Friday, February 4, 2011

How can we write a paragraph about the theme in Macbeth (Act ll, scene 2)?

That depends on which theme you choose. Themes are the central topics the texts deal with (not limited, as many believe, to just one). In Macbeth, we can examine the theme of how absolute power leads to absolute corruption; how the drive for power can change a man from loyal and honorable to a snake in the grass; or even what it means to be a man. There may be more (I'm thinking of the effect of evil on mental health, here). So first, choose the theme you want to discuss. 


Next, go through the scene in question and find examples that comment on that theme. For example, if we go with the effect of evil/greed on mental health, we might pull out the fact that even the "tough" Lady Macbeth, who goes into Duncan's chamber first to prep the scene for her murdering husband, comes out and admits, "Had he not resembled / My father as he slept, I had done't."


From this example, you think about what it tells us about the theme. Lady Macbeth, who has said that she would dash her own babies' brains out before she'd renege on the promise her husband has made to kill Duncan before she'd back out (and she continues, even in this scene, to marvel at how much evil she can do and how little she feels about it, suggesting she's a bit of a sociopath), cannot cut Duncan's throat because he looks too much like her own dad. Even her evil plans have limits, it seems, but this doesn't stop her from pushing her thane husband to commit the deed.


Then Macbeth commits the deed and tells his wife. They're both immediately on edge, a bit freaked out: "Didst thou not hear a noise?" Lady Macbeth responds, "I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did you not speak?" We can easily see that they're already cracking a bit. 


Go on through the scene, selecting examples of the theme you choose, then explain what those examples expand on the theme. 

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