Definition
Dramatic irony is the contrast created between what the character understands of his or her situation, and what the audience or reader understands usually due to the audience having more knowledge than the characters. Dramatic irony has nothing to do with dramatic in the sense of the world and can be used in all genres of literature works (comedy, tragedy etc). Dramatic irony can be used to engage the audience or reader.
Etymology/Roots
Irony, from Greek eironeia, meaning "hypocrisy, deception, feigned ignorance."
Dramatic Irony in Macbeth:
Dramatic irony is very prevalent throughout Macbeth, especially in act two.
example 1: When Lennox asks Macbeth whether the king is to leave Macbeth's castle for home (act 2 scene 3, 53-54)
Lennox: "Goes the king hence today?"
Macbeth: "He does: he did appoint so."
The audience knows that Macbeth has murdered Duncan the night before, so Macbeth's response of "he did plan to leave today" holds a different meaning. The audience would interpret Macbeth's response to be that Duncan's physically leaving this world today, but Lennox would interpret his response to be that Duncan's leaving the castle today.
example 2: When Macbeth’s castle porter acted as if he was the porter of the gates of hell. (act 2 scene 3, 1-2)
porter: "Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of"
hell-gate, he should have old turning the key"
The porter's monologue continues from line 1 to line 19, with many references to the devil. The audience knows of the "devil's" deeds committed in the castle last night, but the porter has no knowledge of it. Therefore, his words hold a different meaning for the audience than for the character himself.
example 3:Macduff's refuses to tell Lady Macbeth what has happened the morning after Duncan's death. (act 2 scene 3, 92)
Macduff: "The repetition in a woman's ear would murder as it fell,"
Lady Macbeth: "Woe, alas! What in our house?"
The audience knows that Lady Macbeth is the mastermind behind the murder, but the other characters do not. The irony lies not in Lady Macbeth's response, but in Macduff's statement. The audience can not help but ignore the serious tone of the scene to laugh at the irony of his choice of the world "murder".
Links:
http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english320/cc-dramatic_irony.htm
http://rhetoric.byu.edu/figures/I/irony.htm
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=irony
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Views on Witchcraft
Background
- Witchcraft is supposed to be the manipulation of supernatural forces through casting spells, conjuring or invoking spirits
- All ancient cultures and religions, with the notable exception of christianity, applied their own kind of witchcraft in their belief systems
- Witchcraft included using spells for healing, to bring good weather and prosperity, etc.
- Communities often had wise women (priestesses, healers, etc) that were honoured and respected
Demonization
- In the Middle Ages the church began to feel threatened by Pagan religions
- Paganism was associated with Satanism
- Since Christianity did not have their own form of witchcraft, any act of witchcraft, even naturopathic healing, were associated with the devil.
- The "spirits" the control the elements and the world that witches were supposed to manipulate were interpreted by christians as the demons that walk the earth creating disease and pestilence - Anyone who invokes these demons was associating with the devil, and no matter what they used their powers (even if it was just healing or rain dancing), they had the power to bring disaster.
- The church began to treat practitioners of witchcraft as heretics, and started rumours that witches gather in forests at night for secret meetings where they would fly through the air, have sex with the devil, etc.
- Beginning in the 11th century (Macbeth ruled from 1040 to 1057) witches were considered sinister, hideous creatures that were often linked to disease, misfortune, death, and evil, and practitioners of witchcraft were burnt alive for heresy.
- The stereotype of the witch as a female probably came from the visible role played by women in many heresies.
Shakespeare's time
- The time period that Shakespeare lived in (1564 - 1616) was later referred to as "the burning times;" it was when the most intense persecution of witches was taking place.
- The King, King James I, was highly superstitious and was convinced of the existance of witches and devils
- In 1604 he introduced laws that made hanging of witches mandatory, and introduced trial by torture. There were about a thousand executions between1542 and 1684.
Public views towards witchcraft during the actual reign of King Macbeth weren't as strong as during Shakespeare's time. Although they were still generally hostile, the depiction of the witches in Shakespeare's play was probably influenced by the views of his time and his king.
http://www.erzulies.com/site/articles/view/17
http://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/article-214883
http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/witchcraft.htm
http://medieval.etrusia.co.uk/witch/
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/renaissanceinfo.htm
- Witchcraft is supposed to be the manipulation of supernatural forces through casting spells, conjuring or invoking spirits
- All ancient cultures and religions, with the notable exception of christianity, applied their own kind of witchcraft in their belief systems
- Witchcraft included using spells for healing, to bring good weather and prosperity, etc.
- Communities often had wise women (priestesses, healers, etc) that were honoured and respected
Demonization
- In the Middle Ages the church began to feel threatened by Pagan religions
- Paganism was associated with Satanism
- Since Christianity did not have their own form of witchcraft, any act of witchcraft, even naturopathic healing, were associated with the devil.
