Friday, December 27, 2019
Abolition Essay - 870 Words
Abolition A Stronger Resistance The abolitionist movement in the United States sought to eradicate slavery using a wide range of tactics and organizations. The antislavery movement mobilized many African Americans and some whites who sought to end the institution of slavery. Although both black and white abolitionists often worked together, the relationship between them was intricate. The struggle for black abolitionists was much more personal because they wanted to end slavery and also wanted to gain equal rights for blacks. However, many white abolitionists only sought to end slavery and did not fight for equality for blacks. From these exceedingly contrasting perspectives and the continuation of slavery, the sentiment of manyâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦More militant tactics, such as uprising and revolts, were gaining support in the nineteenth century. Nat Turner was a black abolitionist that supported the use of aggressive and forceful tactics. In 1831, in Virginia, he led an insurrectio n and more than 55 white people were killed. It was very bloody and violent and angered many whites from its brutality (Nash, 275). Yet, many blacks felt that the only thing that would get a response was an uprising and taking drastic measures. In Christiana, Pennsylvania, the Fugitive Slave Laws were passed. These laws stated that whites could recapture their runaway slaves. Blacks were outraged by the passing of these laws and rioted in response to this (Roots of Resistance). This demonstrated how blacks would react in manners that were more forceful and these tactics were used by a number of other abolitionists, however, many still used different approaches to battling slavery. Many abolitionists used writing to end slavery. In 1827, the first black newspaper, Freedomââ¬â¢s Journal, was created by Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm (Notes, 11/29/00). This paper spread ideas of freedom and equality and gave hope to the black readers. David Walker, the son of a free black mother a nd a slave father, pushed the abolitionist movement into militancy in 1829 when he published David Walkerââ¬â¢s Appeal. His work inspired blacks to organize and urged slaves to rise up against their masters and take their freedom by force (Notes, 11/27/00).Show MoreRelatedThe Abolition Movement1079 Words à |à 4 Pages Abolition Movement From the 1830s until 1870, the abolitionist movement attempted to achieve immediate emancipation of all slaves and the ending of racial segregation and discrimination. Their idea of these goals distinguished abolitionists from the broad-based political opposition to slaveryââ¬â¢s westward expansion that started in the North after 1840 and raised issues leading to the Civil War. Yet, these two expressions of hostility to slavery were often closely related not only in their beliefsRead MoreThe Penal Abolition2528 Words à |à 11 Pages Penal Abolition in Canada Jamie Tates 3056018 January 6, 2015 2 ââ¬Å"Lock them up and throw away the keyâ⬠ââ¬â that is usually the headline when in regards to offenders going to prison. However, billions of dollars are going into maintaining prisons, yet the rate of recidivism is around 44% (Pearsons, 2011), so it is clear that prisons are no longer effective. The main argument of this paper is that because prisons are inefficient, they should be abolished so other forms of punishment canRead MoreAbolition of Slaver in the Cape1084 Words à |à 5 PagesThe abolition of slave trade was passed by the British Parliament on 24 August 1833. This affected South Africa , which was a British colony at the time, as many colonists at the Cape had lots of capital invested in their slaves. Colonists were particularly annoyed because payment of the slaves was to be collected personally in England, and in many cases the cost of the trip would be more than the money received. (www.sahistory.org.za) In order to answer this key question, information relating theRead MoreThe Abolition of Slavery in Brazil1102 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Abolition of Slavery in Brazil, 13 May 1888 Next year sees the 120th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Brazil. Some contemporary writers saw the period as an horrific maltreatment of our fellow human beings while others saw through this and viewed the patriarchal and familial advantages that society, especially slaves received. Whichever way one sees it, the period before its abolition saw a huge boost in Brazilââ¬â¢s economy, mainly down to its vast manpower ââ¬â 37% of all African slavesRead MoreThe Abolition Of The Civil War1679 Words à |à 7 Pages As the struggle for abolition and antislavery had commenced, the aspiration for the abolishment of slavery had gained success, flourishing during the era of the Civil War. Following the abolition and antislavery movement, the Womenââ¬â¢s Rights Movement had also become a dominant aspect of the Civil War. During the nineteenth century, aspiring women had become ambitious to sustain rights and liberties for themselves. Womenââ¬â¢s efforts which had been contributed to the abolition movement had become aRead MoreAbolition of Slave Trade901 Words à |à 4 PagesThe main reasons for the abolition of the slave trade The trading and exportation of slaves has been a large part if Britainââ¬â¢s history since the early 15th century and the British Empire had been partly founded on the basis of exchanging slaves for goods and foreign products. 