The letter from Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

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Macbeth Coursework

The letter from Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

My Dear LADY

A plan is forming itself in my mind and may result in my ascendance to the throne. The war with Norway has been won, and much credit for the deed has been bestowed upon me. Indeed I slew in battle one of our foes Macdonwald and mounted his head upon the battlements for all to behold. Somehow word of my victory reacted king Duncan's ears, he was proud of me.

A very strange and frightening thing happened to me. I must introduce the three weird sisters to you, whom in encountered on a heath. They cried "All hail", Macbeth! Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, thou shalt be king hereafter. I enquired them of their meaning, at which they evaporated into thin air. They told Banquo his children would mount to the throne this qualms me as our children will not be next in line we must dismiss Banquo. As I stood rapt in wonder at the vision, the Kings own messengers rode up and hailed me Thane of Cawdor, the previous one having deflected. Their announcement struck me dumb. It was predominately the manifestation of one of the witch's prophecies. king Duncan has selected his son as the heir to the throne, this indeed torments me as it means I will not become King, "this is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, for in my way it lies".

Now the question that distresses me perpetually is this: shall I become king hereafter, as these three weird sisters addressed me. I do passionately hope so and this news I have thought to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Although I respected Duncan as a king now that the weird sisters have told me I will accede to the throne, I am really impatient for Duncan to lie in his grave. Duncan shall dine at our dwelling, please do not think I am light hearted as being king is my great aspiration.

My feelings at the moment are ambivalent because king Duncan respects me and I respect him so how can I do any thing hideous.

I know how much you would want me to be king and you will always be my dearest and closest to my heart. Lay it to thy heart and farewell.

Macbeth

Macbeths Diary

I have tonight done the deed. I feel reprehensible as I came the stairs I had blood on my hand, I then said "this is a sorry sight" I am shattered to witness this blood, all the seas in the could not wash off the blood, this awful blood will always stay with me and it will haunt me for the remainder of my life. I can never ask for God's blessing since I am a sinner, I should not have killed loyal Duncan, I am guilty, I will never be able to ask for Gods forgiveness, I am in turmoil, I mean to be loyal to God, but I am a total sinner and I will go to hell, "I had most need of blessing and Amen stuck in my throat"

I cannot sleep, I will never have peace of mind, "Macbeth shall sleep no more" and this thought will never get out of my mind. I am afraid of what I have done, I am in torment, I cannot think about anything it will not leave my mind. I am obsessed with thoughts of damnation. I cannot get back to normal as this will always be in my mind and it will curse my mind. My dear Lady has been so calm how can I pull my self together? I have just committed murder; my dear does not understand what has happened. I feel loathsome and words cannot define the emotions I suffer. "I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on it again, I dare not" I feel fearful.

I had many doubts about the murder, firstly if I were to kill king Duncan then I would be distrusted by many people who would feel betrayed by me as they see me as such a loyal figure to the faithful King. The murder of Duncan is like a cup of poison, it will always come back to me "this even-handed justice commends th' ingredience of our poisoned chalice".

The blood on my hands has surprised and scared me horribly and It caused me to say "will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" I felt the blood would never disappear.

Duncan trusts me as I have been a loyal kinsman to him; I have been his devoted servant, "he's here in double trust" how can I perform such a cowardly and vicious attack on our King. He is coming to our dwelling in trust not fear "then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself."

If I slay Duncan it will be an atrocious act and will haunt me awfully, people will approach me and will feel that I am a sinner and revenge will be bestowed upon me. Nobody would ever forget it, I will be like the traitorous Thane of Cawdor and no good will be thought about me "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent". I feel " pity, like a naked new-born babe, striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed upon the sightless couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown down the wind" it is obvious Duncan's innocence will let everybody know about my murder and will cause me grief.

I have become paranoid about the murder. He is my loyal guest I should look after him, I should not think about this spineless act. I should be concerned about an innocent guest. Although there is one thing which forces me to have thoughts about the murder is my "... Vaulting ambition, which o'rleaps itself, and falls on th' other" I wanted to be king for so long this may be my one and only chance, this craving ambition could cause the demise of Duncan. I cannot find any more reasons for me to murder Duncan so "We will proceed no further in this business", I hope my wife does not try persuade me to go further in this act.

I had decided to proceed no further in this business until, my dearest love persuaded me. My dear Lady is much more ambitious than me and she will carry out any act to become Queen, this is what I fear the most. I told her that "we will speak no further" however this makes her more anxious to be Queen. Although my wife has supported me she also keeps putting me down. She is heartless and cold and I feel she has lost her sympathetic side. But she is still my dearest.
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The reasons for my change in heart are the things she has said to me, she called me "green and pale" this meant that I was a coward. How can she say such things to me she knows I love her with all my heart. I am a brave soldier how could I possibly be a coward. She is intimidating me, she is threatening my masculinity she said "when you durst do it then you were a man; and to be more what you were, you would be so much more the man", and she has made me ...

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