- The "spirits" the control the elements and the world that witches were supposed to manipulate were interpreted by christians as the demons that walk the earth creating disease and pestilence - Anyone who invokes these demons was associating with the devil, and no matter what they used their powers (even if it was just healing or rain dancing), they had the power to bring disaster.
- The church began to treat practitioners of witchcraft as heretics, and started rumours that witches gather in forests at night for secret meetings where they would fly through the air, have sex with the devil, etc.
- Beginning in the 11th century (Macbeth ruled from 1040 to 1057) witches were considered sinister, hideous creatures that were often linked to disease, misfortune, death, and evil, and practitioners of witchcraft were burnt alive for heresy.
- The stereotype of the witch as a female probably came from the visible role played by women in many heresies.
Shakespeare's time
- The time period that Shakespeare lived in (1564 - 1616) was later referred to as "the burning times;" it was when the most intense persecution of witches was taking place.
- The King, King James I, was highly superstitious and was convinced of the existance of witches and devils
- In 1604 he introduced laws that made hanging of witches mandatory, and introduced trial by torture. There were about a thousand executions between1542 and 1684.
Public views towards witchcraft during the actual reign of King Macbeth weren't as strong as during Shakespeare's time. Although they were still generally hostile, the depiction of the witches in Shakespeare's play was probably influenced by the views of his time and his king.
http://www.erzulies.com/site/articles/view/17
http://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/article-214883
http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/witchcraft.htm
http://medieval.etrusia.co.uk/witch/
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/renaissanceinfo.htm
Friday, January 23, 2009
Two Can Dine: Two Different Macbeth Versions
Notable differences between enotes online version [http://www.enotes.com/macbeth-text/] and Oxford Shakespeare version of Macbeth:
Analysis
Despite minor differences, the enotes online version of Macbeth can be considered a reliable and relevant source, and will most likely be a lasting one as well. The character names, lines, and general format are all more or less consistent with the Oxford Shakespeare version, and explanatory notes are also provided. In scences 1 and 2 of Act I, only minor punctuation and line changes have been made by the editor, and the only real diference in the format is the enotes' tendency to align the entire text left. Notably, enotes has replaced most dashes in the Oxford version with periods or commas, has made minor spelling changes, and added certain exclamation marks for dramatic effect. As well, enotes has made an attempt to make the original version more "readable" by a reader unfamiliar with Shakespearean English, evident in the editor's choice to replaced words such as brandish'd with the modern english equivalent, brandished.
The major difference that one will encounter with the enotes site is that it provides a "translation" to more modern english for students to understand the text easier. This translation can prove helpful at times, but also harmful as students may use only the easy-to-read version and not the actual text. Thus though it is a good resource for english students studying Macbeth, such as grade 10 students, it must be said that the modern translation must be used with some caution and restraint.
Overall, enotes provides a comprehensive and reliable alternative to the Oxford version of Macbeth, and because it is an online site it is convenient and accessible. Though differences in spelling, punctuation, and formatting do occur, they are very minor changes made most likely by the enotes editor and will not inhibit an english student's study of the play. However, one should be wary of relying too much on the modern translation, and neglecting the actual text.
Analysis
Despite minor differences, the enotes online version of Macbeth can be considered a reliable and relevant source, and will most likely be a lasting one as well. The character names, lines, and general format are all more or less consistent with the Oxford Shakespeare version, and explanatory notes are also provided. In scences 1 and 2 of Act I, only minor punctuation and line changes have been made by the editor, and the only real diference in the format is the enotes' tendency to align the entire text left. Notably, enotes has replaced most dashes in the Oxford version with periods or commas, has made minor spelling changes, and added certain exclamation marks for dramatic effect. As well, enotes has made an attempt to make the original version more "readable" by a reader unfamiliar with Shakespearean English, evident in the editor's choice to replaced words such as brandish'd with the modern english equivalent, brandished.
The major difference that one will encounter with the enotes site is that it provides a "translation" to more modern english for students to understand the text easier. This translation can prove helpful at times, but also harmful as students may use only the easy-to-read version and not the actual text. Thus though it is a good resource for english students studying Macbeth, such as grade 10 students, it must be said that the modern translation must be used with some caution and restraint.
Overall, enotes provides a comprehensive and reliable alternative to the Oxford version of Macbeth, and because it is an online site it is convenient and accessible. Though differences in spelling, punctuation, and formatting do occur, they are very minor changes made most likely by the enotes editor and will not inhibit an english student's study of the play. However, one should be wary of relying too much on the modern translation, and neglecting the actual text.
Friday, January 16, 2009
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