Macbeth Motif Project

"Borrowed Robes"

Macbeth's reaction at line 108 is "why do you dress me/In borrowed robes?" You're putting fine clothes on me that don't belong to me, he's saying. This introduces a motif or pattern of repeated images that are found throughout the play in about half-a-dozen places -- the idea that Macbeth is wearing clothes that do not fit, pretending to be something he is not.

Macbeth

Motifs

William Harlan

His thoughts are clearly stated. The quote expresses the power granted to a man who has no idea how to use it. He says that he is pretending to be something he is not. William takes in the possibility that Macbeth may not truly understand the responsibility that he is about to take on. The loose garmets may symbolize littleness of Macbeth's morality in contrast with strong ambition he states later in his article.

-AP Brit Lit

-2013

-2nd Period

By:Colleen Perkins

"William Shakespeare, one of the worlds greatest writers of all time, understood the relationship between appearance and reality and often gave two sides to a characters personality. An unstable and dim-witted person with no hope of survival seek avenues to portray his or her venomous image. He or she seeks to admire publicly while within him or her is below standard."

Throughout the entire Shakespere play clothes are used to represent the change in attitude, power, and people.

Joseph F Sherman

I like that he talks about Shakespeares

Quotations from Macbeth

Only once in Macbeth do we see a metaphor of clothes which actually fit. This is when Macbeth tells his wife he has bought “Golden opinions from all sort of people,/Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,/Not cast aside.” (i.vii.32-35)

He is speaking of he honour he won by fighting honestly for his king in battle, but he is persuaded by his wife to reject these in favour of killing to gain a position he doesn't deserve, the position of king

"I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack'd.

Give me my armour. "

The Thane of Cawdor lives; why do you dress me

In borrow'd robes?

"Those he commands move only in command,

Nothing in love: now does he feel his title

Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thief."

(5.3.32-33)

(1.3.108-109),

(5.2.19-22)

This is the most famous quote expressed with the symbolism of clothing in Macbeth. This is said to Ross when Macbeth is told that he is to become the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is taken bake by the shock of the weird sisters prophesy coming true. He gets his new garmets as his right as thane of Cawdor. The clothing throughout helps emphasize the change in opinion, and how the new changes in power doesn't "fit" properly. Macbeth unsure about what this title would do to him.

It is like a child taking on and adults role.

www.teenink.com › College Guide › College Essays

www.shakespeare-navigators.com/macbeth/Clothes.html

This is his reality that he is leading through power not love. He says this when his thanes will not fight with him. He says "Give me my Armor" which is strongly discouraged by one of his attendants . The attendant is simply warning him that you cannot fight this battle on your own. Macbeth feels that he has earned his title and he will fight to the end just to keep that title. He also thinks that he is the warrior he used to be. He ends up walking away without all his armor on which proves in a metaphorical way that he is not prepared in any way to keep the role as king. In the end no matter how strong his will was to keep his title, his death was the outcome for he was outnumbered and unprepared.

http://suite101.com/article/metaphors-in-macbeth-a58220

When the Scottish came and marched to join the english army, many of the men felt like Macbeth was to desperate. Angus says this to the other scottishmen.mI agree he was to hungry for power. He took on too much to fast. He is being swallowed in his own decisions influenced by power. It is self explanitory. His troops fight for Macbeth's right as king. A great leader fights with the duty and love of his people. Macbeth has the opposite affect. He is self-centered in his decisions for his people. He has little experience and is taking off more than he can chew.

Unknowing about what is to come. His thought seem to lead towards making himself king by murdering the current King Duncan. This shows how quickly power can overtake a mans mind and heart.Getting this honor is just the start of his murdering mindset.

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