Macbeth Soliloquy explanation

Jason Chen

2012/12/31

Brit Lit

Macbeth Soliloquy explanation

        The soliloquy of the dagger appeared in Act 2 scene 2. It is recited by Macbeth in front of King Duncan’s room. It is quite significant since this is the first guilt inspired hallucination that Macbeth will be encountered. His vision of seeing the blade in the air, the blood all signifies what will happen and what it meant. His mind is starting to wander and this scene marks a specific transition of the mind of Macbeth. There are all sorts of metaphor and comparisons in the play that eludes to the scenes and event in the play such as the ringing of the bell. Also, through this scene we see the tragic flaw in him flowing out even more. He is conflicted on the thoughts of murdering the king. His conscience is having a battle with his ambitions as he mentions if this is “ a false creation from the heat oppressed brain”. Then he shows more determination in the end of the soliloquy but in the same time fearful of the fact that what would happen if he is caught. This is a very important scene as we see how Macbeth’s mind is being torn apart and self conflicting, which leads on to the later events in the play. 

Macbeth Soliloquy explanation

Jason Chen

2012/12/31

Brit Lit

Macbeth Soliloquy explanation

        The soliloquy of the dagger appeared in Act 2 scene 2. It is recited by Macbeth in front of King Duncan’s room. It is quite significant since this is the first guilt inspired hallucination that Macbeth will be encountered. His vision of seeing the blade in the air, the blood all signifies what will happen and what it meant. His mind is starting to wander and this scene marks a specific transition of the mind of Macbeth. There are all sorts of metaphor and comparisons in the play that eludes to the scenes and event in the play such as the ringing of the bell. Also, through this scene we see the tragic flaw in him flowing out even more. He is conflicted on the thoughts of murdering the king. His conscience is having a battle with his ambitions as he mentions if this is “ a false creation from the heat oppressed brain”. Then he shows more determination in the end of the soliloquy but in the same time fearful of the fact that what would happen if he is caught. This is a very important scene as we see how Macbeth’s mind is being torn apart and self conflicting, which leads on to the later events in the play. 

Should we Seize the Day

Yes, some may say we should seize the day when we are young, but why? Death is a reckoning that waits for no one, when your day comes, its going to be right in front of you. You never know when death will be knocking at your doorstep, therefore live your life to the fullest. Then comes the idea of living life. Everyday is a present, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift. It's something free, why not use it the best way you can? Fill your time with meaningful things such as an activity. If you want to rest, so be it, fill it with a meaningful nap or a self reflection session that slowly leads you to your sleep. Why daydream and stares into space when there's so many things outside for you to experience? Seize the day, grasp every opportunity because each time you encounter something new, you have just learned something. A man should learn and acquire wisdom until he dies.

What is The Role of Death In Life

Death, serves as a reckoning, a countdown for me. How much time i still have until i achieve all the things i want to in life. It's not scary for me to die, death is merely a experience for me. It's something i even kind of get wierdly excited while anxious just by thinking about dying. Does it hurt? alot? or is it a sweet pain that just numbs you and you don't feel anything. It also serves as a answer for all the things that we wonder in life. The big question in the world since the beginning of mankind is the question of what happens after we die? Religion splits on these views, people write countless things and legends all base on this idea. I want to know if all these things that we imagine and predict are true. Do we really go to heaven? Is there really a final judgment and which God is real? Is Jesus real or is Osiris real. You see, all these ideas of which one is the real God are all societal pressure. Who would have though that we have a man name jesus during the Greek Classical Era, they would have called it Blasphemy. Now, if we say we worship the old gods, people laugh or say they are just myths. You know, jesus might be a myth too.

What quality you think is important in a leader?

It's not intelligence, it is i would say wisdom. Wisdom is something different from intelligence. It doesn't technically have to deal with being smart, it as to do with a over all source of quality of the mind. If i really have to name a leader that i find amazing and astonishing to my personal view, i would say Augustine or Muhammad. Recently i have been studying world history quite alot through the class and i feel that i have learned alot of things from the class. Augustine solved so many problems the past roman empire had with a overall quality of wisdom, which he was able to solve his senate problem by doing things in the back and correct problems where on the outside people think nothing have changed. He was able to control the whole court of senate and at the same time develop a huge empire that stretched all across Europe. Then we have Muhammad. Firm in belief and strong in wisdom who lead his followers of Allah into the golden age of Islam. He lost both of his parents, live in not necessary a state of isolation but he didn't had an easy life himself. He fought wars against Mecca, at the time the biggest nomadic tribes and through the long war, rallied himself more and more men to his cause. Then single handily surged a boom of expansion that devoured the Persian empire, the roman empire and the byzantine empire. All by this one man's belief that lead to wisdom, courage, and all kinds of things that is needed in a leader. It is people like these that could really make a difference. Any modern people i admire? not really, i don't see anyone with this same level of wisdom and ambition who can take a great leap. The world is in a state of lockdown. Not a whole lot could be changed because there are all kids of peace treaty that limits people. At the same time there isn't alot places that could lead to expansion. If Obama is to take out the filibuster, he might actually make some serious change in U.S and i would probably think him as a man of strong courage, but besides that now, most people are average.

Can you ever be too ambitious

No, you can always be ambitious and more and more. However, the key factor is how you accomplish your ambitions. One can be over ambitious in another's eyes but do all the things in his plans. I don't know how to say this in a structured sense on why it isn't bad to be over ambitious. Basically, a man can be over ambitious in his thoughts and stuff without causing him any trouble. It is the actions that you do that can make you crash and burn on your actions and plans. If you have carefully planned out this overly ambitious plan of yours, then you don't have a problem in your life or your goals. However if you didn't carefully plan out what these ambitious goals you have, then you will have a problem. It all lies with the person, can you self reflect on what you are about to do? Can you self predict or are you willing to think ahead of other people? It's a matter of personal wisdom if you can accomplish these overly ambitious goals of yours.

13th warrior

Despite some differences that we saw during class, there was actually more difference in the start. The original Beowulf consists of fourteen warriors instead of 13. There was no Arab is the original story.
The Arab was sent as a ambassador for looking at a woman, which the original version don't have. Then there was that little battle of Beowulf and the son of hrothgar. After that comes the feast where the warriors purposely refrain from alcohol. The feast hall was supposdely deserted for the sake of grendel, but in the movie people are still present in the feast hall because the wendal prey on the whole village actually.
During the battle, there was more then one Grendel which they called them wendal. The wendals are human and took their dead comrades away for unidentifiable reasons. The arab fleed from battle but managed to kill 1 wendal.
THen comes the part where they decide to find the mother and dwelling place of the wendal. A oracle told them where to find the cave of the wendal and there mom, however the oracle warned them about the mother. They found the Wendol's mother and killed her. They then had to escape before the Wendol came back for their head through swimming in an under channel.
Beowulf died by a fire breathing dragon, but not in the movie. The movie beowulf died through a mortal wound when escaping and after he killed the Wendol leader through a blood thirsty fight. They made it dramatic and in the end he died sitting among the pickets like he was enthroned.