For starters we need to know that Macbeth is a hero and the king whose name is Duncan thinks he is so heroic that he makes him the Thane of Cawdor which means the Lord of Cawdor. And you also need to know that the person who was the Thane of Cawdor turned out to be a traitor and that’s why Macbeth gets to be Thane of Cawdor as a reward for being so heroic. Right now however Macbeth is on his way back from the battle with his good friend Banquo and he has no idea about what the king is going to give him coming up right away. Before Macbeth meets up with the king he and Banquo are going come upon some old lady witches.
Act One Scene Three
It was beginning to grow dark. Thunder rumbled and the heath was covered
with mud. Three deformed shapes crept out of the slime.
A drumbeat, marking the progress of an army on the march, could be heard
approaching.
‘A drum! a drum! Macbeth doth come.’
Macbeth and Banquo walked ahead of their troops.
‘What a day,’ said Macbeth. ‘Victory and filthy weather. I've never seen so fair
and foul a day.’
‘How far is it to Forres?’ said Banquo. He stopped short as three human
shapes rose in front of them. ‘What are these?’ he said. ‘So withered and strangely
dressed that they don't look like anything that lives on the earth.’ He shut his eyes
tight then opened them again. ‘But they are definitely on it.’ He took a step towards
them. ‘Are you living creatures? Or something that we should fear?’
The three women cackled hysterically then hopped about saying 'shhh' and
placing their bony fingers on their skinny lips.
‘You seem to be women but your beards cast doubt even on that,’ said
Banquo.
‘Speak if you can,’ said Macbeth. ‘What are you?’
‘All hail, Macbeth!’ cawed the first witch. ‘Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!’
Macbeth and Banquo glanced at each other.
‘All hail, Macbeth,’ screamed the second witch. ‘Hail to thee, Thane of
Cawdor!’
Macbeth laughed nervously. Banquo stared at the women.
‘All hail Macbeth!’ cooed the third witch. ‘That shalt be king hereafter!’
‘Good Sir,’ said Banquo as Macbeth recoiled. ‘Why do you start and seem to
be afraid of things that sound so favourable?’ He turned back to the three creatures
‘Are you real or what? Who are you? You greet my partner showing knowledge of
who he is and promise him great things, including the hope of royalty - which makes
him speechless. You don't say anything to me. If you can look into the future and
tell who will prosper and who won't, speak to me then.’
They looked up slowly, their eyes boring into him.
‘Hail,’ said the first, somberly.
‘Hail,’ said the second.
‘Hail,’ said the third.
There was a pause. When the first witch spoke again her voice was like iced
water.
‘Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.’
The second witch shook her head slowly. Her voice was low and snake-like.
‘Not so happy, yet much happier.’
The third witch pointed at him. ‘Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So,
all hail, Macbeth and Banquo.’
‘Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!’ said the first witch. They glided backwards and
began merging with the gloom.
‘Stop!’ said Macbeth. ‘Is that all? Tell me more. I know I'm Thane of Glamis as
a result of Sinel's death. But Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor is alive and well. And
as for being king! It's no more believable than being Thane of Cawdor. Tell me
where you get this strange information. Or why you stop us on this blasted heath
with such a prophetic greeting. Speak up, I command you!’
They had gone.
Macbeth gazed at his friend for a moment then he laughed. ‘Your children will
be kings.’ He doubled over and roared. Banquo began laughing too.
‘And you'll be king,’ he said, slapping Macbeth on the back.
‘That's not all. Thane of Cawdor too. Isn't that how the song it went?’
‘That very tune,’ said Banquo. ‘And the words too.’
They heard someone coming and two shapes - men on horseback - emerged
from the darkness.
‘Who's that?’ said Banquo.
The two men dismounted and showed themselves to be Ross and Angus.
After warm greetings and hearty handshakes Ross addressed Macbeth.
‘The King is delighted with the news of your success,’ he said. ‘He's especially
impressed with your courageous rampage among the formidable Norwegian ranks.
Reports about you came thick as hail and everyone raved about you.’
‘He's sent us to thank you,’ said Angus. ‘And to escort you to him.’
‘He's going to reward you,’ said Ross. ‘And for a start he's told me to address
you as Thane of Cawdor. And so - ‘ He bowed. ‘Hail, most worthy Thane, for that's
your title.’
Macbeth drew in his breath.
‘What!’ exclaimed Banquo. ‘Can the Devil speak the truth?’
‘The Thane of Cawdor is alive,’ said Macbeth. ‘Why do you dress me in
borrowed clothes?’
‘The man who was the Thane is alive,’ said Angus. ‘But he's under a heavy
death sentence. What he was up to I don't know exactly but he's committed capital
treasons:
that's been proved and he's confessed. So that's the end of him.’
Macbeth reflected on what had happened. Glamis and Cawdor, they had said.
Two thirds of the weird women’s words had already proved true! ‘Thanks for your
trouble,’ he said. He leant over to Banquo and spoke softly in his ear. ‘Don't you
have hope that your children will be kings?’
So it is now in Macbeth’s mind that the third shoe might fall so to speak and he might become king. But he can’t think too much because Duncan (the present king) wants to see him.
Act One Scene Four
The King invited everyone to be seated. He walked slowly to his chair of state.
His face was grave, now.
‘My undoubted good fortune and happiness must be tempered for a moment
with some serious business,’ he told them. He beckoned to Malcolm, who rose and
went to the chair beside his father's.
