Thursday, February 21, 2013

Please help me with these macbeth essay prompts!? im having problems choosing which prompt to use, and what to talk about for each...i need a...

I like them all. You can't go wrong in terms of points to discuss.


I would choose number one myself.  Nearly everyone is a foil to Macbeth in the play.  Remember, a foil is a "character mirror" who--when in contact with the tragic hero--reflects, brightens, or diminishes the qualities of the tragic hero.


Banquo is Macbeth's foil when Macbeth and Banquo hear the witches' prophecies.  Banquo is less reluctant to believe them than Macbeth.  Banquo is loyal; Macbeth is not.  Banquo is a family man; Macbeth is not.


Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's foil throughout the play.  She casts off her conscience sooner than Macbeth and suffers quicker for it.  Her mental breakdown at the end, with the washing of her hands, parallels what bloody work Macbeth has done with his.  Her language also serves as counterpoint to her husband's: her's is business like; his is much more poetic.


Macduff is Macbeth's foil in the latter part of the play.    Macduff is the hero of the play, and he is so loyal to Scotland that he forsakes his family for it.  His knocking on the door of Macbeth's gate of hell after Duncan's murder is akin to the cosmic battle between good and evil in the Bible.


Duncan is Macbeth's foil in their brief scenes together.  The old Duncan is so gullible that he appoints a traitor to replace a traitor; both Thane of Cawdors betray him.  This juxtaposes Macbeth's paranoia at the end: he trusts no one.


There are more, but that's enough for a paper.  Good luck...

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