Enter Lennox and another Lord.
- Lennox, a Scottish nobleman, is speaking to an unnamed lord. They discuss recent events in Scotland under Macbeth’s rule.
- The conversation is filled with sarcasm and irony, as Lennox pretends to praise Macbeth while actually criticizing him.
Lennox’s Speech
“My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
Which can interpret farther.”
- Lennox says that his previous words have already given the Lord something to think about, implying that they both understand what is really happening.
- Irony: He suggests that people must “interpret” events themselves, hinting that Macbeth’s official version of events cannot be taken at face value.
“Only I say things have been strangely borne.”
- “Strangely borne” means events have happened in a suspicious way.
- Understatement: Lennox is downplaying the chaos, making it seem like a mild oddity rather than a series of murders.
“The gracious Duncan was pitied of Macbeth; marry, he was dead.”
- Lennox sarcastically states that Macbeth “pitied” Duncan—right before Duncan was murdered.
- Sarcasm: Macbeth pretended to care about Duncan, but in reality, he was the one who killed him.
“And the right valiant Banquo walked too late,
Whom you may say, if ’t please you, Fleance killed,
For Fleance fled.”
- Lennox mocks the idea that Banquo’s son, Fleance, could have killed his father just because he ran away.
- Dramatic irony: The audience knows Macbeth arranged Banquo’s murder.
- Sarcasm: Lennox pretends to accept the absurd idea that Fleance is guilty.
- Theme: Guilt and Paranoia—Macbeth keeps accusing others to hide his own crimes.
“Men must not walk too late.”
- Lennox implies that anyone who goes out at night might mysteriously end up dead.
- Tone: Dark humor and irony—The real reason people are dying isn’t bad luck but Macbeth’s tyranny.
“Who cannot want the thought how monstrous
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain
To kill their gracious father?”
- Lennox sarcastically acts as if everyone should believe Malcolm and Donalbain (Duncan’s sons) murdered their own father.
- Verbal irony: He knows they didn’t do it, but Macbeth accused them to cover up his own crime.
- Theme: Appearance vs. Reality—Things are not as they seem.
“Damnèd fact, how it did grieve Macbeth!”
- He sarcastically calls Duncan’s murder a “damned fact” and mocks how Macbeth supposedly grieved.
- Mocking tone—Lennox clearly does not believe Macbeth’s sorrow was real.
“Did he not straight
In pious rage the two delinquents tear
That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?”
- Lennox sarcastically praises Macbeth for killing Duncan’s guards, who were too drunk to defend themselves.
- Irony: Macbeth killed them not out of justice, but to silence them.
- Theme: Tyranny and Manipulation—Macbeth controls the narrative through violence.
“Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely, too,
For ’twould have angered any heart alive
To hear the men deny ’t.”
- Lennox sarcastically calls Macbeth’s actions “noble” and “wise.”
- He implies Macbeth silenced the guards before they could speak the truth.
- Sarcasm—Pretending that Macbeth acted wisely when he really acted out of fear.
“So that I say he has borne all things well.”
- Lennox mockingly claims Macbeth has handled everything well.
- Verbal irony—In reality, Macbeth has caused chaos.
“And I do think
That had he Duncan’s sons under his key
(As, an ’t please heaven, he shall not) they should find
What ’twere to kill a father.”
- Lennox suggests that if Macbeth ever captures Duncan’s sons, he would punish them as if they were guilty—though they are innocent.
- Foreshadowing: Hints that Macbeth wants to eliminate Malcolm and Donalbain.
“So should Fleance.”
- He sarcastically adds that Macbeth would do the same to Fleance, even though Fleance is also innocent.
- Theme: Corruption and Power—Macbeth will stop at nothing to remove threats.
Breakdown of the Lines
LENNOX:
“But peace. For from broad words, and ’cause he failed
His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear
Macduff lives in disgrace.”
- “But peace” → Lennox tells the Lord to be quiet, shifting to a more serious tone.
