death she was to be mine only' - this could be a first insight into control and power before the creation of his creature. creates a protective mind, though we haven't seen the interaction between them yet. 

Theme- Freedom, as a child he has no worries, from a wealthy middle/upper class family has stability. The power of having wealth and opportunities enables him to explore.

• Morality, Shelly presents him as a very self-centered, sheltered.

chapter 2-We see the perfect serenity of his childhood with his family, as two more children are introduced.

• The contrast of characters, Frankenstein being more academic in a sense of having the 'thirst for knowledge'. 
• very independent character 'it was my temper to avoid a crowd, and to attach my self fervently to a few.' this could then develop as to why he becomes socially incompetent. His lack of social skills makes him impaired to the norms and values of society. 
• ' harmony was the soul of our companionship...drew us nearer together'.Could this be a fascination to Frankenstein to find someone who is opposite to his character but can keep him content. Or is this highlighting his control of independence as well as dependence of a positive character in life. 
• 'natural philosophy' - a break down in structure goes on to talk about learning and the book that he has read, which highlights his thirst for knowledge. Becomes fixated about the world around him and the discoveries of nature and electricity.

• Age of 13- becomes interested in how life evolved on the planet, studies theories of life and human creations. ' the world was to me a secret which i desired to divine.' the knowledge of new information makes him happier, though fate has other plans for him.

Context- 18th century, development of natural philosophy shows how discoveries were coming about, can be seen as motivation or inspiration for Frankenstein. Refers to Cornelus Agripa known to be a sinister magician.

Theme- Knowledge, childhood.

Chapter 3-  At the age of 17, Frankenstein moves away to Ingolstadt for college, when Elizabeth got scarlet fever, as well as the loss of his mother.'the first misfortune of my life occurred- an omen,as it were my future of misery'.

• Loneliness of Frankenstein develops 'I was new to sorrow'. Though we see him more engaged with his studying. See his nervousness of being along from everyone he loved, but finding the Professor which he befriends, see how devoted they are to studying. Another downfall chapter 3, page 34 'the labours of men of genius, however erroneously directed,scarcely ever fail in ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind' M Waldman was wrong. 

chapter 4- See how Frankenstein becomes to determine to figure out the source of where life comes from. He considers going back home because his studies become so advanced.  Frankenstein discovers essence of life, but refuses to reveal it to Walton as he fears that he will follow the idea.  "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow."

•  After Frankenstein realises what gives life, he experiments with creating a human being. The construction takes place 'I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life.' 
• the breakdown of interaction with his family begins to fade, his health declines from the constant labour, little rest, poor diet. Refuses to stop working see his obsession and control, which develops the psychological attachment.

Chapter 5-Frankensteins creation comes to life and illusions of grandeur were vanished by the hideousness of the beast. the contrast of the creature having good and bad elements, can be interpreted as complementing Frankensteins personality. As well as an understanding of people and the reality of life people being judgmental. His perfect creation was a frightening disaster. "For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart." Chapter 5, pg. 42 Frankenstein fled his laboratory and collapsed in his room. He woke from a nightmare to see the monster standing over him, smiling with his hideous, black lips.     

  

Chapter 6- In the letter, Elizabeth begs for a letter from Frankenstein to assure his family that he was well. Frankenstein misses out on life, misses the progression with his family. The long description of the hardships of Justine Moritz. Frankenstein avoids his scientific studies as it reminds him of the disastrous experiment. 

• further extension of loneliness. Page 55. 

Chapter 7- Letter is revealed from Alphonso about his brothers murder, found his strangled body in the woods. The locket worn can be seen as a motivation for the murder, leaving Elizabeth feeling responsible fro this- displacing guilt.Frankenstein is well aware of the monster being Williams murderer. though Justine is accused, we see a change in the character of Frankenstein tackling the world on his own has bought him to become selfish, ignorant but guilt is prevalent.

• Pages 62-3 
• Use of letters break down structure, tells story from a different perspective builds imagery of scenes as well as revealing emotions. (pages 56-7). 

Chapter 8 - Justine's trial explains all the evidence but not the evidence of the locket. She is still acquitted and executed. The guilt builds up of two deaths on his conscience. Frankenstein knew then that it was only the beginning of their sorrow and he was responsible for all of it but unaware of how to prevent it. "[He] beheld those [he] loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, the first hapless victims to [his unhallowed arts." Chapter 8, pg. 73.

• 'Prophetic soul'- echoes Hamlet in Act 1 scene 5 line 41 where the ghost of Hamlets Father tells him of his murder by Claudius ans lays upon his sons the burden of revenge.

Theme- Innocence, confession all linked with religion.

