No book is truly ever the work of one person. Some people offer inspiration, others support, and some even tangible help. Such is the case with this book. I had a couple of friends and my husband to help me shape up this book. They provided criticism and feedback on this commentary which I am most thankful for! So, I thought it would be good to share some of their thoughts on this play, especially on their favorite scenes.

Recently, I was fortunate to read an advanced copy of Maddy’s new commentary on Macbeth as one of her beta readers. When she asked me to write a little about my favorite scene, I had a hard time picking one out. There is so much packed into this little play. I thought initially of Siward learning about his son’s death, and wondering if he died well. And also, of the famous scene with the ghost of Banquo haunting his murderer. But, eventually I decided I had to write about Act IV, Scene I when the three witches and Hecate seemingly seal Macbeth’s ultimate demise.

            In a scene that is both fun and creepy, the witches put an exclamation point on the chain of events they instigated in the first act. (Incidentally, I had no idea the familiar chant “Double, double, toil and trouble; / Fire burn and cauldron bubble” originated here). The witches are perfect little instruments of Satan, sowing death, confusion, and destruction; and all with half-truths and vague notions that they must know Macbeth will misconstrue. This scene is a pivotal moment in the play for me, as from here I was very interested in watching how these prophecies would play out. Shakespeare’s portrayal of the witches should serve as a poignant warning to stay away from the occult. Nothing good will be found there, but there is much good to be found in this play, and the commentary that Maddy wrote for it!

A.L.

MACBETH
Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,
The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast.
LADY MACBETH What do you mean?
MACBETH
Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house.
“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”
Oh, how often I’ve tossed and turned, unable to get a good night’s sleep. But never has a man tossed and turned with more reason that Macbeth here, immediately after committing the act of murder most foul. The above passage from Act II, Scene ii, is quite possibly one of my favorite parts of the whole play—one could say everything pivots around this point. Until just moments before, Macbeth could have chosen not to slay Duncan (one of my ancestors, by the way). And history could have taken a much different course.
This is one of the things that keeps me up at night: How would my life be different if for just ‘that one thing’? What if? Where would I be now? Would I be happier? Sadder? Still living? All for a choice. That choice can condemn or preserve. In Macbeth’s case, his choice condemns him to a death that he thought he could escape. Of course, no man can escape death, and that hubris that Macbeth possesses—one that continues to grow more and more from this point—ends up being his ultimate demise.
One would do well to take the lessons from Macbeth and see just how, if not for that one thing, our lives play out differently. And that’s something that, while we lose sleep over from time to time, is not something worth torment. Learn well, my friends. Don’t be like the tragic Macbeth, for you still have time to keep from your poor choices. Sleep comes much easier when you don’t allow your soul to be tormented by your past actions.

J.L.

I struggled to choose between Act I Scene v and Scene vii as my favorite. In both scenes, you see that Macbeth is a good guy. He had considered and decided that he was not going to move against Duncan. He is a good man. And he truly loves Lady Macbeth. And in her own way, she is a good wife who loves her husband and wants what’s best for him. But she sees that he has no ambition, this kindhearted man who doesn’t want to get his hands dirty. So she says, “I’m going to have to be not a woman to convince my husband to do this.” I also appreciate these scenes for showing the dynamics between men and women. Who is responsible for leading the family? Who is following? Who is being convinced? When Macbeth and Lady Macbeth come together, they are tender and loving, but ultimately, she convinces him to do this terrible thing, and he allows himself to be convinced. This is not dissimilar to Adam and Eve, where both Adam and Macbeth are led by their wives but also being in on it the whole time. He allows her to take the lead, and she allows herself to be deceived. Both of these great scenes show how the corruption of the soul can happen to even good people. By the end of the play, these once-loving people hardly like each other. They barely act as though they are married and instead become indifferent individuals, each falling into decay separately. These initial interactions between Macbeth and his Lady show the corruption of the relationship as well as the corruption of their individual hearts. 

J.C.

Do you have a favorite scene? Leave a comment below! I’d love to know what it is and why. And don’t forget: you can now order a copy of this unique commentary for yourself or a friend!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Madelyn Rose Craig