Macbeth Soliloquy1(Act I.3) [Aside] This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is But what is not. Macbeth Soliloquy1 (parallel text) [aside] This invitation by supernatural beings Cannot be bad, yet it cannot be good. If it is bad, Why has it given me a promise of success, beginning with something that is true? I am Thane of Cawdor, But if it is good, why am I ready to yield to that temptation the horrid image of which makes my hair stand on end, And causes my well-fastened heart to beat against my ribs in such an unnatural way? Frightful things that are actually present affect one less than imagined horrors. My murderous thought is still only imaginary, but it shakes my entire manhood so deeply that my power to act is smothered by expectation, and nothing seems real except what I imagine. 1
Macbeth Soliloquy 2 (Act 1.4) [aside] The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires; Macbeth Soliloquy 2(parallel text) [aside]the Prince of Cumberland! That is a step I must either fall down from or else leap over, For it lies in my way.stars, hide your fires; Let not my black and deep desires be revealed by the light. The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. Let my eye not notice what my hand does yet let my eye see the deed it fears to see when it is done. 2
Macbeth Soliloquy 3 (Act 1.7) If it were done when 'tis done If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch 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, We'ldjump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. He's here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Macbeth Soliloquy 3 (parallel text) If it s over with once it s been done, then it would be best to do it quickly. If the murder could gather up the consequences in a net, achieving success through his death, and if this deed could prove sufficient all by itself then here, right here, upon time s riverbank, I d risk my entire life. But in a case like this, I still might be judged in this life; I might also teach others to do bloody deeds and once those lessons are taught, they might be turned against me. This impartial justice offers the poisonous ingredients of my cup to my own lips. He has two reasons to trust me while he is here, First, I am his relative and his subject and as both, I have strong reasons not to do the deed. Second, I am his host, who should shut the door to keep out his murderer, not hold the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan 3
Macbeth Soliloquy 3 Act 1.7 (cont.) Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off; And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other Macbeth Soliloquy 3 Act 1.7 (cont.) has wielded power so mildly, and his reign has been so blameless, that his virtues will plead like trumpet-voiced angels to protest the damnable crime of his murder; and pity will be like a naked, newborn infant straddling the wind, or like heaven s cherubim riding the invisible horses of the air for pity will blow the horrid deed into every eye so that tears will drown the wind. I have nothing to spur me on toward my intended deed except ambition, which leaps o er itself and falls on the other side 4
Macbeth Soliloquy 4(Act 2.1) Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw. Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going; And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses, Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There's no such thing: It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half-world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtain'd sleep. Witchcraft celebrates Macbeth s Soliloquy 4 (parallel text) Is this a dagger that I see before me, Its handle pointed toward my hand? Come here let me grab you. I can t hold you, and yet I still see you. Fearful vision, can t you be felt by my touch as well as seen? Or are you nothing but a dagger of my imagination,a false creation that comes from my feverish brain? I stillsee you, looking just as sold As this dagger I now draw. He draws his dagger. You lead me the way Iwas going, And just such a weapon I am supposed to use. Either my eyes are more foolish than my other senses, Or they are worth all the rest together. I still can see you And on your blade and handle, I see large drops of blood That weren t there before. There s no such thing as this dagger. My bloody business causes it to take shape before my eyes in this way. Now over half the world, nature seems dead, wicked dreams deceive those who are hidden in sleep. Witchcraft celebrates 5
Macbeth Soliloquy 4Act 2.1 (cont.) Pale Hecate's 1 off rings, and withered murder, Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace. With Tarquin's 2 ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabout, And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. A bell rings. I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell. Exit. Macbeth Soliloquy 4Act 2.1 (cont.) the ceremonies of pale Hecate; and withered murder is awakened by his guard, the wolf, whose howl is his cry of warning; and so, at a stealthy pace, murder moves with Tarquin s lustful footsteps toward his goal like a ghost. You solid and firmly set earth, don t hear my steps or which way they walk, for I fear that even your stones might tell where I am, breaking the horrible silence that suits this moment well. While Ithreaten to act, he lives. Words cool hot deeds too much with their cold breath. A bell rings. I go, and themurder will be done. The bell calls for me to do it. Do not hear it, Duncan, for this ringing Summons you to heaven or to hell. Exit. 1 Hecate - the classical goddess of magic and witchcraft 2 Tarquin - SextusTarquinius, noted for his tyranny and arrogance. When the Roman people (6 th c. B.C.) saw the virtuous Lucrece stab herself after being ravished by Tarquin, they rose and expelled the Tarquin family from Rome. 6
