Natural Order in Macbeth:
In Macbeth, the reader is positioned to understand the naturalised hierarchy through references to animals, the weather, and gender. Unnatural events such as murder and witchcraft are often followed by unnatural events in nature. Order can be seen as resembling the animal world, with the falcon ruling over the smaller and less powerful animals.
After the murder of Duncan, the weather patterns are absurd: “And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp. Is ‘t night’s predominance or the day’s shame that darkness does the face of Earth entomb” (Act 2, Scene 4).
Banquo spoke about the lack of moon and the presence of a heavy wind. The morning after the murder, Ross speaks to an old man about the strange weather and odd animal behaviour. The old man also mentions the unexpected killing of a falcon by a mere owl that usually hunts mice. Ross then brings up the strange happening of the King’s horses breaking loose and turning wild and eventually eating themselves.
“On Tuesday last, a falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed” (Act 2, Scene 4).
Natural Order in Macbeth
What constitutes order in the play Macbeth?
The play is linked with the reversal of values. Unnatural acts such as murder and witchcraft are often followed by unnatural events in nature. Order is the natural order of a King ruling over lower class citizens and passing his Kingship on through blood ties. In Macbeth, there is a reversal of this order, as Macbeth becomes King not through the passing down of the crown, but through murder. The order can be seen as resembling the animal world, with the falcon ruling over other smaller and less powerful animals. In the play, the falcon is killed by an owl, and this is seen as a reversal of the natural order.
Think about the start of the play. What is Macbeth rewarded for? What is the first Thane of Cawdor punished for?
Duncan rewards Macbeth with the title of the Thane of Cawdor and all the land that comes with the title. He says Macbeth will rise to new levels of glory. Duncan announces punishment for the traitor Macdonwald, who was the Thane of Cawdor and a reward for Macbeth. “No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth” (Act 1, Scene 2).
When Macbeth kills Duncan what is his immediate response? What does his intense feeling of guilt tell us?
Macbeth seems very nervous and scared immediately after killing Duncan. “I have done the deed” (Act 2, scene 1) Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seen to be in a heightened state of awareness after the murder. Macbeth feels guilty and feels as though he cannot wash the blood of his hands. "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red" (Act 2, Scene 2). This guilt tells us that Macbeth has realised that he has disturbed the natural order. Macbeth hears the knocking and hopes that is will wake Duncan. “Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst.” (Act 2, Scene 2).
Chaos ensues for Scotland. What does this tell us about what Macbeth has done?
Macbeth’s ambition for power led to uncontrollable paranoia. His desire to be King, led to the murder of numerous people. His ambition is the end and his paranoia led to his physical destruction but also the abandonment of his kingdom. Macbeth seems to want to destroy all opposition to his rule and driven by a sense of insecurity, Macbeth appoints murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth becomes a tyrannical ruler. This tells us that Macbeth has disturbed the natural order, and as a result, the Kingdom is in ruins. Macduff talk about Scotland being in a terrible state by saying “Each new morn, New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out Like syllable of dolour” (Act 4, Scene 3) Macbeth still feels insecure because he knows that he did not receive Kingship through his father. He feels insecure because he has a "fruitless crown, and … a barren sceptre in his gripe,"(Act 3, Scene 1) He does not have any son to succeed him and feels that every king should or else their reign is deemed as insignificant.
What occurs in the natural world when Duncan is murdered? What does this tell us?
After the murder of Duncan, the weather patterns seem absurd: “And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp. Is ’t night’s predominance or the day’s shame That darkness does the face of Earth entomb” (Act 2, Scene 4) Banquo spoke about the lack of a moon and the presence of a heavy wind. The morning after the murder, Ross speaks to an Old Man about the strange weather and odd animal behaviour. The Old Man also mentions the unexpected killing of a falcon by a mere owl that usually hunts mice. Ross then brings up the strange happening of the King’s horses breaking loose and turning wild and eventually eating themselves. “On Tuesday last, A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.” (Act 2, Scene 4)
How does Lady Macbeth contribute to our understanding of order? Consider her attempts to transgress the boundaries in relation to gender and what this leads to. An example of "reversal of nature" is with Lady Macbeth and her masculine characteristics when compared to the norm at the time and her husband's femininity. After she reads her husband's letter, she asks for the gods to "unsex" her and therefore, remove all feminine feeling from her mind. She takes charge over Macbeth, which was unusual for the time and manipulated Macbeth, causing hi to falter.
