麦克白中希腊神话原型研究.docx

外国语学院题 目：Analysis on the prototypes form Greek Mythology in Macbeth学 号：201310010332姓 名：许笑晴 专业班级：英语133 指导教师：方薇 2015年 01 月 04 日6Abstract: Shakespeares creation of drama is influenced a lot by Greek Mythology. One of his greatest tragedies, Macbeth, to a large extent, reflects his using of the prototypes of Greek mythology. This paper aims to find out what prototypes of Greek Mythology Shakespeare used in Macbeth and analyze them one by one.Key words: Macbeth, Greek Mythology, prototype1. IntroductionWestern literature derives from Greek literature, and Greek literature stems from Geek Mythology. Therefore, in most of western literature, we can see a lot of prototypes of the characters in Greek Mythology. The creation of much literature is based on Greek Mythology, such as some epics, dramas, novels and so on. All of these absorb plenty of nutrients, and then get processed and decorated, finally becoming masterpieces popularized by a great amount of readers. As we all known, William Shakespeare is the greatest playwriter in English literature. Many traces of Greek Mythology can be found in his dramas. In his course of creation, two major ways of referring to Greek Mythology are used, one is using the stories directly, such as Troilus and Cressida, the other is employing metaphor to combine the characters in Greek Mythology and the figures in his drama, enriching the implied meaning of his drama. Macbeth, as one of the most famous tragedies created by Shakespeare, draws a lot peoples attention all over the world. In Macbeth, Shakespeare rebuilds the characters in Greek Mythology. Some figures and plots in Greek Mythology are reflected in Macbeth, but we cant the exactly same figures and plots in Greek Mythology and Macbeth. Macbeth is a reflection of Shakespeares second way of using Greek Mythology.2. Plot The play opens amidst thunder and lightning, and the Three Witches decide that their next meeting shall be with Macbeth. In the following scene, a wounded sergeant reports to King Duncan of Scotland that his generalsMacbeth, who is the Thane of Glamis, and Banquohave just defeated the allied forces of Norway and Ireland, who are led by the traitorous Macdonald and the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, the Kings kinsman, is praised for his bravery and fighting prowess.The Three Witches greet them with prophecies and though Banquo challenges them first, they address Macbeth, hailing him as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and that he shall be King hereafter. Macbeth appears to be stunned to silence. When Banquo asks of his own fortunes, the witches respond paradoxically, saying that he will be less than Macbeth, yet happier, less successful, yet more. He will father a line of kings, though he himself will not be one. While the two men wonder at these pronouncements, the witches vanish, and another thane, Ross, arrives and informs Macbeth of his newly bestowed title: Thane of Cawdor, as the previous Thane of Cawdor shall be put to death for treason. The first prophecy is thus fulfilled, and Macbeth, previously skeptical, immediately begins to harbour ambitions of becoming king.After sending a message about the witches prophecies ahead to his wife, with Lady Macbeths wish and persuasion about murdering Duncan in order to obtain kingship, Macbeth finally decides to kill the king that night when Duncan comes to their house. They succeed, and cheat everyone that the murderers are Duncans two chamberlains. Duncans sons Malcolm and Donalbain flee to England and Ireland, respectively, fearing that whoever killed Duncan desires their demise as well. Macbeth becomes the king of Scotland while Banquo is made suspicious of Macbeth because of the prophecies.With fear that his power remains insecure, Macbeth kills Banquo, Macduffs wife and children. Macduff, the loyal Thane of Fife, flees to England, and meets Malcolm. Fear and suspicion make Macbeth more cruel and cold-blood, even when Lady Macbeth dies of lunacy, he does not feel any sadness. Everyone betrays and leaves him, and then finally, facing Malcolm and the troops from England, he is killed by Macduff who was from his mothers womb and is not of woman born. 3. Analysis on prototypes3.1 MacduffIn Macbeth, Macduff is a sufferer, as a prototype of Prometheus. Prometheus, best known as the deity in Greek mythology, was the creator of mankind and its greatest benefactor, who gave mankind fire stolen from Mount Olympus. And his theft of fire from Olympus for the benefit of humanity against the will of Zeus causes his eternal punishment judged by Zeus. He suffers a lot, while Macduff is the same. After becoming the king of Scotland, Macbeth exactly believes the witches prophecies that tell him to beware of Macduff. He is afraid that Macduff were the threat to the throne, so he determines to kill him, thoroughly getting rid of insecurity. As the same as Prometheus, Macduff is weak, without many people helping him and substantial power. Therefore, his wife and children are murdered by Macbeth. He flees to England alone. The conflict between Macduff and Macbeth is the fight between justice and evil. The power of justice is stronger than the power of evil and evil is always defeated by justice, so that at last, Prometheus is released from Caucasus Mountains with Zeus order, and as the same, Macduff kills Macbeth fortunately because that he is from his mothers womb and is not of woman born. From this perspective, we can conclude that Prometheus is the prototype of Macduff. 