In Inverness, Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth reads to herself a letter she has received from Macbeth. The letter announces Macbeth’s promotion to the thaneship of Cawdor and details his meeting with the witches. Lady Macbeth murmurs that she knows Macbeth is ambitious, but fears he is too full of “th’ milk of human kindness” to take the steps necessary to make himself king (1.5.15). She resolves to convince her husband to do whatever is required to seize the crown. A messenger enters and informs Lady Macbeth that the king rides toward the castle, and that Macbeth is on his way as well. As she awaits her husband’s arrival, she delivers a famous speech in which she begs, “you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty” (1.5.38–41). She resolves to put her natural femininity aside so that she can do the bloody deeds necessary to seize the crown. Macbeth enters, and he and his wife discuss the king’s forthcoming visit. Macbeth tells his wife that Duncan plans to depart the next day, but Lady Macbeth declares that the king will never see tomorrow. She tells her husband to have patience and to leave the plan to her. Read a translation of Act 1, scene 5 → Summary: Act 1, scene 6Duncan, the Scottish lords, and their attendants arrive outside Macbeth’s castle. Duncan praises the castle’s pleasant environment, and he thanks Lady Macbeth, who has emerged to greet him, for her hospitality. She replies that it is her duty to be hospitable since she and her husband owe so much to their king. Duncan then asks to be taken inside to Macbeth, whom he professes to love dearly. Read a translation of Act 1, scene 6 → Summary: Act 1, scene 7
Inside the castle, as oboes play and servants set a table for the evening’s feast, Macbeth paces by himself, pondering his idea of assassinating Duncan. He says that the deed would be easy if he could be certain that it would not set in motion a series of terrible consequences. He declares his willingness to risk eternal damnation but realizes that even on earth, bloody actions “return / To plague th’inventor” (1.7.9–10). He then considers the reasons why he ought not to kill Duncan: Macbeth is Duncan’s kinsman, subject, and host; moreover, the king is universally admired as a virtuous ruler. Macbeth notes that these circumstances offer him nothing that he can use to motivate himself. He faces the fact that there is no reason to kill the king other than his own ambition, which he realizes is an unreliable guide. Lady Macbeth enters and tells her husband that the king has dined and that he has been asking for Macbeth. Macbeth declares that he no longer intends to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth, outraged, calls him a coward and questions his manhood: “When you durst do it,” she says, “then you were a man” (1.7.49). He asks her what will happen if they fail; she promises that as long as they are bold, they will be successful. Then she tells him her plan: while Duncan sleeps, she will give his chamberlains wine to make them drunk, and then she and Macbeth can slip in and murder Duncan. They will smear the blood of Duncan on the sleeping chamberlains to cast the guilt upon them. Astonished at the brilliance and daring of her plan, Macbeth tells his wife that her “undaunted mettle” makes him hope that she will only give birth to male children (1.7.73). He then agrees to proceed with the murder. Read a translation of Act 1, scene 7 → Analysis: Act 1, scenes 5–7These scenes are dominated by Lady Macbeth, who is probably the most memorable character in the play. Her violent, blistering soliloquies in Act 1, scenes 5 and 7, testify to her strength of will, which completely eclipses that of her husband. She is well aware of the discrepancy between their respective resolves and understands that she will have to manipulate her husband into acting on the witches’ prophecy. Her soliloquy in Act 1, scene 5, begins the play’s exploration of gender roles, particularly of the value and nature of masculinity. In the soliloquy, she spurns her feminine characteristics, crying out “unsex me here” and wishing that the milk in her breasts would be exchanged for “gall” so that she could murder Duncan herself. These remarks manifest Lady Macbeth’s belief that manhood is defined by murder. When, in Act 1, scene 7, her husband is hesitant to murder Duncan, she goads him by questioning his manhood and by implicitly comparing his willingness to carry through on his intention of killing Duncan with his ability to carry out a sexual act (1.7.38–41). Throughout the play, whenever Macbeth shows signs of faltering, Lady Macbeth implies that he is less than a man. Read more about whether Lady Macbeth is a villain or a victim. Macbeth exclaims that Lady Macbeth should “[b]ring forth men-children only” because she is so bold and courageous (1.7.72). Since Macbeth succumbs to Lady Macbeth’s wishes immediately following this remark, it seems that he is complimenting her and affirming her belief that courage and brilliance are masculine traits. But the comment also suggests that Macbeth is thinking about his legacy. He sees Lady Macbeth’s boldness and masculinity as heroic and warriorlike, while Lady Macbeth invokes her supposed masculine “virtues” for dark, cruel purposes. Unlike Macbeth, she seems solely concerned with immediate power. Read more about the relationship between cruelty and masculinity in Macbeth. Jule Romans is the author of "Shakespeare Love Quotes" and other books. She has over 30 years of experience teaching Shakespeare. The character of Macbeth has seven different soliloquies within Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Macbeth. Four of these soliloquies are exceptionally well known. The other three are not quoted as frequently, but they are essential to Macbeth’s character development. Macbeth’s Soliloquies and Character DevelopmentIn Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the main character is a tragic hero who rises from the rank of general to become the King of Scotland. Sadly, his dramatic rise to power also parallels the downfall and destruction of his moral compass. Macbeth's soliloquies illustrate this downward spiral. Each of Macbeth's soliloquies will demonstrate a different aspect of his character development. The play traces the path of Macbeth’s greed and ambition. These shortcomings lead Macbeth to commit murder not once, but several different times, each one a more atrocious than the last.  Thos, W. Keene as Macbeth, 1811 W.J. Morgan & Co. Lith. Macbeth's Soliloquies ListThe seven soliloquies that Macbeth speaks span all five acts of the play.
