Macbeth "Be A Man" Writing Assignment

Macbeth “Be A Man” Writing Assignment

Nick Fischer period 3

1.     Pg. 43 Lines 56-61 “That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. Nor time nor place did then adhere, and yet you would make both. They have made themselves, and that there fitness now.”-Lady Macbeth

In this quote, Lady Macbeth is criticizing Macbeth for trying to bail on their plan to kill Duncan. She feels he isn’t being a man about it, and she feels betrayed and was angry at the whole situation.

2.     Pg. 167 Lines 10-12 “For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file of all the gentry. There is siwards son and many unrough youths that even now protest there first manhood.” –Lenox

In this quote, Malcolm’s army had just arrived at Macbeths castle and were planning on where they were going to attack. Shakespeare shows here that the young boys fighting in the army are becoming men, and are off to do something bigger and better with there lives.

3.     Pg. 169 Lines 17-20 “Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear, thou lily livered boy. What soldiers patch? Death of thy soul! Those linen cheeks of thine are counselors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?”-Macbeth

Here Macbeth is talking about how he thinks the battle is going to turn out. He doesn’t have a good feeling about the whole thing, but he says he will not go down without a fight. He will do what he can to stay a man and protect his throne from Macduff and Malcolm.

4.     Pg. 177 Line 11 “I have almost forgot the taste of tears.”-Macbeth

In this quote, Macbeth is stating he has not cried in a very long time, meaning he has been strong and manly even in his early years. He is also restating he will not go down without a fight in order to protect his throne.

5.     Pg. 187-188 Lines 44-48 “Your son, my lord, has paid a soldiers debt. He only lived but till he was a man, the which no sooner had his prowess confirmed in the unshrinking station where he fought, but like a man he died.”-Ross

In this quote, Ross is telling Siward that his son has recently died in battle. He reassured him that he was a strong boy, and he fought like a man, and ultimately died like a man. 

The Odyssey Analysis

The Odyssey Analysis

            In the story “The Odyssey”, the main theme seems to have something to do with valuing your life to the fullest. You can identify this theme the most in books 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, 21, and 22. For example, the overall theme in book 11 is “appreciate life while living it”, and in book 16, the theme is “there is a time and place for everything, be patient.” Also, a quote directly from the story that helps prove the overall theme is on page 261, and lines 411 and 412. The quote is “Ah Odysseus, Alcinous replied, one look at you and we know that you are no one who would cheat us.” This quote shows how much Odysseus values his life, and how he wants to do good for the people who deserve it. And he wants to show the people who are nothing but bad, that what they are doing is wrong. 

            In “The Odyssey”, Odysseus is a very powerful and mighty character. He changes a lot of people’s lives, and is out there only to do good. He is an inspiration to many, and it would be hard to match all of the deeds he has done. But, no one can seem to believe he is such a good person, only because of things they have heard about him. For example, on page 351 line 463, a lady says “your violent, vicious, scheming…” this only goes to show Odysseus is there to show bad people that what they are doing is wrong, but he is the only one that notices there evil doings, and others who know what he did to them think he is out to kill for no reason. It makes sense, but people needed to come to their senses and realize who is truly good, and who is truly bad.

            Another example of what theme I think “The Odyssey” is when Odysseus and Telemachus murder all of the suitors who think they can replace Odysseus as king. They know it would be a sin to do that, and Odysseus caught them red handed in a rigged challenge to become king. This event starts on page 440 line 15, when Odysseus shot Antinous in the throat with an arrow. Odysseus was a brutal person, but everyone he killed deserved it. Another example of his brutality was on page 452 line 462 when he tells the maids of the castles to clean up the blood and bodies which Odysseus and his son have killed, and then later the maids would be killed by hanging. This might not have been the most reasonable thing to do, but it just goes to show you doing the wrong things can have serious consequences, so you will always be better off doing the right thing.  So in the end, the main theme of books 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, 21, and 22, is “Live life to its fullest, and you will always be better off doing the right thing.”