Power in Shakespeare's "Macbeth"

Thanks to Courtney, here are the notes that we took in class on Thursday last week regarding power:

Power in Macbeth

What does Shakespeare tell us about power?

-          There is an embedded value within the play that suggests men are more powerful than women

-          Power is only viewed as a good/positive thing if in the hands of the rightful person (link to natural order)

-          Men’s power is represented within the play through acts of aggression/violence à i.e. Macbeth’s acts of power on the battlefield. Also his acts of violence as king – this underpinned by the idea that Macbeth’s power is unnatural and therefore a negative form of power

-          In contrast, Duncan’s power is viewed as natural and while he condemns the original Thane of Cawdor to death, his power is not viewed as violent/aggressive

-          Macbeth influenced by supernatural power. This is viewed as a negative

-          We are often positioned to see power as something that can poison the mind of the person who hold in – again, this links to the natural order

-          Lady Macbeth’s desire for power (along with the witches) challenge the embedded values of the play regarding who should hold power

-          The power that these women hold is based on their abilities to manipulate ad deceive others. This can be challenging Macbeth’s masculinity (L.M.) or stretching the truth (Witches)

-          For order to be restored, power must be in the hands of the rightful person

How does he achieve this representation?

-          Characterization

·         Witches, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth à negative power/abuse of power

·         Duncan, Malcolm, Macduff à rightful power, positive

-          Imagery

·         The various images help emphasise certain values, etc, and characters traits that link directly to the representation of power

-          The constant imagery that relates to the natural world helps reinforce the negative style of power held by Macbeth

-          Soliloquy/monologues

·         Give clear insight into the style of power/desire from various characters

-          Foreshadowing

·         Can help rein force what audience is beginning to learn about characters and themes

-          Binary opposition

·         Constant play on light and dark

-          Motifs

·         “fair is foul and foul is fair” etc