‘Sons, kinsmen, thanes,’ said Duncan, ‘and all those close to me: you should
know that we are making our eldest, Malcolm, our heir, and from now on he will be
known as the Prince of Cumberland. It is an honour that carries profound
responsibilities.’
The assembled men clapped then they all got up and congratulated the young
prince. Duncan called Macbeth to him.
‘We'll go from here to Inverness and honour you with a visit,’ he said.
‘It'll be my pleasure,’ said Macbeth. ‘I'll be the messenger myself and take
the joyful news to my wife. I beg leave to go now.’
You can see there is a problem with Macbeth’s dream of becoming king not only would Duncan have to die but also his son Malcolm. Macbeth writes to his wife about the witches and then rushes home to get ready for Duncan’s visit.
Act One Scene Five
Lady Macbeth held the letter which the messenger had just brought her. She
paced her room, reading it aloud.
They met me in the day of success. They have supernatural knowledge.
When I tried to question them further they vanished into the air. While I was still
standing there, wrapped in wonder, some messengers came from the King, calling
me Thane of Cawdor: the title which the weird sisters had only just saluted me with!
And they had also referred me to the future with ‘Hail, king that shalt be!’ I had to tell
you this my dearest partner of greatness so that you wouldn't miss the joy of
knowing what has been promised you. Think about it and farewell.
Lady Macbeth clutched the letter to her heart. For Lady Macbeth it seems clear. They would have to kill Duncan. She is ready to do it. But can she convince Macbeth.
There was a knock at the door. She thrust the letter behind her back guiltily.
‘Who is it?’ she called.
The door opened and a servant came in.
‘The king comes here tonight,’ he said.
‘Shhh!’ She said. ‘Don't say it! Isn't your master with him? If it were true he
would have given me notice.’
‘I beg your pardon, Madam, but it is true. Our Thane is on his way. A
messenger's just arrived, so out of breath that he could hardly talk.’
‘Go and look after him. He brings great news.’
Lost in thoughts of murder she asks dark spirits to come unsiex her which means make her as brave as a man so she can carry through with her plan this very night. She became aware of a noise below. She opened her eyes. It was Macbeth.
She ran to him and said, ‘My dearest love, Duncan comes here tonight.’
‘And when's he leaving?’
‘Tomorrow as he intends.’
‘Oh never shall sun that morrow see!’ ‘Your face, my Thane, is like a book where one may read strange things.’ She
kissed him. ‘To deceive everyone look like everyone else. Be welcoming: show
welcome in your eyes, your hand, your tongue. Look like the innocent flower but be
the serpent under it. We must provide for . .. him that's coming. And you must leave
tonight's great business to me. Duncan arrive4s and Lady Macbeth acts like a gracious hostess even thought she’s thinking of murder. Macbeth meanwhile was second and third guessing things.
He thought this: The King trusted him completely. For two very good reasons: first as Macbeth
was his cousin and his subject -both very powerful arguments against murder - and
then as he was Duncan's host, who should shut the door against his murderer, not
bear the knife himself!
Macbeth walked slowly down the stairs and back into the courtyard. And
anyway, Duncan was so gentle as a man, and so strong as a king, that his virtues
would cry out for revenge at the brutality of his death. There would be outrage at the
slaughter of such a good man: everyone would be so filled with pity that the whole
nation would grieve.
No, there was no excuse
Lady Macbeth comes to him and he says: ‘We won't go any further with this business. He's honoured me lately.’
Macbeth's voice was almost pleading. ‘And I've earned golden opinions from all
sorts of people. I want to enjoy them like new clothes - not cast them aside so
soon.’
‘Were you drunk when you dreamt of wearing a king's robes?’ she said. ‘Are you afraid to be the same in your actions as you are in your desire? Do
you want to spend the rest of your life longing for a crown, knowing that you're
nothing more than a coward, letting 'I don't dare' answer 'I want'? Do you want to
eat fish without getting your feet wet like the poor cat in the saying?’
‘Stop,’ cried Macbeth. ‘Please don't. I would dare to do anything a man should
do. There are some things no human being should even think of doing.’
He turned away and she went round him and faced him squarely. ‘Look here,’
she said. ‘I have breast fed and I know what a tender thing it is to love the baby that
milks me. I would rather pull my nipple from its boneless gums and dash its brains
out than break a promise I've made to you!’
They stood glaring at each other. But Macbeth's gaze began to soften and
admiration crept in.
‘What if we fail?’ he said.
‘We fail!’ she said adamantly. ‘But if you keep your nerve we won't fail.’
They were silent for a long time. Then she spoke again, fast and low: ‘When
Duncan is asleep - which shouldn't be too long, after the ride he's had - I'll make
sure his two chamber attendants are so drunk that they won't be able to remember
a thing. And when they're lying sleeping like pigs, what can't you and I do to the
unguarded Duncan? And what can't we pin on them? They'll take the blame for
what we do!’
Macbeth's uncertainty had evaporated. ‘I'm ready,’ he said. ‘And all my
muscles are wound up for this act. Let's go. We'll go back and put on an act. False
faces must hide the secrets of false hearts.’
After the king has gone to bed Macbeth heard Lady Macbeth ring the bell that meant the guard weredrugged and everything was ready. Macbeth goes into Duncan’s room and kills him. then he comes out with the guards’ daggers in his bloody hands.
