Macbeth

Shakespeare is usually a pain to read (not to say that Macbeth is any better), but it’s certainly a lot more tolerable coming off of Piers Plowman. If having to read Piers was like getting stabbed, then having to read Shakespeare is like getting a paper cut. Neither feels particularly nice but the latter certainly isn’t going to kill you (or come close for that matter).

Things start to get weird in the 3rd scene when Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches. Banquo immediately disrespects them, saying —What are these,/So withered, and wild in their attire,/That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ Earth/ (pg. 17, 40-43). Then he says, …You should be women,/And yet your beards forbid me to interpret/That you are so. (pg. 17, 47-48)

First off, why do the witches have beards? Is it just to make them extra ugly and unpleasant (dislikable) to the audience? Secondly, why is Banquo so blunt as to immediately say out loud to their faces that they look inhuman and like men? The first thing he says to them is an insult and he doesn't seem to see anything wrong with it. Immediately after this, all three witches say all hail Macbeth, and say stuff about him being king one day which makes Banquo pretty salty. He says …My noble partner/You greet with present grace and great prediction/ Of noble having and of royal hope,/That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not. (pg.17, 57-60). Banquo is irritated that they aren’t speaking to him in a graceful fashion, which is funny considering the fact that he expressed his disgust (out loud) at their appearance literally two seconds ago. The witches also have a bit about how Banquo will never be king, but his children will be. I'm not sure how many kings there are supposed to be, but I thought that since it was the witches prophecy it could very well be a foreshadow to them taking over Macbeth in the future once he is king (it is the Tragedy of Macbeth and that would be pretty tragic for his friend's kids to take him down). 

I don’t have a quote but in the third act, Macbeth has a little aside monologue where he says something about hoping that he doesn’t have to do anything bad to get the crown. Then in the fifth act, Lady Macbeth says something about being ready to anything bad to get the crown. I thought it was interesting that they both realize that bad things might need to be done to get the crown, however the one that will actually wear the crown, Macbeth, is a lot more hesitant than his wife is. Then in the 7th act, Macbeth expresses his feelings and his decision to not go through with the murder. Lady Macbeth then explodes on him for not being a man which is pretty funny.