MACBETH

Act 1 Scene 7
ACT 1, SCENE 7: Macbeth's castle.
Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer, and divers Servants with Alliteration
Macbeth contemplates whether dishes and service, and pass over the stage. Then enter MACBETH.
or not he can perform the dreadful
MACBETH: If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well
deed of killing King Duncan. He
is trying to build up the courage to It were done quickly: if the assassination This word shows that Macbeth
fulfill his terrible desires. He Could trammel up the consequence, and catch recognises his intentions are a
knows that he must rush into the With his surcease success; that but this blow crime.
deed and think later if he is ever Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
going to do it. Above all, he But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
knows what he is about to do is During this section Macbeth
We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases
wrong. He will only kill King muses on the irony of Duncan’s
Duncan if he can conquer his own We still have judgement here; that we but teach murder whilst staying with the
conscience first. Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return Macbeths. He recognises that the
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice King has done a lot for him and
Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice that he should be very grateful.
To our own lips. He's here in double trust; Macbeth articulates two reasons
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, why he should not kill King
Macbeth reveals a whole series
Duncan. Firstly– he is a subject of
of conflicting thoughts and Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, the King so should be a loyal
feelings by talking aloud to the Who should against his murderer shut the door, servant to him. Secondly– as host,
audience. This is called a Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan he should protect King Duncan
soliloquy.
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been from intruders whilst he is in his
So clear in his great office, that his virtues care.
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
Macbeth tries to use his own And pity, like a naked newborn babe, Macbeth declares that King
selfish ambition to justify his Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed Duncan has been a very good
actions. He attempts to detach King and that his murder would
himself from the true evil of the
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
therefore not be justified in the
intended deed by personifying Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, eyes of the heavens. This may
ambition and suggesting it is out of That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur result in God punishing
his control. To prick the sides of my intent, but only everyone involved.
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on the other.
Enter LADY MACBETH. Alliteration
How now? What news?
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 MACBETH
Act 1 Scene 7
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth ask
each other a short series of LADY MACBETH: He has almost supped: why have you left the chamber?
questions about Duncan. MACBETH: Hath he asked for me?
The unanswered questions they LADY MACBETH: Know you not he has? Macbeth suggests that he no
both pose highlight the tension of longer wants to contemplate
the situation.
MACBETH: We will proceed no further in this business.
He hath honoured me of late; and I have bought killing Duncan, because he wants
to enjoy his new present position
Golden opinions from all sorts of people, as Thane of Cawdor before
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, considering any future plans or
Not cast aside so soon. changes.
LADY MACBETH: Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
Lady Macbeth asks several At what it did so freely? From this time
rhetorical questions in order to Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
warn Macbeth that she is not To be the same in thine own act and valour
pleased with his change of mind. Macbeth suggests that he ‘dares
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that to do anything.’ His masculine
She goes on to say that she will Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, pride blinds him to the fact that
use this situation in order to judge And live a coward in thine own esteem, Lady Macbeth is deliberately
the extent Macbeth loves her. Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' manipulating him to do something
Lady Macbeth persuades that she herself is not prepared to
Macbeth to kill King Duncan, by
Like the poor cat i' the adage?
do.
suggesting that if Macbeth is MACBETH: Prithee, peace:
really passionate about her then I dare do all that may become a man;
he should use this passion to fulfil Who dares do more is none.
all their desires. LADY MACBETH: What beast was't, then, Lady Macbeth concludes by
She goads him further by That made you break this enterprise to me? arguing that Macbeth had all but
suggesting that she will think him When you durst do it, then you were a man; promised to kill King Duncan.
a coward if he dare not commit the She will not regard him as a man
And, to be more than what you were, you would
murder. unless he does the deed.
Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:

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 MACBETH
Act 1 Scene 7
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now
As this speech draws to a Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know Lady Macbeth continues to speak
conclusion the audience of the day How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: to Macbeth in a confident and
would have been I would, while it was smiling in my face, calculating way. She says that if
appalled by the implications of Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, Macbeth twists his knife as soon
Lady Macbeth’s claims. Lady And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you as it enters Duncan’s heart he will
Macbeth says that she would have Have done to this. manage to kill him almost
taken her new born child off her MACBETH: If we should fail? instantly.
breast and smashed its head in if LADY MACBETH: We fail?
Macbeth asked her to do so. But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep--
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey
Soundly invite him--his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince Lady Macbeth has planned
That memory, the warder of the brain, everything down to the last detail.
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason She proposes Macbeth kill
A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep Duncan whilst he is asleep and
Their drenchèd natures lie as in a death, that they drug the guards to
What cannot you and I perform upon prevent them
The unguarded Duncan? What not put upon
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?
The guards will inevitably be Macbeth is aroused by Lady
MACBETH: Bring forth men-children only;
blamed since they are to be Macbeth’s talk. He is now as
For thy undaunted mettle should compose ready as she is.
discovered drunk and holding the
murder weapons. Nothing but males. Will it not be received,
When we have marked with blood those sleepy two Macbeth promises to muster all
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will Of his own chamber and used their very daggers, the necessary determination and
pretend to be grief-stricken by That they have done't? ruthlessness required to kill King
Duncan’s death so no one will LADY MACBETH: Who dares receive it other, Duncan.
question their innocence. As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
He acknowledges the need to play
Upon his death?
a deceptive game with the King
MACBETH: I am settled, and bend up first.
Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
Away, and mock the time with fairest show:
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
[Exeunt.]
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