No One Mourns the No One Mourns the Wicked: Wicked: Macbeth’sMacbeth’s First First

ActAct

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3 January 20113 January 2011

Act I, Scene IAct I, Scene I The witches come together and The witches come together and

establish that they’ll meet with establish that they’ll meet with MacbethMacbeth

They’re speaking before the Scots’ They’re speaking before the Scots’ battle with the rebels (and battle with the rebels (and Norwegians!) has finishedNorwegians!) has finished

There are also larger implications of There are also larger implications of “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”

Larger ImplicationsLarger Implications Shakespeare uses the witches’ chant Shakespeare uses the witches’ chant

to foreshadow his play’s to foreshadow his play’s blurring/reversal of moral lines blurring/reversal of moral lines

Macbeth is a good man who’s Macbeth is a good man who’s swallowed by darknessswallowed by darkness

Malcolm’s responsible decision to Malcolm’s responsible decision to flee ends up costing many livesflee ends up costing many lives

Duncan’s ability to trust – even after Duncan’s ability to trust – even after a recent betrayal – turns out to be an a recent betrayal – turns out to be an awful thing instead of an impressive awful thing instead of an impressive oneone

Act I, Scene IIAct I, Scene II We meet Duncan in Forres, a We meet Duncan in Forres, a

Scottish town near (but not at) the Scottish town near (but not at) the scene of the battlescene of the battle The battle is being fought at Fife, The battle is being fought at Fife,

another Scottish townanother Scottish town Macdonwald is the head rebel, and Macdonwald is the head rebel, and

the battle had basically been fought the battle had basically been fought to a standstill – neither side to a standstill – neither side dominating the other, with each just dominating the other, with each just wearing the other out wearing the other out If anything, the rebels have a slightly If anything, the rebels have a slightly

better handbetter hand

Obvious ForeshadowingObvious Foreshadowing ““Brave Macbeth” (at this point, Brave Macbeth” (at this point,

deserving of the adjective) hacks his deserving of the adjective) hacks his way forward, heedless of danger, way forward, heedless of danger, until he reaches Macdonwald (whom until he reaches Macdonwald (whom he kills in spectacularly bloody he kills in spectacularly bloody fashion)fashion)

Macdonwald’s head is placed on a Macdonwald’s head is placed on a pike (a giant pointed stick) after pike (a giant pointed stick) after Macbeth kills himMacbeth kills him

This is unsubtle foreshadowing (a This is unsubtle foreshadowing (a treacherous threat to Scotland)treacherous threat to Scotland)

Bring on the Norwegians!Bring on the Norwegians! When the Norwegians attack, Macbeth When the Norwegians attack, Macbeth

and Banquo don’t lose heart – they fight and Banquo don’t lose heart – they fight twice as hardtwice as hard

The Norwegians are being helped by a The Norwegians are being helped by a Scottish traitor, the Thane of Cawdor (a Scottish traitor, the Thane of Cawdor (a nobleman), but Macbeth and Banquo lead nobleman), but Macbeth and Banquo lead a successful counterattacka successful counterattack

King Sweno of Norway wants to surrender King Sweno of Norway wants to surrender after Macbeth defeats him, but the after Macbeth defeats him, but the Scottish won’t let him bury his dead until Scottish won’t let him bury his dead until he pays a huge sum of moneyhe pays a huge sum of money Compare this behavior with the kings in Compare this behavior with the kings in

Beowulf Beowulf Remember the death-price?Remember the death-price?

