0
"Borrowed robes" is a phrase used by Macbeth in Act I Scene 3 to describe being hailed by someone else's title. Angus has nothing to do with it, although he does use the phrase "giant's robe" in Act V. In both cases, a "robe" is a metaphor for a title.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why are Macbeth's robes said to hang loose about him?
Throughout the play Macbeth, clothes, or robes, are used as a symbol of peoples' roles. One example of this is where Banquo says, in scene 4 of act 1, "New honors come upon him, / Like our strange garments, cleave not to ther mold / But with the aid of use." Later on, robes used as symbols for positions in act 2, scene 4 by Macduff, when he says, "Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu, / Lest our old robes sit easier than our new," meaning, lest our new King, Macbeth, isn't as good for this country as our old one, Duncan (who Macbeth has killed). The specific example asked about is in act 5, scene 2, where Angus says, "Now does he [Macbeth] feel his title / Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe / Upon a dwarfish thief." This means that Macbeth is realizing that his robes, (roles, or responsibilities) are too big for him too fill. He can't fulfill the responsibilities of a king.
What does Macbeth decide to do with the information that angus and ross tell him?
The information they bring (in Act 1 scene 3) is that Macbeth has been made Thane of Cawdor. What Macbeth does with this information is to pass it on to his wife.
What does Macbeth mean by why do you dress me in borrowed robes?
He has been called Thane of Cawdor. But as far as Macbeth knows, the Thane of Cawdor is a "prosperous gentleman"; he is not aware of the events in Fife described by Ross in the previous scene where the Thane of Cawdor was revealed to be a traitor and captured by some other Scottish hero. The word "robe" here is a metaphor for a title. Macbeth asks why they are calling him by someone else's title, like dressing him in someone else's clothes.
What was the title that duncan gave to Macbeth?
Some people might think that Duncan gives this title to Macbeth because Macbeth was instrumental in capturing the traitor Thane of Cawdor. But this is wrong. The Thane of Ross brings the news to Duncan of Cawdor's treachery but does not name Macbeth as the man that captures him. Ross is then told to find Macbeth and tell him that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. When Ross tells him this, Macbeth is astonished: he says "The thane of Cawdor lives--a prosperous gentleman! Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" He would not have been astonished had he been the man to capture Cawdor. What is more, Ross is not surprised that he is astonished, because Ross knows that Macbeth has not yet heard of Cawdor's treachery. It is possible that Duncan misunderstood Ross's report and believed that Macbeth could simultaneously be in Forres (in northern Scotland) and Fife (in southern Scotland) fighting two different battles at the same time. If he was that much of a dimwit about the geography of the country he was supposed to be king of, then he might have rewarded Macbeth for something he did not do. It is far more likely that Macbeth receives the title either because Duncan wants to reward the brave and victorious Macbeth who defeated Macdonweald, or that his choice of Macbeth as the recipient is entirely arbitrary.
How do Caithness and Angus describe Macbeths state of mind?
Macbeth's great soliloquy, "If it were done when it were done, it were best it were done quickly" reveals the conflict in his mind. He states all of the problems he foresees if he commits the murder: such projects once started lead to more murders, by committing a murder he licences others to murder him, his name will be blackened in everyone's opinion, and finally, it's just wrong. On the other side is ambition, something Macbeth considers to be not worth the risk. On his assessment of the situation, Macbeth is against the murder on rational grounds, but his wife will introduce irrational emotional factors (his desire to have her good opinion) which will persuade him otherwise.
What does Macbeth mean when he says why do you address me in borrowed robes?
When Macbeth says "Why do you address me in borrowed robes?" he is questioning the witches' ability to see the future and their authority to speak to him in such a way. He feels that their power and insight is not truly their own, but instead borrowed or illegitimate.
How does Macbeth's mentioning of borrowed robes create a sense of uneasiness in the mind of the play's main character?
Macbeth uses the phrase "borrowed robes" in Act 1 Scene 3 as follows: "The Thane of Cawdor lives; why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Your question is a bit strange because the main character is Macbeth, and what Macbeth says does not create a sense of uneasiness in Macbeth's own mind. Nevertheless, he is uneasy when he says these words because Ross has just told him that he is now the Thane of Cawdor, just as the witches predicted. Yet at the same time he knows that the Thane of Cawdor is a "prosperous gentleman" and is certainly alive. Macbeth knows nothing about the battle in Fife where Cawdor was revealed to be a traitor and captured by someone described as "Bellona's bridegroom". Up to the point where Ross calls him Thane of Cawdor he was prepared to dismiss the witches' predictions as silly nonsense; now he uneasily is not so sure.