Soliloquy #1: Present FearsAct 1, Scene 3In Macbeth’s first soliloquy, he is transfixed by fear. Macbeth and Banquo have just been visited by three witches, who offer the prophecy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, and then King of Scotland. The witches also predict that the sons of Banquo will become kings in future days. As the two men walk away, they are almost immediately met with a messenger who tells them that Macbeth has been given the title and lands belonging to the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth's First Soliloquy: Fear and ForeshadowingThis news first makes Macbeth happy, then terrifies him.
—1.3 (240-255) In this soliloquy, Macbeth stands still and describes his fear in very dramatic terms. No one but the audience can hear him. During this soliloquy, Macbeth first voices the thought of murdering King Duncan. The thought frightens him, but he is drawn into his own ambitious imaginings to the point where he loses touch with reality. He begins to be consumed by “what is not” –in other words, that which does not really exist. What Is a Soliloquy in Macbeth?Let’s remember that a soliloquy is a very particular type of speech, different from a monologue and longer than an aside. A soliloquy is not the same thing as a monologue. Macbeth's Soliloquies Are Different From Other Speeches in the PlayIn a soliloquy, the other characters onstage do not hear the words spoken because the speech reveals a private expression or an internal struggle. Unlike a monologue, the content of a soliloquy is heard only by the audience and the individual character. Even if other characters are nearby onstage, they do not respond and are not even aware of what is taking place. Macbeth's Soliloquies Reveal His CharacterIn a soliloquy, it is as though all the action stops, and time stands still while the character reveals a deep inner struggle. Macbeth's soliloquy, then, is directed mainly toward the self. Macbeth's soliloquies reveal the depths of his character and his own internal conflicts. Soliloquy #2: Vaulting AmbitionAct 1, Scene 7In Macbeth's second soliloquy he worries about the consequences of murder, and wonders if he really has the nerve to kill King Duncan. Macbeth's Soliloquy: Contemplating MurderMacbeth stands in a hallway, just outside where King Duncan and his men are at dinner. Macbeth contemplates the idea of murdering King Duncan. He wrestles with his conscience. Macbeth knows that he should be protecting King Duncan, not planning to murder him. Macbeth is also very aware that he does not truly desire to kill, but he does have a fierce amount of ambition. That ambition, he concludes, may have some deadly consequences.
Macbeth's Ambition SoliloquyThe first several lines of the soliloquy are composed of Macbeth's desire to simply do the deed and get it over with-- assuming that the murder would be an end in itself. However, Macbeth well knows that there will be long-reaching consequences, and that committing murder is not a simple task. E.H. Sothern as MacBeth, 1911 The Theatre Magazine Co. Soliloquy #3: The Dagger SpeechAct 2, Scene 1In Macbeth's third soliloquy, he sees a vision of an imaginary dagger. The hallucination strengthens Macbeth's resolve to commit murder. Macbeth's Dagger SoliloquyMacbeth, alone, envisions a bloody dagger dangling in front of him. The hallucination is a product of his mind. There is a pause here, in the action of the play, while Macbeth speaks aloud his inner thoughts. This verbalization of inner thoughts is a key point for all soliloquies.
Brief Analysis of the Dagger SoliloquyThe dagger symbolizes Macbeth's deep inner, dark desire to commit murder. It is dripping with blood, demonstrating the violence Macbeth both fears and desires. In this scene, Macbeth worries over his decision and finally resolves to take action. This demonstrates a turning point in the development of his character. Identifying Macbeth's SoliloquiesThe soliloquies in Macbeth are often referred to by one key line or phrase that identifies the main idea or theme of the soliloquy. This line is sometimes the first line of the soliloquy, but sometimes it is a line that appears in the middle or near the end of the soliloquy. Macbeth's Soliloquies: Act, Scene, and Line NumbersShakespearean speeches are identified by act, scene and line number. There is a regular system for identifying the act, scene, and line numbers for Shakespearean speeches. Typically, these are identified with numbers. For example, 1.3 means act 1, scene 3. 1.7 means act 1, scene 7. The act and scene numbers are followed by the line numbers, enclosed in parentheses. Act one, scene three, lines 240 to 255 would be represented as 1.3 (240-255). Act one, scene seven, lines 474 through 500 would be represented as 1.7 (474-500). Soliloquy #4: A Fruitless CrownAct 3, Scene 1In Macbeth's fourth soliloquy, Macbeth is acutely aware of the fact that he has no children. He recalls the prediction of the witches that Banquo's sons will be kings. Macbeth's Soliloquy Before Killing BanquoThis is the point at which Macbeth decides to murder his own best friend. The witches have predicted that Banquo will be the father of many kings. Macbeth is distressed by this, because he knows that his own legacy will be barren. No children will inherit Macbeth's kingdom. Thus, he wears a fruitless crown.