Macbeth Soliloquy 5(Act 3.1) To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared. 'Tis much he dares; And to that dauntless temper of his mind He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear; and under him My genius is rebuked, as it is said Mark Antony s was by Caesar. He chid the Sisters When first they put the name of King upon me And bade them speak to him. Then, prophet-like, They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my gripe, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding.if t be so, For Banquo s issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; 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! Rather than so, come fate into the list, And champion me to th' utterance! Who s there? Macbeth Soliloquy 5 Act 3.1 (parallel text) To be king is useless, Unless one is safely king. My fears of Banquo Run deep, and his regal character Is something that I should fear. He dares to do much and although he is of bold temperament, he also has wisdom, which guides him to act safely even in boldness. There is no one but him whose existence I fear, and my guardian spirit is intimidated by him, as it is said Mark Antony s was by Caesar. He scolded the Witches when they first called me by the name of King, and demanded that they speak to him. Then, prophet-like, they declared him father of a line of kings. They placed a profitless crown on my head and put a barren scepter in my grip to be yanked away by someone not inmy family since no son of mine will succeed me. If this is true, I have corrupted my mind to help Banquo s offspring; for them I have murdered the most kindly Duncan; I have lost my peace of mind and gained trouble, just for them; and I have given my immortal soul to the devil. To make them kings the offspring of Banquo, kings! Rather than have that happen, let fate come to the field of combat And fight me to the death Who s there? 7
Macbeth speech (Act 3.2) Macbeth speech Act3.2 (parallel text) (with Lady Macbeth present) We ve only cut the snake, not killed it. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it: She ll heal and be herself again, and our feeble hatred She llclose and be herself, whilst our poor malice will remain endangered by her tooth, just as before. Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the universe crash down, and let both heaven and But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, earth perish, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep before we eat our meals in fear, or have our sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams plagued with these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, that disturb us nightly. We d be better off joining the Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, dead, Than on the torture of the mind to lie whom we have sent to their peace in attempting to gain In restless ecstasy.duncan is in his grave; our own peace, After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. than have to suffer upon the rack of the mind inrestless Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, frenzy. Duncan is in his grave. Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing, After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Can touch him further. Treason has done its worst to him. Neither steel, poison, rebellion, foreign troops, nor anything else canbother him anymore. 8
Macbeth Soliloquy 6(Act 4.1) Time, thou anticipat st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: 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 That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights! Where are these gentlemen? Come, bring me where they are. Macbeth Soliloquy 6 Act 4.1 (parallel text) Time, you forsee my dreadful undertaking. A hasty plan is never achieved Unless it is done immediately. From now on, Every deed that my mind imagines Will be carried out by my hand at once. And right now, To make sure my goals are achieved, let the following deed be both thought and done: I will take Macduff s castle by surprise And sieze Fife; I ll put to the sword His wife, his children, and all unfortunate souls Who might follow him. No more foolish boasting I ll do this deed before my resolve cools off. But no more visions! Where are these gentlemen who just arrived? Come on, take me to them. 9
Macbeth Soliloquy 7(Act 5.5) Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Macbeth Soliloquy 7Act 5.5 (parallel text) Tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after the days creep on one after another at a dismal pace until the last word of time s record is spoken; and all our yesterdays have lighted the way for fools to die and turn to dust. Out, out brief candle! Life is just a walking shadow, a bad actor who struts and worries for an hour on stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, but meaning nothing. 10