DAGGER AHEAD OF ME (ACT 2, SCENE 1)
Good morning/afternoon everyone and welcome to today’s workshop on the famous and acclaimed playwright William Shakespeare at Brisbane’s prestigious Twelfth Night Theatre. This presentation is from a soliloquy from the play Macbeth in Act2.Sc.1 (Lines 33-65). Paraphrasing a Shakespeare aside and that too of a self-divided protagonist, is far from an easy task.
Macbeth has made his decision to kill the King and take the crown as his own. Inspired in part by his own ambition, the decision to murder Duncan is aided by the prophecies of the Witches as well as the insistent urging of his wife. He is wracked with guilt over what he is about to do, as his mind races with thoughts and emotions of such an evil action. He begins to hallucinate and sees a bloody dagger in the air, which will be his instrument of murder. He goes on to comment on the wickedness of the world, thoughts which are interrupted by the ringing of the bell, a signal from Lady Macbeth that Duncan's guards are drugged and sleeping and he states. Shakespeare's Macbeth is notable for hallucinations, terrifying dreams, witches, prophecies and all of the combining forces of nature which lead to chaos and murder in the gloomy countryside of Scotland.
CHANGING THE WORDS
Is this a cheating soccer ball at my feet?
It’s placed for the kick. I am going to kick it!
I know it must be an illusion, but I can really see it.
Is it real enough to kick? Can I really do this?
Can I really become the #1 soccer player, or is it a dream?
I see you, the imaginary ball, as real as this other one at my feet.
You are pushing me to what I already want to do,
And you look just like the ball I am planning on using!
Are you just fooling my feet, or are the rest of my senses the ones being fooled?
I can see the mud from the field on you, just appearing out of nowhere.
Is this is my imagination. Am I Dreaming?
It is worry over my plan to cheat Duncan that makes me see this ball.
People all over the world love this sport, and they all dream of being the greatest.
All Cheater’s celebrate their winnings, and work to cheat better
It’s like I can see Diego Maradona coming onto the field,
Ready to score and win.
Without a worry in the world
Just Maradona’s ‘God Hand Goal’
Be quiet field. Don’t warn Duncan about me coming
This is my chance, the time of the cheater
Why am I just talking though?
What if the ball is just a hoax?
What if the referees have not been bribed by my vigorous wife?
What if I miss the my only opportunity
But what if people find out that I have ruined a legend’s career to become someone better.
Will I be safe if I proceed with this?
What will his sons think of me?
I have known them for so long
There is NO time to worry!
Time to claim what is deservedly mine
It is time to play and Win!
MODERN CONTEXT
This previous scene is a modernized version of Macbeth’s ‘Dagger ahead of me’. In the scene, Macbeth is a veteran soccer player. He is a well-known and respected player around, but he wants to be known as King of soccer, the greatest to have ever played the sport, but in order for Macbeth to become he has to betray his friend Duncan, Duncan having been hailed as the best in the sport. Since he is old he has come to terms that he wants to play a friendly game against Macbeth. But since Macbeth ambition to become the KING, his overpowering, greedy and ambitious wife has set a plan, to use a ‘SPECIAL’ ball. This so called ‘SPECIAL’ ball would let Macbeth excel when playing, whereas his opponents would suffer. Since Duncan doesn’t know about this ‘SPECIAL’ ball, Duncan would be like a lamb to the slaughter. As Macbeth is in the change rooms he ponders whether his plan would work, whether he would become the best in the world. In line he states “What if the ball is just a hoax?” implying that whether the ball is ‘SPECIAL’ or has his wife done this on purpose just to feel enhance his opportunity against Duncan and “What if the referees have not been bribed by my vigorous wife?” which is a representation of a scene in Macbeth, where Duncan’s guards have been drugged.