‘It's done! Macbeth dropped the daggers and peered at his hands in the dim light of his wife's torch. ‘This is a sorry sight.’
‘A foolish thought to say a sorry sight!’
‘I thought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth has murdered sleep.'’
Macbeth put his head on her breast and she cradled him. ‘The innocent sleep’ he
muttered - ‘sleep that removes our worries, the death at the end of each careworn
day, the balm of hard work, ointment of painful minds, chief nourisher in life's feast -‘
She pushed him away. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘And it kept crying 'Sleep no more' so that I thought it would wake the whole
house up. 'Glamis has murdered sleep and so Cawdor will sleep no more! Macbeth
will sleep no more!’
Lady Macbeth stamped her foot. ‘Who was it that cried like that? Come on,
Thane. You make a mockery of your manhood, behaving so foolishly. Go and get
some water and wash this filthy witness from your hands.’
When he came back from the well with the bucket she was holding the
daggers. ‘Why on earth did you bring them out? They have to stay there. Take them
back and smear the grooms with blood.’
Macbeth drew back and looked at her in terror. ‘I'm not going back there. I'm
afraid to think about what I've done let alone look at it.’
‘Weakling!’ she said. ‘Give me the daggers.!’ She snatched them from him.
‘The dead look no different from sleeping people. Fearing the dead is like a child
fearing a painted devil. If he's bleeding I'll put some of it on the groom's faces
because it must look as though they've done it.’
Macbeth was left alone. He couldn't believe what he'd done. Suddenly there
was a booming noise. Someone was knocking at the gate. Who was it? Why was it
that every noise appalled him? He looked down at his hands and started. Could all
the water in the ocean wash this blood off? It was more likely that his hands would
turn all the earth's seas red!
‘My hands are the same colour as yours, ' said his wife as she joined him.
‘Although I'm sorry to say I don't feel any guilt. There's someone knocking at the
south entry. Let's go to our room.’
She took his hands and guided them to the bucket. ‘A little water clears us of
this deed. See how easy it is? Listen: more knocking. Go and put your nightgown
on: it must seem as though we've been to bed.’
The knocking turned out to be Lennox and Macduff two other lords and both loyal followers of Duncan. Macbeth pretends he knows nothing and tells Macduff to go wake Duncan up. Macduff leaves to go see the king and then...
There was a sudden commotion, a great clatter and banging.
‘Oh horror!’ It was Macduff's voice - screaming. ‘Horror! horror!
Macbeth and Lennox rushed to the entrance. ‘What?’ ‘What's the matter?’
Macduff stumbled out. ‘Chaos has broken out!’ he cried. ‘Someone's stolen
the life from the Lord's anointed temple!’
‘What's that?’ said Macbeth. ‘The life?’
‘Do you mean his majesty?’ said Lennox.
‘Go and see,’ said Macduff. He covered his face with his hands. Don't tell me
to speak. Go and look then speak yourselves.’ They hurried off up to the King's
bedroom. ‘Wake up! Wake up!’ shouted Macduff. ‘Ring the alarm bell! Murder and
treason! Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! Wake up! Ring the bell!’
Lady Macbeth came out as the bell started tolling. ‘What's going on? All this
noise! Tell me, tell me!’
‘Oh gentle lady,’ sobbed Macduff. ‘It's not suitable for a woman to hear. It
would kill you.’ He embraced Banquo, who had also just come out. ‘Oh Banquo!
Banquo! Our royal master's been murdered.’
‘What! In our house!’ exclaimed Lady Macbeth.
‘Too cruel anywhere,’ said Banquo. ‘Dear Duff, I beg of you, tell me it's not
true.’
Macbeth and Lennox returned. Everyone looked at Macbeth.
‘If I had died an hour before this tragedy I would have lived a good life,’ he
said. ‘From this moment there's nothing important in life.’
Malcolm and Donalbain came down the stairs. ‘What's wrong?’ said
Donalbain.
Macbeth approached them and put an arm around each. ‘You are and don't
know it,’ he said. ‘The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood, has been turned
off. Its very source has been cut off.’
‘Your royal father's been murdered,’ said Macduff.
‘Oh!’ Malcolm slumped against Macbeth. ‘Who did it?’
‘His chamberlains,’ said Lennox. ‘Their hands and faces were all smeared with
blood. So were their daggers, which lay unwiped on their pillows. They stared like
madmen, quite desperate.’
‘Even so!’ exclaimed Macbeth. ‘I'm sorry about the anger that made me kill
them.’
‘Why did you do that?’ said Macduff.
‘I couldn't help it,’ said Macbeth. ‘Anyone would have done the same. My love
for royal Duncan was stronger than my reason.’
Macduff was about to say something when Lady Macbeth moaned and thrust
her hand up dramatically to her forehead. ‘Help me!’ she said and dropped down.
‘Help the lady,’ said Macduff and servants ran to her assistance.
They all gathered around her, showing their concern. Malcolm whispered to
his brother: ‘Why aren't we taking charge of this? This is our business.’
‘We'd be fools to say anything at all,’ said Donalbain. ‘It's too dangerous. Let's
get out of here.’
‘Careful with her there,’ said Banquo as the servants lifted Lady Macbeth. ‘And
when we're all dressed let's meet and inquire into this violent piece of work. I'm
determined to oppose this malicious treason.’
‘So am I,’ said Macduff.
