The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-11-02
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ming 10 visit him at his castle. II
Immediately occurs 10 Macbeth that
he may bring 10 pass the prophecy
Of the witches by numbering Dun
can. The encounter with the wicrd
sisters had been related by Macbeth
10 his wife, a wicked, ambitious
woman. She, too, sees in this visit
Of Duncan the very opportunity
they are waiting for. and she con-
spires with her husband TO murder
the king. In fact, in this hour OF
planning for the terrible deed, IL Is
Lady Macbeth who assumes the lead.
She fears that her husband may be
too kind by nature 10 perform the
actual killing, and she plans TO do
IL herself.
The king. arriving at the castle,
is given warm welcome and Is
greatly pleased with the quiet and
peace OF Macbeth's home. He is,
moreover, especially charmed by
his hostess. Lady Macbeth, TO whom
he sends a valuable diamond as
gift. Duncan. however, is tired
with his long journey and goes early
To bed. The chamber in which he
sleeps is guarded by two men Of his
retinue, but they have been given
drugged wine by Lady Macbeth. so
fall into deep sleep and leave the
king unprotected.
In the middle Of the night. Lady
Macbeth enters the kings bedroom
ready 10 strike him with her dag
ger as he sleeps. At the last mo-
ment, however, she is unnerved by
the striking resemblance which the
king bears 10 her father. She tells
her failure 20 her husband and that
warrior, accustomed TO the sight Of
blood, now becomes a man Of action
and kills the king. He seeks TO give
the impression that the. guards have
done the crime by smearing their
hands and clothes with blood and
placing the dagger beside them.
In the morning the murder is dis
covered. and is believed by some to
have been committed by the guards.
10 which opinion Macbeth pretends;
and. in a III Of fcigned rage, he kills
the two men. BY others, the deed
is laid 10 the kings son, who lend
credence 10 their guilt by fleeing
from the country. II anyone, wheth-
or Banquo and his son. Fleance. with
whom Macbeth had talked the pre-
vious night, or Macduff. the thane
Of Fife, a prominent member Of the
kings retinue. suspected Macbeth
Of the crime, the suspicion is not
divulged at the time and Macbeth
succeeds TO the throne. In this man
ner is the prophecy Of the witches
fulfilled concerning the first Of the
two generals.
Macbeth and his wife. however,
are not content. They cannot for
get the prophecy Of the wierd sis
tiers that Banquo's children should
succeed them as rulers of Scotland.
They chafe at the thought that they
have committed so great a crime
only to place the posterity OF Banquo
upon the throne. As n result OF this
discomfort. they determine TO put
10 death both Banquo and his son.
Fleance. and thus Illustrate the full
flllment OF the second part OF the
prophecy. To accomplish this pur-
pose, an elaborate feast is prepared
for the mobiles OF the realm, 10 which
Banquo and Fleance are invited.
Ruflians paid by Macbeth attack
them as they journey TO the feast
and kill Banquo, but in the scuffle
Fleance escapes. That night, as
Macbeth enters the banquet-room.
ne seems 10 see the ghost OF Banquo
sitting in the chair which he is
about To occupy. This so unnerves
him that his wife deems il advisa-
BILE TO dismiss the guests hurriedly.
From this time on, both the king
and queen are disturbed by terrible
dreams and their minds are distract
ed both by the thought OF their
crimes and by their realization that
Fleance has escaped and the proph-
ecy is, therefore, still capable OF
fulilllment. Spurred on by this
state Of mind. Macbeth resolves
once more 10 visit the witches. In
pursuance Of their baleful purpose,
they contrive 10 goad Macbeth on 10
desperation and at the same time
lull him into false security by
misleading oracles. He is told TO
beware OF Macduff, the thane of
Fife; but he is assured that no one
born Of woman shall harm him, and
that he shall not be vanquished I'M
Til great Birnam wood TO high
Dunsanine hill shall come against
him." Assured by these statements
that he is invincible. Macbeth now