- “Broad words” → Could refer to either vague gossip or open discussions about Macbeth.
- “’Cause he failed his presence at the tyrant’s feast” → Macduff did not attend Macbeth’s banquet, which aroused suspicion.
- “Lives in disgrace” → Macbeth is angry at Macduff and considers him a traitor.
- Theme: Paranoia and Tyranny → Macbeth views disloyalty in even the smallest actions, like missing a feast.
“Sir, can you tell where he bestows himself?”
- Lennox asks where Macduff has gone.
LORD:
“The son of Duncan (From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth)
Lives in the English court…”
- “The son of Duncan” → Refers to Malcolm, the rightful heir.
- “From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth” → Macbeth stole the throne from Malcolm.
- Theme: Kingship and Legitimacy → The contrast between a rightful king and a tyrant is emphasized.
“Lives in the English court and is received
Of the most pious Edward with such grace
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
Takes from his high respect.”
- “Pious Edward” → Refers to King Edward of England, known for his holiness and healing powers.
- “Malevolence of fortune” → Despite Duncan’s murder and Malcolm’s exile, he is still respected.
- Contrast between kings: Macbeth is a cruel tyrant, while Edward is portrayed as a just and holy ruler.
“Thither Macduff is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid
To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward…”
- “Thither Macduff is gone” → Macduff has gone to England.
- “Pray the holy king upon his aid” → He is begging King Edward for military support.
- “Wake Northumberland and warlike Siward” → He seeks help from the Earl of Northumberland and Siward, a powerful military leader.
- Theme: Resistance and Justice → Macduff is organizing a rebellion to overthrow Macbeth.
“That, by the help of these (with Him above to ratify the work),
We may again give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives…”
- “Him above” → Refers to God, implying that their cause is righteous.
- “Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights” → Scotland is suffering under Macbeth; people lack food and peace.
- “Bloody knives” → Reference to Macbeth’s murders at banquets (Duncan, Banquo).
- Imagery of suffering → Scotland is in turmoil, with food shortages, sleeplessness, and fear.
“Do faithful homage, and receive free honors,
All which we pine for now.”
- “Do faithful homage” → Serve a true king instead of a tyrant.
- “Receive free honors” → Under Macbeth, titles and rewards are given out unfairly.
- “We pine for now” → The people long for justice and freedom.
“And this report hath so exasperate the King
That he prepares for some attempt of war.”
- “This report” → News of Macduff’s actions.
- “Hath so exasperate the King” → Macbeth is furious.
- “Prepares for some attempt of war” → He is readying for battle, showing his paranoia and fear of rebellion.
LENNOX:
“Sent he to Macduff?”
- Lennox asks if Macbeth tried to recall Macduff before taking military action.
LORD:
“He did, and with an absolute ‘Sir, not I,’
The cloudy messenger turns me his back
And hums, as who should say ‘You’ll rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.’”
- “With an absolute ‘Sir, not I’” → Macduff outright refused Macbeth’s summons.
- “Cloudy messenger” → The messenger was reluctant or ominous.
- “Turns me his back and hums” → The messenger dismisses the request, as if to say Macduff will regret refusing.
- Foreshadowing → Macbeth is preparing revenge against Macduff (which leads to the murder of Macduff’s family).
LENNOX:
“And that well might
Advise him to a caution t’ hold what distance
His wisdom can provide.”
- “That well might advise him” → The warning should make Macduff careful.
- “Hold what distance his wisdom can provide” → Macduff should stay as far from Macbeth as possible for his own safety.
“Some holy angel fly to the court of England and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country
Under a hand accursed.”
- “Some holy angel” → He wishes divine intervention to ensure Malcolm and Macduff’s success.
- “A swift blessing” → Hopes they return quickly to save Scotland.
- “Under a hand accursed” → Scotland is suffering under Macbeth’s cursed rule.
LORD:
“I’ll send my prayers with him.”
- The Lord agrees, showing hope for Macbeth’s downfall.
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