The others murmured their agreement.
‘Let's go and get dressed then and meet in the great hall,’ said Macbeth.
Malcolm and Donalbain watched them go.
‘What will you do?’ said Malcolm. ‘We'd better not hang about here. I'm going
to England.’
‘Ireland for me,’ said Donalbain. ‘It'll be safer to split up. I don't trust anyone,
least of all our closest relatives.’
‘This poisonous arrow hasn't landed yet,’ said Malcolm. ‘The safest thing is to
get out of its way. So let's find our horses right now. And I don't think we should be
too fussy about making our farewells!’
So Duncan was dead and Malcolm was gone away to England. And now who gets to be the king? None other than Macbeth. Soon after he is crowned Macbeth has a dinner and invites his old friend Banquo who happens to be the only one who know about the witches also the one who is supposed to not be king himself but the father of kings in other words the head of a family dynasty of kings.
Act Three Scene Three
The two murderers waited beside the road. The parkland was disappearing
into the deepening gloom and they knew that it wouldn't be long before they would
be completely invisible to anyone passing.
‘Banquo's voice came out of the dark: ‘Looks like rain tonight.’
They jumped on him. ‘Let it come down, then!’ one said.
Banquo struggled and fought but it was no use. They pinned him to the ground
with their knives.
‘Oh treachery,’ he gasped. ‘Run, Fleance, run, run. Oh you devil,’ he sighed
with his last breath.
They chased after Fleance but he disappeared into the dark woods.
‘We've only half done the job,’ one of them said.
‘Well, anyway,’ the other said. ‘Let's go and tell him what we've done.’
Act Three Scene Four
Now it was time for dinner. Macbeth tells everyone to sit down and says he wants to sit among the guests instead of at the head of the table. But...
‘The table's full,’ said Macbeth.
Lennox pointed to the empty chair. ‘There's your place, reserved for you,’ he
said.
Macbeth looked up. All the colour in his cheeks drained away. He swayed.
‘What's the matter?’ said Lennox.
Macbeth backed away, not taking his eyes off his chair. Then: ‘Which of you
have done this?’ he shouted.
There was a change of atmosphere as people stopped eating and talking and
looked at him. ‘Done what?’ they asked each other.
They watched as the King pointed to the empty chair.
‘You can't say I did it!’ he screamed. ‘Don't shake your gory locks at me!’
Ross sprang to his feet. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, rise: his Highness is not well.’
‘Sit!’ cried Lady Macbeth. She was moving fast to her husband. ‘Sit, worthy
friends. His Majesty is often like this - has been since childhood. Please, just stay
seated. It's only a brief fit. He'll be himself again in an instant. Take no notice of him:
if you give it too much attention it will make him worse. Carry on eating and take no
notice of him.’
She reached his side: she took his arm and spoke urgently into his ear. ‘Are
you a man?’
‘Yes, and a bold one, daring to look at something that would frighten the devil!’
Lady Macbeth dragged him to the side of the hall. The guests had turned back
to their conversations.
‘What nonsense!’ she said. ‘This is just a picture of your fear - the same thing
as the dagger which you told me led you to Duncan. Come on, now - these
outbursts are ridiculous, far more suitable for women telling winter's tales. You
should be ashamed of yourself.’
Macbeth was even paler now, and his face showed real fear.
‘Why are you pulling faces?’ she said. ‘When all's said and done, you're only
looking at a chair.’
‘Oh yes?’ said Macbeth. ‘Look! Look there! What do you say now?’ He
stepped forward and shook his finger at the chair. ‘Why, what do I care? If you can
sit there nodding then you can speak, too, so say something! If the dead won't stay
in their graves then we should feed them to birds of prey. That would stop them!’
‘Has this foolishness completely destroyed your manhood?’
Macbeth seemed to come to himself again and he looked at her. ‘As true as I
stand here I saw him.’
‘Fool!’ she said.
‘Blood has been shed before now,’ he said. ‘In the olden days, before we
became civilized, and yes, since then, too, there have been murders too terrible for
the human ear. There was a time that a man would die when he had his brains
knocked out and that would be the end of him. But now they rise again with twenty
gashes in their heads and push us off our chairs. This is even more unnatural than
Banquo's murder.’
‘My dear Lord,’ said Lady Macbeth, ‘your noble friends are wondering what's
going on.’
‘I've forgotten myself,’ he said. He addressed the guests. ‘My most worthy
friends, don't be amazed. I have a rare illness which is nothing to those who know
me well. Come, let's drink to love and health then I'll sit down.’ He snapped his
fingers at a serving man. ‘Give me some wine.’ The man poured from a pitcher.
‘Come on, fill it up,’ said Macbeth. He took the chalice. ‘I drink to the whole table.
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss. I wish he were here.’ He raised the
chalice and held it up with both hands. ‘To all of you and to him, we drink. And all of
you drink too.’
They stood: they watched him empty the chalice then they raised their own
tankards. Before they could drink he flung the chalice across the room. It landed
with a mighty clatter on the stone floor.
‘Go away!’ she shouted. ‘Get out of my sight! You should be in your grave!
Your bones are marrowless, your blood is cold: there's no intelligence behind those
eyes you're glaring with!’
They all looked from him to the chair and back again. They shook their heads
and began muttering to each other.
‘Just think of this as a normal occurrence,’ said Lady Macbeth as loudly and
firmly as she could. ‘That's all it is, except that it's spoiling our pleasure.’
