Act one of Macbeth; reading journal entry

The first scene of act one is used to raise questions about the play itself. Three witches ask each other questions about a future encounter, it seems as though they are plotting something. Macbeth is mentioned which has the audience wondering many things like what the witches are planning and the significance they have in the play. The witches all talk in turn which makes it seem as though they are a combined force, futher enforced by the way they say the end lines in unison. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air." The rhyme in this quotation makes it seem as if the witches are chanting witch makes them seem unusual and raises further questions about the witches purpose. The quotation itself is also significant because it cannot be interpreted at first viewing as it doesn't have context. After reading further in the play i thought it could be understood to mean how fairness is not always nice, as this can be applied to the fates of the King Duncan and Macbeth. Gothic themes are straight away portrayed in this first scene in the use of a gothic setting (thunder and lightning) and the supernatural in the witches.

Scene two i thought had a very clear use in creating the story of "Macbeth". It describes a battle that the scottish prevailed in and people give details of Macbeth's heroicness. "with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution," this illustrates the way Macbeth was constantly destroying enemies. The word smoked implies his sword was being used a lot and was freash out of battle, the bloody execution shows how he did not hold back but instead was eager to fight. This scene builds a picture to the audience as to the nature of Macbeth's persona, a fierce, brave warrior. This scene also informs the audience of a title upgrade for Macbeth who is now Thane of Cawdor for his couragousness in war.

The third scene of act one is particularly importanat as it is the first scene in which Macbeth is seen. The witches start the scene by boasting to each other of the terror they have been causing."Killing swine." The second witch tells the witches of her recent activity, this is used to shock the audience and to give the witches a reputation of mischief. This has the audience expecting them to be planning something involvong the misfortune of someone, probably Macbeth. Banquo and Macbeth's encounter with the witches arouses confusion in their characters as they appear to be very mysterious, "Speak if you can! What are you?" Macbeth here is indefinately puzzled by the presence of the witches as he doesn't believe them to be human as he asked what they are. The witches state that Macbeth will be King and that Banquo's children will be Kings, they react very confused by these claims. Macbeth is shown to be in deep thought over the matter, then to emphasize this confusion Ross comes to inform Macbeth of his new title as the witches predicted. macbeth then instantly begins to think and plan a plot of treason to fuflfill the witches claims.

The next scene depicts a scene with Macbeth and the King. Macbeth is seen to be praised by the King for his accomplishment in battle, he then commpliments the King it seems as a way to get respect from him and maybe trust. " The service and loyalty i owe." Macbeth is trying to reinforce his commitment to the King when in actual fact Macbeth is planning the murder of the King " Let not light see my black and deep desires." This conveys Macbeth is trying hard to not give away to people what he desires and how he plans to achieve it as he is aware it is very dark and sinister.

Scene five begins with a letter from Macbeth to his wife. This creates a sense of secrecy between the two as the letter is informing Lady Macbeth of the witches premonitions and the plot Macbeth had started to think about in order to gain the title of King. Lady macbeth upon reading the letter is very eager to participate in the murder of the King. Lady Macbeth appears to be thrilled by the idea of murder and the power it would bring her. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have their first interaction in the play and it is solely about scheming  plan they had started to devise.

Scene six sees Lady Macbeth give a false feeling to the King as if she was happy to be in his company. This is used to contrast with her behavior in other scenes where she is power hungry with no remorse

Lady Macbeth's dominance over Macbeth is portrayed in scene seven by the way after Macbeth is having second thoughts on following through with his plan. Lady Macbeth questions his masculinity and ridicules him for not wanting to take up a great opportunity for a vast amount of power. Macbeth quickly becomes passive in the matter and decides to continue with the murder.

Macbeth Act one; how can it be considered Gothic?

The opening act of Macbeth undoubtedly hints at elements of the Gothic genre, and therefore can be interpreted as a Gothic play. A most obvious use of Gothic elements in act 1 is the settings described in the stage directions which state thunder and lightning are present in both scenes the witches are there. Thunder and lightning portray a feeling of fear, macabre and tension in the audience which is common place for Gothic settings. This use of weather could be hinting at the fact that the witches are plotting something sinister that will have a severe impact in the play, like the way thunder also has a great presence and impact when it strikes.

Another way the play Macbeth touches on the Gothic genre is the secrecy and plotting undergone. Macbeth sends a letter to his wife informing her of his encounter with the witches and his view of what that meant. The use of letters is frequent in novels considered Gothic, often used to produce a feeling of mystery and unknown in some of the characters. The play Macbeth similarly shows a plan or idea process only known by two people; murdering the king so Macbeth can take his place as the witches predicted. Then, further through the act it is noted how Macbeth feels undecided on killing the king or not. His fear of the consequences gives him a dilemma which he does not want to face. This is also a feature in many Gothic novels

Marxist analysis of Animal Farm

George Orwell explores the idea of marxism in the novel 'Animal Farm' in many different ways. Firstly, marxists claim that laws are created by a superior ruling class as a way to keep themselves from getting in trouble with the law. Simarly, in 'Animal Farm' there is a clear power divide amongst the animals the pigs being the ruling class. All laws on the farm were not only created by the pigs but they were also changed by the pigs to fit their likings to avoid conflict with the other animals which is a clear injustice. For example it is repeated throughout the book that all animals are equal, then in the final chapter of the book "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others," is written on the wall of the barn. This is a major point in the novel because the pigs have finally established to the other animals that they believe themselves to be of a superior race after making it obvious to the reader that there is a  disproportionate spread of power over the farm.

Another element of marxism that 'Animal Farm' conveys is the false sense of freedom given to the lower class. Marxists believe that although people are told they are free to do what they want, most people never get the opportunities or the money to do as they wish entirely. The animals in 'Animal Farm' that are not lucky enough to be pigs are constantly reminded (by the pigs) of the freedom they have been granted upon driving the humans away. They are told that because noone is controlling them they are free to eat to do a lot more than they could before, for instance, eatting what they like and having sundays free from farm work. However in actual fact the pigs give the animals a smaller ration than they got while the farm was run by humans and the work they are assigned is far more laborious. The animals are unaware of the injustice upon them and have been manipulated into thinking they have been granted freedom.