|
READ THIS
Scene 1 introduced the question of fate and the supernatural. Scene 2 brings us down to earth by
introducing Macbeth -- but through the eyes of other people.
Word is brought to King Duncan of Macbeth's heroism in fighting the Norwegian forces, for which he not
only earns the king's respect but is also richly rewarded for his services.
WHO WAS BELLONA'S BRIDEGROOM?
If one is to accept Act 1, Scene 2 at face value, then an immediate problem reveals itself.
Two battles are described in this scene. Both are against the Norwegian (Viking) forces which are
attempting to overrun Scotland. Each has a Scottish traitor who has sold himself to the enemy.
At the first battle, the traitor is the "merciless Macdonwald" with soldiers from the Western Isles
(Ireland). The attacking forces are led by a "Norwegian lord".
Macbeth is named as the valiant general who "disdaining fortune" carves the enemy hordes to
pieces and slices Macdonwald "from the nave to the chops" -- and then beheads him.
The second battle is at Fife and the attacking forces are led by "Norway himself", i.e. Sweno, the
king of Norway. There is another traitor -- the Thane of Cawdor -- who is captured and sentenced to
death.
The valiant general who defends Scotland, however, is not named. He is referred to only as "Bellona's
bridegroom", i.e. Mars, the god of war. Is this second valiant general the selfsame Macbeth -- as
most textbooks would want us to believe?
There are, however, several major reasons for questioning this. First, it would have been impossible for
Macbeth to have been at both battles at the same time because the battlefields were many miles apart.
The first was at Forres, i.e. Macbeth's territory. The second was at Fife which was the home of Macduff.
Moreover, the treacherous Thane of Cawdor had joined forces with the Norwegians at this second battle.
If Macbeth had indeed been at that battle, he would have known of Cawdor's treachery but, when the three
witches later greet him with the title "Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!", Macbeth is clearly surprised.
"The Thane of Cawdor lives," he says, "a prosperous gentleman."
Would it not be more logical, therefore, to suppose that it was Macduff and not Macbeth who was at this
second battle at Fife? In other words, the Thane of Fife was defending his own territory, rather than
Macbeth doing it for him.
Macbeth was, after all, the Thane of Glamis. Macduff was the Thane of Fife.
The Arden Shakespeare argues that the Great Bard was merely condensing time and the two
battles into one. The editors would like us to believe that Shakespeare did not notice three major
inconsistencies in his words.
Yet authors of great works of art do not usually make such mistakes! It is therefore quite possible that
there is an error in the majority interpretation of the play and that the second general was not Macbeth at
all but rather the Thane of Fife, i.e. Macduff.
If that is so, then it brings into question Duncan's later decision to reward Macbeth. Is the king honouring
Macbeth with the title Thane of Cawdor, despite the fact that it was Macduff who deserved the title?
Was the king in fact sorely afraid of Macduff? Did he want to put a rift between Macduff and Macbeth by
rewarding the latter?
Are we not therefore looking at a power struggle in Scotland? King Duncan is desperately afraid of
Macduff and therefore allies himself with Macbeth.
Then, to make certain that neither will reach for the throne of Scotland, Duncan announces that he is
making his own son, Malcolm, his successor. In doing so, he hopes to prevent Scotland being plunged
into civil war.
His action, however, causes the very civil war that Duncan was hoping to avoid.
Just a thought for you to think about!
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
|
TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
There are TWO Scottish traitors who have gone over to the Norwegian side in the war.
[Need help?]
Macdonwald and the Thane of Cawdor, right?
|
What does King Duncan mean when he says, "What bloody man is that?" (2)
[Need help?]
The sergeant arrives as a messenger, bringing news to the king of the latest happenings in the war. He
has clearly been fighting, so that his clothing is covered in blood. Hence Duncan's description of him,
"What bloody man is that?"
|
Rewrite in your own words: "He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest
state." (3)
[Need help?]
"It is obvious from his bloody appearance that the sergeant can tell us the latest news about the
war."
|
Who are the "kerns and gallowglasses"? (2)
[Need help?]
The kerns and gallowglasses are mercenary soldiers -- on foot and on horse -- who had been brought
across from Ireland by the traitor Macdonwald.
|
Does the captain's description of Macbeth's actions present a positive or negative view of Macbeth?
Explain. (4)
[Need help?]
Macbeth is presented in a very positive light, isn't he?
- The forces which were massed against Scotland were immense, yet Macbeth remains loyal;
- His bravery is stressed by the way he carves his way through the enemy;
- He did not rest till he had confronted the rebel himself and defeated him.
|
Give another word for "Fortune". What figure of speech is this? (2)
[Need help?]
What about "Fate"? Notice how the captain personifies Fortune.
|
What does the captain mean when he says, "Compelled those skipping kerns to trust their
heels"? (2)
[Need help?]
The captain paints a picture of the Irish soldiers leaping around in confusion and running away in
cowardice.
|
Where does the second battle take place and who was the leading Thane in this area? (2)
[Need help?]
The second battle takes place at Fife. This is the home of the Thane of Fife, Macduff, who will become
Macbeth's mortal enemy.
A question you should ask yourself, however, is this: If this was the Thane of Fife's territory, then why was
Macbeth leading the battle there and not Macduff himself?
|
Who does Ross mean when he speaks of "Norway himself"? What was this man's real
name? (2)
[Need help?]
Ross is referring to Sweno, the Norwegian king.
|
Ross tells Duncan that the Norwegian army was forced to give over "ten thousand dollars to our
general use".
- Provide ONE word to describe such a payment. (1)
[Need help?]
The word often used is "booty", which is described as plunder gained in war or by piracy. One could
also use the words "plunder", "spoils", or "loot", and especially "war indemnity".
|
|
