#Macbeth ambition quotes

[edentonki]

Macbeth ambition quotes

#Macbeth ambition quotes full#

In Macbeth, ambition is the fatal flaw that causes his downfall.

#Macbeth ambition quotes full#

He cannot even react to his wife s death saying that life is only a tale/ told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/ signifying nothing. By the play s end, he has lost all emotion. Macbeth orders his men to kill Banquo and his son.ĭuring the course of the play, Macbeth changes from a person with some moral sense to a man who will stop at nothing to get and keep what he wants. Also, the witches predict that his friend Banquo s descendants will be kings of Scotland. Duncan s sons escape to England and try to avenge their father. (Act II, Scene ii) As Macbeth worries about failing to carry out the plan, Lady Macbeth tells him to screw up his courage and they wouldn t fail.Īlthough Macbeth becomes king of Scotland after killing King Duncan, he cannot have peace. If he do bleed,/ I ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, / For it must seem their guilt. She says, Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valour/ As thou art in desire? (Act I, Scene iv) She then makes sure he will perform the deed by taking an active role in preparing for the murder: his two chamberlains/ Will I with wine and wassel so convince, ( Act I, Scene vii) and cleaning up afterwards give me the daggers: the sleeping, and the dead/ Are but as pictures tis the eye of childhood/ That fears a painted devil. When Macbeth decides not to continue with their plan to murder Duncan, his wife urges him to act on his desires or he will think of himself as a coward. She says, Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it, meaning that Macbeth is not without ambition, but lack of ruthlessness that is needed. She tries to influence him to kill Duncan. In Act I, Scene v, Lady Macbeth also influences Macbeth s ambition, Hie thee hither,/ that I may pour my spirits in thine ear,/ and chastise with the valour of my tongue/ all that impedes thee from the golden round,/ which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem/ to have thee crown d withal. Also, the apparitions who are called by the witches influence Macbeth by making him believe that he is invincible in Act IV, Scene I, rebellion s head, rise never, till the wood/ of Birnam rise, and our high- placed Macbeth/ shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath/ to time, and mortal custom. In Act I, Scene iii, the witches and their prophecies influence Macbeth s ambition as he begins to consider murdering Duncan, If good, why do I yield to that suggestion/ whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ and make my seated heart knock at my ribs,/ against the use of nature? Macbeth strongly believes witches words. Lady Macbeth is the biggest encouragement to his ambition, since she uses her husband s trust to change her own future. Macbeth becomes more ambitious as his wife and the witches make him question himself and his desires. Macbeth s desire to gain wealth and status completely overpowers him. In Macbeth, Shakespeare interprets a man s lifelong ambition that seems to be fulfilled, but causes consequences that his mind cannot handle. Watson comments that ambition becomes the enemy of all life, especially that of the ambitious man himself, in this play. Macbeth then becomes king of Scotland.Īccording to his critical essay on Macbeth, Shakespeare and the Hazards of Ambition, Robert N. Encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan who stays as a guest in his castle. The witches have predicted that Macbeth would first become Thane of Cawdor and then king of Scotland. After the first part of the prophecy by the witches whom he has met returning from battle comes true, he begins to think the second part may also come true, supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. In the play, Macbeth is described as a man who has ambitions of becoming king. In Macbeth, a play set in Scotland, William Shakespeare wrote a tragedy of a man s ambition.

[blueheartbookclub]

"Macbeth: The Tragic Unraveling of Ambition in Shakespeare's Masterpiece"

William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is an immortal tragedy that unfurls a tapestry of human ambition, supernatural forces, and the devastating consequences of unchecked power. Published in the early 17th century, this play has transcended the confines of time, continuing to captivate audiences with its exploration of the darkest corners of the human soul. The title "Macbeth" resonates as an evocative symbol of tragedy, ambition, and the inexorable descent into moral decay.

The play revolves around Macbeth, a valiant Scottish general, whose encounter with three mysterious witches sets in motion a series of events that lead him on a treacherous path to power. As the witches prophesy Macbeth's ascent to the throne, the seeds of ambition take root in his mind, fueling a relentless pursuit of the crown. Shakespeare masterfully delves into the psychological complexities of Macbeth's character, depicting the corrosive effects of unchecked ambition on the human psyche.

The title character's tragic flaw becomes the catalyst for a series of heinous acts, including regicide, betrayal, and a descent into madness. Lady Macbeth, an equally complex figure, adds another layer to the narrative as she grapples with her own ambitions and the consequences of the couple's ruthless pursuit of power. The play unfolds with a relentless momentum, driven by a palpable sense of impending doom that permeates the air.

Shakespeare's language is a testament to his unparalleled mastery, with soliloquies and dialogues that have become iconic in the realm of English literature. The "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" soliloquy, delivered by Macbeth upon learning of Lady Macbeth's death, encapsulates the play's exploration of the ephemeral nature of life and the futility of ambition. The play's evocative imagery, supernatural elements, and poetic prose contribute to its enduring impact on audiences and scholars alike.