400 years after the slave trade began and people were finally realising how morally wrong the exchanging of humans actually was and on March 3, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed into act a bill approved by CongressRead MoreThe Abolition Movement Of The 1800s1547 Words à |à 7 Pages The Abolition Movement in the 1800s was a controversial time for America. There were many who fought for the right to keep slaves, but there were also many who fought for the freedom of slaves. People like Fredrick Douglass Anthony Burns, and works such as Uncle Tomââ¬â¢s Cabin gave a sense of liberty to the people who did not understand how little they had, and how restricted they were. Many factors had key roles within this movement, each becoming important, and crucial to the abolishment of slaveryRead MoreAbolition Movement Essay1173 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Abolition Movement in the United States Three very impactful leaders enter the minds of every American when discussing the abolition of slavery. Henry Highland Garnet, Wendell Phillips and the man who funded it all, Gerrit Smith. These men were undoubtably the most hardworking and well known voices of the abolition. The abolition movement began in the early 1830s and finally ended in the 1870s. The objective of the movement was to instantly put an end to slavery, discrimination and segregationRead MoreThe Abolition Of The Slave System1915 Words à |à 8 PagesSecondly, not only was the argument that slavery disappeared when abolition clearly became the economically rational option but another partial cause to the conclusion of slavery can be grasped in the changing social system of nations during this era. Morales of those both directly and not directly involved with the slave trade were transforming. The harshness of the slave system was being proven by the many slave suicides, runaways, first hand stories, and rebellio ns. Rousseau spread the idea inRead MoreThe Abolition Of The Death Penalty1552 Words à |à 7 PagesOn 30th July 2015, Yakub Memon was hanged to death in India. The act was highly condemned in the media and many called for abolition of the death penalty. He was convicted of terrorism related charges for partaking in the 1993 Bombay bombings; a series of 13 bomb explosions that caused 257 fatalities and 717 wounded. The death penalty is used as a form of punishment in the eastern hemisphere for many crimes, such as espionage, terrorism, and first-degree murder. China holds the record for the largest
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Effects of Economic Globalization and Integration
Economic globalization and economic integration have long been thought to reduce the probability of conflict and war based on neoliberal institutionalist theory, complex interdependence theory, and World Systems theory. At first thought, it is plausible why one might agree with the claim. Yet the claim itself cannot procure such black-and-white answers when it combines conflict and war; two separate terms. Political scientists have long been in conversation with one another on the topic, from the writings of Peter Evans in 1989 to Nancy Bermeo in 2009. For this essay, conflict will be examined as a socio-economic conflict internal and external to a nation, and war will be examined as a military-backed conflict at an international level. When viewed this way, it will be made clear why the response lies in ââ¬Å"50 shades of grey and moreâ⬠. The socio-economic inequality that arises from nations desiring to become economically globalized and economic integrated is huge source of conflict both internally and externally. To put substance to this claim, one must examine the historical context of major world economies between 1918 and 1971. During the interwar years (1918-1945) in which global economies experienced ââ¬Å"The Great Depression,â⬠policies of protectionism created isolation, and the competitive devaluation of currency in the global markets continued to drive market prices down. Although competitive devaluation increased net exports, producers felt the effects of stagflationShow MoreRelatedHow Globalization Affects Developing Countries?1504 Words à |à 7 PagesHow Globalization Affects Developed Countries The phenomenon of globalization began in a primitive form when humans first settled into different areas of the world; however, it has shown a rather steady and rapid progress in the recent times and has become an international dynamic which, due to technological advancements, has increased in speed and scale, so that countries in all five continents have been affected and engaged. What Is Globalization? Globalization is defined as a process which, basedRead MoreEssay on Globalization1614 Words à |à 6 Pagesmanifestations, a process of interaction and integration within the world, and is a highly discussed and contested topic in todayââ¬â¢s context. Globalization includes aspects like: economics, politics, ideas, knowledge, culture, society, environment, health, social etcetera. Though globalization can be traced back into time immemorial, but the extent and magnitude of present globalization is unprecedented. The integration and interdependence of globalization implies that today local event can have globalRead MoreEssay about Marxs Theory of Alienation1087 Words à |à 5 Pageshas led to the issues at hand. Although not a new phenomenon, globalization is on the rise, and with that, the concentration of authority among few multinationals. By the early 1990ââ¬â¢s, the world market share of the top five companies in each industry amounted to almost seventy percent for cons umer durables and fifty percent for automotive, airline, aerospace, electrical, electronic