But it was clearly more than that. The King seemed to have shrunk. His face
was so pale and pinched that his features were quite changed. He coughed - a
choking, gurgling cough - and saliva foamed around his lips. ‘I dare to do anything a
man dares,’ he muttered. He covered his eyes with his hands and whimpered. Then
he stood up straight and looked fiercely at the empty chair. ‘Come at me like the
rugged Russian bear, or the armour plated rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger: take any
form but that!’ He pointed and covered his eyes. ‘And I wouldn't turn a hair. Or come
back to life and challenge me to single combat. If I flinch then, you can call me a
coward.’
He flung himself to his knees. Tears streamed down his cheeks. His red eyes
contrasted starkly with his white face. ‘Go, please go, horrible ghost. Unreal thing!
Go!’
Suddenly he looked round at the stunned guests. He stood up unsteadily. ‘It's
gone. And I'm a man again.’ He was speaking haltingly, as though in pain. ‘Please,’
he said. ‘Sit down.’
‘It's too late. You've ruined the atmosphere and destroyed the dinner with an
astonishing loss of control,’ whispered Lady Macbeth fiercely.
‘Can it be?’ he said. He was speaking softly, as though to himself. They were
all gazing at him in silence. ‘That something like that can happen without your being
amazed? You make me doubt my senses when you can see such sights and keep
your colour while I'm drained of mine.’
‘What sights, my Lord?’ said Ross.
‘I beg of you,’ said Lady Macbeth. ‘Don't talk to him: he's getting worse and
worse. I'll say good night to you all at the same time. Go now.’
The lesser lords at the lower end of the table waited respectfully for the
thanes.
‘Ignore the order of going!’ Lady Macbeth almost screamed. ‘Just go as quickly
as you can!’
Lady Macbeth looked at the shadow which her husband had become. His
nose ran and dried spittle encircled his mouth.
‘I'm going to find the weird sisters early tomorrow morning,’ he said. ‘I want to
hear more. I'm determined to know the worst. It's my top priority. I've waded so far
into blood that I couldn't turn back now. There are some dreadful things I want to do
that I must act on before I can think about them.’
‘You're badly in need of a good sleep,’ said Lady Macbeth.
‘Come,’ he said. ‘We'll get some sleep. This episode tonight is the fear that
inexperience in evil brings. It won't happen once I'm used to it. This is all new to us.’
Act Four Scene One
The witches are getting ready for Macbeth.
They take the items one by and drop them into the cauldron.
‘Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.’
‘Double, double, toil and trouble:
Fire, burn; and cauldron, bubble.’
The witches are circling a pot of smoking witch’s stew.
‘By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes!’
Macbeth stood at the entrance to the cave, bewildered as to how he had come
to be there. He could make out the dark shapes of the sisters against the dull light of
the coals beneath the cauldron.
‘What are you up to, you secret black and midnight hags?’ he said.
‘A deed without a name,’ they said in unison.
Macbeth orders them to answer his questions. They say they will but the answers will come through apparitions. The first is a head wearing a helmet. ‘Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!’ the head cried. ‘Beware
Macduff: beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.’ It faded and
disappeared.
‘Whatever you are, thanks for the warning. You've guessed my fear
accurately. But just another word.’
‘He will not be commanded. Here's another, More potent than the first.’
A blood-smeared child began to take shape. ‘Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!’
‘I'm listening.’
‘Be bloody, bold and resolute: laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of
woman born Shall harm Macbeth.’
He disappeared.
‘Then live, Macduff: why do I need to fear you? And yet I'll make doubly sure.
You won't live.’
A child sat before him. It had a crown on its head and a branch of a tree in its
hand.
‘What's this, looking like a prince? And wearing a crown?
‘Listen, but speak not to't.’
The apparition looked up into Macbeth's eyes.
‘Be lion-mettled, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquished be,
Until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.’
He was gone on the last word.
‘That's impossible. Trees can't walk. Birnam wood will never come to the
castle at Dunsinane! What wonderful prophesies. Excellent.’ He threw his head
back and laughed. ‘Dead enemies, don't rise out of your graves until Birnam wood
walks. That means King Macbeth will live the natural length of his life, only giving it
up to old age. Excellent! And yet -’ Macbeth looked about for the invisible witches.
‘My heart aches to know one thing: tell me - if your magic extends that far - will
Banquo's issue ever reign in this kingdom?’
The voices came all at once: ‘Seek to know no more.’
‘I must know! If you deny me this then let an eternal curse fall on you! I want to
know! I have to know!
‘Show!’
‘Show!’
‘Show!’
‘Show his eyes and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart.’
The grey light brightened until it was a white blaze. Music was playing and
what looked like a parade was taking place. There were several main figures,
wearing crowns and waving as though to adoring crowds. They came closer and the
leader waved specifically at Macbeth. Terror gripped him as he recognized him.
‘You're the image of Banquo!’ he cried. ‘Away!’ The golden crown caught the
light and Macbeth covered his eyes. ‘Ah! your crown's searing my eye-balls!’
The second figure was passing him now. He also looked like Banquo. The
same hair exactly. ‘And the third is like the others. Filthy bags! Why are you
showing me this?’
The fourth figure was just like the others. ‘Start! Eyes!’ cried Macbeth. ‘Does
this go on forever?’