CONTEXT- AO4 

 Prometheus and Paradise Lost
Prometheus is told to create mankind using mud and water. He is a great benefactor to mankind teaching them astrology and architecture etc. Though he stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the mortals, his punishment was to be bounded by a rock and on each day an eagle would come and peck out his liver which it then grew back and this continuously happened.  

    Frankenstein is viewed as the 'Modern Prometheus' stealing fire ffrom the Gods made him an admired figure among writers . Shares similarities with Frankenstein is told by Zeus to make a creation of humanity from mud and water, Victor creates a monster.  Also how he steals fire by harnessing the power of lightening to animate his monster.  Prometheus defies the supreme being and continues to purse knowledge (symbolises fire) until it has its consequences which parallels going against nature the way Frankenstein does.

    Both are given gifts/powers such as Frankenstein is given intelligence and Prometheus is given trust though they both disobey the power given.

Paradise lost- form of a long poem, which tells the story of Adam, Eve and Satan. Satan uses the ability to talk to destroy the Earth.

• God creates the world and Adam and Eve, Frankenstein is the parallel to the character of being 'God'.  He is seen as a more obsessive creator and self centered. The creature ca identify with Satan and Adam to be born perfect creatures but betray by committing sins. 
• The creature being rejected shows the rejection of Adam and Eve.

Mary Shelley- Born in London 1797. Born into a wealthy family her mum being a feminist writer and father a philosopher,her mother died when Shelley was at a young age.

•  she was always trying to come up with ideas for a horror story, had discussions about Darwin's theory of evolution with Lord Byron. She had a nightmare which developed the story of Frankenstein.    
• Wrote the novel at the age of 19, as a woman it was published anonymously. 
• Married Percy Shelley. 
• Died in Bournemouth 1851.

Religious and Philosophical contexts
Christianity- painful or perfect eternal life that awaits after death, meaning heaven or hell.
Frankenstein- After life has been revoked the creation of a new creature.

•  plays God by creating the creature
• monster has a soul whether he goes to heaven or hell though he wasn't born naturally.

Philosophical- 'Origin of species'  Darwin's idea of evolution.
- society became liberal so people stopped going to church.

Scientific- Challenges the view thats God is powerful and challenges human creation.
- Science is being attacked by Mary Shelley because of its arrogance.

Superstition- Dracula, Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde.
-fear of Frankenstein.

Romanticism
- Imagination and emotion over rationality.
- Exciting and mysterious quality.
- Pushing the boundary.
- Marginalised.
- Value nature.

French  Revolution- Due to revolution and deficits. Le roi te touche, dieu te guient- If Kings influences on Britain: Rights of man, social reform, social reform, social class system, Britain constitution.
-Frankenstein unruly passion to chase after something that was out of his control.
-Product of unchecked intellectual ambition which missled him into a hollow existence.
-criticism of slavery and abolition in the 1800's.

Act 5- Reading Journal

Scene 1- Introduced to the the scene of Lady Macbeth being seen by doctors, we see her vulnerable state of the guilt overriding her, where she is constantly motioning her hands 'washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour'. Relating to the film helps build a strong sense of imagery upon Lady Macbeth feeling isolated, guilty almost sick. 'Will these hands ne'erbe clean'. Line 42.
   Lady M. falls into a deep psychological state 'here's the smell of blood still.' Shes mentally and traumatised by the all the killings and bloodshed, though she hasn't committed the acts herself she portrays the guilty mind. As debated in class the psychology of Macbeth and Lady M embodying one character carry different elements Macbeth is the physical part of the crimes, Lady M is the thinking behind all of this.
Structure- The way in which Lady M. speaks appear to be misplaced, jagged she isn't aware of her full surrounding.

Scene 3-
Macbeth's focus on continuing the war as well as trying to handle Lady M, the pressure builds up, Macbeth becomes reckless with his killing doesn't really show much thinking behind who he kills compared to Act one when so much detail was planned and though out logically.

• See the bond between Lady M and Macbeth, once again coming back to the theory of two bodies in one, we see the bond between their communication, see hoe Macbeth relies and needs Lady M as a backbone to his body and conscience. 
• Language- language of sickness, cleansing, repenting.

       ' mind diseased' line 40
        'troubles of the brain' line 42
        'cleanse the stuffed bosom' line 44
        
Scene 4- The prophecy of the witches comes true once again.

Scene 5- See Macbeth's emotional side behind all the drama and killings, a moment of reflection ' I have almost forgot the taste of fears'. See how he becomes careless to all the killings taking place. Linking to sociology theorist 'Katz' mentions how crime is seductive. Killing becomes a thrill to Macbeth the guilt is ignored, the seductiveness becomes a priority to achieve self satisfaction and dominance.

