Shakespeare concludes scene i of Macbeth with a couplet: "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair:/Hover through the fog and filthy air." A couplet usually marks the end of a sonnet, so it is interesting that Shakespeare chooses to end the opening scene of Macbeth with a couplet; it seems he is not only ending the scene, but also concluding that the play will begin and end in moral confusion. In additon, "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair" distorts the typical moral order of good and bad, right and wrong, and good and evil. Moreover, it is funny that by using a couplet to begin the play, instead of end it, Shakespeare distorts the "order" of the play.
Another intruiging line in the opening scene is the second witch's response to the first witch's question "When shall we three meet again?" The second witch replies, "When the battle's lost and won." It is important to take note of the word "and," as it shows the "battle" will be both lost AND won, not lost OR won. This introduces even more confusion. What might this mean?
Another intruiging line in the opening scene is the second witch's response to the first witch's question "When shall we three meet again?" The second witch replies, "When the battle's lost and won." It is important to take note of the word "and," as it shows the "battle" will be both lost AND won, not lost OR won. This introduces even more confusion. What might this mean?
It means to confuse the reader to keep him or her in suspicion on what may to come later on in the book. How some sayings have more than one meaning shows the concept of confusion.
ReplyDelete"When the battle's lost and won." means that when they are in a situation they have a downfalls and great out comes... it all depends on the situation in the story
ReplyDeleteMaybe when the second witch says, "When the battle's lost and won.", she is talking about that Macbeth could win the battle on the earth, but did he really win it in his heart? Deep...I know!
ReplyDeleteIt introduces confusion at the same time, foreshadowing the story later on. When the second witch says "When the battle's lost and won." She may mean that Macbeth will engage in a battle that may be a loss for him, but a win for the country. Happy Mr. King im thinking now....
ReplyDeleteIt may meen that Macbeth will win a battle, later on in the play, but lose everything else. It also introduces confusion into the play.
ReplyDeletewhen the witches say "when the battle is won AND lost" they infer that when a fight is physically won their will be other consequences
ReplyDeletei think he wants to keep the readers intrest so he opens the play with to get the reader thinking about what it means, so theyll keep reading to find out. i personally think it has to do with the way macbeth becomes king.
ReplyDeleteits a contrast that two parties will be effected by an outcome to where one will win and one will lose... the witches stand to win
ReplyDeleteI think it really implies that when a situation that is for someone who is as greedy as Macbeth wining the power to rule a kingdom but as fulfilling it, the decline of morality is also taking place, marked as a symbol of "losing". And that's the time that the 3 witches to show up again and mislead another person that is in the similar situation as Macbeth and distort good and evil.
ReplyDeleteHey y'all
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