There were a fifth and sixth and then a seventh. ‘I don't want to see any
more! And still, an eighth.’ The eighth carried a mirror which reflected even more,
stretching back as far as his eyes could see.
‘And some of them are carrying triple scepters. Horrible sight! Now I can see
it's true,’ he said as the bloody Banquo came into view and leered at him. ‘He points
at the kings, claiming them as his issue. Can it be?’
‘Aye, Sir, all this is so:
Then suddenly all the witches take off and also the apparitions.
A messanger is approaching with news for Macbeth and it’s not good.
Lennox tells Macbeth what the messangers said: ‘Messengers, my Lord, bringing you word that Macduff has fled to England.’
‘Fled to England?’
‘Yes, my Lord.’
Macbeth was furious. He should have done it before it was too late! If you
want to do something you should do it at once. From that moment there would be
no hesitating: he would act as soon as he had the idea. And he had an idea right
now: he would surprise Macduff's castle and put his wife and children and anyone
else he could find there to the sword. He wouldn't brag about it like a fool, he would
give the order right away, before his anger could cool. And no more spirits!
‘Where are these messengers?’ he asked Lennox. ‘Come on, take me to
them.’
Macbeth won’t wait to show Macduff who’s in charge so he has some hired men go make a call on Lady Macduff and her ten year old son. The men arrive and Lady Macduff says:
‘Who are you?’
‘Where's your husband?’ one of them said.
‘I hope he's not anywhere so unsanctified that someone like you might find
him,’ she said.
‘He's a traitor,’ the one with the shaggy hair said. The boy rushed at him and
kicked him in the shin. ‘You lie, you shaggy-haired lout!’ he cried.
‘What?’ The man grabbed him as he was about to kick him again. ‘You egg!’
He drew his dagger and thrust it viciously into the boy's spine. Blood spurted on to
his face. ‘You traitor's spawn!’
The boy turned pale and blood trickled out of his mouth and down his chin.
The shaggy haired man rubbed his shin. Lady Macduff stood with her mouth open,
unable to scream.
The boy fell heavily against his mother. ‘Run,’ he sighed. ‘I beg you.’ He
slipped to the floor and lay still.
Lady Macduff moved then. She began running, dodging round the men who
tried to catch her, and out into the corridor. ‘Help! Murder! Help! My babies!’ she
cried.
The men followed her. And you can guess what happened. Macduff meets up with Malcolm in England and they make plans to onverthrow Macbeth.
As they plan a man comes looking for Macduff. It’s Ross.
Macduff suddenly began running towards him. ‘Ross! My dear
cousin, welcome!’
‘I recognize him now,’ said Malcolm. ‘Pray God remove the circumstances
which makes us strangers.’
‘Amen to that, Sir,’ said Ross.
‘Are things still the same in Scotland?’ said Macduff.
‘Alas, poor country!’ said Ross. ‘Almost afraid to know itself. It can't be called
our mother, but our grave - where no-one ever smiles anymore; where no-one takes
any notice of the groaning and shrieking of torture; where violent sorrow is
commonplace. No-one asks who's funeral the bell is tolling for and good men's lives
are shorter than the flowers they wear in their hats - dying even before they begin to
fade!’
‘What's the latest?’ said Malcolm.
Ross says, I have words that should
be howled out in the desert air where there are no ears to hear them.’
‘Concerning what?’ said Macduff. He looked tense. ‘Is it about the political
situation or something personal?’
‘Something shared,’ said Ross. He looked at his cousin now. ‘But mainly to do
with you.’
‘Quickly, let me have it,’ said Macduff.
‘Don't hate me for ever,’ said Ross. ‘Because this is the worst news you've
ever heard.’
‘Ha! I've already guessed it,’ said Macduff.
‘Your castle was surprised; your wife and babes savagely slaughtered. If I
were to relate the details to you it would kill you.’
Macduff bent forward as though he had been hit in the stomach and stayed
unmoving for a long time.
‘Come on,’ said Malcolm at last. ‘Don't muffle yourself. Say something. If you
don't give expression to your grief it'll break your heart.’
‘My children too?’ said Macduff.
‘Wife, servants, everyone they could find.’
‘And I had to be away at the time! My wife killed too?’
‘I've told you.’
Malcolm put his hand on Macduff's shoulder. ‘There's some comfort: we're
going to get revenge.’
‘He has no children,’ said Macduff. He stared at Ross. ‘All my pretty ones? Did
you say all?’ He kicked the exposed root of an apple tree. ‘Oh hell-kite!’ He turned
back to Ross. ‘All? What? All my pretty chickens and their mother at one fell
swoop?’ He walked away from them and cried.
‘Take it like a man,’ said Malcolm.
‘I will,’ said Macduff. ‘But I must also feel it like a man. Nothing was as
precious to me. Did heaven watch and not come to their help? Oh, it's my fault.
They were killed because of me! Not because of their faults but for mine. Heaven
rest them now.’
‘Let this sharpen your sword. Let grief turn into anger, ' said Malcolm.
‘I could waste time crying,’ said Macduff. ‘But gentle heavens, let's not delay.
Bring this fiend of Scotland and me face to face. Bring him within my sword's length.
If he escapes let my punishment be that heaven forgives him.’
‘That's more like it,’ said Malcolm. ‘Come let's go to the King. Our army’s
waiting: there's nothing left to do. Macbeth is ripe for shaking. Cheer up, gentlemen.