and steel industries. During this time world economic output traded between countries rose from around nine percentRead MoreThe International Bodies Of The United Nations1434 Words à |à 6 Pages(UN) ââ¬â United Nations which was established soon after the Second World War in the year 1945 vested with the primary mandate of peace keeping. The structure of the United Nations consists of five organs like the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, The Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice. General Assembly of the United Nations which is composed of the members is the key policy maker and representative organ of the United Nations. The General Assembly ââ¬â TheRead MoreThe Impact Of Globalization On Canada And Canada931 Words à |à 4 Pages Globalization can be defined as the movement towards economic, financial, trade and communications integration, allowing for a state of global interconnectedness. Globalization affects all countries in different ways. Globalization has had a positive impact on Canada. The Canadian economy has grown, international conflicts are becoming less prevalent, Canadian tourism has increased, Canadians have seen an unprecedented rate of cultural integration, even the life expectancy of Canadian citizens isRead MoreEssay on Globalization: Sharing Our Prosperity With the World1388 Words à |à 6 Pages Globalization is the growing interdependence of the worlds people that involves the integration of economies, technologies, and cultures (Bradshaw). It is described as the increased movement of people, knowledge and ideas, and goods and money across national borders that have led to the increased interconnectedness among the world. Globalization is often thought of in economic terms but as we know there are three major components implicated with this idea including: economics, politics, andRead MoreGlobal Market Liberalisation : Globalization1117 Words à |à 5 Pages The word globalization can be defined in many ways. It involves a change in economic status, political status, economy, and international intervening, including trade. Global trade has been on the increase and has expanded over time. Trade helps in decreasing poverty levels and providing others with what they need. The growth of world trade has averaged 6 percent per year, over the past 20 years. That is twice as fast as the output in the world. The definition of globalization includes the processRead MoreInternational Institutions And The United Nations1508 Words à |à 7 Pages(UN): United Nations which was established soon after the Second World War in the year 1945 vested with the primary mandate of peace keeping. The structure of the United Nations consists of five organs like the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, The Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice. General Assembly of the United Nations which is composed of the members is the key policy maker and representative organ of the United Nations. â⬠¢ The General Assembly:Read MoreGlobalization Evolution703 Words à |à 3 Pagesï » ¿GLOBALIZATION EVOLUTION OF GLOBALIZATION The term globalization denotes ââ¬Å"globeâ⬠as a single market. Product presence in different Markets of the world. Production base across the globe. Human resources from all over the world. International investment Transaction involving IPRs. The advent in ICI(information, communication and technology) Rapid economic liberalization of trade and investment The mobility of people and transactional moves The reach of satellite channels, internet etc. Read More The Disadvantages of Globalization1567 Words à |à 7 Pages Globalization is a term that is difficult to define, as it covers many broad topics in the global arena. However, it can typically be attributed to the advancement of economic, social, and cultural interactions among the companies, citizens, organizations, and governments of nations; globalization also focuses on the interactions and integration of countries (The Levin Institute 2012). Many in the Western world promote globalization as a positive concept that allows growth and participation in a
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Shakespeares Use of the Supernatural in Macbeth Essay Example For Students
Shakespeares Use of the Supernatural in Macbeth Essay Shakespeares use of the Supernatural in Macbeth The supernatural is widely used in Macbeth, and covers major sections of it. It is used to generate interest, and to provoke thought and controversy. At the time the play was written, James the 1st was the English monarch. James the 1st was originally James the 4th on the Scottish throne, until there was a union of crowns between England and Scotland in the late 16th century. Shakespeare wrote the play for him, so the play Macbeth is popularly known as the Scottish play. Also during this time there were many more occurrences when witches and heretics were burnt at the stake than at any period in history, because people believed they manufactured plagues, pestilence and famine through their black magic. When Shakespeare was writing the play, he wanted to impress the king and interest his audience on his stage, the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare did this by including the supernatural in his play. Both king and populous have always been intrigued by the horror of witches and the supernatural, but not as much as in the period of the 16th and 17th centuries. This was probably because of people wanting to be religiously purer and remove disease from society. In the 16th century many events occurred that were bizarre and impossible to