Macbeth's "Banquo" SoliloquyThis soliloquy represents another turning point for the character of Macbeth. He admits that he has committed great acts of violence to become king. Now, he wonders if it all was worth it, if he will have no heirs. He is jealous of the fact that Banquo will be father to kings. Macbeth is also very worried that Banquo may become suspicious. In order to make sure that Banquo never reveals the truth of what Macbeth has done, Macbeth decides to kill his own best friend. Macbeth's Soliloquies: Line NumbersIt may be also useful to note that in this analysis the line numbers begin with line 1 at the beginning of the play and continue to count upward until the end of the play. Therefore, some plays will have line numbers in the thousands. For example, the play Macbeth has 2,565 lines. Some versions of Shakespeare’s plays will re-start line numbers at the beginning of each scene. This can lead to variations, depending upon the publisher and editor of each version. For ease of research this alternate line numbering is listed afterwards, italicized and in brackets. Soliloquy #5: A Ruthless TyrantAct 4, Scene 1In Macbeth's fifth soliloquy, Macbeth entrenches himself even further in the bloody path that he has chosen. He swears never to hesitate again, no matter how intense the action may be that is required. Macbeth's Soliloquy About Murdering Macduff's FamilyNow, Macbeth decides that he will not hesitate on any action that he must take. This is quite different form his original crisis of conscience about killing King Duncan. In this speech, Macbeth directly states his intent to kill all the family of Lord Macduff.
A Brief Analysis of Macbeth's Tyrant SoliloquyThe key point of this soliloquy is that it is very direct. Macbeth simply states that his first thoughts—the firstlings of his heart—will lead immediately to action without any hesitation. That is, they will also be the immediate actions of his hands. This is not only a change in character, but also a change in the manner of speech he uses. We don't know if Shakespeare did this on purpose, but it is interesting to contemplate. How Is a Soliloquy Different From a Monologue?A monologue is a longer speech that is delivered by a single character. However, unlike a soliloquy, the other characters onstage are able to hear and respond to a monologue. The characters may listen and react emotionally, or they may speak directly back after the speech is concluded. A monologue is directed toward other characters onstage. And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have. --Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1 Soliloquy #6: DisillusionmentAct 5, Scene 1In this soliloquy, Macbeth contemplates the deeper consequences of what he has done. He realizes that he will never have the real rewards of a well-lived life. Macbeth's Soliloquy: Sick at Heart and HopelessThis soliloquy comes as Macbeth faces the upcoming battle at his castle. His people have rebelled against him. Malcolm, the true king, is approaching. Macbeth is putting on his armor and preparing for war.
A Brief Analysis of This SoliloquyIn this soliloquy, we see that Macbeth may now value things other than ambition. However, he feels it is too late for him to redeem himself. When he says "mouth-honor," he is talking about false words of praise that are given to him by his subjects. He knows that they do not respect or honor him. Macbeth realizes now, that he will not and cannot have the true rewards of friendship, respect, and genuine love. This is a moment of insight for him. In an aside, time seems to stand still onstage as well, but for a much shorter time. An aside serves almost the same purpose as a soliloquy, but it is very short- only a couple of lines or so. Unlike a soliloquy, an aside is spoken directly to the audience for a single brief thought. An aside may shed some light on an interior struggle, but it does not go into detail. The aside is intended to help the audience see the intentions of a character, but not the complex thoughts or motivations. An aside is directed toward the audience. So, these three dramatic elements have distinct differences. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time. --Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5 Soliloquy #7: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and TomorrowAct 5, Scene 5This is the most famous of all Macbeth's soliloquies. In it, he expresses a deep sense of gloom. It is famously known as the "tomorrow speech." Macbeth's Tomorrow Soliloquy in ContextThis speech comes just after Macbeth learns that Lady Macbeth is dead. He speaks about the futility of all that he has done. Macbeth is grieving his wife. He is also sinking into a dark place of despair because of his former actions.
Macbeth's "Tomorrow" SoliloquyThe famous words "tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" exemplify effective use of repetition to enhance a theme. The rest of the tomorrow soliloquy is about how futile, repetitive, and hopeless life seems to Macbeth. Beginning with a hopeless type of repetition only serves to underscore Macbeth's feeling of despair. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. © 2018 Jule Romans |
What does Macbeths soliloquy reveal about him Act 1 Scene 7?
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