I would now like to thank you all for attending this presentation on William Shakespeare; I ask if you would wait for the next presentation. Thank You.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Before Macbeth gives his famous “Is this a dagger which I see before me” soliloquy, he has decided that he was not going to kill the king. Lady Macbeth wants to become queen, so she has an argument with Macbeth. During the argument Lady Macbeth says, “When you durst do it, then you were a man”, saying that Macbeth is not a man unless he kills king Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s words make Macbeth perplexed and he goes into his soliloquy where he debates whether or not to assassinate the king.…
- 480 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
"Macbeth a play based on treason loyalty and knowledge consists of many different characters one unlike the other.…
- 249 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Macbeth Monologue MACBETH: Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.…
- 274 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
After the prophecies, Macbeth acts upon his greed to become king. The lure of power sets off a corruptive thought process unseen to the human eye, only visible to the reader. He chooses the evil way of getting things done, which causes a corrosive psychological stream of thoughts in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Instead of letting fate take its course, Macbeth turns his back on the person who trusts him most, Kingunan. Macbeth invites the king over for a dinner and kills him while he is asleep. “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?” (Shakespeare 55)…
- 777 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
As Macbeth transitions into power, the mood of the story transitions from a content state to a state of horror due to Macbeth’s killing sprees that are motivated by none other than, greed and power. When he is planning to kill King Duncan, Macbeth is overwhelmed with worry and almost abandons the plan, but it takes Lady Macbeth to convince him to go through with it. After the murder, however, Macbeth’s loyal personality deteriorates and he blames the murder on the servants because he does not want to ruin his reputation and be dethroned from being king. Following King Duncan's death, Macbeth lets his power go to his head and no longer wants Lady Macbeth to convince him to murder someone because, he just does it out of ambition to continue…
- 186 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Macbeth hallucinates before killing Duncan in which he says, “ is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. (shakespeare II.I 44-45) Macbeth feels so guilty about killing Duncan that he starts to hallucinate about the weapon he used to kill Duncan but he did not kill him because he was feeling guilty, Macbeth killed Duncan purely out of ambition to be king. By macbeth wanting to “clutch thee” shows that he has made a huge decision to follow his ambition to be king by any means necessary.Lady Macbeth finds out about what Macbeth’s encounter with the witches and what he was told by them and she says, “Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.” (Shakespeare I.5 19-20) This shows that Lady Macbeth, who is shown to be a heartless, and a power hungry woman believes that Macbeth is capable of being able to obtain the rank of king if he wants to, but is too kind to carry out the necessary actions. Even though some may say that Macbeth’s downfall is caused by his guilt, it is actually his ambitions that lead him to commit horrible crimes which later leads to Macbeth feeling…
- 1047 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Macbeth's treason in murdering Duncan is blatantly an erroneous choice. Macbeth initially rationalises his choices, reasoning that "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me / Without my stir" [1:III:142-143], and that it would be unseemly to assassinate Duncan "First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the deed; then as his host, / Who should against his murderer shut the door." [1:VII: 13-15]. He also realises that "He (Duncan) hath honour'd me of late" [1:VII: 32], generosity which defies his morale conscience in killing Duncan. All rationales for not murdering Duncan are sound; yet Macbeth eventually opts to kill Duncan in order to satisfy his " black and deep desire" [1:V:51] of gaining kingship. Macbeth had many opportunities to choose another path, but he abided by the dagger which " marshall'st me the way I was going" [2:I:42], a representation and foreshadowing of the violent and bloody path he would later build' his kingdom on. Although Macbeth recognises "the consequence" [1:VII: 3] which would follow after murdering Duncan, he ignores such risks. Later in the play, it is the cumulative effect of such recklessness and consequences which leads to his downfall. After the murder, Macbeth believes that that " all great Neptune's ocean (will not) wash this blood / Clean from my hand" [2:II:63-64], indicative of a…
- 1199 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
A man can either become so overcome with guilt and turmoil that he can no longer physically go on, or the individual who wields corrupt ambition will eventually be destroyed by one who wields a moral ambition, and who accomplishes their goals without the use of sinful and vile acts. Each murder of Macbeth’s accompanies some sort of hallucination, initiated by his guilt. In act I Macbeth enters Banquo’s quarters to converse about the witches. Afterwards, Macbeth plans to whisk into Duncan’s chamber and murder him while he sleeps. Before he murders Duncan Macbeth sees a floating dagger and he cries out, “Is this a dagger which I see before me…” (II.i.44) This floating dagger serves to show that Macbeth cannot keep his nerves in control. It also reveals his guilt he feels for two reasons, one the lies he told his friend inspire guilty emotions, and second, he feels guilty about the plans that he puts into action. One death leads to another and Macbeth begins to make deals with assassins. Macbeth views Banquo and his son Fleance as a threat to his crown, and decides to eradicate the threat. Then after he murders Banquo Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo in his seat, and horror-struck Macbeth begins to converse with it in front of his court. Afterwards he recovers and tells his company that, “I have a strange infirmity which is nothing to those that know me.” (III.iv.85-86) These hallucinations show that even Macbeth’s guilt catches up with him. This guilt, all though eventually mastered by Macbeth, throws him out of character and makes it harder for him to act as though he has a clean conscience. If Macbeth cannot convince his subjects of his worthiness to be king then not only will he loose the thrown, but his life as well. Eventually matters escalate beyond Macbeth’s control. More threats have risen, namely Malcolm and Macduff, and Macbeth and his crown are in danger. Towards the…
