This week we progressed even further into our critical theory. We had a discussion with Dr. McDermitt from CMU which was really cool. She gave us a brief history of Shakespearean works and how they have changed over time. It was fascinating because she was very knowledgeable about Shakespeare, having studied him along time. She talked about how, when they were written, Shakespeare's plays were mostly for commoners, and how they show many different opinions because he often had to comply with the opinions of different kings. The best part was when we got to ask Dr. McDermitt questions, because she cleared up a lot about our critical theory. In my last blog I wondered whether the portrayal of women in Macbeth was generally positive or negative. When I asked Dr. McDermitt about this, she shared that Macbeth was written during the reign of King James VI. James VI hated women, and this is why all of the female characters in Macbeth are evil. The play was supposed to represent the negative effects of women gaining power. The play in general is supposed to be anti women, which makes since because 4 out of the five female characters are evil. I find it funny that nowadays, Lady Macbeth represents a strong woman who influences her husband. The meaning of Lady Macbeth, much like most of the symbols in Shakespeare's plays, has completely changed since when Macbeth was written. Knowledge, like beauty, really is in the eye of the beholder.
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