Macbeth and Oliver Twist: Settings

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Draft ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘Macbeth’ are of a basic cursory reading that seems to have only a minimal amount in common. In fact the contrasts seem more pronounced than any grounds for comparison. The settings of the extracts differ both historically and geographically. ‘Macbeth’ is set in the Jacobean era in Scotland, while the other is set in Victorian Britain. Settings within ‘Macbeth’ are various: heaths, castles and battlefields- but they are mainly associated with a martial culture. The Dickens extract is located in a workhouse, though it is only fair to say that there is a war of sorts taking place there too. The focus of both passages, on deeper reflection, is on two matrimonial relationships. Interestingly, while in theory, women both in the Jacobean and Victorian era occupied a subservient domestic realm and status. In these extracts, however, the male characters take on these feminine roles. In reality, in both extracts, the women are the stronger, more dominant figures. In this essay I will explain how Dickens and Shakespeare, through form, language and structure, have managed to relate the marital relationships to settings in these extracts. The form of ‘Macbeth’ is a drama/play performed to an audience. Setting is achieved through the use of stage directions, characters words and their actions. For example the opening stage direction of ‘Macbeth’ is “thunder and lightning”. This sets a mysterious mood for the audience and also shows that evil things will happen throughout the play, this meets the expectations of the contemporary audience, as Shakespeare intended. On the other hand, Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’ is a highly structured episode of prose. Physical setting is achieved through detailed and interesting language choices, describing both the characters and time period. As ‘Macbeth’ is in the
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