Page 104 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA

British Drama

Notes What are you?’ Which parts may appear to be injudiciously distributed; Macbeth being the principal
personage in the play, and most immediately concerned in this particular scene, and it being to him
that the Witches first address themselves. But the difference in their character accounts for such a
distribution. Banquo’s contemptuous defiance of the Witches seemed so bold to Macbeth, that he long
after mentions it as an instance of his dauntless spirit, when he recollects that he ‘chid the sisters.’
Macbeth has an acquired, though not a constitutional, courage, which is equal to all ordinary
occasions; and if it fails him upon those which are extraordinary, it is however so well formed, as to
be easily resumed as soon as the shock is over. But his idea never rises above manliness of character,
and he continually asserts his right to that character; which he would not do if he did not take to
himself a merit in supporting it. Upon the first appearance of Banquo’s ghost, Lady Macbeth
endeavors to recover him from his terror by summoning this consideration to his view: ‘Are you a
man,’ ‘Aye, and a bold one.’ He puts in the same claim again, upon the ghost’s rising again, and
says, ‘What man dare, I dare,’ and on its disappearing finally, he says, ‘I am a man again.’ And even
at the last, when he finds that the prophecy in which he had confided has deceived him by its
equivocation, he says that ‘it hath cow’d my better part of man.’ In all which passages he is apparently
shaken out of that character to which he had formed himself, but for which he relied only on exertion
of courage, without supposing insensibility to fear.
Macbeth wants no disguise of his natural disposition, for it is not bad; he does not affect more piety
than he has: on the contrary, a part of his distress arises from a real sense of religion: which makes
him regret that he could not join the chamberlains in prayer for God’s blessing, and bewail that he
has ‘given his eternal jewel to the common enemy of man.’ He continually reproaches himself for
his deeds; no use can harden him: confidence cannot silence, and even despair cannot stifle, the
cries of his conscience. By the first murder he put ‘rancours in the vessel of his peace;’ and of the last
he owns to Macduff, ‘My soul is too much charged with blood of thine already.’
Against Banquo he acts with more determination, for the reasons which have been given: and yet
he most unnecessarily acquaints the murderers with the reasons of his conduct; and even informs
them of the behaviour he proposes to observe afterwards, which particularly and explanation to
men who did not desire it; the confidence he places in those who could only abuse it; and the very
needless caution of secrecy implied in this speech, are so many symptoms of a feeble mind; which
again appears, when, after they had undertaken the business, he bids them ‘resolve themselves
apart;’ and thereby leaves them an opportunity to retract, if they had not been more determined
than he is, who supposes time to be requisite for settling such resolutions. His sending a third
murderer to join the others, just at the moment of action, and without notice, is a further proof of the
same imbecility.
Besides the proofs which have been given of these weaknesses in his character, through the whole
conduct of his designs against Duncan and Banquo, another may be drawn from his attempt upon
Macduff, whom he first sends for without acquainting Lady Macbeth of his intention, then betrays
the secret, by asking her after the company have risen from the banquet, ‘How say’st thou, that
Macduff denies his person At our great bidding?’ ‘Did you send to him, sir?’ ‘I hear it by the way:
but I will send.’ The time of making this enquiry when it has no relation to what has just passed
otherwise than as his apprehension might connect it; the addressing of the question to her, who, as
appears from what she says, knew nothing of the matter—and his awkward attempt then to disguise
it, are strong evidence of the disorder of his mind.

7.3 Superstition on Various Characters of Macbeth

7.3.1 Few Examples

While many today would say that any misfortune surrounding a production is mere coincidence,
actors and other theatre people often consider it bad luck to mention Macbeth by name while inside

98 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY