Author Archives: Elizabeth Steele

Posts: 4 (archived below)
Comments: 0

Macbeth vs.Leontes

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Elizabeth Steele

It’s no secret that I dislike Macbeth. However, after reading the first few acts of The  Winter’s Tale I’ve learned to have a little more patience for him. See, Leontes is at a huge advantage. Macbeth’s insanity and irrational judgement was influenced by his wife and excused by his court. He was being enabled. With Leontes the opposite is true. His most trusted subject alerts the other king of his plot and aids him in escaping. As we discussed in class, Leontes’ court isn’t afraid to stand up to him, something that may have changed Macbeth’s dive into complete insanity. While I’m not sure how Leontes’ story will end, already steps are being taken to protect him from himself. Hopefully he’ll fare better than Macbeth.

Posted in Macbeth, The Winter's Tale | 2 Comments

Macbeth vs. Macduff

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Elizabeth Steele

I know I’ve made quite a few arguments against Macbeth in class and I hope to use another character to further drive home my point as to why I see Macbeth as such a villain.

We know that he has some issues regarding his sanity, but we see this even from the beginning. In 1.3 towards the end of the Act we begin to see Macbeth has a tendency to drift off into his own head. Banquo comments, “Look, how our partner’s rapt” (1.3.142). And Macbeth continues on throughout the play to slip in and out of fits of insanity. I would argue that this is simply Macbeth’s true character, and not a misfortune of war.

I solidify this opinion by bringing in the contrasting character of Macduff. His family is brutally murdered by Macbeth’s command and when he finds out he has to take a few moments. He is affected, even in unfamiliar company. The previous son’s king commands him, “Dispute it like a man.” (4.3.219) To which Macduff says, “I shall do so; But I must also feel it as a man” (4.3.220-221).

Granted, Macbeth has begun to delve further into his delusions (ones I believe he has always had, just presented in different ways), but that is no excuse for how he responds to his wife’s death. He says, “She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word” (5.517-18). The fact that he shows no emotion is one thing, but saying his wife should have died anyway shows, to me, that Macbeth’s true villainous character has come out. I don’t believe any character is fully evil, they all have some sort of heart at one point in their lives. I believe that after the murder of the King, Macbeth came in to the fullness of his instability. I believe the contrast of Macduff and Macbeth proves that Macbeth became a true villain by the end of the play.

Posted in Macbeth | 1 Comment

A Little Help

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Elizabeth Steele

I know there are some Hollywood changes to our lovely story, but this movie helps me keep most of the characters straight. (BRAD PITT!)

http://youtu.be/IKQhUzxlml8

 

Posted in Troilus and Cressida | 1 Comment

You Can Get Away With Murder

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Elizabeth Steele

I do realize that women aren’t treated respectfully in
Shakespeare’s plays, but they also aren’t exactly model citizens. We’ve seen
that the women act out in anger (hey there, Beatrice) and strike their sisters
(oh, Kate), and also have interesting ways of interacting with many of the men
in the plays. I think what allows these characters, specifically Cressida and
Helen, to get away with their very informal, and suggestive, behavior is that
they are known to be beautiful.

In an exchange with Pandarus, Cressida replies to his remark
about what position she defends herself by saying, “Upon my back, to defend my
belly” (1.2.273). One can imagine that she is alluding to a sexual position. It
would seem that because she is pretty and charming and very witty, that she is
able to get away with such candid talk, even if it is to a relative. I suppose them
being related does give a bit of an allowance of how she conducts her behavior.
If that is the case, what is her excuse with Troilus. When confessing her love
(somewhat contrived) she says, “And yet, good faith, I wished myself a man, Or
that we women had men’s privilege Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my
tongue” (3.2.129-131). Again Cressida speaks her mind without any
consequences. In fact, because she spoke her mind freely she was able to get
what she wanted: Troilus.

In Act 3 Scene 1, Helen keeps up with Pandarus’ underlying vulgar
insinuations and flirts openly. Pandarus says, “What says my sweet queen? My
cousin will fall out with you” (3.1.81-81). Yet she is never chided by Paris
for her behavior. We don’t just see vulgar conversation from Helen; we also see
that she does not take direction well. When Pandarus asks her to leave he and
Paris alone she says, “Nay, this shall not hedge us out. We’ll hear you sing,
certainly” (3.1.62-63). Not once do we see her take direction from anyone in
this play.

My argument is that these women get away with it because of
their looks. In the same way that the deformed citizens like Thersites can say
what they want so are these women allowed to speak their mind. Sexism may be
alive and well in Shakespeare’s plays, but at least our beautiful female
characters get to have a little fun.

Posted in Gender matters, Troilus and Cressida | 1 Comment