Gazing Long Into the Abyss: An Introduction to Macbeth

1. Gazing Long Into the Abyss: An Introduction to Macbeth Feraco Search for Human Potential 14 December 2010

2. If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. Frederick Nietzsche • We are merely the stars’ tennis balls, struck and banded, which way chooses. John Webster • Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets. Arthur Miller

3. Coins, Edges, and Consequence • As we skid towards semester’s end, we find ourselves teetering on the edge of darkness • We’ve joked about “SFHD” before, but we’ve spent most of our time with fairly heroic characters, or at least characters who get what they want • Macbeth, on the other hand, is about the darkest coin flip a person can imagine…and what happens afterwards • It’s also one of Shakespeare’s finest plays, and a perfect capstone to the semester’s studies • The star in this play is blood-soaked

4. Some Basic Tech Specs • Macbeth is five acts long, although the acts vary in terms of length and scene number • The play is set in Scotland, and is partly based on events that took place during the 11th century • Some of the names sound highly similar – those of you who didn’t like the names in Beowulf aren’t going to like trying to keep Macbeth and Macduff separate – but they’re easier to understand than you’d expect • This is because, unlike in Beowulf, the characters have fairly well-rounded/defined personalities and goals, and their needs matter

5. The “Scottish” Play • Obviously, Shakespeare isn’t Scottish • His new king, however, was, and Macbeth was written to directly appeal to James I • James tended to fall asleep during plays, so Shakespeare had an uphill battle ahead of him • James was the descendant of one of the play’s characters, Banquo • This is really important in Act IV

6. More Tech Specs • Shakespeare writes in blank (non-rhyming) verse • His lines are generally ten syllables wrong, with alternately stressed and unstressed syllables • However, those of you who have read Shakespeare’s other works – Romeo and Juliet, etc. – will notice that Shakespeare’s structure is more disordered than in his earlier works • Not a lot of perfect iambic pentameter • Shakespeare’s experimenting more with language as he ages • Also, this structure reflects the play’s disordered world and action

7. The Action and the Actors • In Scene I, we see witches plotting something we don’t understand • We then cut to our introduction to the Scottish king, Duncan (stationed far from battle) • We discover that Scotland has just won a war on multiple fronts, and that Macbeth’s courage and honor are largely responsible for the victories • We also learn that the Scots were betrayed by the villainous Thane of Cawdor, and that the nobleman will be replaced by Macbeth himself

8. The Action and the Actors • Next, we see Macbeth and his best friend, Banquo, as they return from the battle scene • They come across the witches from Scene I, who greet Macbeth in triplicate • First, as the Thane of Glamis • This is who he already is, since he inherited the title from his father • Next, as the Thane of Cawdor • This is also who he already is, but he doesn’t know yet – he hasn’t returned from battle to receive his promotion from Duncan yet • Finally, they tell him he will be king thereafter

9. Wait, What? • They inform Banquo that he is both less and more than Macbeth (?) • They tell him that he will never rule, but that he will be the father of rulers (remember this!) • Both men are skeptical • Macbeth isn’t part of the royal line; there’s no way he should be king • For that matter, Banquo isn’t either • They’re instantly suspicious of their greetings – not just because of the king business, but because they don’t realize that the Thane of Cawdor betrayed the country

10. But Then… • Macbeth receives confirmation of his promotion • Instantly, his thoughts turn darker: can the witches be telling the truth? • Could he be king? • He and Banquo meet Duncan and receive their commendations, but Macbeth is alarmed to rediscover that Duncan’s heir is preparing to hold the throne one day • That’s a small obstacle, no?

11. The World Turns • Macbeth sends word of the prophecy to Lady Macbeth, who immediately begins plotting to take the throne • Soon, Macbeth brings word that Duncan will be staying at their castle (by happy coincidence) • Macbeth’s initial desire to murder his way to the throne wavers • Lady Macbeth’s never does, and she proves quite convincing • She and Macbeth resolve to kill the king and frame others for the crime

12. The Day Approaches… • Banquo and Macbeth speak with one another alone • While the latter pretends he doesn’t care about the prophecies, Banquo confesses that they’re haunting him in his dreams • He’s so uneasy that he doesn’t recognize that Macbeth is lying – an oversight that will have fatal consequences • After the conversation ends, Macbeth battles with himself over whether to kill Duncan • He hallucinates, believing he sees a dagger floating towards him, and tries to convince himself that the sight is an omen that justifies his decision • When he hears Lady Macbeth’s signal that the stage is set, he leaves the scene and murders the king.

13. The Aftermath, Part I • In doing so, however, Macbeth is so shocked and traumatized by his own crime that he brings the bloodied murder weapons home with him in a daze • Lady Macbeth seizes control, grabbing the weapons and soiling herself with blood as she returns the blades to the murder scene • When she returns, she orders Macbeth to clean himself up and pull himself together – just before company arrives in the form of Macduff and Lennox, who discover that the king’s been killed

14. The Aftermath, Part II • Duncan’s sons, fearing the worst is yet to come, flee for foreign lands, thus casting suspicion upon themselves • Some believe they bribed the guards into killing Duncan • In reality, Lady Macbeth drugged the guards, and Macbeth used their weapons to kill the king • After some time passes, Macbeth is named king • We learn this as we learn that unnatural events are taking place throughout Scotland, and as a prolonged symbolic and literal darkness falls over the nation • More to come…