The play is linked with the reversal of values. Unnatural acts such as murder and witchcraft are often followed by unnatural events in nature. Order is the natural order of a King ruling over lower class citizens and passing his Kingship on through blood ties. In Macbeth, there is a reversal of this order, as Macbeth becomes King not through the passing down of the crown, but through murder. The order can be seen as resembling the animal world, with the falcon ruling over other smaller and less powerful animals. In the play, the falcon is killed by an owl, and this is seen as a reversal of the natural order.
Think about the start of the play. What is Macbeth rewarded for? What is the first Thane of Cawdor punished for?
Duncan rewards Macbeth with the title of the Thane of Cawdor and all the land that comes with the title. He says Macbeth will rise to new levels of glory. Duncan announces punishment for the traitor Macdonwald, who was the Thane of Cawdor and a reward for Macbeth. “No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth” (Act 1, Scene 2).
When Macbeth kills Duncan what is his immediate response? What does his intense feeling of guilt tell us?
Macbeth seems very nervous and scared immediately after killing Duncan. “I have done the deed” (Act 2, scene 1) Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seen to be in a heightened state of awareness after the murder. Macbeth feels guilty and feels as though he cannot wash the blood of his hands. "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red" (Act 2, Scene 2). This guilt tells us that Macbeth has realised that he has disturbed the natural order. Macbeth hears the knocking and hopes that is will wake Duncan. “Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst.” (Act 2, Scene 2).
Chaos ensues for Scotland. What does this tell us about what Macbeth has done?
Macbeth’s ambition for power led to uncontrollable paranoia. His desire to be King, led to the murder of numerous people. His ambition is the end and his paranoia led to his physical destruction but also the abandonment of his kingdom. Macbeth seems to want to destroy all opposition to his rule and driven by a sense of insecurity, Macbeth appoints murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth becomes a tyrannical ruler. This tells us that Macbeth has disturbed the natural order, and as a result, the Kingdom is in ruins. Macduff talk about Scotland being in a terrible state by saying “Each new morn, New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out Like syllable of dolour” (Act 4, Scene 3) Macbeth still feels insecure because he knows that he did not receive Kingship through his father. He feels insecure because he has a "fruitless crown, and … a barren sceptre in his gripe,"(Act 3, Scene 1) He does not have any son to succeed him and feels that every king should or else their reign is deemed as insignificant.
What occurs in the natural world when Duncan is murdered? What does this tell us?
After the murder of Duncan, the weather patterns seem absurd: “And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp. Is ’t night’s predominance or the day’s shame That darkness does the face of Earth entomb” (Act 2, Scene 4) Banquo spoke about the lack of a moon and the presence of a heavy wind. The morning after the murder, Ross speaks to an Old Man about the strange weather and odd animal behaviour. The Old Man also mentions the unexpected killing of a falcon by a mere owl that usually hunts mice. Ross then brings up the strange happening of the King’s horses breaking loose and turning wild and eventually eating themselves. “On Tuesday last, A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.” (Act 2, Scene 4)
How does Lady Macbeth contribute to our understanding of order? Consider her attempts to transgress the boundaries in relation to gender and what this leads to. An example of "reversal of nature" is with Lady Macbeth and her masculine characteristics when compared to the norm at the time and her husband's femininity. After she reads her husband's letter, she asks for the gods to "unsex" her and therefore, remove all feminine feeling from her mind. She takes charge over Macbeth, which was unusual for the time and manipulated Macbeth, causing hi to falter.
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