A2 Literature: Macbeth & The Dagger

Right, so this is my first blog post, and trying to write this first sentence is much more difficult than I assumed it would be. I am currently studying the Gothic at A2, and am about to sit the AQA LITB3: Texts & Genres paper in about 2 weeks (eek!). I am absolutely desperate to get an A, so am keeping my fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed - I think you get the hint that I want an A. Currently, I am studying Macbeth, Frankenstein and The Bloody Chamber Collection as my three texts for the exam, which I genuinely love (although on the 5th read they do become slightly less riveting to try and get through.) Anyway, if you are studying 'Macbeth' then you will know that the supernatural is such a vital gothic concept that features predominantly throughout the play; whether this be through Shakespeare's presentation of the witches, the "dagger of the mind" which leads Macbeth to commit the transgressive deed of murder against King Duncan, or even the various apparitions conjured up by the witches in order to "draw [Macbeth] on to his confusion." Thus, throughout this blog post I am going to analyse in depth each of these "horrible imaginings" whilst trying to remain completely and utterly calm that I have this exam in TWO WEEKS AGH! Enjoy!

The Dagger - Act Two, Scene One - 

One of the most vital supernatural symbols within 'Macbeth' is the dagger in which Macbeth sees directly before his grotesque slaughter of King Duncan; subsequently destroying the natural order and the Divine Right of Kings (AO4 - Context.) Arguably, there are many vital interpretations regarding the true meaning of the dagger, which would be fantastic to use in the exam in order to show your evaluative ability - proving to the examiner that you can provide a vast range of perceptive ideas, and evaluate the strongest interpretation. So what could the dagger symbolise?

1. A manifestation of Macbeth's fear in response to the idea of murder - Arguably, this "dagger of the mind" could be interpreted as an externalisation of all that Macbeth has considered in regards to the murder of Duncan. Notably, prior to this soliloquy, the audience has experienced the vicious manipulation in which Lady Macbeth inflicts on her weak, passive husband as she swears to "dash...the brains out" of their own newborn infant in order to prove her unwavering loyalty to the deed. Therefore, further creating the sense that the dagger may be a representation of Macbeth's fear of what he is being pushed to commit, which externalises the pressure he feels to not only prove his manhood and bravery to his wife; but additionally to feed his own ambitious desires to be King of Scotland. 
2. The dagger is a tool conjured by the witches in order to spur Macbeth on to kill Duncan, and fulfil their ambiguous prophecies - In contrast, this conflicting interpretation is equally as vital when considering the symbolic meaning of the dagger. Throughout the play, Shakespeare creates the sense that the witches are merely conducting a malicious game of puppetry, which preys on the weak characteristics of Macbeth - such as his over-ambition, greed and weak nature ("too full o'th'milk of human kindness.") In order to support this interpretation, there are a range of quotes which can be used, such as: "Shall raise such artificial sprites,/ As by the strength of their illusion,/Shall draw him on to his confusion." as well as Macbeth's later realisation that these supernatural beings are nothing more than "juggling fiends." Notably, there are also a vital number of hints, which you could further use to consolidate your argument, such as:
• Shakespeare's use of imperative as Macbeth states: "Come, let me / Clutch thee.../dagger of the mind" entirely mirrors Lady Macbeth's earlier repetition during her "unsex me here" speech in Act One, Scene Five, as she too addresses the supernatural/evil spirits to remove her of her feminine qualities: "Come, to my woman's breasts,/ And take my milk for gall." However, what does this mirroring mean? Well, not only does this provide a great point to use to achieve AO2, Form, Structure & Language; but additionally, it highlights Macbeth's alignment with the witches, and the supernatural within this moment - as the use of imperative, which appears to always be used to address the supernatural, is repeated when addressing the "dagger of the mind." 
• Furthermore, the later addition of the "gouts of blood,/ Which was not so before"could also be aligned with the violent, chaotic, macabre nature of the witches, and their earlier mention of "killing swine." 

The Speech:

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.

Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible

To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but

A dagger of the mind, a false creation,

Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?

I see thee yet, in form as palpable

As this which now I draw.

Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going,

And such an instrument I was to use.

Mine eyes are made the fools o' th' other senses,

Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still,

And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,

Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.

It is the bloody business which informs

Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half-world

Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates

Pale Hecate’s offerings, and withered murder,

Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf,

Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,

With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design

Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,

Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear

Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,

And take the present horror from the time,

Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives.

Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

A bell rings. 

I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. 

Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell

That summons thee to heaven or to hell. 

Exit. 

Key Points to Consider:

Notably, within this speech, Macbeth can not be deemed as entirely insane at this moment; although the fact that he is hallucinating the sight of a dagger may deem so. However, Macbeth himself does realises that this is "a dagger of the mind, a false creation,/ Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?", which suggests the sense that Macbeth still possesses some form of sanity, which allows him to recognise this symbol to be an illusion. Although, despite Macbeth's realisation that this dagger is nothing more than one of his "horrible imaginings" he still remains in fear of it. 

Finally, this vital symbol/imagery of the dagger is key in revealing Macbeth's passivity and weak nature in the early stages of the play; which contrast strongly to his later determination and urgency as he becomes an "abhorred tyrant" and craves "his hour" upon the battlefield ("The mind I sway by, and the heart I bear,/Shall never sag with doubt, nor shake with fear.") Shakespeare's decision to have the "handle toward [Macbeth's] hand" is no mistake, or sudden decision - Shakespeare did not just wake up and think 'do you know what, let's just put the handle towards Macbeth's hand for pure banter, just to make his life a little bit easier.' Please don't write that in your exam. But anyway, this vital imagery of the direction of the blade, not only highlights the inevitability and intentions of Macbeth's murderous desires, with the blade pointing towards Duncan's chamber. However, it is vital in highlighting Macbeth's compliance with the supernatural, and his weak nature as after instinctively reaching for the dagger he states: "Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going" - which suggests that upon seeing the dagger, his decision has been made, he will pursue the way that he intended with the aid of this supernatural force. 


Hope this was helpful, please feel free to leave a comment below on your own ideas etc.