"Macbeth" also engages with themes of fate, free will, and the influence of supernatural forces. The witches, with their cryptic prophecies, serve as agents of fate, pushing Macbeth toward his tragic destiny. The interplay between destiny and human agency adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, prompting audiences to reflect on the fine line between choice and preordained fate.

The play's enduring relevance lies in its ability to resonate with audiences across centuries. "Macbeth" is a timeless exploration of the corrupting nature of ambition and the moral consequences of unrestrained power. It transcends its historical and cultural origins, offering universal insights into the human condition.

In conclusion, "Macbeth" remains a crowning jewel in William Shakespeare's illustrious body of work. The play's exploration of ambition, moral decay, and the consequences of power showcases Shakespeare's unparalleled ability to probe the depths of the human soul. With its tragic narrative, memorable characters, and rich language, "Macbeth" continues to be a poignant and thought-provoking masterpiece that invites audiences to reflect on the enduring themes that define the human experience.

William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is available in Amazon in paperback 10.99$ and hardcover 18.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 171

Language: English

Rating: 10/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[blueheartbooks]

"Macbeth: The Tragic Unraveling of Ambition in Shakespeare's Masterpiece"

William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is an immortal tragedy that unfurls a tapestry of human ambition, supernatural forces, and the devastating consequences of unchecked power. Published in the early 17th century, this play has transcended the confines of time, continuing to captivate audiences with its exploration of the darkest corners of the human soul. The title "Macbeth" resonates as an evocative symbol of tragedy, ambition, and the inexorable descent into moral decay.

The play revolves around Macbeth, a valiant Scottish general, whose encounter with three mysterious witches sets in motion a series of events that lead him on a treacherous path to power. As the witches prophesy Macbeth's ascent to the throne, the seeds of ambition take root in his mind, fueling a relentless pursuit of the crown. Shakespeare masterfully delves into the psychological complexities of Macbeth's character, depicting the corrosive effects of unchecked ambition on the human psyche.

The title character's tragic flaw becomes the catalyst for a series of heinous acts, including regicide, betrayal, and a descent into madness. Lady Macbeth, an equally complex figure, adds another layer to the narrative as she grapples with her own ambitions and the consequences of the couple's ruthless pursuit of power. The play unfolds with a relentless momentum, driven by a palpable sense of impending doom that permeates the air.

Shakespeare's language is a testament to his unparalleled mastery, with soliloquies and dialogues that have become iconic in the realm of English literature. The "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" soliloquy, delivered by Macbeth upon learning of Lady Macbeth's death, encapsulates the play's exploration of the ephemeral nature of life and the futility of ambition. The play's evocative imagery, supernatural elements, and poetic prose contribute to its enduring impact on audiences and scholars alike.

"Macbeth" also engages with themes of fate, free will, and the influence of supernatural forces. The witches, with their cryptic prophecies, serve as agents of fate, pushing Macbeth toward his tragic destiny. The interplay between destiny and human agency adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, prompting audiences to reflect on the fine line between choice and preordained fate.

The play's enduring relevance lies in its ability to resonate with audiences across centuries. "Macbeth" is a timeless exploration of the corrupting nature of ambition and the moral consequences of unrestrained power. It transcends its historical and cultural origins, offering universal insights into the human condition.

In conclusion, "Macbeth" remains a crowning jewel in William Shakespeare's illustrious body of work. The play's exploration of ambition, moral decay, and the consequences of power showcases Shakespeare's unparalleled ability to probe the depths of the human soul. With its tragic narrative, memorable characters, and rich language, "Macbeth" continues to be a poignant and thought-provoking masterpiece that invites audiences to reflect on the enduring themes that define the human experience.

William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is available in Amazon in paperback 10.99$ and hardcover 18.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 171

Language: English

Rating: 10/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[writingwithfolklore]

How to Nail your School Essays

                Not to brag, but I’m kind of a big deal when it comes to essays at my school. Since I started highschool I haven’t received a grade less than 90% on an essay—so I’m here to share my secret. This works for the classic essay, but you can also use the same advice and fit it to formal reports or other academic writing.

1. Your essay is about 2 things, demonstrated 3 or more times

This is how I’ve always thought about essays. They’re about two ideas, demonstrated as many times as you need to fill the wordcount. Shakespeare + Feminism, Media + Truth versus Misconception, etc. etc. If you’re lucky, your teacher or prof will give you one of your elements. You’ll get assignments like, “write an essay about Hamlet” or “write an essay about the American dream” lucky you, that’s your first thing—now you need to connect it with another.

This connecting idea is my favourite part because you just get to choose a concept or idea you’re interested in. Here’s a tip, if your first/given topic is something concrete, choose an abstract connecting idea. If your given topic is something abstract, choose a concrete.

So, Hamlet (concrete) could be paired with any abstract concept: Loyalty, Truth, Feminism, etc.

However, if your prof gives you something like, “truth” or “race theory”, you’ll find it much easier to connect that with a more concrete thing, like a book, movie, or other piece of media, or even a specific person.

If you are luckiest, your prof will give you both things, “write about the American Dream in The Great Gatsby” in this case, you’re onto the next stage.