explain so were blamed on the supernatural. Before James gained the crown of England as well as Scotland, witchcraft was already on the peoples minds. In 1563, parliament made law that making murder by witchcraft was punishable by death. Forty years later, any use of witchcraft was punishable by death. These laws were made by a protestant parliament, to protect the monarch from Roman Catholics, as witchcraft and rebellion went hand in hand. To prove to the public that witchcraft existed and was destructive to the cause of humanity came about through the death of the Earl of Derby in 1594. He was thought to be the victim of witchcraft. This also told the public that witchcraft and other such evils could affect any individual, or any class. This alarmed the king, and paranoia crept in. He had already burnt 8000 people at the stake in Scotland, so it was obvious he would burn others. Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, was accused of conjuring spells against James. The most prime and famous example of witchcraft in England, however, occurred in 1590. This was when James and Anne were sailing from Denmark to Scotland. The Witches of Berwick were supposed to have tried to destroy Anne and James at sea by conjuring up storms and strong winds. As it has already been said, the Shakespearean audience believed a wide range of old wives tales. This made James write his book on the supernatural, Demonology, in 1597. Shakespeare may have consulted this on writing Macbeth. He also thought of audience reaction when writing Macbeth. The Shakespearean audience would of reacted in terror to the fact that there were three witches in front of them. In Shakespearean times, people believed in all manner of things, and thought that any witch is evil and would cast horrid and malicious magic on them. Nowadays the audience reaction would be almost a complete contrast. In the scale of things, the audience nowadays would not find it particularly scary, with perhaps the exception of infants and younger children yet still quite thrilling and weird. The audience nowadays does not have to be terrified of witches and black magic, as this is not a prime concern to them, unlike terrorism or nuclear war for example. However, despite these differences in society and contrasts of opinion, the supernatural still has the same effect on the audience. The supernatural generates interest, and entices people to watch the production. The weird appearance of the witches, who are mainly women with facial hair, would scare an audience in the 17th century yet genuinely poke some kind of confusion and thought into a 21st century mind. Obviously, one does not regularly see any women who are sporting beards, let alone three simultaneously. Shakespeare opens the play powerfully by introducing the three witches. This is powerful because of their strong yet evil magical powers that they have. The audience will start thinking whether or not the witches will use these powers, so dramatic tension is created. This scene is not only powerful, but also surreal, because of the witches unusual appearance, having beards and wearing tattered clothes, which make them look unusual and alien to earth. Banquo expresses this in a later scene: What are these, So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like th inhabitants o th earth, And yet are ont? The witches also confuse and interest the audience by their rhythmical and alliterative chants in the first scene. The chants are confusing and contradict each other. The three witches chant: Fair is foul and foul is fair. Foul and fair are both contrasting phrases, fair being good and foul being evil. What they are generally telling the audience is that good is evil and evil is good. This would shock some and confuse others. Either way, all the audience will think about what the witches have just said and listen to what they say next, trying to search for a solution to their problem. The language in this phrase makes it lively and gritty. The alliteration is there, and the inconsistency of their phrases which make them a paradox. The audience has already been told of chaos and bloody battles, in when the second witch proclaims: When the hurlyburlys done, When the battles lost and won. This battle could be of two fronts- Macbeths soul or his victory at Fife against the Thane of Cawdor and Sweno, the king of Norway. This could be giving an early indication to the audience that the weird sisters are possessing Macbeth, whoever he is. The witches have already chanted: When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning, or in rain? This tells the audience that the witches have an evil influence, as they only meet in bad weather. This could also tell people that the weird sisters might conjure up these floods and storms. At the end of the scene when the witches leave, they all say: Hover through the fog and filthy air. This is showing that they hover through the air as a mode of transport, which is magical, and suggests a dwelling evil presence. The air they travel through is filthy, as fog was considered bad air. The soul was thought to have been sucked out by the fog. Act 1 scene one has many purposes to the play of Macbeth. It could merely announce the time of the next meeting of the weird sisters: When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain? Or it could set a sinister scene for the rest of the play, creating suspense, and worry over the unknown person called Macbeth, as the witches engage in activities with destructive purpose. The next scene in which the supernatural is present, Macbeth finally appears. Macbeth has