Ceiling on the HeadsCeiling on the Heads Cawdor is to be executed as soon as Cawdor is to be executed as soon as

possible, and his title (since he’s a possible, and his title (since he’s a nobleman) will go to Macbethnobleman) will go to Macbeth Macbeth is already a nobleman – the Macbeth is already a nobleman – the

Thane of Glamis – because his father’s Thane of Glamis – because his father’s title was passed down to him after the title was passed down to him after the elder man’s deathelder man’s death

The new title serves as a promotionThe new title serves as a promotion Realistically, this is as far as Realistically, this is as far as

Macbeth can advance with respect to Macbeth can advance with respect to his social standinghis social standing This isn’t Horatio Alger’s societyThis isn’t Horatio Alger’s society

Act I, Scene IIIAct I, Scene III The first witch’s punishment for the The first witch’s punishment for the

sailor sounds eerily like what will sailor sounds eerily like what will happen to Macbethhappen to Macbeth

She leaves the sailor unable to She leaves the sailor unable to sleep, and he dwindles awaysleep, and he dwindles away

Compare this to what happens to Compare this to what happens to Macbeth after he kills Duncan in Act Macbeth after he kills Duncan in Act II II

Shakespeare is a master of Shakespeare is a master of foreshadowing and thematic foreshadowing and thematic reinforcementreinforcement

The Body, the Blood, the MachineThe Body, the Blood, the Machine Foreshadowing is particularly important in Foreshadowing is particularly important in

a play like this because the story is partly a play like this because the story is partly about the ways that about the ways that foreknowledgeforeknowledge – – whether real or simply believed – can whether real or simply believed – can affect usaffect us Think of Think of Machine of DeathMachine of Death

If the play’s about a march into If the play’s about a march into a a future, future, the foreshadowing forces us to look the foreshadowing forces us to look toward that futuretoward that future As withAs with Siddhartha Siddhartha and and Beowulf,Beowulf, the play’s the play’s

format reinforces its functionformat reinforces its function One more note: the Weïrd Sisters are not One more note: the Weïrd Sisters are not

“weird” (notice the presence of two dots “weird” (notice the presence of two dots above the “i”)above the “i”) The word means that they’re able to see the The word means that they’re able to see the

futurefuture

Foul and FairFoul and Fair Macbeth, as he and Banquo walk back to Forres: Macbeth, as he and Banquo walk back to Forres:

“So foul and fair a day I have not seen” “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” Not only does this remind us of the witches’ Not only does this remind us of the witches’

chant from earlier, but it underscores that one of chant from earlier, but it underscores that one of the witches can essentially control the the witches can essentially control the uncontrollable (the weather)uncontrollable (the weather) They can also see the “uncontrollable” – the futureThey can also see the “uncontrollable” – the future

We see that Macbeth himself is both fair and foulWe see that Macbeth himself is both fair and foul The weather is consistently disordered – lots of The weather is consistently disordered – lots of

storms that symbolize the chaos and passion storms that symbolize the chaos and passion fueling the playfueling the play

The witches seem inhuman, yet Macbeth listens The witches seem inhuman, yet Macbeth listens to them despite his initial resistance – he does to them despite his initial resistance – he does the same thing with Lady Macbeth the same thing with Lady Macbeth This is what happens when you listen to something This is what happens when you listen to something

inhuman, something evil – and forget what makes you inhuman, something evil – and forget what makes you good or humangood or human

The Hidden DarknessThe Hidden Darkness Banquo isn’t nearly as impressed by the witches’ Banquo isn’t nearly as impressed by the witches’

words as Macbeth, but his reason is blinded just words as Macbeth, but his reason is blinded just enough to qualify as a fatal flawenough to qualify as a fatal flaw He underestimates Macbeth’s newfound capacity for He underestimates Macbeth’s newfound capacity for

ruthlessnessruthlessness ““Lesser than Macbeth, and greater/ Not so Lesser than Macbeth, and greater/ Not so

happy, yet much happier/Thou shalt get kings, happy, yet much happier/Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”though thou be none”

Banquo retains his humanity and will “win” in the Banquo retains his humanity and will “win” in the end when Fleance wins the throne (implying that end when Fleance wins the throne (implying that Malcolm will die before producing an heir) Malcolm will die before producing an heir) despite never ruling himselfdespite never ruling himself

That implication about Malcolm leads to an That implication about Malcolm leads to an ending whose darkness is often overlooked, ending whose darkness is often overlooked, much like the ending of much like the ending of BeowulfBeowulf

