^ Certain Nezv Elucidations of Shakespeare 13 



blowing the horror of the deed in the eyes of all the people so that 

 their tears and wailing shall outcry the howlings of the storm. '^ 

 No. Macbeth has not forfeited his free agency, nor his moral 

 sense. 



But, it ma}^ be fairly urged, has not Macbeth shown himself 

 willing (11. 1-7), so far as the ethics of the case avails at all — 

 provided the blow might speed — to jump the life to come?^ In- 

 dubitably. But let us consider the language and implications of 

 this soliloquy more closely. We must first realize that Macbeth 

 is under strong temptation. What man of us is willing" to be 

 judged, for good and all, by his attitude in such a moment? If 

 to hear the voice of Apollyon is tantamount to compliance, what 

 is the chance of saintship for anybody? (Then, too, are victims 

 of diabolism ever tempted? But let us have done with that.) 

 Does Macbeth's thought rank below the pragmatic morality of 

 present times, or of human history, when the lure of power or 

 pelf entices? 



But let us look at the text again. We find that Macbeth is 

 merely saying, ' // the assassination and all its consequences could 

 be consolidated in one physical act, we might let the future take 

 care of itself. But, — hut, — hut, — crime used as a means defeats 

 the end.' So the present forces in this man are not moving in tha 

 line of Lady Macbeth's terrible resolve. And how has Shake- 

 speare made us feel, dramatically, about these counter forces that 

 are having the right of way? Had we control at this moment of 

 Macbeth's will, would we intensify or slacken the motivation that 

 controls it? 



It thus seems clear that the tragedy in hand is not founded upon 

 any such ' error ' as Quiller-Couch suggests. Macbeth has not 



8 Do we realize how exactly Shakespeare has made his hero, in this 

 prophecy, forecast the effect of the murder upon the sensibilities of the 

 nation? Does he mean to intimate that moral or other prevision can 

 reverse the motivation of a mind, a soul that the powers of evil have 

 overmastered? 



^ This reasoning concerns the first part of the situation, — Lady Mac- 

 beth's insistence that Duncan shall be got rid of immediately, this very 

 night. We note that then Macbeth goes on to the vital question, whether 

 Duncan shall be meddled with at all, and rules as master of his house 

 against it. 



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