Who is angus in the play Macbeth?
Angus is a Scottish nobleman in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. He serves as a messenger and ally to King Duncan and later to Malcolm. Angus is loyal to the rightful king of Scotland and helps to uncover Macbeth's treachery.
Who are menteith caithness and angus from Macbeth?
In Macbeth, Menteith, Caithness, and Angus are thanes - nobleman warriors of Scotland who join forces against Macbeth in the final battle. They are supportive of Malcolm's efforts to overthrow Macbeth's tyrannical rule and restore order to the kingdom. Menteith and Angus are ultimately victorious in battle, contributing to Macbeth's downfall.
Who is Macbeth in the play?
angus is one of the kings thanes
Why are Macbeth's robes said to hang loose about him?
Throughout the play Macbeth, clothes, or robes, are used as a symbol of peoples' roles. One example of this is where Banquo says, in scene 4 of act 1, "New honors come upon him, / Like our strange garments, cleave not to ther mold / But with the aid of use." Later on, robes used as symbols for positions in act 2, scene 4 by Macduff, when he says, "Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu, / Lest our old robes sit easier than our new," meaning, lest our new King, Macbeth, isn't as good for this country as our old one, Duncan (who Macbeth has killed). The specific example asked about is in act 5, scene 2, where Angus says, "Now does he [Macbeth] feel his title / Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe / Upon a dwarfish thief." This means that Macbeth is realizing that his robes, (roles, or responsibilities) are too big for him too fill. He can't fulfill the responsibilities of a king.
Who said 'The Thane of Cawdor lives Why do you dress me In borrowed robes'?
In Act 1 Scene 2, the noblemen Angus and Ross met up with friends and fellow Generals Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057] and Banquo. In the course of the conversation, Ross said that he was the bearer of good news from King Duncan I [d. August 14, 1040]. The King had given the title and possessions of the Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth. Macbeth didn't know that Cawdor had confessed to betraying his sovereign and asked to be punished. Cawdor held a powerful title and profitable properties. The disposition of Cawdor's earthly titles and possessions was the King's decision to make. Perhaps the King wasn't known for sharing outside of his immediate family. After all, his reward to Banquo for saving crown and county was just a 'thank you'. At any rate, the whole situation was unbelievable to Macbeth even though the witches previously had hailed him as Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. First and foremost, he didn't know of Cawdor's execution. And so, in Lines 108-109, Macbeth asked Angus and Ross, 'The Thane of Cawdor lives./Why do you dress me/In borrowed robes'?
Whose side are Lennox and Angus and Menteith and Caithness on?
Lennox and Angus side with Macbeth at first, then switch to Malcolm's side. Menteith and Caithness are loyal to Malcolm throughout the play.
Who was almost taken captive during the battle in Macbeth?
Macdonweald. He split him from the nave to the chops. Macbeth did not capture the Thane of Cawdor because when Ross greets him with the title, Macbeth says "The Thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman. Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Had Macbeth captured him, he would not have thought that he was a "prosperous gentleman" and Ross would not have to explain to him that the former Thane was a traitor.
What does Macbeth decide to do with the information that angus and ross tell him?
The information they bring (in Act 1 scene 3) is that Macbeth has been made Thane of Cawdor. What Macbeth does with this information is to pass it on to his wife.
What does Macbeth mean by why do you dress me in borrowed robes?
He has been called Thane of Cawdor. But as far as Macbeth knows, the Thane of Cawdor is a "prosperous gentleman"; he is not aware of the events in Fife described by Ross in the previous scene where the Thane of Cawdor was revealed to be a traitor and captured by some other Scottish hero. The word "robe" here is a metaphor for a title. Macbeth asks why they are calling him by someone else's title, like dressing him in someone else's clothes.
Where are some points of controversy in Macbeth?
Some points of controversy in Macbeth include the portrayal of Lady Macbeth's character and the extent of her influence over Macbeth's actions, the role of fate versus free will in the characters' lives, and the moral ambiguity of Macbeth himself as a tragic hero. Additionally, interpretations of the supernatural elements in the play, such as the witches' prophecies and Banquo's ghost, can spark debate among scholars and audiences.
