Macbeth and The Laboratory-Ancien Régime by Robert Browning

1990 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: indept analysis and interpretation of Macbeth

Macbeth is very superstitious –he asks the witches to stay and tell him more about his potential fortune and destiny. “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more.” (Act 1, scene 3, line 70). During the first meeting with the witches, he is immediately intrigued and starts to process what the witches have said, ordering them to explain who they are. Macbeth is aware of the imperfections of the witches and how dangerous they are but yet, he wants to feed his curiosity and know more about his oncoming future. Macbeth is willing to blank out and ignore negative influence for his personal gain.
We can compare Macbeth’s superstitions with the paranoid woman from The Laboratory-Ancien Régime by Robert Browning. Both characters, Macbeth and the un-named woman, have an obsessive reliance on external substances or information. Macbeth relies on the three witches to reveal his future and proclaim his position, whether he will be king or not. “Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence, or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting. Speak I charge you.” (Act 1, scene 3, line 75). Macbeth questions the witches as to how they can predict the future and why they greeted him with such a mysterious, oracular way. Macbeth demands the witches to speak more of the future, he has faith and believes in the witches.
The jealous, cunning woman in the laboratory can be interlinked with Macbeth. She relies on the poisoned potion that she create to take away the life of another woman she envies. “The delicate droplet, my whole fortune’s fee! If it hurts her, beside, can it ever hurt me?” (Paragraph XI). The woman is describing the potion as delicate, the poison means a lot to her as it is going to destroy her enemies’ ...

... middle of paper ...

...at the Duke wants to characterise himself as a sea God, the all-powerful Neptune. Stefan also says that the Duke wants to visualise himself taming a sea horse, characterised as the Duchess. But that is the Dukes’ dream because he doesn’t quite yet think that he has tamed her properly although it’s what he wishes to come true.
I agree with this statement because with the evidence that I have provided, the Duke does want to be God-like as Neptune and he does use vivid imagery to visualise the Duchess as a sea horse that is being tamed by Neptune. I also agree with this critic because the vivid imagery is only a visualisation that hasn’t come true yet but the Duke desperately wants this to come factual.
*****

Works Cited

MACBETH - WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE
MY LAST DUCHESS - ROBERT BROWNING
PORPHRIA'S LOVER - ROBERT BROWNING
THE LABORATORY ANCIEN-REGIME - ROBERT BROWNING

Show More
Related

  • How Does The Supernatural Influence Macbeth

    1429 Words  | 3 Pages

    The author Napoleon Hill once said, “Without a doubt, the most common weakness of all human beings is the habit of leaving their minds open to the negative influence of other people”(Napoleon Hill, Az quotes). One should be careful of the people they decide to surround themselves with because they could influence you while having a hidden agenda that could impact your life negatively. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the reader is introduced to the supernatural and Lady Macbeth. The supernatural deliver prophecies throughout the play to Macbeth. He informs his wife, Lady Macbeth about his fate. Lady Macbeth is

    Read More

  • Dbq Essay On Macbeth

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the Weird Sisters hail Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and the future king, Macbeth’s mind is put under a curse of selfish and greedy ambition. These prophecies controlled the way that Macbeth thought and acted and eventually lead to his downfall. Immediately after the Weird Sisters present Macbeth with the prophecies, Macbeth states to the Weird Sisters “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more...:” (Document A). This statement is the precursor that shows the uprooting of Macbeth’s power-seeking characteristics that were once buried beneath the morals that were “too full o' the milk of human kindness” (Document B). As Macbeth becomes obsessed with the idea of power, his mindset is consumed with fearlessness and he states “what need I fear of thee?” (Document D). This feeling of invincibility is created by the witches “when the witches bring the tidings of Macbeth's elevation to Thane of Cawdor” and “his body seems to act independently of his will” (Cohen). Although the witches did have partial control over the thoughts that preceded Macbeth’s detrimental actions, the final decisions were ultimately controlled by Macbeth

    Read More

  • Control In Macbeth Essay

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    The witches tempt Macbeth with a prediction of his future. Macbeth wants to know about his fate so he tells them “ Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.” (1.3.171-173). This is one of the first examples in the play that MacBeth is control and wanting to know more about what they had to say about him. When MacBeth finds out what the witches have predicted

    Read More

  • Lies in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... the witches is too mysterious. The forest came to Dunsinane meant the soldiers were hiding under cut trees, so it looked like the forest was actually moving closer. But it was just the appearance of reality. And another prophecy that he misunderstood is that only a man not born of a woman could kill him. But this prophecy only meant the man that would kill Macbeth was born by C-section, maybe that was an operation too new so that Macbeth did not know about it. But Macbeth lives long enough to see that everything came to a bad ending. No wonder he wants to die and not see the “sun” anymore. But if he felt sorry for all his wrongs, maybe he did not go to hell. Macbeth paid, just like his wife, for believing in lies and doing wrong. But Shakespeare is a genius because he found one place where liars and people who believe in magic can find an honest job: acting.

    Read More

  • Soliloquy Essay - Two Soliloquies, One from Lady Macbeth and One from Macbeth

    2017 Words  | 5 Pages

    As the scene opens, Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from her husband. The letter tells of the witches' prophecy for him, which is treated as a certainty, because "I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge". "The perfectest report" means "the most reliable information," so it appears that Macbeth has been asking people what they know about the reliability of witches. If that's the case, he has ignored the advice of Banquo, who is quite sure that witches can't be trusted. But Macbeth seems to trust the witches absolutely, because he is writing to his wife, his "dearest partner of greatness," so that she "mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing". That is, he believes that she has a right to rejoice because she will be a queen. However, Lady Macbeth doesn't rejoice. She is determined that he will be king, but she suspects that he doesn't have the right stuff to do what needs to be done. Speaking to him as though he were really there, she says: "Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o' the milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way".

    Read More

  • Macbeth Essay

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    The themes of love, supernatural, and tragedy in Macbeth make this tale loved by many. The supernatural ideas are most noteworthy and dramatic. Witches, apparitions, and hallucinations give the play the sense of the unknown. Shakespeare used the supernatural occurrences and witches to show humans wickedness and depravity. The characters in this play were not at all hesitant to do evil acts once prophecies had been given showing their innermost desires come true. In the end, while the prophecies may have come to fruition, it was not how the characters had anticipated.

    Read More

  • Macbeth by William Shakespeare

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    ### 2nd Part of Essay ### At the beginning of Act 1, Scene 7, we see a soliloquy from Macbeth expressing his doubts about killing King Duncan. When Lady Macbeth first enters the scene he attempts to assert his power over her, perhaps for the first time, by saying ‘We will proceed no further in this business’. This adverbial phrase is a definitive statement, which is utilized by Macbeth to reinstate his power over Lady Macbeth and regain control. His hesitancy over committing regicide is evidence of the fact that he is not an innately evil person, nevertheless his overriding ambition has the power to change the man into a merciless killing machine not far from the characteristics demonstrated by the Hawk in ‘Hawk Roosting’.

    Read More

  • Macbeths Demise

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    The weird sisters (witches) have a great impact on Macbeths state of mind when he decides to follow through with many of his actions. The witches are responsible for putting the idea of Macbeth becoming king in his head. Faith in the witches compromises his honour since they are believed to be evil however Macbeth

    Read More

  • Examples Of Arrogance In Macbeth

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    In fear of losing this power to his friend Banquo or his son Fleance, whom of which the witches said would be king after Macbeth and would yield a long line of kings, Macbeth had them murdered in the woods while they were out horseback riding. This proves that he truly believes in what the witches have to say about him and his future, which leads him to back to seek out more of the witches half truths to see what else would come of his future. The next set of prophecies that the witches had to offer were shown in a set of three apparitions. The first said “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife,” the second apperition then spoke “none of woman born can harm Macbeth,” the third aperition then said “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him”(Shakespeare,168-170). Some say it was the witches fault for Macbeth’s actions next, but in reality it was Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s alone. Due to these three prophecies Macbeth’s level of arrogance went up along with his hunger for power as well, his level of common sense was decreasing faster and faster. Macbeth’s lack of common sense caused him to make rash decisions without thinking them through. Such as when he says “From this moment the very firstlings of my

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Macbeth - Innocent and Naive Macbeth

    1484 Words  | 3 Pages

    instill in him the need to be King. Still, desire is not enough for Macbeth and he is thus driven "to seek certainty as his one objective. He wants certainty from the witches . . . at whatever cost" (Campbell 228). Macbeth, however, is not completely lost yet; honour and justice remain in him, and although it takes him some time to fully consider the consequences of the witches' words on him, he rejects his horrible thoughts of murder and postpones all action: "If chance will have me king, why,chance may crown me, / Without my stir" (I. iii.143-144). For the time being, Macbeth's true essence is in control, that of loyalty and honour.

