I would like to call to stand three odd and unearth like creatures as Banquo quotes,
“What are these, so withered in their attire
that look not like th’inhabitants o’the earth.”
I can see what he you’re thinking at this point in time, “what has this got to do with the case?” These three are known as the ‘weird sisters’ according to one of their rhymes,
“The weird sisters hand in hand,
posters of the sea and land.”
To me these three aren’t as honest and innocent as they sound. At this time Macbeth and Banquo were mounted upon their horses when they three appeared out of thin air. I think Banquo could back me up on this because one of the witches was believed to have a human thumb within her hand,
“Here I have a pilots thumb.
Wrecked, as homeward he did come.”
These are the words said by one of the sisters, also they mention the number three on three occasions,
“Thrice to thrice, and thrice to mine,
and thrice again to make up nine.”
I know that three is a black magic word of Celtic mythology. The witches have been known for creating tempest as vengeance aimed at the husband of a woman who refused a witch a chestnut,
“I’ll dry him as dry as hay:
Weary sev’nights, nine times nine,
Shall he dwindle, peak and pine.”
They meet with Macbeth and Banquo upon a heath.
“ So foul and fair a day, I have not seen.”
These are the words of my client upon meeting them. The weird sisters prophesise that Macbeth will be Thane of Cowdor and soon to be king,
“all hail Macbeth, Thane of Cowdor
all hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.”
Banquo a close friend of Macbeth and another of Duncan’s generals could not place these imperfect speakers, he quotes,
“The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,
and these are of them.-Whither are they vanished.”
At this point the witches vanished as they came. I wasn’t a bit surprised with this at all but Macbeth wished they had stayed,
“As breath into the wind- would they had stayed?”
My client speaks in desperation to learn about his future as a ruler. As you all know my client has inherited the title of Thane of Glamis shortly after his Father had died.
The three witches were believed to be able to tell the future. Is this true? or could it have been a misplaced whisper that these three heard. Who knows?
After all this Macbeth was greeted by Rosse and Angus messengers of the late king.
They come with news that the Thane of Cowdor had been sentenced to death for treachery and Macbeth shall be Thane of Cowdor.
“And for earnest of greater honour,
He bade me, from his, call thee Thane of Cowdor.”
Macbeth is overwhelmed by this news and leaps into the air.
In my opinion they had taken over Macbeth’s kind nature and subconsciously knew that his thoughts could be controlled, but Banquo warns him against believing them.
“The of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betrays
in deepest consequence.”
The powers of these three inhuman had misled my client into a world of uncertainty and ideas of how of how he could become king. After meeting these three did he wonder to evil? Could this be a link with the murder, not even Banquo understood fully the facts and what they wanted with Macbeth,
“Where such things here, as we do speak about?,
or have we eaten on insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?”
Macbeth is still over whelmed and doesn’t take notice. It seemed the only way Macbeth was to be king was to murder Duncan, this thought did cross his mind,
“ If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair.”
He confessed this to Banquo but he knew it was the wrong thing to do.
“If chance will have me King, why,
chance may crown me, without my stir.”
This to me proves that Macbeth is not a murderer, but a man with a confused mind and a fragile personality.
In a meeting with Duncan and fellow country men the King announces that his son Malcolm shall be Prince of Cumberland,
“Malcolm; whom we name here after ‘The Prince of Cumberland’.”
Hearing this news Macbeth had cruel intentions of killing the King but he knew he would be ashamed and would regret it afterwards,
“Let not light see my black and deep desires!”
If the members of the court are still questioning each other over the innocence of my client, I would like to call and present the final character of evil. I would like to introduce the wife of Macbeth, Mrs Lady Macbeth. She might come across as a charming, thoughtful and elegant woman, but you can’t judge a book by its cover, and believe me this is no pretty book! Lady Macbeth is a devious, corruptive and manipulative person and will have her own way.
Macbeth had sent Lady Macbeth a letter explaining that Duncan would be there that night. Lady Macbeth reads the letter and in it Macbeth refers to her as,
“Dearest partner of greatness,”
To me this means these two have a strong bond of love. In the letter he told her about the victory and that and that he now is the Thane of Cowdor. Also he spoke about the witches prophesies. At this point an ambition of becoming Queen sprang to her mind. She realised the only way for that would be to murder the King,
“Yet I do fear thy nature: It is to full o’the milk of human kindness.”
The only way then would be to push Macbeth into doing it.
“Hie thee Hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round.”
Before this she is told that Duncan is coming that night. So evil in her deeds to kill the King she calls upon evil spirits,
“Come you spirits,
That tend in mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me,
from the crown to the toe, top full of direst cruelty!
Make thick my blood, stop up’th access and passage to remorse.”
The demon words of Lady Macbeth have given her a black heart of stone. She creates a plan and makes her intentions clear she is going to kill the King.
“O! never shall sun that morrow see!”
To complete the plan she insists that my client act falsely.
“To beguile the time,
Look like the time, bear welcome in your eye
your hand your tongue, look like the innocent flower.”
As I described earlier Macbeth is too loyal and kind to contemplate killing the King.
Lady Macbeth insists arranging everything including the banquet but my client is still unsure. He leaves the banqueting hall and he then discovers reasons not to do it,
“He’s here in double trust:
*First as I am his Kinsman and *his subject,
Strong both against the deed;*then as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides,*this Duncan
Hath born his faculties so meek.”
He no longer wishes to go through with it. Lady Macbeth doesn’t like this and she insults Macbeth,
“And live a coward in thine own esteem.”
This comment affects Macbeth in a way where he responds in an angrily fashion by saying,
“I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.”
“ what beast was’t then, that made you break this enterprise to me?”
Lady Macbeth continues the argument. And I shall rephrase this comment above to you “ so you were a beast were you when you said it first, you’ll only be a man when you do it.” at this point Lady Macbeth makes Macbeth feel disloyal.
Shortley after this a horrid remark is told by Lady Macbeth saying she would kill her own child if she had said she was to do it.
“Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.”
Lady Mcabeth convinces Macbeth by this time,
“I am settled, and bend up”
As you all should have realised by now my client Macbeth is easily missled, although ha knows right from wrong and is a good man and anyone can change his mind.In conclusion I believe my client is innocent of the charges put against him because of the loyalty and honesty and the many influences put upon him.
Thank you. That is all.