3.2 Malcolm Malcolm is also an important character in Macbeth. Zeus is his prototype. Malcolm flees to England after his father, the previous king of Scotland, is murdered by Macbeth. At that time, England is full of justice and there, people all live a peaceful and steady life. England is a country of love. The king of England respects Malcolm and treats him as a guest. According this detail, we can see Malcolm is a respectable person. As we all known, Macbeth becomes a tyrant after he ascends the throne. He domineers over his people and oppresses his people a lot, and kils all the alien forces, making Scotland a hell on earth, like Zeus father Cronus. Malcom overthrows Macbeths cruel domination of Scotland finally, as the same as Zeus, who overthrow his fathers rule. Malcolm is a loyal person, and he regards loyalty as important as life. He is good and integrity, and a kind of ideal monarch of Shakeapeare. Zeus, as the most powerful authority in Mount Olympus, also is a existence of justice and goodness. The power of justice led by Malcolm overcomes the evil Macbeth, like Zeus, throws down his fathers regime and became the representation of justice. In Greek Mythology, there is a theme that the whole world gradually get more peacefull and harmonious. In Macbeth, there is a same idea that Macbeth is killed finally and Malcolm becomes the king, treating his people well, and then his country would get much love and warmth. This idea also comes from Greek Mythology. The battle between Macbeth and Malcolm actually is about power and politics. Shakespeare transferred the fight between deities in Greek Mythology to a conlict between human in Macbeth, putting his good wish for the whole world into this tragedy. 3.3 MacbethMacbeth is an embodiment of evil. When making comments on this drama, many critics would like to compare Macbeth with Heracles. These two do have similar characteristics. The king of Troy, Laomedon, always goes back on his promise to Heracles over and again, while in Macbeth heart, Duncan treats him as the same. The king said to him that “I have begun to plant thee, and will labor to make thee full of growing” just now, and soon, made his elder son the heir of the kingdom. As a demigod, Heracles is not willing to be dominated by human, so that his gloomy emotion becomes frenzy which causes his crime. And then Heracles gets into a more tragic and deeper distress. His frenzy is as the same as the “fever” that Macbeth declares. Macbeth also makes a big mistake for his vanity and endless desire. Their life experiences are identical. But Macbeth has more than one prototype. He also represents the deities and human in Greek Mythology who usurp the throne, such as Cronus. Cronus cripples Uranus, and then gets power, but when he is in the saddle, he carries out tyranny, and finally he doesnt get a good ending with corresponding punishment. Cronus is an evil image, like Macbeth, we can see satanic forces on him from many perspectives. In order to get the throne, he forces others to be controlled by him. He murders Duncan, the previous king, and a lot of people who are in his way. Finally he also doesnt make a good ending, defeated by a troop led by Malcolm from England. In Greek Mythology, Pelias also can be seen as a prototype of Macbeth. Pelias kills the former ruler and overthrows his domination, obtaining the so-called power through wrongful methods. However, at last, he cant keep his throne, destroyed by the power of justice. To conclude, Macbeth actually represents evil, which is also a significant element in Greek Mythology. 3.4 Lady MacbethIn Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is a significant image for she is a direct impetus of Macbeths murder. She says, “I have given suck, and know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluckd my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashd the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.” From these words, we can find out Lady Macbeth is a cruel person. She is so cold-blood that has no sympathy and compassion. In Greek Mythology, there is a character similar with Lady Macbeth, Medea. She gives up everything for Jason, but Jason betrays her. When she finds his husbands disloyalty, motivated by envy and hatred, she decides to take revenge. She murders Jasons lover by a scheme, and she even kills the baby who belongs herself and her husband. She just wants to let Jason feel the pain from being betrayed. Lady Macbeth and Medea are both cruel and cold-blooded, without humanity. Thus it can be seen that Medea is the prototype of Lady Macbeth. She has another prototype, Lamia. Lamia is a freak with half humans body and half snakes body. In the first place she is of great beauty, and by right of beauty, she becomes Zeus lover. When Hera discovers their affair, she is very angry, so she kills all Lamias children and makes her a freak. Lamia is full of hatred and misses her children very much. She loses mind, beginning to hunt other peoples children and eat them all. Lamia and Lady Macbeth are both have no compassion towards babies. 3.5 SleepIn Macbeth, sleep is also an important image from Greek Mytho