6 L. A. Sherman 



altered to escape breakers, but, lacking strength to turn the rudder 

 sharply, refuses to let another take the ship, is practically if not 

 consciously a murderer. On his head be the blood of those who 

 perish. How much less is Duncan chargeable for the lives of 

 those who fall in wars to keep Scotland in his hands ? 



So there is nothing mysterious about our sympathy with Mac- 

 beth. Shakespeare simply appeals to our sense of his deserts as 

 against the King's and Malcolm's presumption. Can he intensify 

 this sympathy to the point of making us consent to unseat 

 Duncan ? 



To Shakespeare's insight, the means lies ready, in the narrative 

 of Holinshed, to his hand. Where there are possibilities of 

 evil, the tempter will be present to transfigure them to fancy. 

 His agents are already posted on the road from victory, to meet 

 with and greet Macbeth. What easier than to accost the fittest 

 to rule with the prophecy that rule he must and shall? Does 

 Macbeth receive the word with feelings of pride and satisfaction? 

 On the contrary, he starts and seems to fear. We are in no doubt 

 of what he is afraid. Duncan is king, and will consent to remain 

 king as long as Macbeth is willing to hold him in that office. No 

 one else can keep him there. This prophecy postulates that even 

 he, Macbeth, is destined to cease this role. That will mean 

 giving over the devotion of which he is so proud. That will 

 mean having something to regret, — presumably, inevitably, a 

 wound to loyalty and conscience. He has long realized that he 

 has the power to unseat Duncan, and become another Mac- 

 Donwald. But to contemplate it as an actuality dismays him. 



Also the mystery of this prophecy, our certitude — from the 

 first scene — ^that supernatural forces are at work," appeals to us 

 strongly. We are aware that there is something uncanny and 

 unrighteous on the inside of this business, but we go consentingly 

 in the line of Macbeth's temptation. The romantic appentencies 

 in us outstrip the justice of iNIacbeth's cause, and we side with 

 the witches. Macbeth has made the rebellious Scotsmen take to 

 their heels. He has brought the proud Sweno to terms, as we 

 have heard Ross report to Duncan. The promise is that Scot- 

 land shall have a king who will do yet grander deeds than the 



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