Macbeth Act 1, scene 7
Macbeth contemplates whether
or not he can perform the
dreadful deed of killing King
Duncan. He is trying to build up
the courage to fulfill his terrible
desires. He knows that he must
rush into the deed and think
later if he is ever going to do it.
Above all, he knows what he is
about to do is wrong. He will
only kill King Duncan if he can
conquer his own conscience
first.
Macbeth reveals a whole series
of conflicting thoughts and
feelings by talking aloud to the
audience. This is called a
soliloquy.
Macbeth tries to use his own
selfish ambition to justify his
actions. He attempts to detach
himself from the true evil of the
intended deed by personifying
ambition and suggesting it is out
of his control.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2003
ACT 1, SCENE 7: Macbeth's castle.
Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer, and divers Servants with Alliteration
dishes and service, and pass over the stage. Then enter MACBETH.
MACBETH: If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well This word shows that Macbeth
It were done quickly: if the assassination recognises his intentions are a
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch crime.
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, During this section Macbeth
We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases muses on the irony of Duncan’s
We still have judgement here; that we but teach murder whilst staying with the
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return Macbeths. He recognises that
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice the King has done a lot for him
Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice and that he should be very
To our own lips. He's here in double trust; grateful. Macbeth articulates
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, two reasons why he should not
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, kill King Duncan. Firstly– he is a
Who should against his murderer shut the door, subject of the King so should be
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan a loyal servant to him. Secondly–
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been as host, he should protect King
So clear in his great office, that his virtues Duncan from intruders whilst he
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against is in his care.
The deep damnation of his taking-off;
And pity, like a naked newborn babe,
Macbeth declares that King
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed
Duncan has been a very good
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
King and that his murder would
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
therefore not be justified in the
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
eyes of the heavens. This may
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
result in God punishing everyone
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
involved.
And falls on the other.
Enter LADY MACBETH.
How now? What news? Alliteration
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Lady Macbeth and Macbeth ask
each other a short series of
questions about Duncan.
The unanswered questions they
both pose highlight the tension
of the situation.
Lady Macbeth asks several
rhetorical questions in order to
warn Macbeth that she is not
pleased with his change of mind.
She goes on to say that she will
use this situation in order to
judge the extent Macbeth loves
her. Lady Macbeth persuades
Macbeth to kill King Duncan, by
suggesting that if Macbeth is
really passionate about her then
he should use this passion to
fulfil all their desires.
She goads him further by
suggesting that she will think
him a coward if he dare not
commit the murder.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2003
Macbeth Act 1, scene 7
LADY MACBETH: He has almost supped: why have you left the chamber? Macbeth suggests that he no
longer wants to contemplate
MACBETH: Hath he asked for me? killing Duncan, because he
LADY MACBETH: Know you not he has? wants to enjoy his new present
position as Thane of Cawdor
MACBETH: We will proceed no further in this business. before considering any future
He hath honoured me of late; and I have bought plans or changes.
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon. Macbeth suggests that he ‘dares
to do anything.’ His masculine
LADY MACBETH: Was the hope drunk
pride blinds him to the fact that
Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?
Lady Macbeth is deliberately
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
manipulating him to do
At what it did so freely? From this time
something that she herself is not
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
prepared to do.
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
Lady Macbeth concludes by
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
arguing that Macbeth had all but
Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'
promised to kill King Duncan.
Like the poor cat i' the adage?
She will not regard him as a man
MACBETH: Prithee, peace: unless he does the deed.
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.
As this speech draws to a
LADY MACBETH: What beast was't, then, conclusion the audience of the
That made you break this enterprise to me? day would have been
When you durst do it, then you were a man; appalled by the implications of
And, to be more than what you were, you would Lady Macbeth’s claims. Lady
Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Macbeth says that she would
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both: have taken her new born child
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now off her breast and smashed its
Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know head in if Macbeth asked her to
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: do so.
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The guards will inevitably be
blamed since they are to be
discovered drunk and holding
the murder weapons.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will
pretend to be grief-stricken by
Duncan’s death so no one will
question their innocence.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2003
Macbeth Act 1, scene 7
I would, while it was smiling in my face, Lady Macbeth continues to
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, speak to Macbeth in a confident
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you and calculating way. She says
Have done to this. that if Macbeth twists his knife
MACBETH: If we should fail? as soon as it enters Duncan’s
heart he will manage to kill him
LADY MACBETH: We fail?
almost instantly.
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
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason Lady Macbeth has planned
A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep everything down to the last
Their drenchèd natures lie as in a death, detail. She proposes Macbeth
What cannot you and I perform upon kill Duncan whilst he is asleep
The unguarded Duncan? What not put upon and that they drug the guards to
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt prevent them.
Of our great quell?
MACBETH: Bring forth men-children only;
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males. Will it not be received,
When we have marked with blood those sleepy two
Macbeth is aroused by Lady
Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,
Macbeth’s talk. He is now as
That they have done't?
ready as she is.
LADY MACBETH: Who dares receive it other,
Macbeth promises to muster all
As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
the necessary determination and
Upon his death?
ruthlessness required to kill King
MACBETH: I am settled, and bend up
Duncan.
Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
Away, and mock the time with fairest show: He acknowledges the need to
False face must hide what the false heart doth know. play a deceptive game with the
[Exeunt.] King first.
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