Shakespeare concludes scene i of Macbeth with a couplet: "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair:/Hover through the fog and filthy air." A couplet usually marks the end of a sonnet, so it is interesting that Shakespeare chooses to end the opening scene of Macbeth with a couplet; it seems he is not only ending the scene, but also concluding that the play will begin and end in moral confusion. In additon, "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair" distorts the typical moral order of good and bad, right and wrong, and good and evil. Moreover, it is funny that by using a couplet to begin the play, instead of end it, Shakespeare distorts the "order" of the play.
Another intruiging line in the opening scene is the second witch's response to the first witch's question "When shall we three meet again?" The second witch replies, "When the battle's lost and won." It is important to take note of the word "and," as it shows the "battle" will be both lost AND won, not lost OR won. This introduces even more confusion. What might this mean?
Another intruiging line in the opening scene is the second witch's response to the first witch's question "When shall we three meet again?" The second witch replies, "When the battle's lost and won." It is important to take note of the word "and," as it shows the "battle" will be both lost AND won, not lost OR won. This introduces even more confusion. What might this mean?
The concept of a battle being both lost and won will most likely pertain to the fact that in order for one relative side to win, the other will lose. However, it may also mean that one will win a battle and lose something else. This may be foreshadowing Macbeth's downfall after he achieves his prophecy.
ReplyDeleteTo me, both of these seem to foreshadow both a shift of morality and of order. The order being more towards the "ruler" of the people and the morality is of course Macbeth's final decision to kill King Duncan. Macbeth may indeed become King, yet order and even Macbeth's sanity may be lost (kinda how the Cowboys' fans are going insane over their awesome record of 1-6).
ReplyDeleteFirst couplet: After one has given up their morality (Macbeth) what seems right and what seems wrong has become distorted. Shakespeare uses this to prepare the reader for the mind frame of Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteSecond couplet: Macbeth lost the battle for power, while Duncan's son Malcom won.
I think that the line "the battle's lost and won" means that the victory will come with a cost-which will end up causing more damage than just losing the battle to begin with. So in essence, instead of moving forward by winning, Macbeth will be in the same spot, or even worse off, because of the cost he will have to pay in order to "win" (in this case his mind and the crown will be taken from him).
ReplyDeleteThe line "the battle's lost and won" could easily be interpreted as fortelling of a Pyrrhic Victory. (Link to the term, if you need some help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory )And, later on, upon reflection, one could compare the famous line related to that term; "Another such victory and I come back to Epirus alone" to how the events which befell Macbeth did so very pain him.
ReplyDeleteI just think that Shakespeare loves to use double meanings because, like any modern "that's what she said" joke, it is just good clean fun. Seriously though, I think Shakespeare simply means that someone wins and that person (MACBETH) loses by winning. That this person has won, but really has lost. That he loses in winning, but has not lost AT winning, but because of his winning, has lost. That's really all he is saying here through the witches.
ReplyDeleteThe term "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair" could be seen as a way one fights in battle. By fighting fairly with regimented rules and expecting the same from your opponent will only be effective if they do likewise. Fighting mercilessly without regard for pride and pomp and striving only for victory is what wins the day in the end. This can be seen within nature as one of it's core values; survival of the fittest. That aside the saying is clearly a contradiction, which is somewhat of a motif in MacBeth. Shakespeare contradicts the norm by placing a couplet at the beginning of the play. This allows the audience a glimpse of what is to come, both literally and figuratively.
ReplyDeleteThe second quote of the battle being lost and won is an extension to the fair and foul paradox. When one aims to fail have they not succeeded? By throwing off MacBeth with riddles and cryptic clues, the witches intend to see him die through misunderstanding their "advice." Though, technically aiding MacBeth with allusions and auguries, they fail to convey these warnings and thus succeed in fulfilling their twisted delight in contorting the young man's fate.
In my opinion the lines 'fair is foul and foul is fair' mean that whatever greatness Macbeth expects to get out of becoming King, will come with consiquences as great as his success. The witches are simply predicting the karma that will come with Macbeths new role, and that he is soon to be doomed after he is named king. However I think the witches only say this because it is in fact Macbeths own actions that make him the king, and in no way shape or form does he become king due to natural causes. However if the king suddenly dropped dead and macbeth was pronouced king I don't think that this phrase would have been stated.
ReplyDeleteMy interpertation for the second phrase is that if Macbeth turns out to be king he will win at first and then go down deep below the surface. He will end up in a worse place then he was starting out and all of his efforts will not be worth the FINAL outcome.
In saying “the battle’s lost and won,” Shakespeare is again demonstrating the moral confusion of the story. The line of reasoning is that in order to gain a loss in a battle someone along the line is going to be in the lead, or winning. To win a battle, somewhere down the line something, whether it is dignity, mortality, or morality, is going to be lost. With every gain there will be a loss, or else what was there to gain in the first place?
ReplyDeleteI think that the battle being both lost and one symbolizes that with every benefit there is a consequence. It is sort of like when you win an epic battle and then you fall off a cliff and get impaled by a spiky rock. Sure, you defeated your foe but you kind of have your insides spilling out.
ReplyDeleteI think that "the battle is lost and won" is sumbolizing what is going to happen to Macbeth later on in the play. When ever he kills Duncan he wins by being king, but he goes crazy making him lose.
ReplyDeleteThe battle is lost becaue he loses his life, but it is won because he gains the title.
ReplyDeleteIts sorta like when you cheat on a test, you get a good grade but you didnt do it yourself.
A battle being both lost and won signifies that whatever great victory is achieved in macbeth will be countered with something equally bad. It's kind of like a balance of nature. In order for the witches prediction to come true, something else must become un-true. In other words, just because something is predicted doesn't mean it is going to happen. So, if Macbeth is to achieve all that the witches have said, then he must sacrifice something good that he possesses.
ReplyDeleteI think that when the witches say the battle is won and lost they are talking about the obstacles that must be overcome. You can win the overall battle but some of your men might be killed along the way.
ReplyDeleteI think that the lines "the battle's lost and won" means that even though Macbeth may have won a long term battle the instant effects of the battle may be devestating. Macbeth might in the end win whatever battle that is going on but he may have to win for a price.
ReplyDeleteI think that the phrase "the battle's lost and won" signifies that although victory is obtained a cloud of despair shall appear. Yet the phrase can also be opposite because a person can lose at the time but gain a valuable lesson in the end.
ReplyDeleteI believe "the battle's lost and won" could mean that the battle maybe lost, but morally something could be gained. Or the battle was won, but a legendary figure or sign of humanity was lost. Portraying another perspective as Shakespeare seems to put the plot out of order to array a foreshadow, the battle could be won, but the individuals among the battle could lose something over time...like pay for it.
ReplyDeleteI think that "the battle's lost and won" means that this is the kind of situation in which "winning" comes at a price. In Macbeth's case, his stealing the crown provides fleeting satisfaction. Right after he becomes king he must deal with the paranoia of covering his tracks and prolonging his reign. Macbeth won the battle over the crown, but he will ultimately lose the war.
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