2. Stick to the formula

Tried, tested, true. Nothing wrong with a formula, especially not when it gives you A+ grades. Typical essay structure is:

Intro with thesis

2. 1st Body

2a. Evidence that proves it 1

2i. Justify its relevance

2b. Evidence that proves it 2

2ii. Justify its relevance

Etc.

3. 2nd Body

3a. Evidence that proves it

3i.Justification

Etc.

4. 3rd Body

4a. Rise and repeat, you know where this is going.

5. Some may argue…

6. Conclusion

Let’s break it down.

Thesis:

                Thesis completely outlines all your points, or the three+ places you’re demonstrating your connection, and why it matters.

                Here is an intro + thesis I wrote a couple years ago:

“This literature review will explore the impacts influencer marketing has on the children that regularly consume social media content. Specifically, this review will focus on how influencers can impact children’s brand preferences, dietary choices, and lastly, the influx of children taking advantage of this system and becoming influencers themselves.”

Or

“Burned discusses the human aspect of sex work and reverses reader’s expectations on sex workers, while Not in My Neighbourhood discusses prostitutes as victims of a system created against them. Both challenge readers’ perceptions of sex workers, effectively drawing attention to the ethics of displacing sex workers from their cities.”

                So you have your connection (children and social media)/(Burned and Not in My Neighbourhood and sex work), and the different ways you plan on exploring or proving that idea (children’s brand preferences, dietary choices, children becoming influencers.) etc.

                You may also have a more specific stance in your thesis. Such as, “In Macbeth, ambition is shown to be Macbeth’s ultimate downfall in these three ways.”

The Body Paragraphs

                You start out every body paragraph with the point of the paragraph, or what it’s aiming to prove. Such as, “Influencers often include advertisements within their content, which can encourage children to feel more amiably to certain brands their favourite content creators endorse frequently more than others.”

                After this claim, you spend the rest of the paragraph further proving it through examples. This will look like citing a specific source (a book, academic journal, quote, etc.) such as, “The authors claim likeable influencers can associate their likeability with the products they use, influencing children’s perception of brands, referred to as ‘meaning transfer’ (De Veirman et al. 2019)” (super important to always cite these sources!)

                The last part is after each example/proof--you need to justify why this proves your point/is important. So, “This proves children are more influenced towards certain products depending on how close of a relationship they perceive to have with the influencer.”

                Typically, your evidence will all lead into each other so you can transition to the next piece of proof, then the justification, rinse and repeat until you’re finished your paragraph. You can have as many pieces of evidence as you want per paragraph, and the longer your word requirement, the more you’ll want to fit into each point (or the more bodies you want to have.)

                Piece of evidence + why it matters, rinse and repeat.

Some May Argue:

                This is a small paragraph just before your conclusion where you anticipate an argument your readers may have, and disprove it. So, for example, you’d start with, “Some may argue that with parent supervision, the impacts of influencers on children could be lessened or moot. However…” and then explain why they’re wrong. This strengthens your argument, and proves that you’ve really thought out your stance.

Conclusion:

                Lastly, you want to sum up all the conclusions you came to in a few sentences. Your last line is one of the most important (in my opinion). I call it the mic drop moment. Leaving a lasting impact on your reader can bring your essay from an A to an A+, so you really want to nail this final sentence.

                My final sentence was, “Ultimately, it is hard to know in advance how technology and social media will impact the development of children who have always grown up with some form of screen, but until they grow up, parents and caregivers need to take care in the content their children consume, and their very possible exploitation online.”

This sentence is backed by the entirety of the essay that came before it, and usually leaves a little something to chew on for the readers.

Any other tips I missed?

[poppletonink]

Resources For People Studying 'Macbeth'

Videos

Mr Bruff's Analysis Videos

Shakespeare In Seven Minutes: Macbeth Summary

Last Minute Macbeth Revision

Macbeth Contextual Analysis

Top 12 Most Important Macbeth Quotes

Articles

Plot Summary

Characters

Themes

Form, Structure and Language

Dramatisation

Sample Exam Question

Podcast Episodes

Act 1: Scenes 1 and 2

Act 1: Scene 3

Act 1: Scenes 4 and 5

Act 1: Scenes 6 and 7

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5: Scenes 1-3

Act 5: Scenes 4-9

Character Analysis: Lady Macbeth

Character Analysis: Macduff

Character Analysis: King Duncan

Character Analysis: The Witches

Character Analysis: Banquo

Pathetic Fallacy and Symbolism

Structure, Meter and Dramatic Irony

Themes: Bravery

Themes: Power and Ambition

Themes: Violence

Themes: Choice (Fate vs Free Will)

Themes: Supernatural

Themes: Masculinity

Themes: Armour, Kingship and Natural Order

Themes: Appearances and Deception

Themes: Morality

Themes/Motifs: Women, Children and Sleep

Themes/Motifs: Madness and Blood

[bgsobvioustourist]

So according to Theo Solomon, Wyll would enjoy Shakespeare. And Gale drops a couple Shakespeare quotes in-game. (Maybe Faerûn got the plays through some bizarre interdimentional snag?)

This opens up the potential for the two of them to connect and communicate in the most ridiculously ornate- or piercingly sincere- ways possible. It also opens the gate for some world-class trolling. Imagine:

Wyll: [handing Gale a copy of Macbeth] Have you tried this one? I think you'd like it.

