Macbeth Soliloquies

June 2011

Macbeth Soliloquies

            In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, there soliloquies that are comparable in many ways. The 2 Macbeth's soliloquies that I will compare are: The first on is, “To be thus is nothing”(3.1.50) and the second one is, “Time thou anticipat’st my dread exploits” (4.1.150). Both are Macbeth soliloquies and are right before the Macbeth commits the murders of Banquo and Macduff's household.

            The mood in the both soliloquies are very different. The first soliloquy Macbeth is worried about himself, that he killed Duncan so that Banquo's children could be kings, “For Banquo’s issue have I fil'd my mind”(3.1.65). Macbeth is very thoughtful in this scene. Macbeth show his reasoning and rationality for killing Banquo:

            Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be fear'd:     'tis much he dares, and to that dauntless temper of his mind, he hath a wisdom that doth guide             his valor to act in safety”                        (3.1.49-54)

Macbeth is telling the reader that he is afraid of Banquo, and that Banquo has the wisdom to act bravely but also safely. In second soliloquy Macbeth is angry and emotional. Macbeth is angry at Macduff for running away to England and ruins his plans and then vows to kill his household, “Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits”(4.1.144). Macbeth is also emotional and say's that he will act without thinking first. “The very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand”(4.1.147-148). He sends murderers to kill Macduff's family: “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife; give to th' edge o' the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls”(4.1.150-152).In the first soliloquy Macbeth is emphasizing his fear of Banquo, as Macbeth say's “Our fears in Banquo Stick deep”. Banquo was talking earlier in the scene with Macbeth, and he saw that Banquo was suspicious of him and expresses his fear of him, “There is none but he whose being I do fear”. However, in the second soliloquy Macbeth is acting out of pure revenge and not for any reason, like in the first soliloquy. When Macbeth hears that Macduff had run off to England he get angry as he notes, “This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool”. That Macbeth will kill his family just to get revenge.

            Macbeth is full of ambition. He wants his future children to rule after him. He fears Banquo's ambition that the witches prophesy would become true. Banquo remarks that if the prophesy by the witches is true by Macbeth maybe it will be true by him to. To which Macbeth answers “He chid the sisters, when first they put the name of king upon me, and bade them speak to him. Then, prophet-like, they hail'd him father to a line of kings”(3.1.57-60). Macbeth admits that if the prophesy is true and that he murdered Duncan for Banquo's sons to be kings: “If ’t be so, for Banquo’s issue have I fil'd my mind, for them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd”(3.1.64-66); that he had given his soul to the devils just to make Banquo's sons kings. As Macbeth say's “Put rancors in the vessel of my peace only for them; and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man, to make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!”(3.1.67-70). The ambition of the second soliloquy is entirely different that the first. Macbeth here has become a monster killing innocent people just because he can. Macbeth is no longer targeting his political enemies but also their innocent families as he says: “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line” (3.1.150-154).

            Since the beginning of the play Macbeth has put his faith entirely on fate. Macbeth says in act 3, “Come fate into the list, and champion me to the utterance”. He is saying that he will challenge fate to battle and fight to the death. Macbeth is saying that if he would kill Banquo he would defeat fate. From this we see Macbeth is partly trusting in fate. In Act 4 Macbeth completely abandons fate. Macbeth starts abandoning all reasoning and rationality. He goes off and kills the Macduff household just because he can as he says, “I’ll start following up my thoughts with actions right now”.

            Macbeth has been becoming more and more insane since the murder of Duncan. When Macbeth  plans to murder Duncan he had reason, to become thane of Cawdor. Now before the murder of Banquo Macbeth has many reasons to kill Banquo and his sons. So that his kin wont become kings, “To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!”(3.1.70) and also because he fears Banquo, “Our fears in Banquo stick deep”(3.1.49-50). However, in the soliloquy before the murder of Macduff's household Macbeth has no reason. He says, “From this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand”(4.1.146-148). Macbeth says he will start doing things without thinking first and for no reason. He starts off murdering Macduff's innocent household, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” (4.1.150-153).

            In the 3 points above, regarding ambition, fate and reasoning we see the character of Macbeth. We can see that Macbeth is becoming a monster, planning to kill Banquo and the the Macduff Household, giving his soul over to the devil and then trying to fight fate to death, and then his mindless reasoning.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth, Toronto; University of Toronto Press, 1996