    Read More

  • Witches Effect in Macbeth

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    The witches have a strong effect on Macbeth's character; they highly influence him in his accomplishments and awake his ambitions. They give Macbeth a false sense of security with their apparitions of truths. Instead they prove to be harmful for Macbeth who takes too much comfort and confidence in his interpretation of the truths. They are the ones who plant the actual idea of killing Duncan into Macbeth's mind. But if it were only the witches prophecies, then Macbeth surely would not have murdered the king. 'When you durst to do it, then you were a man,' (Macbeth, Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 7) Lady Macbeth's constant harassment pushed Macbeth and made him commit all this evil. When you reason things out by yourself you tend to now what is right and what is wrong, a conscience. But with the outside influence from the witches he thinks that that is his destiny and he must do everything to fulfill it. One can wonder if Macbeth ever had a chance of doing what was right after he met with the witches. He is overthrown and killed. Through his own ambitions, the ambition of his wife and the witches' prophesies, Macbeth has caused his own destruction and downfall. We can now clearly see that ambition not achieved through our own ability leads to destruction. 'Hail Thane of Glamis and of Cawdor and shalt be King hereafter'. (Act 1 Scene 3) These prophecies from three strangers are taken without question and probably without good judgment. Just the thought that he may be King clouds his thoughts and ambition takes over. The witches can predict the future, they can add temptation, and influence Macbeth, but they cannot control his destiny.

    Read More

  • Supernatural in Shakespeare's Macbeth - The Witches and Lady Macbeth

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Macbeth the Witches are shown as being evil, conniving, and cruel. "Here I have a pilot’s thumb, wreck’d, as homeward he did come." The Witches play a major role in convincing Macbeth to kill Duncan. They give Macbeth and Bonquo three prophecies: "all hail Macbeth hail to thee, thane of Cawdor" "all hail, Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter" "thou shalt get kings, though be none." Bonquo doesn’t take these prophecies seriously, but Macbeth shows some ambition for power. "If chance will have me king, why, chance will crown me." Macbeth becomes more dependent to the Witches. In Act 4 scene 1 Macbeth returns to the weird sisters, demanding what the future would bring. The Witches gave him three prophecies: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff, beware the thane of Fife." "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" "Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill."

    Read More

  • macbeths descent into evil

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth was capable of achieving his place as king but his path to greatness would not have occurred without his ability to be overconfident. This ability was responsible for his overall position as being blind to the possibility of failure. The witches assured him that he would be essentially invincible and that only in what seemed to be impossible situations, would his life be threatened. Macbeth explains:

    Read More

  • My Last Douche Bag

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    Through Duke Ferrara’s description of his departed Duchess, it is apparent that he is a controlling individual whose dissatisfaction with the Duchess’ loose behavior led to him arranging her death. When Duke Ferrara was talking to the marriage negotiator about the portrait he has of his last Duchess, he states, “sir, ‘twas not/her husband’s presence only, called the spot/of joy into the Duchess’ cheek” (13-15). When commenting on the expression of his deceased Duchess in the painting, Duke Ferrara claims that the blush of pleasure on her cheeks was caused by numerous individuals, not solely he. Later summarizing the tragic flaw of the Duchess, Duke Ferrara asserts, “a heart–how shall I say?–too soon made glad,/too easily impressed; she liked whate’er/she looked on, and her looks went everywhere” (23-24). With these words, Duke Ferrara alleges that too many things amazed the Duchess, which dissatisfied him. Also through “her looks went everywhere” (24), Duke Ferrara uses a reference to sexual promiscuity to demonstrate his anger toward her lack of emotional restraint. At the end of his monologue, Duke Ferrara discusses the repercussions of the Duchess’ flirtation: “O...

    Read More

  • Contrasting Macbeths Two Meetings With The Witches

    1196 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Macbeth first meets the witches in Act 1 Scene 3 he doubts that the witches are “of this earth” and doubts that they are capable of basic abilities such as speech, evidenced by the question, ”Speak, if you can, what are you?” In the second confrontation with the witches, Macbeth believes that the witches are real and thinks them to almost be superior. He shows this by attributing the witches with awesome powers when he says to the witches, ”Though you untie the winds and let them fight against the churches”, meaning that he believes the witches are capable of manipulation of these natural phenomenon. In addition, he asks Lennox if he had seen the witches leave, showing his belief that the witches are, in fact, real entities that exist in his world.

    Read More

More about Macbeth and The Laboratory-Ancien Régime by Robert Browning

Open Document