Gale: Of course I've tried it! I do appreciate you thinking of me, though. [flips through the pages] This is a very nice edition! Oh, heavens, did you fold one of these pages? [straightens out the corner of the page and flattens the crease]

Gale: Wait.

There on the dog-eared page, Wyll has underlined Act I, Scene 7, lines 25-28.

"I have no spur / to prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o'er-leaps itself, / And falls on th'other- "

[pardonmydelays]

fave lyrics from "take a break"?

we're on take a break & my lovely anon is also taking a break... interesting! ok, back to the lyrics:

my dearest, angelica, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day, i trust you'll understand the reference to another scottish tragedy without my having to name the play, they think me macbeth, & ambition is my folly, i'm a polymath, a pain in the ass, a massive pain, madison is banquo, jefferson's macduff & birnam wood is congress on its way to dunsinane - ok but this is insane everybody agrees

in a letter i received from you two weeks ago i noticed a comma in the middle of a phrase, it changed the meaning, did you intend this? one stroke & you've consumed my waking days, it says: my dearest, angelica, with a comma after "dearest", you've written my dearest, angelica... - sorry, i can't help but quote lorde here, "i overthink your punctuation use, not my fault, just a thing that my mind do" cause SAME, i've always been like this so bonus points for lin again he's the love of my life in case you can't tell

angelica, tell this man john adams spends the summer with his family/angelica, tell my wife john adams doesn't have a real job anyway - mostly because it's so damn funny hshshshhs

honorable mention: philip's rap & hammy's hey our kid is pretty great at the end of it cause it's soooo cute

bonus: lin's demo for today! because it's a little bit different than the final version & also it's so damn funny to hear lin as philip hshshshsh (as usual, all the characters are played by him so go have a laugh).

[cto10121]

Stop Confusing Shakespearean Tragedy With Greek Tragedy: Or, Tragedy of Circumstance vs. Character

So this mini analysis/rant was brought to you by that Harley Granville-Barker quote (via John Green) about R&J being a tragedy of “youth as youth sees it.” Not only is this reductive but also the quote just…exemplifies the struggle of academics to categorize Shakespeare’s mid-90s tragedies. Not just R&J but Hamlet and even Macbeth as well (with Othello roped in sometimes as a 🤷‍♂️). After all, in these plays there is usually not one Big Tragic Flaw (Macbeth sometimes gets a pass for Ambition) that undoes the tragic protagonist and leads them to their utter ruin. These characters’s flaws are instead just part-and-parcel with their humanity.

So a lot of the time academics just do a little awkward side-step and say “Weeeell, the tragic protagonists in these things are young, even the Macbeths, soooooo Tragedy of Youth(tm) maybe??” but that of course is just academic weak sauce, no true spice at all. The fact that these protagonists are young is necessary to the worldbuilding plausibility, not the tragedy. As we have seen before, an older R&J and Hamlet and even Macbeth have been done before and were in fact the norm until very recently. It’s just much more plausible to their characters and their situation (that of relative powerlessness) if they are indeed young than if they were older.

However, their tragedies are not due to youth or even character frailty so much as circumstance. Unlike King Lear, Othello, and Coriolanus, Macbeth, Hamlet, and R&J’s tragedies are ultimately very situational.

What Is Tragedy?

Tragedy in the Greco-Roman tradition stems from harmatia, a character flaw that leads to the tragic protagonist’s undoing. This is usually the definition academics have when gauging Shakespearean Tragedy, even though Shakespeare had a vastly different take on tragedy.

In Greek tragedy, the Tragic Protagonist’s fate was written in the stars, unmovable and unshakable no matter what the tragic protagonist does (see: Oedipus Rex). The TP cannot escape fate, no matter what he tries.

By contrast, Shakespearean tragedy is never fully inevitable. It can always, at some level, be preventable. However, given the situation or circumstances in which the tragic events occur, as well as the tragic protagonists, the tragedy becomes inevitable from a certain point onwards—the inciting event.

This is true for both forms of Shakespearean tragedy, character and circumstance. That said, Shakespeare’s character tragedy is usually the most unyielding of them all, since it hedges more closely to the Greek model. With King Lear’s machismo and temper, Coriolanus’s military fascism, and Othello’s honor armor, the situation in which their tragedies unfold does not matter much, ultimately. You gain an understanding that this tragedy would have happened much earlier or much later and more or less along these same lines. These characters are too set in their ways to change and would have reacted in very similar ways in similar situations.

Not so for R&J, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Their tragedies are much more dependent on their circumstances and their world (particularly re: patriarchy and hierarchy) than anything else. Without that context, I think it’s clear these people would never have done what they did.

Both R&J, Hamlet, and Macbeth are flawed characters, but their flaws are not inherently tragic ones. Rather, their flaws stem from ordinary human emotions and desires that pretty much everyone has. R&J are young and in love and want to be together; Hamlet is a sensitive intellectual mourning his beloved father, with zero tolerance for BS, including Murderous Uncle BS; Macbeth hopes to move up in the world and secure a better position for him and his wife.

