Act 1 Scene 7

Soliloquy- Macbeth

Page, Luna, Carly, Annie

What's happening...

- Duncan and his lord friends get to Macbeth's house and are invited inside by the hospibitable Lady Macbeth  - "Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly and shall continue our graces towards him." -Macbeth is talking to himself... aside?

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here,

If I knew that there were no consequences after the act, I would do it. Book: [Different meanings "done"]- Finished with, accomplished, performed. "It" is unspecified.TerminationReiterated "it"--cannot name the act Wishes that the assasination could be finished quickly, without consequence "that but" [if only]- hopeful, wishful. Almost pleading

But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor.

Shoal: A shallow place in a body of water.Put life at risk (It's dangerous; is it worth it?)Karma, foreboding + foreshadowing

This even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. He's here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. -impartial justice: karma, what goes around comes around--knows what he might be getting himself into -double trust- Macbeth owes Duncan and is his host, yet ironically is planning to murder him

-I should "shut the door" to the murderer, not do the killing

Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off;

An examination of Duncan's rule:Duncan ruled very well in power, upon his death he will surely be sent to heaven.Power Purely- he has nothing against himThe angels will be horrified about such a good kings murder.There's almost envy towards Duncan's rule.

And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. pity- guilt felt by Macbeth, (vulnerable, authentic)sightless- invisible -What he did will sadden "every eye"-It'll be harshly obvious to everyone; like wind so sharp that it makes your eyes tear  -tears shall drown the wind--hyperbole, personification

 I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other. -horse-symbol of Duncan's murder, something he needs to mount

-spur and prick--horse reference -spur=reason/motivation -personification- ambition is the driving factor which threatens to "throw" him over the horse (killing Duncan) that he wants to mount **clumsy and unsure

What does this mean?This is one of the few times within the play that readers can actually see that Macbeth truly does understand what he's getting himself into. He recognizes the irony that while he's hosting Duncan, whom he owes his title, he and his wife are planning his murder at the same time. He get's the idea of "what goes around comes around" and realizes the weight of the situation along with it's possible outcomes. By the end of the soliloquy he is still considered ethical.