November 17, 2011- Macbeth Journal 1-The Loyal Beginning
Fortune does look upon those who do good things. I start the day off with a battle against rebels fighting King Duncan of Scotland. Nothing interesting other than the fact that we won. I took a stroll with my friend Banquo after the battle and we ran into a trio of bizarre women. They told me that I’d become a thane and then a king! Banquo asked them a question and they told him that he would be the father of kings down the line! What a joke! Banquo and I are both soldiers, loyal to our king as ever. How will Banquo’s son or I take the throne? As we joked, a messenger from King Duncan came and told me that I was to be given the title of thane of Cawdor, just as the weird women have prophesised. How could that be possible? If this became true? Will I be the king of Scotland some day?
November 22, 2011- Macbeth Journal 2-The Fateful Prophecy
The idea of me becoming the king of Scotland must be getting to my head. I felt genuinely angry when Duncan pronounced that his son Malcolm would be his heir to the throne. I mean, that spot is for me right? Those three witches have told their prophecy and I must make every part of it happen! But wait! Why am I thinking like that? What a terrible soul I must be, plotting against my own good king. He has been so kind to me, congratulating my skill in combat and even granting me the title of thane of Cawdor. No! I am a man of honor and I will not let some witchcraft get the better of me. I will stay loyal to my king forever and nothing will change my mind.
November 24, 2011- Macbeth Journal 3-The Turning Of a Good Man
I have to kill the king and it is not just because the prophecy anymore. It’s my wife! I told her about my encounter with those witches and now she is even more obsessed about fulfilling my goal to be king than I am. She tells me that I am not a man if I choose not to kill Duncan. She says that I am inconsistent and a coward as well! Why, what a gutsy woman she is! She even swore that she has the courage to kill her own children. My lady has devised a plan for me to make my move now. She will make Duncan’s attendants drunk and I will kill the king with his servants’ daggers. No time and way I will be turning back. I have a wife to prove to and a prophecy to fulfill. Your time has come Duncan!
December 6, 2011-Macbeth Journal 4-The First Strike
The deed is done. I have killed the king with his servants’ swords and I am now carrying them back to my wife like an idiot! I have just taken a life and my wife wants me to kill the servants as well. I can’t do anything properly at all. My hands are shaking and I blubbering about how Duncan talks in his sleep. Maybe he didn’t die yet… Why did I do this in the first place? Now that I have committed a murder, the gruesome scene will haunt me forever. There is no way I can kill those servants as well. Too much blood has already been spilt. My wife volunteers to finish the job while I try to wash this blood from my hands. Oh, even the seas of Neptune cannot wash my hands clean. I now must work up a story to protect my wife and I when they see the dead bodies in the morning. I am sorry Duncan, but this is for my future.
December 10, 2011-Macbeth Journal 5-The Throne Of Corruption
The plan worked and I am now king! When the Duncan’s subjects came to escort him home from my banquet, I just played along with the rest of the crowd, sobbing away at the sight of our poor, dead lord. When questioned, all I had to do was to pretend that I was so upset that I killed the two servants who stabbed our glorious king. My wife is so intelligent by coming up with such a superb plan that fooled most of those nitwits. Duncan’s sons Malcolm and Donalbain fled for their lives but it’s OK. I can always send men after them whenever I want. Captain Macduff doesn’t think that Duncan’s servant wouldn’t have killed their king but I find a way to make him shut up. All that matters is that I AM KING! With Duncan out of the way, I have nothing to fear and can reign over Scotland without competition.
December 10, 2011-Macbeth Journal 6-The Thorn In My Side
Something is not right. There is one thing that is still stopping me being at ease for the rest of my life, happy on the Scottish throne. There is a great flaw in my plans that I have forgotten about. BANQUO is still alive. Those three witches have prophesized that Banquo will father a long line of kings after my reign. That will not do at all. I want MY children; MY blood to be the heirs of this throne! There is no other option. In order to protect my future, Banquo has to go. I don’t care whether or not he is my friend. He was probably jealous of my good fortune and purposely made the witches include him in it as well. I know two kinsmen who can be easily persuaded to help me get rid of the final roadblock to an everlasting reign. With Banquo out of my life forever, I will finally be at peace!
December 10, 2011-Macbeth Journal 7-A Visit From An Old “Friend”
The most horrid thing happened at dinner tonight. As my generals and I were having a lovely dinner prepared by my wife, a terrible figure appeared on top of the table, right in front of me! It was Banquo! Dressed in torn rags and drenched in his own blood gushing from a slash in his throat, he walked towards me menacingly. I completely lost it, raving like a madman and trying to make him leave my head. Everyone else at the dinner table couldn’t see Banquo and thought that I have finally lost my head. Later, fearing for my future, I search for the witches again and begged them to tell me about my future. I am now relieved! Apparently, the only way for me to lose my crown is if woods of Birnam are moved to my castle at Dinsinane hill. Also, I cannot lose in a battle against anyone that is born from a woman. Both of those prophecies will ensure my victory. There is no way trees can move and there is no such thing as a person not born from a woman. Malcolm and Macduff may come to seek revenge after I murdered their family but there is nothing they can do to stop me. I will wait patiently and savor their defeat.
December 10, 2011-Macbeth Journal 8-Last Stand
Everything is lost. Everything that I’ve worked for, given up for, loved, is all gone. My wife couldn’t stand the pressure and decided to take her life. Of all the things I love, there is nothing more precious than she is. I don’t even know whether or not it is even worth being king without my queen at my side. On the other hand, THE WOODS ARE MOVING TOWARDS MY CASTLE!!!! The impossible is happening right in front of my eyes. Damn those witches and their prophecies that are always true. Would that mean that there will also be someone not born of woman who will beat me in combat? I do not know but I have nothing to lose now. It is time for the final battle to either pronounce me as victor or dead.
Well done Derek. You have creatively shown M's development and transformation throughout the play. You have brought in some good examples from the play to show his integrity and his change from it. I like how you referred to Neptune's seas. You have definitely demonstrated his evolution as a character. Good work.
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