•  Death of Lady M. Lie 25 'Life's but a walking shadow' interpretations:
• the shadow of Lady M, always over powering and having some control over the actions of Macbeth.
• Lady Macbeth being the Backbone to Macbeth, her absence makes Macbeth feel empty, life isn't worth living.
• Life can be interpreted as being a quick moment. 
• a candle being blown out.
• 'Signifying nothing'- nihilism, Macbeth rejects the moral and religious values and principles

Macbeth mentions the equivocator, which goes back to Act 2 Scene 3, the ringing of the bell, knows he's going to hell.
  
'There is not flying hence nor tarrying here, I'gin to be aweary of the sun' Line 49 - Greek mythology.

Scene 6- War begins, Macbeth is then Killed with his head in the hands of Malcolm.
See how Macbeth slowly gives himself up.

Overall notes-
Play contradicts how it starts with Macbeth being a a nobleman end with him being a traitor. A key moral thats highlighted is that the course of fate cannot be changed, which is controlled and highlighted by the Witches. Highlights a self fulfilling prophecy all the killings and acts committed that go against his nature, once he believes and sees the person he has become he accepts the label. Lady M, has a key role in this by labeling him as a coward early in the play, adds pressure to become something he isn't.

Act 4- R eading Journal

Act 4,Scene 1

• We realise for a change how Macbeth visits the witches, its been reveres usually we would see the witches overshadowing him. 
• starting of with the charm sets out tension for the rest of the scene.
• Macbeth is in almost in demand to know whats set out for the future, who the next killing is. We see how the witches have control over Macbeth, they may be the trigger to all the killings through manipulation. 
• A set of aspirations a presented by the witches which reveal Macbeth's false sense of security:
• First aspiration is an armed head which warns Macbeth from Macduff. 
• The second is a bloody child, who tells him that 'none of woman born/ shall harm Macbeth' lines 79-80.
• Third aspiration is a crowned child with a tree in its hand lines 91 onwards- 'Macbeth shall never be vanquished...him'. This can also be seen to drive Macbeth even more he knows that no one can move a forest, he then goes on to ask will Banquo's children be kings, a moment of jealousy... though he could be planning who to cut off the scene next
• Language used by Macbeth seems masculine, strong and takes the role of asserting his dominance. Intent to kill portrays it to the reader as sickening.
• Macduff has fled to England, revenge is done by killing his family. We see Macbeth's thought processes as automatically decisive where as at the beginning of the play Lady M. has to encourage him and be the backbone of the killings. 

Act 4, Scene 2

• Lady Macduff is told her children will be fatherless, she tries to inform her son about this though he has a lot more wisdom for his age than what the audience expect.
• 'The liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang.Line 58- said by Macduff's son, the first child that actually speaks in the play as well as surviving. see child's thought processes of moral understanding- presents child morality and innocence... Later the son is killed. 

Act 4, Scene 3

• Message that Scotland is about to be attacked b ten thousand men.When Macduff meets Malcolm remembering the misplaced trust in Macbeth...comparison is made Malcolm admits his lust, greed ad sin which presents Macbeth as an angel.
• Macduff is unaware of the death of his wife and Children, told they are 'at peace' which triggers to get revenge upon Macbeth urged by Malcolm.

 General Notes: Witches further extend the theme of doubling and equivocation, gives the effect that their speeches have double meanings, paradox and equivocation.

• The aspirations are equivocal messages to Macbeth, and they consciously know that he will only understand half of the words. Doesn't take the aspirations into account as much as he does with the witches prophecies and thinking if they will come true.
• When the murder scene takes place Lady Macduff makes references to the symbol of the bird. 'The poor wren.. the most diminutive of birds, will fight... owl.' Line 10. The metaphor becomes realistic when both are attacked. Also earlier Macbeth being the owl, with Lady Macduff trung to protect her son, becomes the wren. Its a pathos to the audience as wee see Macbeths son acting out the prey to Macbeth's murders.

Act 3 Reading Journal

Act 3,Scene 1- Suspicion of Macbeth killing the King to fulfill the witches prophecy is raised by Banquo.

•  Macbeth sets up to assassinate Banquo and Fleance.  
• Line 48- Macbeth's soliloquy ... 'barren sceptre'- phallic object, unable to have children with Lady Macbeth, which could be seen as a punishment.
• 'Fruitless crown'- having no crown at all, reflecting upon the prophecy of Banqu's children becoming future kings.  
• 'Mark Antony's was by Caesar'- Whilst Macbeth compares him and Banquo to these characters. Octavius Caesar (Banquo) defeated Mark Antony in the civil wars.
• line 66- 'Put rancours in the vessel of my peace'- Rancours- hostility which are poisonous to the soul. Macbeth s actions have poisoned the vessel of peace.

