|
READ THIS
It is dusk. Two murderers hide on the road in a nearby forest, awaiting the arrival of Banquo and Fleance.
A third unexpectedly joins them. Banquo is killed while Fleance escapes.
THE MENTAL SIDE OF MURDER
Murder is never an easy thing, even for a battle-hardened man like Macbeth. When you are superstitious,
however, it is even more difficult.
The ancient peoples believed there was a direct link between nature and the goodness of one's actions.
This was especially so when it came to authorities who enjoyed God's favour -- people such as kings.
Even before Macbeth went to Duncan's bedchamber to murder the king, nature was described as
darkening over.
Then Macbeth saw visions. A ghostly dagger appeared, apparently leading the way. In another vision,
the dagger was covered in blood.
And then the noises began: the howling of wolves, owls screeching, sounds on the stairs. Even Lady
Macbeth appeared disturbed -- although she maintained an heroic front.
Macbeth shrank before the tumult. He fled the murder scene, taking the daggers with him and refusing
to return. Lady Macbeth was therefore left to do the mopping up after the murder.
We see too the first signs of regret. Macbeth wished that his actions could be undone -- and wondered
whether his hands would ever again be clean.
Even the steely Lady Macbeth would eventually crumble. She would start to sleepwalk, during which time
she would attempt to wash the blood off her own hands.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
|
TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
"He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers
Our offices and what we have to do
To the direction just."
- Why is the third murderer sent to join the other two? (3)
[Need help?]
When one has reached the point where one can trust no-one -- not even one's own wife -- then one
can certainly not trust such untrustworthy characters as murderers.
Macbeth has hired two thugs to dispose of Banquo and Fleance, but a third is needed because of his lack
of trust in the first two.
Will any of these murderers be allowed to live after they have done the deed? Macbeth can surely not
allow them to tell of their exploits! Certainly Polanski's version of Macbeth has all the murderers quietly
disposed of.
|
"O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
Thou mayst revenge."
- Why was it important that Fleance also be killed? (4)
[Need help?]
Macbeth appears appalled by the witches' prophecy that Banquo will become father to a line of kings while
he -- Macbeth -- will not.
In a sense, the murder of Banquo will be one final attempt to break the thread of the prophecies. If he can
only kill Fleance as well as Banquo, then one prediction at least will not come to fruition.
If that could happen, then perhaps Macbeth and his wife might themselves become progenitors to a line
of kings, despite prophecies to the contrary.
|
- Comment on the irony of Banquo's final cry to Fleance, "Thou may'st
revenge" (6)
[Need help?]
Up until now, Banquo has been the noble lord, the honourable friend. Even though he suspects that
Macbeth has murdered Duncan, he does not act upon what is only surmise.
Macbeth nevertheless wishes to be rid of Banquo, partly because of his very fear of revenge from this
honourable man
The irony is that, in attempting to murder Banquo and Fleance, Macbeth does indeed bring forth from
Banquo's lips a cry of revenge.
Furthermore, the very person whom Macbeth fears the most -- because the witches foresaw that Fleance
or his progeny would wear the crown of Scotland -- becomes now the person who will seek to avenge
his father's death.
|
"Who did strike out the light?"
- Comment on the irony of the third murderer's cry. (4)
[Need help?]
The murderer is commenting on the fact that their torch has literally been struck down so that they can
now not see in the dark. But there is possibly also a metaphorical implication to this.
Banquo himself is the light -- an honourable man and the last trusted friend that Macbeth had. Now this
light too has been struck down and Macbeth's own life will from henceforth be one of utter desolation and
darkness.
The murderers will soon themselves be murdered -- and so their light too will be extinguished.
|
"The road scene is a macabre reflection on how low Macbeth has stooped".
- Discuss the validity of this statement. (4)
[Need help?]
This murder of Banquo is indeed a reflection on Macbeth's new life. His entire existence has become
dark.
He can trust nobody but must send out spies to spy even on his spies. His friends are fast disappearing
from his life and now even his most faithful ally gets hacked down.
All of Macbeth's actions also lead to reactions: the murder of Duncan has caused Malcolm and Donalbain
to flee to England and Ireland from where they will plot revenge.
Fleance will now also flee, with vengeance as his war-cry.
|
|