It's a long night that never finds the day.’
Meanwhile back at the castle, Lady Macbeth’s evil ways are catching up with her -- she’s starting to walk in her sleep. The doctor is telling Lady Macbeths gentlewoman about Lady Macbeth’s behavior: The gentlewoman sees her coming: ‘Look. Here she comes.
This is exactly like it was before and there, you see? Fast asleep. Watch her and
don't move.’
‘How did she get that light?’
‘It was at her bedside. She has a lighted candle with her all the time. She's
ordered it.’
‘You see?’ said the doctor. ‘Her eyes are open.’
‘Yes, but she can't see anything.’
Lady Macbeth stopped near them. She was examining her hands closely.
‘What's she doing?’ whispered the doctor. ‘Look how she's rubbing her hands.’
‘She always does that. As though washing them. I've known her do that for a
quarter of an hour.’
‘There's still a spot here,’ said Lady Macbeth.
‘Listen!’ The doctor took a notebook and a piece of chalk out of his pocket.
She's speaking. I'll write it down.’
‘Come out, damned spot,’ said Lady Macbeth fiercely, rubbing violently. She
stopped, as though listening to something. ‘One - two. Two o'clock: it's time to do it.
hell is dark. What my Lord? Shame! A soldier and frightened? What do we care who
knows when no-one can question us? But who would have thought the old man to
have had so much blood in him?’
‘Do you hear that?’ said the doctor.
‘The Thane of Fife had a wife,’ continued Lady Macbeth. ‘Where is she now?’
She returned to washing her hands. ‘Will these hands never be clean? No more of
that, my Lord - no more of that: you're ruining it all with your nervousness.’
‘Dear, dear,’ sighed the doctor. ‘You've done some things you shouldn't have.’
‘She's said things she shouldn't have,’ said the gentlewoman. ‘God knows
what she's done.’
Lady Macbeth lifted her hands to her face. ‘They still smell of blood,’ she said.
‘All the perfumes of Arabia couldn't make this little hand smell sweet.’
‘What a sigh that was,’ said the doctor. ‘Her heart is heavily burdened.’
‘I wouldn't have her heart in my bosom for anything,’ said the gentlewoman.
The doctor shook his head. ‘Well, well, well.’
‘I wish it were well, Sir.’
‘This goes beyond the practice of medicine. Still, I've known some who've
walked in their sleep and have lived good lives.’
‘Wash your hands!’ shouted Lady Macbeth. ‘Put on your night-gown. Don't
look so pale. I'll tell you once more:
Banquo's buried: he can't come out of his grave.’
‘That too?’ said the doctor.
‘To bed, to bed, there's someone knocking at the gate,’ said Lady Macbeth.
‘Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's done can't be undone. To
bed, to bed, to bed.’ She lifted the candle and returned down the corridor.
‘Will she go to bed now?’ said the doctor.
‘Straight away.’
Macbeth is at this same time preparing to fight a battle with the English army led by Malcolm and Macduff. Macbeth is talking to a servant named Seyton.
‘What's the latest?’
‘They're close.’
‘I'll fight until my flesh has been hacked off my bones. Give me my armour.’
‘You don't need it yet,’ said Seyton.
‘I want to put it on. Go and get it. Send more horses out. Search the
countryside: hang anyone who talks of defeat. And get my armour.’
Seyton left and Macbeth turned to the doctor. ‘How's your patient, doctor?’
‘Not sick as much as troubled with incessant fantasies that stop her from
sleeping.’
‘Well cure her of that, then.’
The doctor shook his head.
‘Can't you treat a sick mind? Remove a terrible experience from the memory?
Rub out the troubles printed on the mind and cover over the terror of a guilty heart
with some pain-killing drug?’
‘That's something the patient must do himself.’
Macbeth stared at the doctor for a moment then he made a dismissive
gesture. ‘Throw medicine to the dogs! I don't need it.’
He strode to the door and out, towards the battlements. ‘I won't
be afraid of death and destruction till Birnam forest comes to Dunsinane.’
The doctor whistled softly to himself. If he were far away from Dunsinane, no
money on earth would bring him back.
Act Five Scene Four
‘Not long now, cousins,’ said Malcolm. ‘Scots will soon be able to sleep safely
in their beds.’
‘We have no doubts at all,’ said Menteith.
‘What wood is that?’ said Siward.
‘Birnam Wood,’ said Menteith.
‘Right,’ said Malcolm. ‘Tell every soldier to cut down a branch and carry it in
front of him. That will conceal our numbers.’
‘I hear the insolent tyrant has stayed in Dunsinane and doesn't seem to mind
our laying siege to it.’
‘There's nothing else he can do,’ said Malcolm. Everyone’s deserted him: the
ones who've stayed have been forced to and their hearts aren't in it.’
‘There's no point talking about it,’ said the impatient Macduff. ‘Let's get on with
it.
‘Macduff's right,’ said Siward. ‘We can speculate as much as we like but the
issue will only be settled by fighting. So let's go.’
Lady Macbeth kills herself by jumping off the battlements and when Macbeth hears about it he just says:
‘She should have died later. This isn't the time.’
Blow the short candle out: life was no more
than a walking shadow - a poor actor - who goes through all the emotions in one
hour on the stage and then bows out. It was a story told by an idiot, full of noise and
passion, but meaningless.
It was getting light. A young soldier stood behind him, reluctant to deliver his
message.