When Character Does Matter: Tragic Protagonists Must GAF

This is not to say character doesn’t matter completely in these Tragedies of Circumstance. On the contrary, they very much do.

Because no matter how much of a clusterfuck the tragic situation or circumstance, there is no tragedy if the tragic protagonist simply…well, DNGAF.

For instance, if Hamlet just decided to 🤷‍♂️, shut his mouth, and keep his head down and accept Claudius as true ruler because, well, what can he do…then most likely there would have been no tragedy for him. He is the prince of Denmark, after all. Claudius and Gertrude are shown to be content at the merest show of compliance. Even if Denmark’s moral and legal corruption would have doomed them, even if Fortinbras were successful in this timeline, it would not have been Hamlet’s tragedy alone.

If R&J had truly been the lusty fiends Internet clowns constantly claim they are, concerned only with getting themselves good and properly laid, then they would not have gone as far as they did with their ~concupiscence. Both their passivity and obedience would have been inertia enough and they would have chosen not to rock the boat. Hell, it must likely wouldn’t have even gotten to that point. Fuckboy!Romeo would have tried to persuade Juliet to give it up without marriage and fuckgirl!Juliet would have let him. At worst they would have eloped and fucked off out of Verona—and hence, no tragedy. And if they were indeed more invested in the feud, then any love relationship would truly have been out of the question.

And if Macbeth had not met the witches, had not truly not had cared for climbing rank, or just DNGAF about his wife acting as the man of the house, then killing Duncan and usurping him would not have proven to be an allure. He would simply continue serving Duncan or the next ruler.

But of course, that isn’t possible. Why? Because then the personalities of these Tragic Protagonists would be completely different—much less sympathetic, to be sure. Who would care about a Danish prince who ignores a truly serious miscarriage of justice? Who would care about the fate of two selfish Italian lovers? Who would respect a Scottish sycophant who bends the knee at whoever is in charge? Not to mention that there just simply wouldn’t be a plot to begin with and the story would be completely changed for the worst.

It just isn’t in Hamlet’s character not to care about his father’s murder. It just isn’t in R&J’s characters to suddenly start caring about the feud and stay away from their love. And it just isn’t in Macbeth’s character not to succumb to the pressures of masculinity, as his culture demands he be.

Tragic protagonists do not have to be sympathetic or likable, although their plight usually is. But Tragedies of Circumstance almost universally call for sympathetic protagonists who would react as most people would in their situation. Nobody would react with indifference at learning their beloved father has been murdered. Nobody would consider giving up a promising relationship for a violent and senseless feud. And if tempted enough, anyone would risk doing something unethical and immoral to get ahead.

Summing Up

Shakespeare obviously had a very different idea of tragedy than the Greeks—precisely because he was responding to the Greek model in the first place while he was adapting the source materials for his plays. And indeed, the very act of adaptation would prompt taking a different approach, however slight.

So if his early tragedies don’t seem as inevitable as they are until after a certain turning point (Tybalt’s death, Polonius’s death, Duncan’s death)…that’s the point. Tragedy is never fully inevitable in Shakespeare because almost nothing about our world and society is. We literally just made it up. Men must be tough and never cry and if someone insults them they must fight them even risking their lives? Made up BS. Women must be quiet and obedient and never have sex outside of marriage or else they’ll be tainted? Made up BS. And all of that BS obscures what human beings really are and what they truly want. And ultimately, that’s what all these tragedies boil down to.

[art-of-manliness]

Odds & Ends: September 6, 2024

Macbeth. Ever since my podcast with Eliot Cohen on what Shakespeare can teach us about power and leadership, I’ve had a hankering to read more of the Bard. But I read somewhere that to really get the full effect of Shakespeare’s plays, it helps to hear the plays performed instead of merely reading them. So I downloaded a performance of Macbeth done by the Folgers Theatre on my Audible app and listened to it during my morning walks. It was great! So many good lessons on the dangers of unchecked ambition. I’ve already downloaded King Richard III, and it will be my next morning walk companion. If you’ve wanted to get more Shakespeare in your life, try listening to him instead of reading him.  Flint and Tinder Waxed Canvas Trucker Jacket. The summer heat broke here in Oklahoma this week, and we’re starting to get a faint whiff of fall. Which means I’ll soon be busting out my favorite piece of autumnal clothing: the Flint and Tinder Waxed Canvas Jacket. I’ve had mine since 2016, and it’s only gotten more handsome with time. The F&T Trucker Jacket is pricey, but it will give you years of use. I’ll probably still be wearing mine in another eight years. Read my full review of the Flint and Tinder Waxed Canvas Trucker Jacket here.  EA Sports NCAA College Football 25. Overall, I haven’t been a big fan of the changes that NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) has brought to college sports. But one bright spot is that it ushered in the return of one of my favorite video games from high school: EA Sports NCAA College Football. (The game had been on a decade-long hiatus because of legal disputes over the use of players’ likenesses in the game). Gus and I have been playing it together the past few weeks, and we both really enjoy it. It’s fun to see all the little traditions from each college that the designers have put into the game. The playbook is a lot of fun, too. Back in high school, our football team ran the triple option that Air Force runs, so I’ve been playing as the Falcons to digitally relive my Friday night lights glory days. It’s just been cool playing a video game that I enjoyed as a young man with my son who is now a young man.  The Natural. This Robert Redford baseball classic was my latest zone 2 cardio watch. I haven’t enjoyed a movie this much in a long time. First, the golden-hued cinematography bathes everything in a warm glow of nostalgia. It feels good just seeing the moving images on the screen. Second, the story is top-notch. It’s a baseball flick, but the movie makes obvious allusions to Greek epic poetry, particularly the Odyssey. Third, the acting is stellar: Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Wilford Brimley, Kim Basinger, Robert Duvall…such an all-star cast. I first watched this movie as a kid; it hit different watching it as a middle-aged man. Highly recommend.  Quote of the Week Nothing can lift the heart of man Like manhood in a fellow-man. The thought of heaven’s great King afar But humbles us—too weak to scan But manly greatness men can span, And feel the bonds that draw. —Herman Melville Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TCwPtr

