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British Drama

Notes air of deep uncertainty: while polarities are reversed and established values are overturned, it is
entirely unclear as to whether the dichotomous clarity of “heaven or hell” trumps the equivocatory
fogginess of “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Thus, for Macbeth, this translates into an uncertainty as to
whether the prophecies are believable. It seems that Birnam Wood will either come to Dunsinane
Hill (a supernatural event) or it will not (a natural event); but the actual even turns out to be neither
here nor there, as the Wood figuratively comes to Dunsinane.
8.2.6 Ambition and Temptation

Ambition and temptation both play a key factor in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s decision to kill
Duncan. Macbeth possesses enough self-awareness to realize the dangers of overzealous ambition:
“I have no spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself
/And falls on th’other.” And yet, the temptation to carry out the witches’ prophecy is ultimately too
strong for Macbeth to curb his ambition. In Lady Macbeth’s lexicon, incidentally, “hope” is also
another word for “ambition” and perhaps “temptation.” As Macbeth expresses his doubts about
killing Duncan, she demands: “Was the hope drunk/Wherein you dressed yourself”? Ironically,
Lady Macbeth must herself rely on intoxicants to “make [her] bold” before executing her ambitious
and murderous plans. Once the intoxication wears off, Lady Macbeth finds that she is unable to
cope with the consequences of her own “hope.” Ultimately, ambition and temptation prove fatal for
both the Macbeths.
8.2.7 Salvation and Damnation

As a morality tale of sorts, Macbeth has as its near contemporary Christopher Marlowe’s Dr Faustus.
Like Dr Faustus, Macbeth recognizes the damning consequences of his crime:
Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against
The deep damnation of his taking-off”
And yet Macbeth carries out the crime, thus precipitating his own descent into hell. Later in the
play, appropriately, Macduff calls Macbeth by the name of “hell-hound”. Indeed, the story of Macbeth
is that of a man who acquiesces in his damnation—in part because he cannot utter words that may
attenuate his crime. As Duncan’s guards pray “God bless us” on their deathbed, Macbeth cannot
say one “Amen”. His fate is thus sealed entirely by his own hands.

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:
11. The plot of Macbeth is set in motion ostensibly by
(a) the prophesy of three witches
(b) murder of king Duncan
(c) murder of Banquo
(d) speculation of Macbeth to be the king.
12. Which of the following is not an expression of remorse in the play Macbeth?
(a) Macbeth’s exclamation that the Neptune’s ocean wash the blood from his
hand
(b) The murder of Banquo
(c) The untimely death of Lady Macbeth
(d) Macbeth saying “I say. . . What, will these hands ne’er be clean.”

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