Different ReactionsDifferent Reactions Macbeth disbelieves (rationally), but is tempted Macbeth disbelieves (rationally), but is tempted

by the witches’ words; this reveals itself in his by the witches’ words; this reveals itself in his pleading demands for follow-up information, pleading demands for follow-up information, truths that the witches never providetruths that the witches never provide

When Ross and Angus arrive, Banquo is still When Ross and Angus arrive, Banquo is still wondering whether the two men have simply wondering whether the two men have simply gone crazy after fighting for so longgone crazy after fighting for so long

When the two newcomers deliver information When the two newcomers deliver information that verify one of the claims the witches made that verify one of the claims the witches made regarding Macbeth, Banquo reacts with regarding Macbeth, Banquo reacts with astonishment – belief, but skeptical beliefastonishment – belief, but skeptical belief

Macbeth, on the other hand, immediately jumps a Macbeth, on the other hand, immediately jumps a step ahead, picturing a crown upon his own headstep ahead, picturing a crown upon his own head

Honest TriflesHonest Trifles Banquo cautions Macbeth that “to win us our Banquo cautions Macbeth that “to win us our

harm,/Th’ instruments of darkness tell us harm,/Th’ instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles, to betray ‘s/In truths,/Win us with honest trifles, to betray ‘s/In deepest consequence”deepest consequence”

In other words, the devil may give you a couple In other words, the devil may give you a couple of mild truths in order to win your trust, and then of mild truths in order to win your trust, and then hang you with that trusthang you with that trust

While Banquo tries to keep his friend from While Banquo tries to keep his friend from staring into the abyss, it’s already too late staring into the abyss, it’s already too late

Even when Macbeth tries to back away, the voice Even when Macbeth tries to back away, the voice of darkness and heartless ambition (in the form of darkness and heartless ambition (in the form of Lady Macbeth) pushes him right back to the of Lady Macbeth) pushes him right back to the edgeedge

Why Would Anybody Want to Why Would Anybody Want to Be King?Be King?

Macbeth wonders whether he should trust the Macbeth wonders whether he should trust the witches, and argues well for either sidewitches, and argues well for either side

In the end, he merely chooses what he wants to In the end, he merely chooses what he wants to believe, and that choice starts him down a very believe, and that choice starts him down a very dark pathdark path

Notice, however, that he’s wavering a bit, even Notice, however, that he’s wavering a bit, even herehere

In her excellent end-of-play essay, Susan Snyder In her excellent end-of-play essay, Susan Snyder points out the absence of Macbeth’s burning points out the absence of Macbeth’s burning desire to rule desire to rule

That resonates particularly well in this scene – That resonates particularly well in this scene – Macbeth seems excited, but we don’t really Macbeth seems excited, but we don’t really understand understand whywhy he would want to be king he would want to be king

Then again…does he have a child?Then again…does he have a child?

Act I, Scene IVAct I, Scene IV Cawdor dies by another’s handCawdor dies by another’s hand It seems that King Duncan always kills by It seems that King Duncan always kills by

proxyproxy For that matter, so will King MacbethFor that matter, so will King Macbeth

Duncan mentions that you can never truly Duncan mentions that you can never truly tell what another man is thinking, and tell what another man is thinking, and that he was therefore foolish to have that he was therefore foolish to have trusted the Thane of Cawdor completelytrusted the Thane of Cawdor completely

It’s a good point…except he then goes and It’s a good point…except he then goes and does the same thing with Macbethdoes the same thing with Macbeth

A King’s Naïveté A King’s Naïveté It’s incredibly naïve – but his words about not It’s incredibly naïve – but his words about not

being able to trust your own judgment end up being able to trust your own judgment end up hanging over the entire play, both in the way hanging over the entire play, both in the way that they describe Duncan’s ultimate downfall that they describe Duncan’s ultimate downfall and the different ways in which other characters and the different ways in which other characters essentially repeat his assertionessentially repeat his assertion