[adj444]

MACBETH BLANKS (& answers)

YES I'M AT IT AGAIN i made these a week or two ago and i just sat down and did them all blind & got all but like 2 things right... THESE WORK!!!! YIPPEEEE essential macbeth quotes from me to you. here these are as a quizlet too <-

LADY MACBETH:

Look like the ________ ______ but be the _______ _______

____ me here & ____ me from the crown to the toe ___-____ of ______ _______

Come to my woman's ______ and take my ____ for ____

All the ______ of ______ will not _______ this ______ ____

(irt. MACBETH) Yet I do ____ thy ______; It is too ____ of the ____ __ _____ ________

MACBETH:

This ____________ soliciting cannot be ___, cannot be ____

If good, why do I _____ to that __________, whose ______ _____ doth _____ my ____ and make my ______ _____ _____ at my ____ against the use of _______?

Two ______ are told, as _____ ________ to the ________ act of the ________ _____

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere ____ if it were ____ _______

I have no ____ to _____ the sides of my ______; only ________ ________

Stars, ____ ____ _____, let ______ not see my _____ & ____ _______

Is this a ______ which I see before me, the ______ ______ my ____?

Art thou but a ______ of the ____, a _____ ________, proceeding from the ____-________ _____?

_____ ____ must hide what the _____ _____ doth know

To be ____ is nothing but to be ______ ____

Better be with the ____, whom we, to gain our _____, have ____ to _____, than on the _______ of the mind to ___ in ________ _______

Full of _________ is __ ____

I have ______ ____ of _______

Life's but a _______ ______... it is a ____ told by __ _____, full of _____ and ____, signifying _______

(irt DUNCAN) Here lay Duncan, his ______ ____ _____ with his ______ _____

BANQUO:

There's _________ __ ______; Their _______ are ___ ___

MACDUFF:

(irt. MACBETH) Lest our ___ _____ sit ______ than our ___

(irt. SCOTLAND) Each new morn new _____ ____, new _______ ___; new _______ ______ ______ on the ____

MALCOLM:

(irt. SCOTLAND) It _____, it ______, and each day a new ____ is _____ to ___ ______

(irt. MACBETH) This ______, whose sole ____ ________ our _______

(irt. MACBETH) The cruel ministers of this ____ _______ and his _____-____ _____

LADY MACBETH:

Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't

(irt MACBETH) Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full of the milk of human kindness

Unsex me here & fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty

Come to my woman's breasts and take my milk for gall

All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand

MACBETH:

This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good

If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?

Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well if it were done quickly

I have no spurs to prick the sides of my intent; only vaulting ambition

Stars, hide your fires, let heaven not see my black & deep desires

Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?

Art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?

False face must hide what the false heart doth know

To be thus is nothing but to be safely thus

Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstacy

Full of scorpions is my mind

I have supped full of horrors

Life's but a walking shadow... it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

(irt. DUNCAN) Here lay Duncan, his silver skin laced with his golden blood

BANQUO:

There's husbandry in heaven; Their candles are all out

MACDUFF:

Lest our old robes sit easier than our new

(irt. SCOTLAND) Each new morn new widows howl, new orphans cry; new sorrows strike heaven on the face

MALCOLM:

(irt. SCOTLAND) It weeps, it bleeds, and each day a new gash is added to her wounds

(irt. MACBETH) This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues

(irt. MACBETH) The cruel ministers of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen

[sparatus]

Blood Will Have Blood or Sentiment and Reason for the wip folder game plsplspls?