been talked about, by not only the weird sisters in act one scene one, but also Duncan and his advisors in act one scene two. The audience may be concerned about Macbeths well being, as he is linked to the three witches. The audience might also think about whether Macbeths appearance is demoniac, as if the witches have possessed him. The witches open the scene by asking each other what evil deeds they have been doing since their last meeting in act one scene one. The 2nd witch says: Killing swine. The witch is probably suggesting that she was killing a farmers stock of pigs, probably to ruin his livelihood and force him into suffering. After being prompted by the 3rd witch, the 1st witch says: A sailors wife had chestnuts in her lap, And munched, and munched, and munched-Give me, quoth I. Aroint thee witch, the rump-fed ronyon cries. Her husbands to Aleppo gone, master o th Tiger; But in a sieve Ill thither sail, And like a rat without a tail, Ill do, Ill do and Ill do. The first witch is expressing that she has a short temper, and expects to have it her own way, by getting things on demand. In this case, she wanted to have some if not all the chestnuts in this womans lap. The woman told her to get out, and as the witch describes the woman, she is an overweight scabby wretch who is rather spoilt. The womans husband is a sailor, and the witch says she will kill the captain of the ship. This was quite true, as the captain of her husbands ship, the Tiger, sunk near Milford Haven in 1606 after its Captain died mysteriously, probably of supernatural causes. This was the talk of London for some time, so the first witch must be telling the audience that she has a vengeful and malicious nature. To prove that the witch did do the deed, she says: Here I have a pilots thumb, Wrecked as homeward did he come. This is also proof that the witches are malicious, scheming old hags that only want to harm and hinder, not to help people as they might say they would. When the witches see Macbeth, they get excited and start chanting: A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come. And then: The Weird Sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and the land, Thus do go about, about, Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, And thrice again to make up nine. Peace, the charms wound up. This will definitely scare the audience, as the witches have wanted to meet Macbeth for probably malicious reasons since act one scene one. This dramatic tension has exploded into raw fear for him as the witches cast a spell when the unknown man named Macbeth arrives with his friend, Banquo. Macbeth says: So foul and fair a day I have not seen This could mean one of two things. Macbeth might have been possessed by the witches, as he has echoed what they said in act one scene one, lines 11-12. Alternatively, it could mean that Macbeth is describing the battle against the Norwegians at Fife. I would consider it most likely that Macbeth has been possessed, as the witches cast a spell on Macbeth before he arrived on the scene. When Macbeth and Banquo notice the witches, they are bemused, but not worried by them. Banquo clearly expresses this: What are these, So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o th earth, And yet are ont? Both Macbeth and Banquo are obviously confused by the witches. They do not even know whether they are living creatures or not: Live you, or are you aught That man may question? Which Banquo then asks. They obviously do not know what kind of creatures the witches are, let alone whether they are alive. The pair also do not know whether the witches can speak or not, as Macbeth asks: Speak if you can. What are you? Then the witches speak three of the most famous lines in Macbeth, which predict the rest of the play: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter! What the witches have said here is very extraordinary. The first line, which expresses Macbeths current title, is extraordinary as one would not normally know a mans full name, probably not that if he is a Thane or not unless he was dressed formally of course. The first line is correct, so Macbeth probably thinks that whatever they say next is completely believable. The witches then chant the second line, which tells him that he is Thane of Cawdor. This is not a surprise to the audience, as they had already learnt that in act one scene one. Then comes the shock. Macbeth is then told that after becoming Cawdor, he will become the King of Scotland. This turns Macbeth into an image of horror. He is probably so surprised by these statements, that all he can do is look shocked. Banquo tries to kick some sense into Macbeth: Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that sound so fair? But unfortunately, Banquo realises Macbeth is already gone into a world of his own thoughts: My noble partner You greet with present grace, and great prediction Of noble having, and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal. Banquo and Macbeth both believe that the witches are telling the truth, so Banquo asks the witches: If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate. Banquo is asking the witches what the seeds of time will do for him. The seeds of time were involved with the growth of spirit and matter, which was from tiny seeds planted in the ground by God. Evil spirits were thought to have the power to predict and foretell how these would develop. Macbeth Argumentative EssayThis is really down to Banquo knowing too much about Macbeth. Banquo says in his soliloquy that he would not talk about the meetings with the witches, but Macbeth thinks that he