Duncan’s sudden announcement that Malcolm Duncan’s sudden announcement that Malcolm will be the Prince of Cumberland reminds will be the Prince of Cumberland reminds Macbeth – harshly – that he stands outside of the Macbeth – harshly – that he stands outside of the usual line of succession, and that he’ll need to usual line of succession, and that he’ll need to get rid of more than Duncan if he wants to reach get rid of more than Duncan if he wants to reach the thronethe throne

Macbeth: “Let not light see my black and deep Macbeth: “Let not light see my black and deep desires” desires” An immediate parallel to Duncan’s earlier point about An immediate parallel to Duncan’s earlier point about

not being able to trust the world as you see itnot being able to trust the world as you see it

Act I, Scene VAct I, Scene V Lady Macbeth reads her husband’s letter, Lady Macbeth reads her husband’s letter,

and immediately concludes that while he and immediately concludes that while he has enough ambition to has enough ambition to want want power, he power, he lacks the ruthlessness he needs to lacks the ruthlessness he needs to taketake powerpower

His nature is too full of “human kindness” His nature is too full of “human kindness” for him to do what is necessaryfor him to do what is necessary

She vows to herself that she’ll say She vows to herself that she’ll say whatever it takes to get her husband to whatever it takes to get her husband to change his mindchange his mind

When Lady Macbeth hears that Duncan is When Lady Macbeth hears that Duncan is arriving at the castle, she, like her arriving at the castle, she, like her husband, reacts with disbelief and husband, reacts with disbelief and guarded optimismguarded optimism

Drain the Milk of Human KindnessDrain the Milk of Human Kindness She then asks for the gods to “unsex” her – i.e., She then asks for the gods to “unsex” her – i.e.,

to remove the “milk of human kindness” that to remove the “milk of human kindness” that supposedly makes women weak and supposedly makes women weak and compassionate, and to fill her up with the steely compassionate, and to fill her up with the steely resolve she’ll need to steer her husband down resolve she’ll need to steer her husband down the “correct” paththe “correct” path

She, like her husband (who cries out “Stars, hide She, like her husband (who cries out “Stars, hide your fires!”), prays for darkness to fall and cover your fires!”), prays for darkness to fall and cover her deeds her deeds This indicates, perhaps, that she and her husband are This indicates, perhaps, that she and her husband are

not as dissimilar as we’d first expectnot as dissimilar as we’d first expect Also, she tells Macbeth to “look like the innocent Also, she tells Macbeth to “look like the innocent

flower,/But be the serpent under’t” flower,/But be the serpent under’t” Yet another reflection of Duncan’s almost-Yet another reflection of Duncan’s almost-

unconscious realization that our eyes can betray unconscious realization that our eyes can betray us, and that we can us, and that we can see what we want to see and see what we want to see and hear what we want to hearhear what we want to hear

Act I, Scene VIAct I, Scene VI Banquo mentions that the birds use Banquo mentions that the birds use

Macbeth’s castle as a nesting ground after Macbeth’s castle as a nesting ground after they leave the churches where they they leave the churches where they usually live, providing an ironic usually live, providing an ironic juxtaposition between the castle as place-juxtaposition between the castle as place-of-virtuous-life and the castle as the of-virtuous-life and the castle as the place-of-treacherous-death it will soon place-of-treacherous-death it will soon becomebecome

There’s lots of “doubling” occurring in the There’s lots of “doubling” occurring in the dialoguedialogue It’s a subtle reference to the double face that It’s a subtle reference to the double face that

Macbeth must wear (look like the flower, strike Macbeth must wear (look like the flower, strike like the serpent)like the serpent)

Act I, Scene VIIAct I, Scene VII Macbeth agonizes alone about whether to go Macbeth agonizes alone about whether to go

through with his/Lady Macbeth’s plot, and through with his/Lady Macbeth’s plot, and resolves (again, alone) to abandon the entire resolves (again, alone) to abandon the entire ventureventure

Macbeth is painfully aware here of something he Macbeth is painfully aware here of something he later forgets: that things are never as simple as later forgets: that things are never as simple as “kill the king, take the throne”“kill the king, take the throne”