Act 3, Scene 2- 'Naught's had,all's spent, where our desire is got without content.' Her mind is still fixated upon the Killing of Duncan, she confesses that nothing is gained from this, everything is losing their reach.  

•  Line 36- O, full of scorpions is my mind.' See the mental state of Macbeth, the feeling of guilt and confusion takes over as they will have to kill more people to become satisfied and cover up stories.
• Lines 52-55 use of rhyming couplets.

Act 3, Scene 3- Killing of Banquo takes place. Macbeth's state of mind is jagged reflects upon the killing being very unorganised.

Act 3 Scene 4 - Macbeth is the only one to witness Banquo's ghost at the dinner table. Lines 68-70 'Prithee,see there! Behold!Look!Lo!...' His shock and horror is covered up by lady M. saying that Macbeth is going through a lot of stress. 

• See a change in structure and speech patterns each time the ghost appears, Macbeth becomes apprehensive and agitated.
• L.M blames his hallucinations upon the lack of sleep, though its Macbeth producing a guilty conscience as said in previous act 'Macbeth shall sleep no more'.

Act 3, Scene 5-  Hecat- Goddess takes over with the prophecies of Macbeth, they aim to fill him with a false sense of security  line 29 -'draw him on to his confusion'.

• Rhyme scheme becomes consistent again, making a charm for Macbeth.
• Hecat also symbolises the corruption of Scotland's political and moral health.     

Act 3, Scene 6- Both Lennox and another Lord suspect that Macbeth is responsible for the murder of Duncan and Banquo. See Macbeth as a 'tyrant'.

Act 2 Reading Journal

• Act 2, Scene 1-  Macbeth's soliloquy of imaginary daggers builds curiosity upon the audience, this can be seen a a cue/ prod for Macbeth committing the act of killing Duncan.
• Get to see the mental state of Macbeth as he is alone on stage, this tends to be when characters are open to express feelings. ' Heat oppressed brain' interpreted as an act happening 'in the heat of the moment' . Though During Renaissance periods, heat was considered as a fluid that would literally press against the brain causing a fever or delirium. 
• Language- 'Gouts of blood' used in a rich context puts a lot of emphasis when pronouncing as well. Comes from Latin term 'gutta' meaning large droplets or splashes that are gushing or bursting.
• 'wicked dreams abuse' - mind tourmenting, psychological. 
• Structure- Macbeth's soliloquy, has no rhyming structure at all, apart from the last two lines (rhyming couplets). Adds to the effect of not knowing his state of mind. The illusion of daggers is in the unconscious creates a tone of confusion.
• Act 2, Scene 2- Evidence of Lady Macbeth producing a guilty conscience the fast pace of recalling after lines, shows character intensity and anxiety. 
• Lines 43-4 'Murdered sleep'....'Macbeth shall sleep no more' - Macbeth begins to accept what has been done, the idea of him not sleeping is him repenting for his sins. Also, the prophecies will keep delivering, Killing more people to keep secrets safe.
• Act 2, Scene 3- Porter Scene, offers a comical aspect to the play. Breaks down the structure creates a comical situation out of something serious.
• Lady Macbeth diverts the attention from the Killing being exposed by Macbeth. Line 103 onwards... Lady: (swooning).
• Act 2, Scene 4- Discovery of King Duncan's Death.

Biblical References:

• Act2, Scene 1, Lines 72-4 'The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan for it is a knell. That summons thee to heaven or hell.Macbeth is about to send King Duncan to his judgment before God.' In Mathews25.31 were told: ' when the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angles with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations... to be judged.
• Act 2, Scene 1, Line 56  onwards, shows how Macbeth is unaware of his crimes though the heavens and the earths are aware. References to the Habakkuk 2.10,11 'Thou hast consulted shame to thine own house, by destroying many people, and hast sinned against thine own soule. For the stones shall cry out of the wall and the beam out of his timbre shall answer it'. The Noise reveals Macbeth's intentions.

Animal References:

• Act 2, Scene 2, Line 3 'It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman.' The hoot of an owl flying over someones house was an evil omen and meant impending death for someone inside. The referral to the bellman,shows that it was the bellman's job to ring the Parrish bell when a person was facing death.  
• Act 2, Scene 4, Line 14 'Duncan's horses'- betrayal with the former kings men. Horses are a symbol of loyalty and nobility .
• 'A falcon towering in her pride' representation of Lady M. Shows the power and control she has over Macbeth, but the nobility of such a creature is something she strives for.  

Shakespeare's use of animal imagery tells the play from another view point, used as a motif throughout the play to capture whats happening. Also convey what may happen in future events.