might. So unlucky Banquo gets twenty trenched gashes on his head, which is a very nasty death indeed. After Banquos death, there is a feast. This is the feast directly after the coronation, so the king and queen have to impress their guests with their lavish food and setting. Everyone has sat down except Macbeth, so Lennox says: Mayt please your highness sit. The party is running completely smoothly until this point. However, the supernatural kicks into Macbeths mind and Banquos ghost appears. Macbeth is the only person who can see this ghost. First Macbeth reacts so the feast can carry without any worries: Here had we now our countrys honour roofed Ross says that he is not here, so Macbeth thinks it could be a joke, and as the old saying goes, one is not amused: Which of you have done this? Obviously, the Lords do not know what as been done. Macbeth could be saying one of two things. Either he is asking who murdered Banquo, meaning he is somewhat playing along to cover the real story, or he is asking who played this trick, by putting Banquos dead body in his chair. The Lords ask Macbeth: What my good lord? Then insanity plunges into Macbeth: Thou canst not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me. Macbeth is actually talking to the ghost at this point, as the ghost is looking at him and nodding his head accusingly. He is saying that he was not the one that actually stabbed Banquo, and tries to find some innocence. Ross thinks that Macbeth is mentally ill, so he is sympathetic: Gentlemen rise, his highness is not well. Lady Macbeth tries her hardest to save the situation, but fails. The scene carries on with the ghost reappearing and really scares Macbeth. However, Lady Macbeth realises that she cannot prevent Macbeth from going mad and so sends the lords home. This scene tells the audience that Macbeth is not the strong soldier he used to be, that he is in fact now a nervous wreck. After this scene Macbeth needs some kind of reassurance, that everything will be all right. This reassurance cannot be from a normal mortal, as they do not know of Macbeths link with the supernatural; any who do e. g. Lady Macbeth just ridicule him and think of it as a weakness, that he is not as much of a man anymore. Act 3 scene 5 is the next part in which the supernatural is involved. It is a short scene, and does not really affect the storyline particularly much. This is probably because that this scene was not considered to have been written by Shakespeare. It introduces a new character, Hecate, who is considered to be the head of witches, yet still deputy to Satan himself. The language in this scene is especially proof. Most of the play is in blank verse, yet this scene is in rhyme, and is not considered as gritty and horrid as Shakespeare. This scene shows Hecate, head of all witches, so she or he is supposed to be evil. However, she is angered by the witches actions towards Macbeth: How did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death Hecate is telling the witches to stop messing around with Macbeth, to stop telling him riddles and thither he will come to know his destiny. The witches now know that they will have to tell Macbeth what will happen to him. However, they do this with their own method. This scene will have informed the audience that the play is travelling towards its conclusion, that it is now all or nothing. Despite Hecate has only a small part in the play; she actually is quite a major character in terms of the storyline. Act 4 scene 1 is the next scene in the play for the supernatural. This is the final scene in which the witches take part. The last scenes of the play do not involve any supernatural characters, but they do involve the supernatural indirectly. At the start of the scene, the witches are making a broth. This involves them dropping items of their interest into their cauldron and casting spells. These items would horrify an audience if acted properly. Many of the items are stomach wrenching and disgusting to the extreme. Examples of this are: Eye of Newt Tongue of dog Lizards leg Howlets wing But worst of all: Finger of birth-strangled babe ditch-delivered by a drab The 4 body parts of the different animals would be disgusting to an audience as they could have been ripped off when the particular animal was alive. The animals are also considered quite disgusting. Newts and lizards have quite slimy skin, so the textures of the items are included as a stomach churner. The worst phrase, however, describes prostitute giving birth to a baby in a ditch, and then strangling it to death. This is terrible as the baby is unloved; the mother has no kind of care for it, and so kills it. Murdering babies is possibly the worst crime that an adult could do, as they should know that babies are defenceless, and whenever a baby is crying, a good person has maternal or paternal instincts that would get them to take care of it. I have seen this scene played by the Royal Shakespeare Company. This scene was dramatically effective, because the witches played their parts very effectively. The three actors gave their parts dramatic tension, especially when Macbeth arrives: I conjure you, by that which you profess, Howeer you come to know it, answer me. The witches give him an answer, which involves three ghostly images, or apparitions. Macbeth really needs to know what is to become of him, so says: Call em, let me see em. The first apparition is an armed head. There have been various interpretations of this, and there are two examples. This is Macduff. It warns Macbeth of a Scottish noble, the Thane of