Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Macbeth is an Owl?????

In reading Macbeth, it may be quite challenging, difficult, and at times completely annoying to try to comprehend. But, I have come across a line in which I surprisingly understand. In Act 2, Scene 4 of the play, the Old Man says to Ross, "Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last, A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed." This quote flickered on a light bulb in my brain because in reality, it is highly unusual for an owl to kill a hawk. First off, owls only come out at night, whereas a falcon hunts its prey during the day. Secondly, like the quote says, a falcon usually flys very high in its own territory, which does not include owls in any way. Owls stay quite low to the land at night to try to hunt their prey, such as mice. It is very unnatural for a owl to even come in contact with a falcon, let alone kill one. But in the play, the audience can infer that the old man speaks of symbolizes Macbeth himself when he kills Duncan, which is the King, who also symbolizes the falcon. The King, who is at the top of the kingdom, just like the falcon high in the sky, gets murdered by Macbeth, who kills him at night, which is an owl's favorite time to come out and hunt. In conclusion, like Macbeth killing Duncan, it is unnatural for an owl to kill a falcon.


 

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