Macbeth
The scene opens with the same "hoboys and torches" that announced the
King's arrival in the previous scene, then we see a "Sewer" and some
assistants carrying dishes for the feast that Macbeth is giving for the King.
But Macbeth himself has ducked out to think things over. Apparently it's
difficult for him to play host to a man he's about to kill. Macbeth says to
himself, "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well / It were done
quickly (1.7.1-2). That is, if everything could be over with as soon as Duncan
is killed, then it would be best for Macbeth to kill him quickly. If only,
Macbeth thinks, the assassination could be "the be-all and the end-all--here /
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, / We'ld jump the life to come"
(1.7.5-7). Where Macbeth says "but here," we would say "just here" or "only
here." In other words, Macbeth knows that he can get away with murder only
here on earth. In the afterlife he will certainly be punished. He also knows that
the afterlife is very long; it's like a boundless ocean, and our life is only a
"bank or shoal" on the edge of that ocean. Nevertheless, if one murder could
be the last murder, he would take his chances with the afterlife.
The problem is, it's not very likely to be "done when 'tis done," and
Macbeth knows this, too. He knows that--as we say--what goes around
comes around, that acts of violence are "Bloody instructions, which, being
taught, return / To plague the inventor" (1.7.9-10) . Of course, Macbeth has
good reason to be afraid. In a warrior society such as his, there would be
plenty of kith and kin eager to avenge the murder of any man, even if he
weren't a king.
To put it bluntly, Macbeth thinks that he's likely to get caught, and he's
about ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Macbeth knows this, too. He knows that--as we say--what goes around
comes around, that acts of violence are "Bloody instructions, which, being
taught, return / To plague the inventor" (1.7.9-10) . Of course, Macbeth has
good reason to be afraid. In a warrior society such as his, there would be
plenty of kith and kin eager to avenge the murder of any man, even if he
weren't a king.
To put it bluntly, Macbeth thinks that he's likely to get caught, and he's
about to 'chicken out'. Only at this point does he start thinking of other
reasons that he shouldn't kill his king. As the King's subject, as his kinsman,
as his host, Macbeth is supposed to protect his king, not kill him. Besides,
Duncan has done nothing wrong. He is a good king, and he is "meek," not
arrogant, so when he is killed, pity itself "Shall blow the horrid deed in every
eye, / That tears shall drown the wind" (1.7.24-25) . Perhaps Macbeth is
thinking that this outpouring of pity for King Duncan will make things even
more dangerous for himself. On the other hand, his only motivation is his
"Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on the other" (1.7.27-28)
. This image suggests his inner emptiness. He is obsessed with the idea of
doing the deed and becoming king. After that, he hasn't a clue.
Just as Macbeth is thinking about the senselessness of the murder he's
planning, his wife comes looking for him. She very forcibly points out that
the King has almost finished his supper, and Macbeth should be there,
pretending to be the happy host.
Macbeth then attempts to put an end to his problem by saying that "We will
proceed no further in this business" (1.7.29). He explains that he wants to
enjoy the honors that the King has just bestowed upon him. In saying this, he
may sound firm and reasonable, but it turns out that he doesn't have a chance
against his wife's passionate scorn.
She accuses him of being the kind of person who can dream of wearing
kingly robes only when he's drunk. She asks sarcastically, "Was the hope
drunk / Wherein you dress'd yourself? Hath it slept since?" (1.7.35-36). This
is harsh enough, but it gets worse. She tells him that if he's going to go back
on his word, he doesn't really love her, and he's a coward, no better than the
"poor cat i' the adage" (1.7.45), who wants a fish, but doesn't want to get its
feet wet. Macbeth tries to defend himself by saying, "I dare do all that may
become a man; / Who dares do more is none" (1.7.46-47). He's right. The
play has already shown that he's man enough to dare risk his life to protect
his King. In contrast, a man who dares to murder his King is not a true man.
This perfectly reasonable statement only makes his wife more scornful. She
tells him that when he dared to do the murder, then he was really a man. Now
the perfect opportunity to kill the King has presented itself, and Macbeth is
backing out, making him less than a man. [possiblity of a missing scene:
Lady Macbeth refers to a previous time when Macbeth did not have the
opportunity to kill the King, but was thinking about ways to create such an
opportunity. But you didn't miss anything. There is no previous scene in
which Macbeth discusses this with his wife. It's possible that Shakespeare
wrote such a scene, but it was lost. Many scholars think that Macbeth was
orginally a much longer play.]
Then, after ridiculing Macbeth's manhood, Lady Macbeth declares that she's
more man than he is:
I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:I
would, while it was smiling in my face,Have pluck'd my nipple from his
boneless gums,And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as youHave done
to this." (1.7.54-59) After this, it's really all over. Lady Macbeth wins.
Macbeth asks what happens if they fail, and his wife shuns the very idea. She
will get King Duncan's two attendants drunk, so they won't be able to protect
him, and then they'll take the blame for the King's death. Macbeth replies with
admiration, "Bring forth men-children only; / For thy undaunted mettle should
compose / Nothing but males" (1.7.72-74).
[A note on their children: They have no children, but Macbeth clearly hopes
his wife will give him some boys, and she has said that she has "given suck."
What this means is that we should probably think of them--or at least her--as
young, rather than in late middle age, as they are often portrayed. In
Shakespeare's time the child mortality rate was very high, so that it was quite
common for a young woman to have given birth, and nursed an infant,
without having any living children.]
Macbeth improves a bit on his wife's plan by saying that they'll use the
daggers of Duncan's attendants, and then smear his blood on the attendants.
Lady Macbeth assures him that nobody will dare raise any questions because
he and she will "make our griefs and clamour roar / Upon his death" (1.7.78-
79). With that, Macbeth's courage is up again. As they leave he is promising
to be a good hypocrite, saying "False face must hide what the false heart
doth know" (1.7.82).
