Macbeth; Gothic elements of Act One

Throughout the first act gothic imagery and themes continue to occur. From the second line of dialogue a gothic setting is apparent, with thunder and lightening and it continues into the second scene where the captain speaks of “shipwrecking storms and direful thunders”, 2.26.

There are many instances of light and darkness, which is essentially the bread and butter of gothic literature. There are references to darkness throughout the third, forth and fifth scenes. In the fifth scene there is a contrast between light and dark or perhaps good and evil “Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark” 5.51. There is powerful imagery between two complete opposites, as we associate heaven with what is light and good it is hard to see it blanketed by darkness and suppressed by it.

Violence and death is obviously another rather important gothic device used in Macbeth. In only the first act they have already executed the Thane of Cawdor and the Macbeths are planning the death of the king. The acknowledgement of death kicks off rather early in act one in the captain’s speech of how well Macbeth and Banquo fought. He talks of Macbeth’s sword, “which smoked with bloody execution” and how Macbeth “unseamed him from nave to th’chaps and fixed his head upon our battlements.” 2.18 & 22. Within the rest of this act we do not see much of this side of Macbeth; however this could be a glimpse into the Macbeth which is to come. Throughout scene three and five there are also many referrals to death.

Also quite gothic  and relating to death is the wounds and gashes that cry for help in scene two and the dismembered digit in scene three.

Scene five and six mention hints of holiness and god which is considered to be the complete opposite of the gothic but occurs in many other novels such as Frankenstein. Usually it’s the contrast which makes what they’re doing look worse.

Another gothic device within the first act of Macbeth includes the un-naturalness of the weird sisters which Banquo states in the third scene as the witches appear to be women but have beards, this could reflect on Lady Macbeth rejecting her feminity in scene five.

Coursework Outline

A comparison of four couples and the roles of men and women in their own historical context

Much ado about nothing and Pride and Prejudice are very similar stories set in very different points in history, roughly 200 years apart. Shakespeare wrote Much ado when England was a very male dominated society. Women’s role was at home with the children – to be seen and not heard. Therefore his character, Beatrice, was controversial for the time. Austen’s similar character, Elizabeth, was created in the early stages of the feminist movement. The differences in time directly result to why Elizabeth is the main character and Beatrice has a supporting role. Even with the different contexts the texts were written in, both authors produced incredibly similar content.

The main relationships in both the play and the novel represent two complete opposites in love and society. At one end of this spectrum is, Jane and Mr. Bingley, and, Hero and Claudio. The women being uncommonly beautiful yet conservative and the men being boyish and naïve, but as a group accomplish the general cliché of romantic literature; love at first sight.

Whereas, at the other end we have, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and, Beatrice and Benedick. Who have the alternative more modernistic path to love which begins with hate. The characters down this end of the scale all have their flaws but they counteract them with their wit, all of these characters bring the comedic relief to the texts. With the exception of Mr. Darcy as Austen was mistrustful of male wit until her later novels, but he is continually the butt of the joke and in conclusion, there to be laughed at.

Comparitive Coursework again

I have completely changed my mind and decided to go for romance instead. I am going to use Jane Austen's Pride and Predjudice and William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. They seem to have a similar storyline and i'm either going to do some sort of character comparison or contextual comparison.

Comparitive Coursework

I'm still bringing together ideas in my head, but I think i'm set on doing some sort of fantasy novels or plays involving a magical aspect. What first comes to mind are books like Debi Gliori's Pure Dead Magic and Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl. I'm still undecided, but perhaps for more literary content I would be leaning towards some of shakespeares plays, like The Tempest or A Midsummer Night's Dream.