Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-12

in the letter scene. In that there is no
mention of murder; nothing but re-
cital, eloquent 1t is true, of the honors
he aims at and promised him by the
weird sisters and yet on the approach
of Duncan, SO closely following the let
ter. Lady Macbeth leaps to express
perfected plan of murderous action.
This is a striking coincidence that the
speech of the weird sisters and the let
ter telling of the speech, neither OF
which contains the slightest intima-
tion of amurderous act, should produce
in the minds of both Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth an identical train of thought,
each treating and dealing Of the matter
Us settled line of policy. This coin
oidence makes it irresistible that at
come OF their former meetings, which of
course must have been before the play
opened, this subject was under con-
sideration and the assassination of
Duncan decided. But convincing as
it is, we are not left to these inferen-
tial arguments alone. The lines Of the
play support the theory. Lady Mac
beth upbraiiing her faltering lord says,
act /, scene z:
What beast vast then
That made Won break this enterprise to ME?
= Y Nor time nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would make
both
They have made themselves, and that their
fitness now
Does unmake you.
Here in clear words ii is said that
Macbeth did break this enterprise to
his lady. This ought to dispose of the
charge against her OF originating tho
plan of Duncan's murder. But this
speech does more, it shows when Mac
beth preached this enterprise to Lady
Macbeth. He did it when NOR time
nor place did then adhere" atfording y
theatre for action. But that was OF
necessity before the opening OF the
inlay, for from the opening Of tho play
there was no meeting between the twp
save here at Inverness on the heels of
which came Duncan, atfordins both
time and place. This passage, con-
clusively proves that the murder Of
Duncan was not suddenly conceived by
Macbeth on the field of Forres after the
assurance of the weird sisters, nor by
Lady Macbeth after reading the letter,
but that the enterprise had been broken
to Lady Macbeth by her husband, and
its details discussed between them, be-
| fore his departure for the wnr5 from
which he returned with such conspicu-
| GUS credit. OF course the Macbeth Of
| history never did kill Duncan at Inver-
ness: but we are discussing the Macbeth
OF the play. Certainly the Macbeth
of the play did fully entertain the plan
of removing Duncan by murderous
stroke, If need be, but / doubt If it
ever occurred to him that the stroke
would be dealt in his own castle of In
verness while Duncan was his guest in
q land and among people where
stranger is holy name. This gave him
| pause.
But he soon oyercame any scruples
on this point and he overcame them,
too. before he saw Indy Macbeth.
1 When Duncan proclaimed the eleva-
ton of his eldest son to the princedom
of Cumberland, Macbeth determined
on tho prompt death OF the King. He
at once prepares for the act He could
have dispatched courier to inform his
wife for preparation for the kingly
visit. But 70, he desires to leave the
kings company the BETTER to perfect
his plans for the despatch of this bust
ness. On that hurried ride to Inver-
ness, we know his thoughts, his PLOTS
and his vile purposes.
| The Prince of Cumberland that is a step
| On which must fall down, or else DER leap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires
| Let not light see my black and deep desires
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when 1t is done, to see
These lines show that Macbeth had
firmly resolved not only to nun der Dun.
can, but also to murder him at lnver.
ness and that his plan of action was
perfected before he saw Lady Macbeth.
Another influence came to thwart his
purpose. He had conducted mos
successful campaign. He had won the
plaudits of his soldiery and the graft.
tude of his prince who handsomely re-
warded him with the thaneship o.
Cawdor.
We will proceed no further in this business
He hath honored me of late; and | hav,
bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would beworn now in their newes
gloss,
Not cast aside SO soon. .. m
But here the great Macbeth shows
himself, not q penitent but laggard
He thinks final victory would NOR,
surely follow desultory course o
assassination He never repudiates tn,
|
end can be best obtained by keeping
the recently won golden opinions ii
their newest gloss, and while thi
thought is with him, he hesitates ant
faters. But as soon as he sees tia
the plan Of assassination can be carriet
out with safety, he throws to the wind
all his hypocritical winnings of con
science and his mere word play 70
self justification and betrays his tru
spirit in boastful ways.
!, am settled, and bend up
! Eacn corporal agent TO tins terrible feat
! Away, and mock tile time with fairest sho'
False face must hide what the false hear
, doth know.
This is the hero so dauntless, tn
character SO amiable, awakening tn
sympathy Of Mrs. SIddons and though
: by her to be the infatuated victim 9
: q thIalldom, The fact is that the Mac
beth of the play is intended by Shake
spoare to be irretrievably bad. III
never does anything wicked as til
result of impulse. He deliberatel
chooses evil over good. In Macbot
we SEQ the horror of conscious cleo
tion to bo wicked, Shakespeare move
permits him to be forced to action pre-
!, oiLitately, but everything is done afte
the alchemy of his mind has acted q
his projects. Ills is not the cor
: strained action of II mind cramped b
environment, necessity or heredit,
: But it is tho action of highly Gu
tured intelligence deliberately SHINING
His habit of reflection, Of mental poi.
ing, fooled Lady Macbeth. ST.
u thought it was the milk of huma
+ kindness that caused him to pause
| ppi fst he ntYt
D subtcrfuge OF Macbeth was only a
2 | =: Il..l.....L.-ll