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Question
Do you agree with the view that Macbeth is fighting a lost battle against forces beyond his control? Justify your point of view in about 200- 250 words by referring to the Acts studied.
Solution
The view that Macbeth is fighting a lost battle against forces beyond his control is a compelling interpretation of the play. Several elements within "Macbeth" suggest that his downfall is influenced by supernatural and psychological forces that seem insurmountable.
Firstly, the witches play a pivotal role in setting Macbeth on his tragic path. In Act I, Scene 3, they prophesy that Macbeth will become king, planting the seed of ambition in his mind. This prophecy can be seen as a force beyond his control, as it manipulates his actions and drives him towards regicide. The witches' influence suggests that Macbeth is caught in a web of fate that he cannot escape.
Additionally, Lady Macbeth's manipulation exacerbates Macbeth's internal conflict. In Act I, Scene 7, she questions his masculinity and ambition, goading him into murdering Duncan. Her influence over him demonstrates how external forces can overpower his moral judgment and lead him to commit heinous acts.
As Macbeth succumbs to his ambition, his psychological state deteriorates, further illustrating his battle against uncontrollable forces. By Act V, Scene 3, Macbeth acknowledges the futility of his actions, stating that life is “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” This resignation reflects his recognition of the inevitable consequences of his earlier decisions, driven by forces beyond his comprehension and control.
Moreover, Macbeth's encounters with the apparitions in Act IV, Scene 1, further highlight his struggle against predetermined fate. The apparitions’ cryptic messages give him a false sense of security, leading to overconfidence and ultimately his downfall. This supernatural manipulation underscores the idea that Macbeth is fighting a losing battle against destiny.
In conclusion, Macbeth's struggle against forces beyond his control is evident throughout the play. The witches’ prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s manipulation, and the supernatural influences all contribute to his tragic downfall. Despite his valiant efforts, Macbeth is ultimately a pawn in a larger, uncontrollable scheme, emphasizing the play’s themes of fate, ambition, and the supernatural.
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Reporting verbs
Did you know?
Sometimes it is not necessary to report everything that is said word for word. It may be better to use “reporting verbs” which summarise what was communicated. Below are some of the most commonly used verbs of this kind.
| accept | advice | apologise | ask | assure | blame |
| complain | compliment | congratulate | explain | greet | hope |
| introduce | invite | offer | order | persuade | promise |
| refuse | regret | remind | say | suggest | tell |
| sympathise | thank | threaten | answer | warn | encourage |
|
can you hear me? (speaker) |
what did she say? (you) | she asked if you could hear her? (friend) (ask) |
| you should go to the doctor now? (speaker) | what did he say? (you) | he advice you to go to the doctor now? (friend) (advice) |
What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again;
He plants the glory of the plain;
He plants the forest's heritage;
The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see___
These things he plants who plants a tree.
Read the lines given above and answer the question that follow:
Who is being referred to as the unborn eyes?
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:-
Read the lines given above and answer the following question.
Name the poet of the given lines.
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:-
Read the lines given above and answer the following question.
What was Abou dreaming about?
And is mine one?' said Abou.
'Nay, or not so,'Replied the angel,
Abou spoke more low,
But cheery still; and said ,'I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves His fellow men.'
Read the lines given above and answer the following question.
Explain with reference to context.
“So that is what you are doing out here? A marshal!” “My dear Miss Fairchild,” said ’ Easton, calmly, “I had to do something. Money has & way of taking wings unto itself, and
you know it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington. I saw this opening in the West, and—well, a marshalship isn’t quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but—” “The ambassador,” said the girl, warmly, “doesn’t call any more. He needn’t ever have done so. You ought to know that. And so now you are one of these dashing Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That’s different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd.” The girl’s eyes, fascinated, went back, widening a little, to rest upon the glittering handcuffs. “Don’t you worry about them, miss,” said the other man. “All marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business.” “Will we see you again soon in Washington?” asked the girl. “Not soon, I think,” said Easton. “My butterfly days are over, I fear.”
Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.
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At Denver there was an influx of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B. & M. express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in elegant taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveler. Among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed together.
As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only vacant seat offered was a reversed one facing the attractive young woman. Here the linked couple seated themselves. The young woman’s glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile brightening her countenance and a tender pink tingeing her rounded cheeks, she held out a little gray-gloved hand. When she spoke her voice, full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaimed that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.
“Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, 1 suppose 1 must. Don’t vou ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?”
The younger man roused himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.
He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining “bracelet” to the left one of his companion.
Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.
Why was Mr Easton embarrassed when the young woman recognised him?
The women came out on the shore, and made for the stepping—?stones. They had plenty to laugh and bicker about, as they approached the river in a noisy crowd. They girded up their skirts, so as to jump from stone to stone, and they clanked their sickles and forks together over their shoulders to have ease of movement. They shouted their quarrels above the gush of the river. Noise frightens crocodiles. The big mugger did not move, and all the women crossed in safety to the other bank. Here they had to climb a steep hillside to get at the grass, but all fell to with a will, and sliced away at it wherever there was foothold to be had. Down below them ran the broad river, pouring powerfully out from its deep narrow pools among the cold cliffs and shadows, spreading into warm shallows, lit by kingfishers. Great turtles lived there, and mahseer weighing more than a hundred pounds. Crocodiles too. Sometimes you could see them lying out on those slabs of clay over there, but there were none to be seen at the moment.
Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.
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“I’m fine. The question is: How are you?“
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