One's perception of right and wrong is greatly influenced by religion and culture.
Read this entry to understand this concept in depth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscience#Differing_Views_of_Conscience_and_religion
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Pictures - Illustrating The Conscience
The conscience determines what we think is right and wrong.
The conscience influences our choices which determine our path of life.
A "wrong" choice can lead to guilt that lasts a lifetime.
In Macbeth's case... it cost him his life.
Poem
Conscience
Conscience is instinct bred in the house,
Feeling and Thinking propagate the sin
By an unnatural breeding in and in.
I say, Turn it out doors,
Into the moors.
I love a life whose plot is simple,
And does not thicken with every pimple,
A soul so sound no sickly conscience binds it,
That makes the universe no worse than 't finds it.
I love an earnest soul,
Whose mighty joy and sorrow
Are not drowned in a bowl,
And brought to life to-morrow;
That lives one tragedy,
And not seventy;
A conscience worth keeping;
Laughing not weeping;
A conscience wise and steady,
And forever ready;
Not changing with events,
Dealing in compliments;
A conscience exercised about
Large things, where one may doubt.
I love a soul not all of wood,
Predestinated to be good,
But true to the backbone
Unto itself alone,
And false to none;
Born to its own affairs,
Its own joys and own cares;
By whom the work which God begun
Is finished, and not undone;
Taken up where he left off,
Whether to worship or to scoff;
If not good, why then evil,
If not good god, good devil.
Goodness! you hypocrite, come out of that,
Live your life, do your work, then take your hat.
I have no patience towards
Such conscientious cowards.
Give me simple laboring folk,
Who love their work,
Whose virtue is song
To cheer God along.
Henry David Thoreau
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/conscience/
Conscience is instinct bred in the house,
Feeling and Thinking propagate the sin
By an unnatural breeding in and in.
I say, Turn it out doors,
Into the moors.
I love a life whose plot is simple,
And does not thicken with every pimple,
A soul so sound no sickly conscience binds it,
That makes the universe no worse than 't finds it.
I love an earnest soul,
Whose mighty joy and sorrow
Are not drowned in a bowl,
And brought to life to-morrow;
That lives one tragedy,
And not seventy;
A conscience worth keeping;
Laughing not weeping;
A conscience wise and steady,
And forever ready;
Not changing with events,
Dealing in compliments;
A conscience exercised about
Large things, where one may doubt.
I love a soul not all of wood,
Predestinated to be good,
But true to the backbone
Unto itself alone,
And false to none;
Born to its own affairs,
Its own joys and own cares;
By whom the work which God begun
Is finished, and not undone;
Taken up where he left off,
Whether to worship or to scoff;
If not good, why then evil,
If not good god, good devil.
Goodness! you hypocrite, come out of that,
Live your life, do your work, then take your hat.
I have no patience towards
Such conscientious cowards.
Give me simple laboring folk,
Who love their work,
Whose virtue is song
To cheer God along.
Henry David Thoreau
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/conscience/
Opinion
I think that someone's conscience plays a huge role in their actions. Some people don't have a very clear view of what is right and wrong, and it shows. Sometimes the benefit of committing a crime outweighs the fact that it's wrong. Macbeth was a perfect example of this scenario. He was willing to murder many people in order to gain power.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
"You Don't Know My Life" - A Window To Macbeth's Inner Thoughts
ACT IV
[scene i.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: freaked out)
I travelled to the witches cavern today, as their prophecies suggested. I begged them to reveal the truth of their prophecies to me. They began performing rituals right before my eyes and their apparitions revealed some things I will be considering in the future. I was told to beware of Macduff and also that none of woman born shall harm me.
[scene ii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: blood on my hands- again)
I instructed my loyal murderers to kill Banquo's wife and his children- which they did. Wrong? I'm not sure. My views of right and wrong have clearly been completely skewed. I just go with what feels right, and pretty much do anything to save myself! I'm trying to deal with the fact that I'm responsible for the deaths of several people- but it's hard to deal with it in a healthy way. I think I'm losing my mind. Tonight I plan to take a soothing bath with scented candles and calm music... maybe that will make me feel better.
[scene iii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: LOSING IT!)
My whole body is itchy all the time. I have this feeling that people are always watching me. I'm constantly looking over my shoulder. I know my enemies are plotting against me. Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but no one understands me. No one knows how it feels to be MACBETH!
ACT V
[scene i.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: lonely)
Lady Macbeth has lost her mind. The Gentlewoman sent me a text last night and informed me that she has been sleepwalking and trying to wash imaginary blood from her hands. Great, just great. I feel so alone without her... No one understands me.
[scene ii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: bloody)
Blood on my hands. Can't get it off. I have washed my hands a million times. It remains there. Dripping... People are coming for me... Will they help me wash my hands clean? Or must my hands be stained with blood yet again!!?
[scene iii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: confident)
Since no one woman born can harm me... what do I have to fear? I have nothing to worry about! I was informed today, however, that an army of 10,000 Englishmen are planning to attack the castle... so I think I might take a vacation in the meantime. I need some me-time. I hope they can hold off for a little while... The truth is, I could take all 10,000 of them single-handedly!