Consequences lead to further consequences, not Consequences lead to further consequences, not dead ends – and Macbeth suspects that those dead ends – and Macbeth suspects that those consequences would force him to face an consequences would force him to face an appropriate fate if he appropriate fate if he diddid end up killing Duncan end up killing Duncan

Not only is it wrong for Macbeth to strike at Not only is it wrong for Macbeth to strike at Duncan as his subject, but it’s wrong to do so as Duncan as his subject, but it’s wrong to do so as his hosthis host

No Heremod HereNo Heremod Here Also, Duncan hasn’t done anything wrong, Also, Duncan hasn’t done anything wrong,

or at least anything that would justify his or at least anything that would justify his slaughterslaughter

This isn’t a matter of replacing a harmful This isn’t a matter of replacing a harmful or tyrannical ruler with someone better-or tyrannical ruler with someone better-suited to rulesuited to rule

This is what happens when you begin This is what happens when you begin basing your actions on “nouns without basing your actions on “nouns without verbs,” as Snyder puts it; the Sisters tell verbs,” as Snyder puts it; the Sisters tell Macbeth what he’ll be, but not how he’ll Macbeth what he’ll be, but not how he’ll be itbe it

The Lightning StrikeThe Lightning Strike When Lady Macbeth arrives, Macbeth When Lady Macbeth arrives, Macbeth

essentially tells her to be patient – that essentially tells her to be patient – that he’s barely lived a day as the Thane of he’s barely lived a day as the Thane of Cawdor, and that they might as well enjoy Cawdor, and that they might as well enjoy their new honors instead of rapidly their new honors instead of rapidly casting them asidecasting them aside

Lady Macbeth fights back with an almost Lady Macbeth fights back with an almost animalistic fury, mocking everything animalistic fury, mocking everything about Macbeth – questioning his love, his about Macbeth – questioning his love, his manhood, his honor, his couragemanhood, his honor, his courage

It’s a blitzkrieg offensive, and Macbeth is It’s a blitzkrieg offensive, and Macbeth is completely overwhelmed by her; his completely overwhelmed by her; his denials and refusals sound defeated even denials and refusals sound defeated even as they leave his lipsas they leave his lips

Male Children OnlyMale Children Only Macbeth states that he’s willing to do whatever Macbeth states that he’s willing to do whatever

men do, but that he won’t turn himself into a men do, but that he won’t turn himself into a monster for power’s sakemonster for power’s sake

Lady Macbeth rebuts that real men wouldn’t Lady Macbeth rebuts that real men wouldn’t crumble in the face of fear, and that real men crumble in the face of fear, and that real men follow through on what they say they’ll dofollow through on what they say they’ll do

She states that she’d be willing to kill her own She states that she’d be willing to kill her own child as it nursed from her if she had pledged to child as it nursed from her if she had pledged to do so, and dares her husband to meet her level do so, and dares her husband to meet her level of commitment to one’s wordof commitment to one’s word

Macbeth crumbles, and tells her she’s only fit to Macbeth crumbles, and tells her she’s only fit to have male children, as her fighting soul couldn’t have male children, as her fighting soul couldn’t produce a “soft” female childproduce a “soft” female child This serves as a reminder that her heartlessness This serves as a reminder that her heartlessness

exposes her own relative powerlessnessexposes her own relative powerlessness Her soul is trapped within a female body that allows a Her soul is trapped within a female body that allows a

society she could conquer to cage hersociety she could conquer to cage her

False FacesFalse Faces The two resolve to get Duncan’s men The two resolve to get Duncan’s men

drunk enough to be blamed for the drunk enough to be blamed for the crime; Macbeth will stab Duncan crime; Macbeth will stab Duncan with their own daggers, thus with their own daggers, thus implicating them in their king’s implicating them in their king’s slaughterslaughter

The scene closes with a final The scene closes with a final reminder of Duncan’s fateful words reminder of Duncan’s fateful words about trusting one’s sight: “False about trusting one’s sight: “False face must hide what the false heart face must hide what the false heart doth know.”doth know.”

More to come…More to come…