"or" as if that word does not mean "and" when you are annoying and love talking about your own bullshit like i am and do

wip folder game

blood will have blood

blood will have blood is the planned sequel to my m.e. big bang fic from last year, serpents in the garden, just won't be for a big bang. probably. don't quote me.

in serpents, tevos confides in irissa that she intends to pull the alliance in as an ally to the asari republics, to combat the tight alliance between the turians and salarians and their influence over the non-council species; she feels that bringing humanity in as an ally, potentially even a client race, is key to maintaining asari superiority and bringing the others back to heel. in blood, tevos, concerned by irissa's response and worried she's straying too far from the fold, gets permission from the other matriarchs to bring irissa in on the beacon conspiracy. irissa, still stunned by what she learned before, is floored, but smart enough to keep her wits about her and pretend to be onboard and a good little supremacist.

in reality, she takes the intel to quentius. quentius was told by sparatus at the end of serpents that sparky and his two predecessors have been quietly gathering intel on tevos and the matriarchs to take them down for decades, and immediately realizes this is the smoking gun they've been waiting for. he arranges a meeting with sparatus so irissa can share what she knows, and after discussing with sparatus irissa agrees to testify in exchange for protection, as she's put the pieces together that this is the same thing that happened to matriarch aethyta several years ago. sparky agrees.

unfortunately, tevos catches on, and all three become targets.

the assassins have instructions to stagger the deaths so it doesn't look connected. unfortunately for her, she's wanted to off sparky for years anyway, and in her eagerness forgets that he has a horde of spectres who are deathly loyal to him. while saren, nihlus, and avitus are investigating the assassin they foiled, irissa is gravely wounded, and that's when it clicks. the mission gains a second layer of trying to protect the three until sparky can bring the case to court, and irissa can testify, and tevos can lose. and eventually they follow the trail back to tevos's bondmate eshaasya t'daana, acting on her orders, who just. betrays her flat-out. no loyalty, because the relationship was always just about ambition for the both of them, and isn't that just the greatest damnation they could ask for?

basically it's a mix of political intrigue (my beloved <3) and a spectre mission fic and i'm so hype for it i just need to get in the headspace for it. unfortunately the big bang crunch WAS very good for writing serpents. the title comes from another macbeth quote, same as serpents did, referencing how tevos's ambition and ruthlessness will turn on her and spell her downfall in the end.

sentiment and reason (ch2)

sentiment and reason [ao3 link!] is the second fic in the dead parents club murder mysteries series. a prequel to to catch a rabbit, sentiment follows avitus and macen investigating the murder of a famed and much-beloved general on a border world - while posing as a married couple to infiltrate the community, and while avitus is still nursing his old one-sided "rivalry" (crush he was mad about) with macen from basic training.

in chapter 2, avitus is recruited for the mission and arrives on thracia to get briefed by saren and discuss the plan with desolas and gen. callendella agonian, the victim's granddaughter and general in charge of colony defense for thracia. unfortunately, this is also where he discovers his old rival from basic still has the audacity to exist and be, like, a nice guy and attractive, and he's pissed about it, to the point he briefly forgets not to embarrass himself in front of his old mentor, his hero, and the person he's asking to trust him to find her grandfather's murderer. and tragically, that's what gives saren the idea to borrow macen from blackwatch so they can infiltrate the neighborhood posing as newlyweds wanting to move in.

here have a snip

--

Just like that, he deflated. Whether it was the shame of annoying an officer he’d thrown his whole heart behind a lifetime ago, or just the embarrassment of his outburst being witnessed, he wasn't sure and didn't want to say, but either way, the air rushed out of his chest, and he awkwardly shuffled his feet. “In my defense, he pulls shit like that on me all the time," he muttered, a weak protest even to him.

Desolas scoffed, and Avitus wilted a little further. The Scourge of Shanxi was anything but prim and proper at the moment, slouched sideways in a cushy chair in front of a wide desk with one ankle propped up on his knee and bare foot dangling idly in the air, but he still radiated all the charisma and authority that had an entire empire eating out of the palm of his hand. Avitus and his friends on Shanxi had had long discussions about him late at night, how he was different from all the stuffy old generals they’d met before and how sure they were he’d lead them to victory in no time at all - and now he’d just made a fucking fool of himself right in front of him. Cool.

Saren’s eyes flicked between them for a second before he coughed into his fist. “You’ll recall, Desolas, that I recruited Nihlus after meeting him hungover and missing his pants,” he commented, “and he has outsmarted justicars and taken down sapient-sacrificing cults. Off-color introductions belying hyper-competence is par for the course in our department.”

One blue-striped brow plate went up, and Desolas mulled this over a bit before snorting hard enough to rattle his nasal plates and giving a rough shrug. “Fair enough,” he grumbled.

Avitus could have kissed the little twink on the mouth. He settled instead for fluttering his mandibles, and Saren gave him a small, conspiratorial wink before adding, “Besides, you subjected us all to seventeen minutes of complaining about your wife lifting you off the ground to assert dominance, so I personally don’t think you have any room to talk here.”

Desolas blinked at him, then scrunched his nasal plates and dropped his mandibles in a snarl, only to be abruptly cut off by -

“Gentlemen, please.”

All three of them jumped, but Avitus most of all. He hadn’t even registered that the chair on the other side of the big desk was occupied, he was so focused on the brothers asshole in front of him. They’d interviewed Old Tag’s granddaughter on the news a few times, the usual sound bite-hunting bullshit about how the family was handling the old man’s death (sad, obviously) and if Thracia would be honoring him in any way (a plaque on the memorial wall and a good funeral), but Avitus hadn’t paid much attention - it turned out the Agonians all looked an awful lot alike. There was almost something spooky about seeing Callendella now, steepling her fingers in front of her narrowed eyes and leaned back in her chair, a ghost of a younger Tag with the crest ripped off. Same dark burgundy plates, same intelligent gray eyes, same swooping white tattoos. Her mandibles even had the same little notch on the lower front corner, if he squinted. The age fade was smaller, only most of the way out to her fringe instead of eclipsing most of her head, and she didn’t have quite the same sturdy build that gave Tag so much presence in formation, but the family resemblance was uncanny all the same.