[scene iv.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: fed up)
I'm so sick of everyone's drama. Big deal, I made a few mistakes. Killed a few people. Can't they just leave it alone, and stop living in the past? Gah, people these days.
[scene v.]
Dear diary,
(mood: trapped)
I am trapped in a bloody box of twisted reality. My wife is dead. My castle is going to be annihalated anytime soon. The clock keeps ticking... Life goes on. I discovered today that life is one big joke. It means nothing! I will fight til the death, and defend my castle with everything I have. I've realized today that I've been taking life way too seriously. Bummer that I have to find that out the day I die.
[scene vi.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: helpless)
I told the Englishmen to put down their weapons... It was unsuccessful. I wonder if there are any good hiding places in the castle...
[scene vii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: not as helpless)
No one woman born can harm me. These words keep playing in my mind... Then who is to kill me? An alien? ... Idk. It makes me feel a little better about this whole 10,000 men out to kill me thing...
[scene viii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: LOL)
Oh silly Macduff, you think you can take me down? Silly, silly, childish Macduff. LOL!
[scene ix.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: uneasy)
Malcolm and Siward have entered the castle. I still am trying to think of a good hiding place...
[scene x.]
Dear diary,
(mood: oh *%$#!)
Macduff was not woman born! He was pulled from her womb through a c-section. My fate is now clear...
[scene xi.]
Dear diary,
(mood: humiliated)
They beheaded me and put me on a stick. I really thought I would've had a more heroic death...
[scene i.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: freaked out)
I travelled to the witches cavern today, as their prophecies suggested. I begged them to reveal the truth of their prophecies to me. They began performing rituals right before my eyes and their apparitions revealed some things I will be considering in the future. I was told to beware of Macduff and also that none of woman born shall harm me.
[scene ii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: blood on my hands- again)
I instructed my loyal murderers to kill Banquo's wife and his children- which they did. Wrong? I'm not sure. My views of right and wrong have clearly been completely skewed. I just go with what feels right, and pretty much do anything to save myself! I'm trying to deal with the fact that I'm responsible for the deaths of several people- but it's hard to deal with it in a healthy way. I think I'm losing my mind. Tonight I plan to take a soothing bath with scented candles and calm music... maybe that will make me feel better.
[scene iii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: LOSING IT!)
My whole body is itchy all the time. I have this feeling that people are always watching me. I'm constantly looking over my shoulder. I know my enemies are plotting against me. Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but no one understands me. No one knows how it feels to be MACBETH!
ACT V
[scene i.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: lonely)
Lady Macbeth has lost her mind. The Gentlewoman sent me a text last night and informed me that she has been sleepwalking and trying to wash imaginary blood from her hands. Great, just great. I feel so alone without her... No one understands me.
[scene ii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: bloody)
Blood on my hands. Can't get it off. I have washed my hands a million times. It remains there. Dripping... People are coming for me... Will they help me wash my hands clean? Or must my hands be stained with blood yet again!!?
[scene iii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: confident)
Since no one woman born can harm me... what do I have to fear? I have nothing to worry about! I was informed today, however, that an army of 10,000 Englishmen are planning to attack the castle... so I think I might take a vacation in the meantime. I need some me-time. I hope they can hold off for a little while... The truth is, I could take all 10,000 of them single-handedly!
[scene iv.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: fed up)
I'm so sick of everyone's drama. Big deal, I made a few mistakes. Killed a few people. Can't they just leave it alone, and stop living in the past? Gah, people these days.
[scene v.]
Dear diary,
(mood: trapped)
I am trapped in a bloody box of twisted reality. My wife is dead. My castle is going to be annihalated anytime soon. The clock keeps ticking... Life goes on. I discovered today that life is one big joke. It means nothing! I will fight til the death, and defend my castle with everything I have. I've realized today that I've been taking life way too seriously. Bummer that I have to find that out the day I die.
[scene vi.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: helpless)
I told the Englishmen to put down their weapons... It was unsuccessful. I wonder if there are any good hiding places in the castle...
[scene vii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: not as helpless)
No one woman born can harm me. These words keep playing in my mind... Then who is to kill me? An alien? ... Idk. It makes me feel a little better about this whole 10,000 men out to kill me thing...
[scene viii.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: LOL)
Oh silly Macduff, you think you can take me down? Silly, silly, childish Macduff. LOL!
[scene ix.]
Dear Diary,
(mood: uneasy)
Malcolm and Siward have entered the castle. I still am trying to think of a good hiding place...
[scene x.]
Dear diary,
(mood: oh *%$#!)
Macduff was not woman born! He was pulled from her womb through a c-section. My fate is now clear...
[scene xi.]
Dear diary,
(mood: humiliated)
They beheaded me and put me on a stick. I really thought I would've had a more heroic death...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Group Discussion #3
How do you see Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship changing in Acts IV and V? Give examples from the play to support your view.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Group Discussion #2
If you were a cop, what circumstances don't seem to add up concerning Duncan's murder?
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