Monologue From Macbeth

The air was laden thick with the musky scent of the woods and the dried herbs. Macbeth stumbled towards his chamber doors. The “firm-set earth” (II.i.69) beneath his feet echoed the fear that he carried in his heart, he was desperately looking for a place to hide. Overwhelm by guilt and fear he tried to control his racing heart beat and the panting. He had an uncanny feeling that he was being watched and hence he looked around the dimly lit hall. He wanted to be sure that he wasn’t being watched. He was almost choked because of his dry throat although he did attempt to quench it by swallowing. He could feel sweat streaming down his body. Never was he so cold, he had killed hundreds of Norwegians and the Irish. But today he felt
his heart would burst of beating. “Why do I feel that cousin Duncan’s death was different.” Macbeth whispered slowly to himself.
He was suddenly gripped by remorse and guilt, he regretted and deplored the cruel act of murdering his cousin, his King. He visualized his repeated thrusts of the daggers piercing into the old chest. His hands were still stained with the dried blood and he could smell the stench despite the musky smell of the woods. He fell on his knees and whimpered quietly, “What have I done? Hours ago, I was granted the Thane of Cawdor and gained the trust of King Duncan. I was considered his ‘kinsman’ and ‘subject’ (I.vii.13)… Perhaps if my ‘heat oppressed brain’ (II.i.51) cooled down, I would have never committed such a deed that I regret so much…” He was desperate for air now, he was drained of any blood himself, he almost dragged himself down the cold stone stairs. Every step challenged him, he leaned against the cold wall and said to himself again, “King Duncan has done no wrong in God’s eyes and has sacrificed his time and energy for others. I would never be able to be half the man King Duncan was. My conscience failed to protect me from letting my ambitions manipulate my acts. This was my wife’s fault, not mine! She called me a ‘naked newborn babe’ (I.vii.21) and dismantled my pride and manhood. I could have been a man of integrity and honesty; instead I brought the demise of my innocence. As King Duncan is in heaven, I feel like my actions have me chained to
hell.” And then he burst into tears. The tears soon mixed with his sweat, the warmth of the tears soon lost the heat due to the coldness of the sweat. He felt cold chills running down his spine. He felt for his daggers, he slowly tucked them in his belt. He was now soaked with tears, blood and sweat. Visions of his driving the daggers in Duncan’s chest resurfaced, he shuddered and shivered. He could see the old man’s face, his shock and despair, blood oozing out of his mouth. He tried to close his eyes to stop thinking about those scenes. Thinking it was no more dangerous he ran towards the door. But before he could reach the doorknob the lights went off. He heard footsteps, he heard the door bolting on it’s own and he knew there was someone or something. “Who goes there?” Macbeth demanded, taking out both the bloodied daggers from his belt. And then he was rooted at there at the door upon seeing the ghost of King Duncan standing right in front of him. Soon the pale figure towered over him. He looked sad and drained. He looked at Macbeth with his deeply sorrowful eyes. Macbeth could see his white night gown stained with his own blood. Macbeth flung one of his daggers at him, but it soon fell on the floor, he realized he was hitting nothing but air.

“Could this be the result of my heat-oppressed brain? My lust for ambition has caused me to fall short. How will I ever get rid of my guilt? Go away, ‘false creation’ (II.i.50)!” exclaimed Macbeth. Ten he heard the faint voice of Duncan, “I trusted you. I loved you and thought of you as a kinsman. Have I not given you my utmost respect? Have I caused any problems for you? Have I ever doubted our relationship? After what the previous Thane of Cawdor did to me, I believed that you would have stayed loyal to me. I chose you for a reason, to protect me and serve me. You have not caused pain for yourself, but for the rest of Scotland. I’m in utter pain. I chose you because I believed that you would reflect my actions and thoughts. Instead, you have failed me. No, I have failed myself and all of Scotland for trusting you.” Macbeth couldn’t stop the tears that streaked down his cheeks. He was defeated. All he wanted to do now was to run out of the door. He made an attempt to pull at the doorknob but it refused to move. Very calmly but sternly, King Duncan reprimanded Macbeth, “How dare you, you coward. Do you have no pride? You are nothing but a knave, you treacherous serpent. I knew you were courageous when you ‘unseamed’ (I.ii.24) the renegade, Macdonwald, but I failed to recognize that you are neither generous, honest, nor loyal.” Macbeth knew it was the truth but he couldn’t bear it any more. Macbeth then bawled, “What should I do, to make you go away? Could this be reality? My guilt is causing me to become restless, Macbeth killed ‘innocent sleep’ (II.ii.42). Go away! Away, you figure of hell!”

The ghost disappeared and the door unlocked itself. He heard footsteps and shouted, “Who’s there? What, ho!” (II.ii.12). He saw Lady Macbeth who seemed furious about something already and then he heard, “Infirm of purpose! (II.ii.68) Go wash yourself! If you continue to whine, you will awake the whole household! The crown is nearly ours…”