Avitus’s neck grew a little warmer, and he dipped his head. Desolas was less impressed. “You didn’t have to be here, Agonian, you could’ve just lent me your office and fucked off for a few drinks,” he groused, sitting up slightly and reaching over to pick up a Creamy Way cup off the desk. Not the fancy horosk bottles Avitus remembered him cracking open back in the day, but then, he did have a kid now, didn’t he? “Prep for the funeral, or whatever.”

“And leave my office in the hands of two notoriously destructive Special Tactics agents, to discuss the investigation of my grandfather’s murder?” Callendella Agonian snorted. “With all due respect, sir, whether you were in the room or not, I’d rather chew glass.”

[kingskelly123]

My brain sometimes comes up with rather good quotes, majority by smashing together already existing ones.

One I just remembered is "ambition can corrupt as absolutely as the absolute power it can achieve" (that is not precisely what it was, don't remember the original version) (we were learning macbeth when I came up with it)

Quotes are just fun tbh

[alecjmarsh]

🧡💝

🧡 what were the previous working titles?

I don’t actually iterate on titles much. I come up with a codename (project compass) so I don’t have to think about it much, and the chug along until I need a title.

In this case I wanted something Scottish and literary, and because this book is about the damage ambition can do, Macbeth seemed like a good place to start. I combed through some quotes, pulled out phrases, and settled on “Nobleness, Like Stars.”

I’ll probably have to change it to something less obscure eventually, but I’m fond of it and its capacity for a double meaning.

💝 Who has you favorite character arc?

I’m sorry, it’s Cornelius. I’m not about to write a main character I don’t love with my whole heart. He’s charming, ambitious, intelligent. He’s hungry and bitter and scared. He wants everything, and in reaching for it he almost loses what is most important to him. In the end, everything he’s been working for is taken from him, and he realizes he has enough anyway.

[harrietsunit3blog]

Macbeth

Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the early 17 century it tells the story of a Scottish general name Macbeth who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king driven by ambition and encouraged by his wife Macbeth murders the current king and takes the throne for him self however his guilt and paranoia drive him to madness and he becomes a ruthless tryant. the play explores themes of ambition power guilt and the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most famous players and has been adapted into numerous films operas and other works of art over the years the players known for its vivid imagery and powerful language as well at six exploration of the darker aspects of human nature it features a number of memorable characters including Lady Macbeth who is one of Shakespeare's most complex and fascinating female characters the play is also notable for its supernatural elements including the three witches who prophecies Macbeth's rise to power Macbeth is a timeless work of literature that continues to captive audiencences to this day.

One of the most famous scenes in Macbeth is the dagger saying when Macbeth hallucinates a bloody dagger float in the air before him this scene is often interpreted as a symbol of Macbeth's guilt and his descent into madness another famous scene is the sleepwalking scene where Lady Macbeth is seen sleepwalking and talking to a self as she tries to wash imaginary blood stains from her hand this scene is often interpreted as a symbol of Lady Macbeth's guilt and her deteriorating mental state the play also features a number of memorable quotes such as outdone spot out I say and double double toil and trouble fire burn and cauldron bubble.

One of the most interesting aspects of Macbeth is the way it explores the theme of ambition the Plays shows how unchecked ambition can lead to corruption and destruction as Macbeth desire for power drives him to commit terrible deeds the play also explores the idea of fate and freewheel is Macbeth is intentionally hesitant to take the throne but is ultimately convinced to do so by the witches prophecy the players also notable for its use of supernatural elements including the witches in the ghost of Bankwell these elements add to the plays eerie in unsettling atmosphere overall Macbeth is a complex and multilayered work of literature that continues to be a source of fascination for readers and audiences alike.

[stocky2016]

“Borrowed Robes”. *1

(Prompt courtesy of Lucille)

We are NOT always the clothes we present in

they act as the mere “props” of role and occasion…

We must “look”, if not “act” the part

allocated by life’s drama and season.

It’s our souls that really define us

Not the trappings of the fashion-house style.

Our true selves are only really obvious

when occasionally naked and revealed.

‘Vogue’ and other such fashion magazines

are “commercial” rather than “honest”

We look our very best when we’re at our most natural

that surely has to be the ultimate defining test.

“Borrowed robes” are all very well

but they send an ambiguous message

“Who” and “what” we are

we maybe need our “conscience” to ravage.

Yes it’s all very well to being on the red carpet

Looking sexy, stylish and at one…

but Is it a genuine real world presence or ambition

or just some altogether commercial, con?

G.P.S. 11th April 2023

(Picture supplied by the generosity of Lucille A La Roche)

*1 “Borrowed robes” quote from William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.