- 1282 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,/ the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.” (2.1.33-34). He realizes that the dagger is just an image in his mind, but decides that it is a result of his fear and continues with the task. This is the first point where Macbeth shows a sign of a mental breakdown, although he is still able to think somewhat rationally. This ultimately evolves into a hardened Macbeth and causes him to continue with his horrific actions until he is out of control. The murder of King Duncan is followed by the murders of many others, including his closest friend Banquo. The build-up of guilt begins the affect Macbeth’s mental state more and more until he can no longer think straight. He begins to hallucinate and on occasion has visions of the ghost of Banquo. The ghost first appears at the banquet, where Macbeth sees the bloody image of Banquo sitting at the dinner table. His horrific reaction alone shows the guilt he has for the murder, and the fact that no other guests at the banquet are aware of the ghost confirms that the ghost has been made up in Macbeth’s head. This is the point at which the…
- 1215 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Macbeth needed to kill King Duncan in order to get closer to his goal of becoming King but was scared. Macbeth states, “[I]f th’ assassination/ Could trammel up the consequence and catch,/ With his surcease, success; that but this blow/ Might be the be-all and the end-all here,/ But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,/ We’d jump the life to come.” (1.7.2-7). Macbeth is weak and does not have the courage to commit murder. He fears all the consequences and problems that will arise if the King is murdered. A man that is weak and lacks courage shows a feminine quality according to the stereotypical gender roles. Furthermore, Macbeth feels guilty after killing King Duncan in his sleep. He states, “ Methought I heard a voice cry 'sleep no more!/ Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,/ Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care,/ The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,/ Balm of hurt minds,” (2.2.35-39). Macbeth kills King Duncan and he starts to hear voices in his head because of the guilt. Macbeth experiences a shock of hearing these voices as he realizes what he has done. Not to mention, he is weak and cannot control his actions after the murder as he fails to hide the evidence, the dagger. The stereotypical gender roles subvert as weakness is seen as a feminine quality. Then, Macbeth kills the family of Macduff by planning murders using his power. He states, “To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:/ The castle of Macduff I will surprise/ Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’th’ sword/ His wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line.” (4.1.149-153). Macbeth feels powerful and wants to take desperate actions. He uses his power as he wants to attack the castle of Macduff. The plan also includes murdering the family of Macduff. Macbeth gets the family killed and is showing signs of power during…
- 1393 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Before committing the murder, Macbeth has hallucinations of a floating dagger. These hallucinations signify the point in Macbeth that the truly consuming guilt begins to appear. This floating dagger leads him to Duncan’s room. Once he…
- 782 Words
- 4 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Macbeth is now about to kill King Duncan, all because Lady Macbeth told him that it was a good idea. Macbeth is very angry at himself and his decision to kill King Duncan. “I have thee and yet I see thee still./Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible/To feeling as to sight” (2.2. 36-38)? Yet he still does it because he is greedy for power. He wants what he does not have and has what he does not want. Because of this he is greedy for what King Duncan has which is power. Macbeth is angry about killing King Duncan and is paranoid about it Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both hear knocking after they kill King Duncan. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he wishes that King Duncan could just wake…
- 595 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Macbeth is under the full influence of the witches and he perhaps has no say in the matter. And once Duncan has proclaimed the heir to the throne Macbeth consciously thinks about the murder of Duncan Macbeth exerts all the power in his body to perform the killing of Duncan and feels as though although his heart will know what…
- 1408 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Soccer is a team sport, played by toe teams competing to score goals in each other. Evry team should have eleven players, and seven players are stand by.Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. For me, it was a family hoppy because my father does play it and my entire uncle did. My brothers and I had been going with my dad and watch him play. I had the passion to play soccer because of them and I was wanted to become as a famous player in Saudi Arabia Majed Abdullah. From that moment my sibling and play it and like it very much. Also, we were fans to Al-Etihad FC as my father does because most of children want to become like their fathers. My father once bought for us a football, so my brother and I keep play with it and watch soccer matches to learn some skills. Furthermore, when we became good player, we start to play against my cousins and our neighbors. We won in all of games we took medallions. After that I was plan to win on my brothers and get the medallion from them to look a hero on my father eyes, so I started watch a lot soccer matches and soccer animation. I learn a lot of skills such as how to shoot by left foot, how to skip from the player, and how to pass the ball under the player and that happen when I was in second grade in elementary school. I start to collect my team from my cousins and my neighbors, so my oldest brother and I made a competition and we asked my father to judge. So I won the game and my dad was surprised of the way I was played, so he gave me a hundred SR is about $26 but in that time it value a lot because when my father gave us 5 RS we feel like rich.…
- 1061 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
On the damp soft ground of a soccer field, I stood there in silence thinking how to approach. How to get better at being more accurate with the ball and my touch. Slowly I started to walk toward the ball, the connection between the ball and my foot broke the silence. Leading to the sound of the ball connecting with the net, putting a smile on my face. I had finally made a shot I liked.…
- 2504 Words
- 11 Pages
Better Essays