Discussion Board
In his sonnets Shakespeare demonstrates the evolution of the speaker’s identity. It changes from one poem to another, and every time the author reveals something new about the speaker. Thus, the Sonnet 3 is dedicated to the searches of a woman “so fair whose uneared womb/ Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?” (Shakespeare). The main character of this poem is a young man and he seeks for a prolongation of his image in the eternity: “Die single and thine image dies with thee” (Sonnet 3). Further, a change in the identity can be observed. He falls in love and experiences all the happiness and hardships of this feeling. In the sonnet 29 Shakespeare writes “For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings”, but in the sonnet 35 the speaker understands that “Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud”. One of the poems, sonnet 62, is fully dedicated to the topic of self-love. The speaker also understands that love is eternal and “not Time's fool” (Sonnet 116). Shakespeare last sonnets are devoted to the Dark Lady. In these poems speakers thinks about the death, lust, love and disgust.
In Macbeth, the identity of characters is represented with the help of dialogues and soliloquys. Thus, Macbeth talks to himself after the first witches’ prophesy came true: “Cannot be ill, cannot be good” (Macbeth, Act I, scene 3). Here, the reader may notice the doubts the main character experiences regarding his future destiny. However, later, his identity changes and he accepts the dark side of his soul: “Stars, hide your fires; /Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Macbeth, Act I, Scene 4). Though, Macbeth is not sure whether he should want the king’s death from the beginning, he decides that it is his fate. Moreover, he reveals that it is his latent desire. The identity of the character is revealed through the moment where he talks aside.
Classmate 1
Indeed, the genius of Shakespeare reveals in that ability to make every sonnet personal to the reader. While reading his poems, the one gets feeling that it was written about the modern times, about someone he/she knows or even about him/herself. It is also true that this is achieved with the help of generalized images. Shakespeare did not write about someone specific but created images which can be close to everyone.
It is true that the description of Macbeth’s identity is shown with the help of the other character. But I would also highlight that his soliloquys are important as they help to trace the change in its identity. The same refers to soliloquys of Macbeth’s wife as well.
Classmate 2
It is hard to say whether Shakespeare was using easy words or his language was sophisticated because we cannot evaluate the development of the language during the times Shakespeare lived. However, he managed to express deep emotions within the short form of sonnet creating lively and personal images. The first person perspective mentioned in this post is one of the helpful tools to create an emotional tie with the reader.
Again the idea of the dialogue as a means of revealing the identity is repeated here. It seems to me that it is generally true for the drama. However, the Act I of Macbeth demonstrates the power of soliloquys.