‘Lost your tongue?’ said Macbeth. ‘ Come on. Out with it.’
‘My gracious Lord,’ said the soldier. ‘ I want to tell you what I think I saw but
don't know how to say it.’
‘Well just say it.’
‘While I was standing watch on the hill I looked towards Birnam and suddenly I
thought the wood began to move.’
‘Liar!’ said Macbeth. ‘ Rogue!’
‘Be angry with me if I'm lying. It's only three miles away. You can see it: a
moving grove.’
‘If you're lying I'll string you up on the nearest tree. And you'll hang there, alive,
until you shrivel up with starvation. If you're telling the truth I don't care if you do the
same for me. I'm not so sure anymore. I don't believe the fiend that lies with a
straight face. 'Fear not, till Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane!' And now a wood is
coming to Dunsinane.’
He placed his hands on either side of his mouth. ‘To arms! To arms!’ he cried.
A drum began to beat and soldiers took up their positions, ready to march out to the
battlefield.
If what the soldier had told him was true there was nowhere he could go - nor
could he stay. He was thoroughly sick of life and wished the world would just come
to an end.
He buckled his breastplate and pulled on his helmet. ‘ Ring the alarm bell!’
Whatever happened - hurricane or ruin - at least he'd die fighting!
‘This is close enough,’ said Malcolm. ‘ Throw down your branches and reveal
yourselves.’ He called Siward to him. ‘You'll lead the first onslaught, Uncle - you
and your noble son. We and worthy Macduff will follow up, as planned.’
‘Right,’ said Siward. ‘ If we engage with the tyrant's troops tonight, let us be
beaten if we don't fight to the death.’
‘Sound the trumpets!’ cried Macduff.
Act Five Scene Seven
Macbeth surveyed the scene. Most of his men had deserted and corpses lay
everywhere. They'd trapped him. like a bear tied to a stake. he couldn't escape: he
had to stay and fight. But anyway, there was no such thing as a man who wasn't
born of a woman. That was the only thing he had to fear.
Young Siward had spotted him and came towards him. ‘What's your name?’
he said.
Macbeth drew his sword. ‘You'd be terrified to hear it.’
‘Never,’ said the young Englishman. ‘Even if you call yourself by a worse
name than any in hell.’
‘My name's Macbeth.’
‘The Devil himself couldn't pronounce a title more hateful to my ear.’
‘No, nor more frightening.’
‘You lie, despicable tyrant! I'll prove that with my sword.’
The young man fought bravely but before long he was lying at Macbeth's feet,
his heart pierced by a king's sword.
‘You were born of woman,’ said Macbeth. ‘But I laugh at swords wielded by
any man that's born of woman.’
Act Five Scene Eight
Macbeth sat on a hill, ready to fight anyone who dared come near him. He
wasn't going to fall on his sword like a Roman in his situation would have. Why
should he? As long as there were enemies to kill the gashes would look better on
them.
He didn't hear Macduff come up behind him.
‘Turn, hell-hound, turn!’
Macbeth turned. ‘Of all men I've avoided you,’ he said. ‘But go away. My soul
is too heavy with your family's blood already.’
‘I've nothing to say,’ said Macduff. ‘My sword is my tongue. You bloodier devil
than words can describe!’
‘You're wasting your time. It'll be easier to dent the air with your sharp sword
than draw my blood. Save your sword for vulnerable chests. My life is charmed. I
can't be killed by anyone who wasn't born of a woman.’ Macbeth turned and began
walking away.
‘Forget your charm,’ said Macduff. ‘And tell the evil spirit who told you that that
Macduff was pulled prematurely from his mother's womb.’
Macbeth whipped round. ‘Curse the tongue that tells me that,’ he said,
‘Because it strikes fear into my heart. And curse these cheating fiends who keep
their promises in small things and deny us our greatest hopes. I won't fight with
you.’
‘Then give yourself up, coward, and live - to be a public spectacle. We'll
advertise you, as we do with our more unusual freaks, with a sign hung from a pole:
'Here you can see they tyrant.’
‘I won't give up to kiss the ground beneath young Malcolm's feet and then be
jeered at by the common rabble.’ Macbeth drew his sword. ‘Even though Birnam
Wood has come to Dunsinane and I'm facing a man not born of woman I'll fight to
the bitter end. Come on, Macduff. And damned be the one who first cries, 'stop - no
more!'‘
And you can guess who won.
Act Five Scene Nine
After the fight someone approaches Malcolm.
It was Macduff. And something hung from his hand. As he came closer,
followed by soldiers of both sides, all cat calling and laughing, they saw that it was a
human head.
‘Hail, King,’ said Macduff. ‘Because that's what you are. Look at the usurper's
head. We're free!’ He took a spear from a sentry, pierced the head and raised it up
above the battlements. ‘I see you're surrounded by the kingdom's finest, all thinking
the words with which I greet you now: Hail, King of Scotland!’
They all knelt in a ring around Malcolm.
‘Hail, King of Scotland!’
‘We won't waste much time in rewarding each and every one of you,’ said the
King. My thanes and cousins, you are now earls - the first earldoms Scotland has
ever awarded. I'm also going to call our exiled friends home and flush out the cruel
agents of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen who, we believe, killed herself.
These things, and whatever else God calls on us to do we'll perform in due course.
So thanks to all and we invite you all to see us crowned at Scone.’
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.