Gender Ambiguity in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Suspicion of the Undecidable

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Gender Ambiguity in Shakespeare's Macbeth by Barbora Sramkova, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Barbora Sramkova ISBN: 9783640427000
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: September 16, 2009
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Barbora Sramkova
ISBN: 9783640427000
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: September 16, 2009
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Essay from the year 1996 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1, University Of Wales Institute, Cardiff (Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy), course: Shakespeare's Tragedies, language: English, abstract: Probably the most powerful lines lingering in the reader's or audience's memory after experiencing Macbeth are the hero's words in reaction to the news of the death of his spouse: 'Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.' (V, 5, 23-28) When life signifies nothing, does this play signify anything? However simple the question may seem, the answer is hardly straightforward. Trying to stay away from moralising about vaulting ambition that doesn't pay in the end I would like to speculate about possible significations of the play, not necessarily connected to the plot, or to put it in another way, examine the possibly significant themes and motives recurrent in the play: ambiguity, uncertainty or indeterminacy of meaning. Equivocation is the term used in the play itself (e.g. the porter scene in III, i) and it well captures the theme of walking the tightrope above the abyss of single, definite meaning on one hand, and the endless proliferation of meaning on the other. One cannot escape the impression that the thematically prominent characters of the play (Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the witches, the Porter) virtually evade committing themselves to definite meanings.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Essay from the year 1996 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1, University Of Wales Institute, Cardiff (Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy), course: Shakespeare's Tragedies, language: English, abstract: Probably the most powerful lines lingering in the reader's or audience's memory after experiencing Macbeth are the hero's words in reaction to the news of the death of his spouse: 'Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.' (V, 5, 23-28) When life signifies nothing, does this play signify anything? However simple the question may seem, the answer is hardly straightforward. Trying to stay away from moralising about vaulting ambition that doesn't pay in the end I would like to speculate about possible significations of the play, not necessarily connected to the plot, or to put it in another way, examine the possibly significant themes and motives recurrent in the play: ambiguity, uncertainty or indeterminacy of meaning. Equivocation is the term used in the play itself (e.g. the porter scene in III, i) and it well captures the theme of walking the tightrope above the abyss of single, definite meaning on one hand, and the endless proliferation of meaning on the other. One cannot escape the impression that the thematically prominent characters of the play (Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the witches, the Porter) virtually evade committing themselves to definite meanings.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Air Transport in the UK: Current Trends and Future Scenarios by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Angewandte Motologie in der Sonderschule mit dem Förderschwerpunkt geistige Entwicklung by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Challenges in development in Ngamiland, Botswana by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Miscarriages in the British legal system. 'The Guildford Four' and 'The Birmingham Six' by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Learning EFL by Bengali speaking learners: Major linguistic problems and possible solutions by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Invisibility in african american novels by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Iraq against the United States of America (events 2003-2004) by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Is there such a thing as Global Governance? by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Alice Walker's Short Story 'Everyday Use' by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Issues in Australian Studies: National Identity by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Conversation Analysis: Interruption by male or female speakers in a conversation - A case study by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Garment Workers in New York City's Chinatown after 1965 by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Free will, indeterminacy, and self-determination by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Solving the EU's democratic deficit through direct democratic veto rights? A critical assessment of Heidrun Abromeit's concept by Barbora Sramkova
Cover of the book Emotional Intelligence, Academic Intelligence and Speed of Mind: The Case of Emotion Perception by Barbora Sramkova
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy