The Insufficiency of Virtue: Macbeth and the Natural OrderThe first scene-by-scene philosophical study of any Shakespeare play, this book demonstrates why Shakespeare's poetic writings still arouse and sustain serious inquiry and reflection. Using a combination of philosophical rigor, political insight, and textual thoroughness, Jan H. Blits delineates the competing forms of virtue within Macbeth--the courageous public virtue of warriors like Macbeth and the internal Christian virtue evoked by Duncan. This new interpretation of Macbeth explains crucial paradoxes overlooked by previous scholars and will serve as a model for future scholarship in the field. |
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Page 115
... innocence lay in his clean hands rather than in his good intention ( 3.1.1–10 ) , so Macbeth thinks that he can preserve his own innocence so long as he Act Three 115.
... innocence lay in his clean hands rather than in his good intention ( 3.1.1–10 ) , so Macbeth thinks that he can preserve his own innocence so long as he Act Three 115.
Page 118
... innocence . While accusing others either of playing a trick on him or of committing the crime itself ( " Which of you have done this ? " [ 3.4.48 ] ) , he immediately denies to the Ghost his own responsibility for the killing : Thou ...
... innocence . While accusing others either of playing a trick on him or of committing the crime itself ( " Which of you have done this ? " [ 3.4.48 ] ) , he immediately denies to the Ghost his own responsibility for the killing : Thou ...
Page 161
... innocence suffices for safety . Only now he doubts his own innocence . Blaming his own sinfulness ( not Macbeth's evil ) for his family's fate , he continues to believe that Heaven allows only sinners ( or those they love ) to suffer ...
... innocence suffices for safety . Only now he doubts his own innocence . Blaming his own sinfulness ( not Macbeth's evil ) for his family's fate , he continues to believe that Heaven allows only sinners ( or those they love ) to suffer ...
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Common terms and phrases
action answer appears Banquo battle become king beth beth's Birnam Wood blood castle Cawdor chance Christian conscience contrast crime crown dare death deed Despite Donalbain Duncan's murder Duncan's room Dunsinane elective monarchy England scene equivocation everything evil explicitly fate father fear fight final Fleance Ghost God's Gorgon guilt hand hath hear heart Heaven Hecate Hist Holinshed honor human husband innocence instruments of Darkness kill Duncan killers kingship Lady Mac Lady Macbeth Lady Macduff Lenox Lord Macbeth says Macbeth seems Macbeth speaks Macbeth thinks Malcolm manly virtue means mentions moral murdering Duncan murther Mystery Play natural order never night nobles once one's play political pray prophecy refers Rosse Rosse's royal Scot Scotland Scottish sense Seyton Shakespeare Shakespearean Tragedy Siward sleep soliloquy soul speech suggests sword tell Thane Thane of Cawdor thee things thou thought throne tion trust unsex wife Witches woman words