The class continued to study and analyze “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare. We took a closer look at “If It Were Done,” a soliloquy from Act I, Scene VII.
A soliloquy is an important dramatic device that enables the speaker to reveal their deepest thoughts and emotions, along with their inner conflicts. It reflects the speaker’s psyche and examines the working of their consciences.
The “If It Were Done” Soliloquy is as follows:
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'd jump 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
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.
The class did a close-reading of the text in our teams, making sure to annotate along the way. We discussed the events that occurred in the soliloquy, specifically the deepest thoughts and emotions of Macbeth, then answered a few questions.
What reasons does Macbeth give for not wanting to kill King Duncan?
Macbeth is King Duncan’s kinsman and subject, thus he’s expected to be loyal to him.
“First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed”
Macbeth is the king’s host, and according to the concepts of XENIA, the host must treat the guest with hospitality, generosity, and respect. He should be protecting the king, as opposed to formulating a plan to murder him.
“then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself”
King Duncan is an excellent king. His subjects love and admire him because of his compassion, generosity, and kindness. His death will not only anger the people, but the heavens as well. God would not like it if he was killed, and thus, there would be severe consequences. Macbeth fears retribution in heaven and on earth.
“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”
What is the only reason Macbeth provides in favor of killing King Duncan?
The only reason Macbeth provides in favor of the murder of King Duncan is AMBITION. Macbeth aspires to become the king of Scotland to acquire the authority and power that a king possesses.
How does Macbeth explain the consequences for this world and his belief of heaven?
Macbeth believes in the concept of KARMA. If Macbeth does end up murdering King Duncan, karma states that the universe will turn against the conspirators, meaning that Macbeth will most likely get assassinated, too.
“this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips”
What is Macbeth’s final decision at the end of this soliloquy?
At the end of the soliloquy, Macbeth finally decides to NOT go through with the plan to murder King Duncan. The single factor of ambition wasn’t enough to outweigh all the negative factors.
What can be concluded about Macbeth’s characterization after hearing all of his thoughts?
Macbeth is extremely self-aware, and constantly acknowledges the possible consequences of his actions and goes the extra mile to consider its pros and cons. Furthermore, Macbeth can be characterized as indecisive, overly-ambitious, and morally-conflicted.
After analyzing the soliloquy, the class put together a list, weighing the pros and cons of the murder of King Duncan. We pretended that we were inside “Macbeth’s Head.”
The Pros:
It may be better to kill King Duncan now and get it over with rather than suffering trying to get rid of him later on.
Macbeth will become King, and Lady Macbeth will become Queen. They will have a lot of authority and power over the people.
Macbeth would be able to fulfill his ambitions, along with the prophecy.
The Cons:
Macbeth will have a guilty conscience, having broken xenia and murdered an important and innocent figure at the time.
The people will investigate to try to find the person responsible for the murder of their beloved king. Macbeth would be the prime suspect since the murder occurred at his castle, and because Banquo knows about the prophecy too.
The King’s loyal subjects may get angered or saddened by his death and start a rebellion.
Even if Macbeth successfully kills King Duncan, he would still have to kill 2 other people, being Malcolm and Donalbain.
Macbeth is setting up a precedent for future kings to get assassinated, too.
The concept of KARMA and DIVINE RIGHT -- The universe will turn against Macbeth and punish him severely.
Reflection:
What did I learn? Today, I learned about Macbeth’s inner thoughts, emotions, and conflicts on the possible murder of King Duncan through the soliloquy, “If It Were Done.” I furthered my understanding of Macbeth's character, and was able to acknowledge everything that would be at stake if he goes through with killing King Duncan. Although the authority, power, wealth, and glory of being king is really appealing, Macbeth risks angering not only the people, but the heavens too. The universe, and God, will punish him, as per the rules of karma. Even if he does get away with it, Macbeth would have to deal with intense feelings of guilt, and perhaps regret with the wrongdoings he has committed. The situation is not a light matter, and Macbeth is in a really conflicting position.
Why did I learn it? I learned it to acquire a deeper understanding of Macbeth’s character, and thereby a deeper understanding of the situation at hand. The soliloquy did an excellent job of shedding light on Macbeth’s psyche and the working of his conscience. Without it, us readers wouldn’t have much insight on Macbeth’s feelings on the matter, considering the fact that it is a play, and most of the time in plays, you can only know a character’s feelings based on their dialogue with other characters.
How will I use what I learned? I will keep in mind Macbeth’s inner thoughts and emotions on the matter as the class continues to progress through the play. Now, we know that Macbeth doesn’t want to kill the King due to fear of retribution from the people and the heavens, along with its immoral and sinful aspects. Not only that, but I can use this newfound knowledge to help me recognize soliloquies in further pieces of literature that the class, or myself, reads.
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