Question
Macbeth Act I Summative
For your Act I Summative grade, write a half page, double-spaced response to one of the following options:
Write a journal entry from Macbeth’s POV where he talks through his decision to kill King Duncan or not. Make sure he lists reasons for and against killing the king.
Write a letter back to Macbeth from Lady Macbeth that tries to talk him into killing King Duncan. Make sure the letter uses her voice and shows the same feelings she does in the play.
For your Act I Summative grade, write a half page, double-spaced response to one of the following options:
Write a journal entry from Macbeth’s POV where he talks through his decision to kill King Duncan or not. Make sure he lists reasons for and against killing the king.
Write a letter back to Macbeth from Lady Macbeth that tries to talk him into killing King Duncan. Make sure the letter uses her voice and shows the same feelings she does in the play.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
**Journal Entry from Macbeth’s POV**
Date: The 1st of November
As I sit here, the weight of my thoughts bears down upon me like armor too heavy to bear. The witches’ prophecies echo in my mind, stirring something deep within me. “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” King Duncan is a good ruler, benevolent and just, yet this coveted throne—my destiny—is within my grasp.
On one hand, I feel a gnawing ambition that tells me I must seize the crown for myself. The idea of power is intoxicating; I envision a future where my name is etched in history, where I am no longer just Thane of Glamis and Cawdor but King of Scotland. Yet, with this ambition comes the foul whisper of treachery. To kill Duncan would shatter the sacred bond of loyalty I hold as his subject, and in that act of violence, I would be betraying not just him, but my own nature.
The thought of that noble king, sleeping peacefully in our castle tonight, fills me with sorrow. I am filled with doubt: Is it truly worth it? The only thing standing between me and my ambition is his life. My mind races with fears of consequences. What if I am discovered? What if the people turn against me, and I live in eternal fear of retribution? My conscience warns against this horrific act; it is a dagger to my soul.
And yet... Lady Macbeth's words linger; she calls me a coward for hesitating. If I do not act, my desire for power will dwindle, and I will remain merely a spectator in my own life. I want to be great, to rise above the ordinary, but is it worth surrendering my morals and plunging my hands into the blood of an innocent king? The battle rages on inside me. My ambition and my conscience are locked in a fierce duel. Tonight, I shall consult my heart once more and decide if I am to be a king or remain merely a man.
Date: The 1st of November
As I sit here, the weight of my thoughts bears down upon me like armor too heavy to bear. The witches’ prophecies echo in my mind, stirring something deep within me. “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” King Duncan is a good ruler, benevolent and just, yet this coveted throne—my destiny—is within my grasp.
On one hand, I feel a gnawing ambition that tells me I must seize the crown for myself. The idea of power is intoxicating; I envision a future where my name is etched in history, where I am no longer just Thane of Glamis and Cawdor but King of Scotland. Yet, with this ambition comes the foul whisper of treachery. To kill Duncan would shatter the sacred bond of loyalty I hold as his subject, and in that act of violence, I would be betraying not just him, but my own nature.
The thought of that noble king, sleeping peacefully in our castle tonight, fills me with sorrow. I am filled with doubt: Is it truly worth it? The only thing standing between me and my ambition is his life. My mind races with fears of consequences. What if I am discovered? What if the people turn against me, and I live in eternal fear of retribution? My conscience warns against this horrific act; it is a dagger to my soul.
And yet... Lady Macbeth's words linger; she calls me a coward for hesitating. If I do not act, my desire for power will dwindle, and I will remain merely a spectator in my own life. I want to be great, to rise above the ordinary, but is it worth surrendering my morals and plunging my hands into the blood of an innocent king? The battle rages on inside me. My ambition and my conscience are locked in a fierce duel. Tonight, I shall consult my heart once more and decide if I am to be a king or remain merely a man.
There are no human answers yet. A form for humans to post answers is coming very soon!