Fife: Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough. Macbeth is grateful of the warning, and asks for more, probably being why he should fear him. The witches reply: He will not be commanded. After this, another apparition ascends to inform Macbeth: Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth This is more of a reassurance to Macbeth, as there are not many people born through Caesarean section, presumably meaning they are not of woman born. The next apparition is a crowned child with a tree in his hand. He reassures Macbeth by telling him: Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until great Birnham wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. Macbeth is almost completely confident he is invincible at this point, that almost nothing can get i n his way for a complete domination of the Scottish monarchy. This is not just for now but for years to come. However, the witches promised Banquo would be the father of all Scottish kings after Macbeth. Macbeth asks them: Shall Banquos issue ever Reign in this kingdom? The witches decide to let Macbeth see the line of Scottish kings, and who was the father. A show of eight kings appears. Regrettably, for Macbeth, the following individual who arrives to indicate who is the father of the line is Banquo. This plunges a dagger unswerving to the pits of Macbeths hopes and dreams: Horrible sight! Now I see tis true, For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his. The scene ends quite predictably, the witches disappearing and Macbeth wanting more answers. I consider this scene particularly dramatic because the witches seem to be telling Macbeth his destiny. Act 5 scene 1 is a scene to show how Lady Macbeth has coped with each murder, as she has not been seen since act 3 scene 4, when she was trying to calm Macbeth from his visions of Banquo. In this scene she has changed dramatically, as Macbeth has. She used to be a strong willed woman, as she was before Duncans murder. She did many things that many men would have the guts to do, let alone a woman with strong maternal instincts. Now she sleepwalks, and imagines as though she is talking to Macbeth. It looks now she is a nervous wreck, while Macbeth is on an emotional high, after the witches foretelling him to not be killed of someone woman born and when Birnham wood moves to Dunsinane. She echoes what Macbeth has said, being in the same emotion of regret and sorrow: The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What, will these hands neer be clean? She goes on to repeat herself: Heres the smell of blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Her very last line is possibly intended to be spoken to Macbeth: Come, come, come, give me your hand. Whats done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed. That was Lady Macbeths final scene before she commits suicide. In my opinion, I do not think Lady Macbeth killed herself directly because of the supernatural, but that she missed Macbeth being by her side. The pair must have had a close relationship, only for them to be driven apart, obviously by Macbeths need to quell the uprising from Malcolm and Macduff. Despite Macbeths promises from the witches, Macbeth is found not to be ultimately invulnerable. This is because Birnham wood does move to Dunsinane. This movement of the wood was under Malcolms instruction, who felt that he needed some kind of method to hide his army from the eyes of Macbeth, therefore producing a surprise attack on his castle. This did not deter Macbeth, however, as he had another promise to rely on. The second apparition told him that he could not be harmed of anyone woman born. Yet, to Macbeths misfortune, he fights somebody who is not born of woman, but through caesarean section. His name is Macduff, the very same person who had his family killed on Macbeths orders. The murder of Duncan is not entirely Macbeths fault. In fact, I do not consider Macbeth to have played a major part in the deed. The finger of blame is more towards the supernatural and Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeths part is pinpointed using the supernatural, so it is really the only party that can shoulder this responsibility. The end of the play ends wretchedly for Macbeth, which is a complete contrast to his beginning. This can also be said about the spectators response. He starts as a brave soldier, he finishes dead. He turned into a psychologically ailing coward, who cannot slay and relies on supernatural powers. The supernatural betrays him in the end, which can be particularly said about Act 4 scene 1. The witches tell him that he will be fine, as long as Birnham wood does not move to Dunsinane and he does not fight a man born from caesarean section. These are equivocations, or statements said to conceal the truth. This is true as the witches would have known if Macbeth had died or not, but told him the exact opposite, to lull him into a false sense of security. This is the evil in Macbeth, the supernatural, which drove to Duncan and Macbeths deaths. The language in Macbeth is compelling, as it is gritty and gives the characters great personalities. The language shows the witches are intelligent and devious, with their contradictory phrases and riddles. The blank verse that Shakespeare uses makes the play lyrical and attractive, and not just a lacklustre story. The language describes Macbeths change in emotions to the audience, which is thrilling and quite dramatic. I have seen numerous variations of the play Macbeth. The language in Macbeth is so good that directors can have diverse versions, versions to suit their opinions. I have seen Macbeth in