ACT ONE ; Scene 6&7 Understanding

The EQ's that my group has decided to use for our project are:
What is integrity? & How do we deal with conflicting elements within our personalities?

Act One; Scene Six
This is the scene where King Duncan arrives at Macbeth's and there he is greeted by Lady Macbeth. She greets him with utter respect and politeness, as a hostess should and as he is the King. This scene is extremely controversial and questions Lady Macbeth's integrity as she treats him with such politeness in this scene, but in truth she is just acting this way and really plans to murder him in his sleep. This is why we chose the question, "What is integrity?" Integrity is a moral or a principle, it is a virtue. It's a sense of wholeness, and honesty which Lady Macbeth has clearly lost, as she is willing to go through with murder, to fulfull her desires.

Act One; Scene Seven
In this scene Macbeth decides that he no longer wants to procede with the murdering of King Duncan. He has come up with numerous reasons and as he explains to Lady Macbeth, she becomes very upset and accuses him of his weak nature, and how he is a coward, and that she has more courage than he does. She eventually convinces him that this is their desire, and that they must continue on with the murder. With this scene we decided to ask the question,  "How do we deal with conflicting elements within our personalities?" It seemed to be a fitting question as Macbeth is in a conflict with his personality and his desire. Though he wants to be King, as he is an honest, and loyal person, he must weigh over his options. What is more important? His desires, or his integrity?

ACT ONE - Response

How far is one willing to ''go'' to get what they desire most?   

        All of us desire something, or at least we have one point in out lives. Whether it be it be for material objects such as food, or clothing, or technology, or for future dreams, hopes and goals. With most people, when we desire something, we are able to overcome whatever obstacle that may be in our way, and reach what we want to acheive, or obtain. Some of these may be small obstacles. For example, if a person wanted to buy an I-pod, and did not have any money, they could wait for their birthday, or Christmas ( if celebrated ), or, they could find a job, save and buy it. However, only some of our desires are like the example given. Other desires that people have take much patience and persistence. But, at what lengths are people willing to go, and get what they desire?

        Macbeth desires to be the King, but sees no reason to have to commit the crime of murder in order to obtain that title. He instead comes up with reasons not to do so. He states that he is the king's "kinsmen"(pg.57 - 13) and "subject"(pg.57 - 13), and that he is the "host"(pg.57 - 14), and that as a host he should turn his head against murder, and protect the king, and not be the murderer himself. As he lists reasons in his mind as to why he should not murder the king, he realizes that he has "no spur" to kill the king, except for his ambition to be the king. As he Lady Macbeth enters, he explains to her his thoughts about not killing the king. She is terribly distraught at this idea as she wants to be queen herself, and reminds Macbeth of his desires to be King. She questions his manhood, as he had promised her to go through with this plan that they had created. She also convinces him that he himself wants to be king, and how he is supposed to be king as the witches showed them this, as his fate.  Now, even though Macbeth was supposedly loyal to the king, they are both commited to the idea of Macbeth becoming the next king, and are willing to commit the sin of murder to obtain their greatest desire.

Identity Poem

Identityby Julio Noboa Polanco
Let them be as flowers,
always watered, fed, guarded, admired,
but harnessed to a pot of dirt.

I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed,
clinging on cliffs, like an eagle
wind-wavering above high, jagged rocks.

To have broken through the surface of stone,
to live, to feel exposed to the madness
of the vast, eternal sky.
To be swayed by the breezes of an ancient sea,
carrying my soul, my seed,
beyond the mountains of time or into the abyss of the bizarre.

I'd rather be unseen, and if
then shunned by everyone,
than to be a pleasant-smelling flower,
growing in clusters in the fertile valley,
where they're praised, handled, and plucked
by greedy, human hands.

I'd rather smell of musty, green stench
than of sweet, fragrant lilac.
If I could stand alone, strong and free,
I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed.

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EQ: What does it mean to be an Insider or an Outsider?

In a stereotypical sense, to be an "insider" is to be the 'popular' one. The one that everybody knows, and treats well. Whereas being an "outsider" is to be the 'outcast'; the person looking in through the window. Though, realistically speaking, is it really that much better to be the insider? Perhaps, the insider is the person looking out through the window. I think that being an insider requires many expectations, and does not allow much room for change. However, an outsider, without having much expectations to be something, has a lot of room to explore, grow, change.

This poem is a perfect example of being an insider and an outsider. In this poem the flowers are the insiders and the weed is the outsider. Where the flowers are pampered with water sprinkled upon them daily, and being adorn by all those who pass by. These flowers are expected to be looked at, an eye catcher if you will, and the minute they begin to wilt a lot, they will be replaced with new flowers. On the otherhand, the weed that is standing outside on the cliffs, has survived through rainstorms, heavy snowfalls, and has gotten to experience the beautiful rays of sunshine. It stands "strong and free" (21), and unlike the flowers, will not be replaced because it is no longer good enough to be an insider. Perhaps being an outsider, isn't all that bad at all.

The Charmer

I am relating this balance scale to the short story, "The Charmer." Balance scales, in everday use are to balance items out, or to see what weighs more. If something weighed more, one side would be closer to the bottom and the other would be higher, closer to the top. However, in this case, I believe that a balance scale is a good way to show power. Though we cannot show power physically, it is easy to see that in this story the power is not balanced out. Zach, clearly has more power, than the family for the most part of the story. It may not really seem like it, but the fact that he was able to do anything he wanted, and get away with it, showed power. He knew how to control his power in order to munipulate others to do what he wanted. In this story Zach would be on the heavier side of the scale, and the rest of the family would be on the other. However, in the end, his father steps up, and uses his authority to tell Zach what his final options were. To help with whatever the family needed, or to leave. Now, the balance scale is more evened, and/or the family side of the scale is higher.

Macbeth Sparknotes

You have good insight into the character and choices having to be made. You can realte to the character very well as I have previously indicated. Nest time try and bring in more specific texutal evidence such as quotes to help support what you are saying.

Dear Brother

Bernice Friesen, in her short story, "Brother Dear" created three main characters, each with their own unique identities. The father who never got to achieve his dreams in going to university and becoming a doctor, wants his children to go to university and fulfill dreams he never got to accomplish. Sharlene, the younger sister, wants to travel before going to university but does not want to disappoint her father, and Greg the older brother who chooses his own future, even though his father does not approve. I believe that I relate most to Greg, the elder brother. I think this because within the past few months I too had to make a decision for myself that would disappoint others, but would fulfill my dream. I've wanted to come to McMath since a very young age, but because of boundary areas I was not able to. However, this year I had the opportunity to come with an almost guarantee chance to get into the school. It was a difficult choice because by now, it is my fourth year in high school, and at my former school, I had already created a strong identity for myself. I was the student council president-to-be, I was on sports teams, I did the morning announcements, I was well known and well liked around my school. Though, when opportunity struck, I took a leap of faith and left the school I was now so used to. It was a difficult decision, as I did not want to disappoint my fellow classmates, but I was unhappy. I wanted to do what would satisfy myself, rather than do what I was expected to do. Which is what Greg did as well. He made a decision for himself, even though he knew that it would not please his father. It may sound selfish, and whether we made the right decision or not, I couldn't say, but what I do know is that life isn't about always pleasing others, you're allowed to make your own choices too, even if it's not what everyone else may want. This is why I believe that I relate most with Greg.