Netflix & Chill, except the school version

Lady Macbeth was an avid Netflix watcher (obviously) and these shows/movies are her top choices:

1. Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl, a harshly unfiltered blogger, follows the lives of privileged teenagers living in Upper East Side of NYC. Serena Van Der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf are the most popular girls in school, alongside the city's most eligible bachelors, Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass. The show follows the romantic entanglements and dramatized lives of these upper class kids, and is always filled with suspense.

Lady Macbeth would chose this series because the characters are as cunning and power-hungry as herself. They care very much about what the public thinks about them and how much everyone else knows about their secret lives. Serena and Blair attempt to keep a good public image, just like Lady Macbeth, (think about the scene at Macbeth's banquet honoring Duncan where she attempts to calm her husband and the crowd of well-respected guests). The girls often hide behind masks of happiness and integrity, but in reality their world is crumbling around them. Lady Macbeth would relate to this aspect of the show very much.

2. Quantico

Quantico is a series that jumps back and forth between time following the lives of FBI agents before and after training. Alex Parrish, the main character, is blamed for a terrorist bombing in NYC after working for the FBI agency for months. The recruits learn the intensity of investigations by digging up secrets about their peers while also being tested for physical endurance.

Lady Macbeth would watch this show to hopefully learn more about snooping. She knows her husband does not include her in his schemes anymore as he starts doing things behind her back. She knows he doesn't love her anymore and having better investigation skill might have helped her win her husband back. Or at least find some secrets she could hold over him, until their marriage improved. The show also features a strong female lead which she would find inspiring and righteous.

3. Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus is a Halloween themed movie that features 3 witches, the Sanderson sisters, who were executed in 1693 for illegal witchcraft. They have come back 300 years later when a child lights the black-flame candle and are out to get the group of kids. Alongside a talking black cat, Alison, Max and Dani work to outsmart the evil trio and their magic.

Lady Macbeth would be interested by this movie for its portrayal of the supernatural. The movie takes place after the Salem Witch trials when women accused of being witches were killed. The "evilness" of the three witches would be different than the type of witches Lady Macbeth has ever encountered. She would find humor in the movie because the children (which she wishes she had) outsmarted the witches. This is something Lady Macbeth might have wished she was able to do when the reality of the prophecy given by the Weird Sisters started to destroy her life as she knew it.

4. Brain Games

Brain Games is an interactive education television show. The show teaches about the cognitive processes of the brain and is filled with many auditory and visual experiments. Each episode has a different theme or brain activity to teach about.

Somewhat similarly to "Quantico" this show would entice Lady Macbeth because she would get to learn more about her "crazy" side. What I mean by this, is she could learn ways to manipulate other people (her husband) into doing what she wants by playing games on their brain. The show reveals how simple it is for average humans to be tricked and she would use this to her advantage. Also, this would make her question the truthfulness of the witches prophecy for her husband. Did they really tell him he would be King? Maybe they used the art of distraction or some other brain game to trick him into believing that is what he hear... hmm. Also because this show is educational it stimulates your brain and it is very easy to get roped into watching a billion and a half episodes. After reading "Macbeth" it seems like Lady Mac had some time on her hands so maybe this would have helped alleviate her pain of her husband no longer loving her and the fact that all this murder was happening?

Fate vs. Chance

Do you believe events in your life have been guided by fate or chance? Why or why not? Based on the text, what do you think Shakespeare's attitude was towards fate? Does Macbeth have any choice in his actions or was everything predetermined? Use examples from the text as your support.



It is difficult to determine an answer to this question because I think my life is guided by both fate and chance. I think the importance of the decision and how large the impact of the event is is what makes the difference between fate and chance events. Things that I believe that are guided by fate: meeting certain people, keeping/losing relationships, determining when you die. This is most likely because as a Jew, I believe God has a plan for me. I am often found saying "it wasn't in the plan" or "God didn't want this/that to happen." I consider these situations to be out of my control, but that they were intentional because they are influential to me as a person. This could easily be twisted into "right time, right place" situations which would fall under chance, which is where my confusion with this question arises. I think when tragic or depressing things happen in my life, believing that someone or something has my back makes it easier to cope with my emotions, therefore, I tend to agree with the statement that most events are guided by fate. In opposition, I think small, daily decisions like what cereal to eat or what to wear are not guided by any kind supernatural. Those decisions are simply chance influenced by own choice.

Based on the text, I think Shakespeare fully believed in fate. This is evident through his inclusion of the supernatural shown with the 3 witches and ghosts. The whole plot of the play is based off the prophecy given to Macbeth and Banquo in Act 1. The Weïrd Sisters proclaim, "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!...Thane of Cawdor!... that shalt be king hereafter!" (A1.S3 17). Banquo is also told that his sons will be kings. Shortly after this interaction, it is announced that Macbeth is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth questioned the prophecy at first, but now it is clear that what the witches said is truthful and he goes on to fulfill the prophecy as best as he can. Shakespeare included these characters and this plot to express his beliefs. Shakespeare was not allowed to write anything that diminished the power of the King. This shows that believing in fate was a popular belief when the play was written, and explains why Shakespeare has this attitude towards fate. 

I think Macbeth did have control over his actions. He could have chosen to not kill his BFF and his child and the king and multiple other people and let the prophecy happen naturally. No supernatural power told Macbeth that the killing of these people was necessary ignorer for him to become but it is what he inferred. His lovely wife heavily influenced his actions because of her deadly desire for power but he was never forced to enact the plan she created. 

https://www.pinterest.com/madanihouha/macbeth-and-lady-macbeth/

https://www.pinterest.com/sherlonann/macbeth-memes/