the Globe Theatre and on video by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Globe Theatres production was low budget, so there were few special effects. The Globe version I considered slightly bizarre, as many representations that I found strange and side tracking to the story. One representation was the famous sword fight between Macbeth and Macduff at the end of the play. In the RSCs version, the sword fight is done conventionally with swords. I consider this to generate a more dramatic and keener interest in it. The Globes version was represented with pebbles signifying their lives, and a weird hand tugging that I did not understand. If I directed the play, I would have gone for a more modern approach. Macbeth could be considered just as some kind of Shakespearean current affairs representation. Because of this, I consider that the witches could have some kind of terrorist guise. Biological and chemical weapons could replace the broth. I think this would be more dramatically effective for the audience. I would also get full use out of the lighting and special effects available in a more modern theatre.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
The Culture Of England Essays - English Reformation,
The Culture of England What is it that defines a culture of a historical period? It can be the accumulation of the arts or advances in technology, science, music, teacher, the economy, war, or religion. It can also just be a simple change of view or beliefs in a group of people. These changes were clearly seen in England during the 17th century. The King's followers and Parliament began to dispute over the future government and religion of England. While these disputes were occurring, the common people, along with the upper class, argued over Catholicism, Puritanism, and the Anglican Church of England that, in turn, combine with the above, influenced society as well as marking it for this period. What and where did this theological movement come from? Many historians, such as G. E. Aylmer, believe that it was the Puritans, who didn't want to stem from the Anglican Church, who sparked the movement. They believed that "they were in favor of higher education and moral theological training, but not of free speculation and expression if these led in unacceptable directions" (Aylmer pg. 103.) During this time of social and political movement, it was the religious and strict puritans that developed and spread new philosophies. " Most of the truly original ideas were produced by people in varying ways out of step with prevailing orthadoxies- Anglican, Puritan, royalist, and parliamentarian. New theories about the individual, the state, and society were in the fullest sense the product of their time, yet the produced as it were against the grain" (Aylmer pg. 103.) Another movement that developed new ideas and speculation was the area of the sciences. "The public events of 1640-1660 were tangential to the progress in mathematics, physics, mechanics, astronomy, optics, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, which taken together have without exaggeration been called the Scientific Revolution," (Aylmer pg. 107.) It was not limited to a particular region or time and was founded upon the ideas of the past and present. In the words of Aylmer, "but in the applied sciences, and what we nowadays call technology, things look different. Here the needs of government, the influence of pressure groups or economic incentives, and the general temper of the time may well have acted as a stimulus or catalyst," (pg. 107.) Science and technology sparked new navigational and mapping techniques, land drainage, and more efficient use of energy sources, such as water, mind, wood, charcoal, and coal. The relationship between the poet and the events of his time is not always a simple one. Since the censorship act was reimposed in 1649 binding the poets and authors into strict circumstances, we do not know what may have come out of this era. However, this is not to say great works of art didn't arrive. John Milton, Andrew Marville, and Edmund Waller were some of the young authors on the parliamentarian side. They produced great works inspired by all the nature and beauty that was surrounding them. Writing techniques such as satires, political writings, allegory, sarcasm and irony were all utilized by various authors. "Some of the Puritan preachers claimed that they cultivated ?the plain style', by contrast with the elaborate style of the Arminians and other enjoying Court favor who aimed only to reach select, upper-class, and educated audiences," (Aylmer pg. 109) Thus, Puritans not only sparked some intellectual achievements but also took part in all aspects of the culture during t his time. The courts, however, were "Discontent with monopolies, controls, and other government interference in agriculture, industry, trade, and transport" (Aylmer pg. 114.) Social classes and standing began to play a roll in the dividing nation. The Crown and the bishops were biast towards the top, and support for the Puritan-Parliamentarian cause was strongest in the middle levels of society. The effects of war can be plentiful. Not only does it induce the economy but also it creates new jobs and demand for supplies. On the other hand, if the war is fought in your nation, like in England during this time, it can hurt your environment more than it can help it. " The causalities, damage, and other losses arising directly from the fighting, together with the generally disruptive effects of war on agriculture, industry, trade,
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