Macbeth - Act 5 Scene 3
Dunsinane. A room in the castle.
Enter MACBETH, Doctor, and Attendants
In contrast to the previous scene, Macbeth is indoors, where his fortified castle can also feel confining. Where the rebels' reports bring them hope and cheer, Macbeth's reports drive him to rage and frustration.
MACBETH
Bring me no more reports; let them fly all.
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane,
I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm?
Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know
All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus:
'Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman
Shall e'er have power upon thee.' Then fly, false Thanes,
And mingle with the English epicures!
The mind I sway by and the heart I bear
Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.
This extreme response to the Servant's fearful face tells us that Macbeth is not nearly as calm and confident as he would wish.
Enter a Servant
The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon!
Where got'st thou that goose look?
Servant
There is ten thousand–
MACBETH
Geese, villain?
Servant
Soldiers, sir.
The Servant's pale face indicates his fear, where a reddened face would appear healthy and calm. In 3.4, Macbeth used the reverse of this idea to chastise Lady Macbeth at the banquet, claiming that his pale fear was understandable, while her red complexion was unsettling.
MACBETH
Go prick thy face, and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch?
Death of thy soul! Those linen cheeks of thine
Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?
Servant
The English force, so please you.
MACBETH
Take thy face hence.
Exit Servant
Seyton is the last character to be introduced in the play, and appears to be Macbeth's trusted aide. His name may be pronounced "Seeton" or "Satan," and the latter strongly hints at Macbeth's contact with the supernatural. In some modern productions, Seyton is played by the First Murderer, indicating his rise through the ranks.
Seyton! – I am sick at heart,
When I behold – Seyton, I say! – This push
Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now.
I have lived long enough: my way of life
Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf;
And that which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have; but, in their stead,
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,
Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.
Seyton!
Enter SEYTON
SEYTON
What is your gracious pleasure?
MACBETH
What news more?
SEYTON
All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported.
MACBETH
I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked.
Give me my armour.
Macbeth is presumably wearing his kingly robes and crown; changing into his armor returns him to his appearance as a warrior. The trope of clothing arises again, once more strongly linked to the sense of identity.
SEYTON
'Tis not needed yet.
MACBETH
I'll put it on.
Send out more horses; skirr the country round;
Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armour.
How does your patient, Doctor?
Doctor
Not so sick, my lord,
As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies,
That keep her from her rest.
Macbeth is presumably wearing his kingly robes and crown; changing into his armor returns him to his appearance as a warrior. The trope of clothing arises again, once more strongly linked to the sense of identity.
MACBETH
Cure her of that.
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart?
Doctor
Therein the patient
Must minister to himself.
Like Malcolm and the rebels, Macbeth sees Scotland as a body in need of cure. Not surprisingly, he considers the English force to be the disease plaguing Scotland, while all others agree that the infection is Macbeth himself.
Macbeth's interruptions in this speech indicate that he is being dressed, and giving orders to Seyton or a servant putting on his armor.
MACBETH
Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.
Come, put mine armour on; give me my staff.
Seyton, send out. Doctor, the Thanes fly from me.
Come, sir, dispatch. If thou couldst, Doctor, cast
The water of my land, find her disease,
And purge it to a sound and pristine health,
I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again. – Pull't off, I say. –
What rhubarb, cyme, or what purgative drug,
Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them?
Doctor
Ay, my good lord; your royal preparation
Makes us hear something.
MACBETH
Bring it after me.
I will not be afraid of death and bane,
Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.
A small comic moment: doctors were proverbially greedy, so the state of Macbeth's rule must be terrible indeed if the Doctor would not return for profit.
Doctor
[Aside]
Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,
Profit again should hardly draw me here.
Exeunt