The Duncan Soliloquy

Act 1: Scene 7: Lines 1 - 28

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, 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 th' inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poisoned 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. 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; And pity, like a naked newborn 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. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on th' other.

If all this business would really be gone if I actually carried out this task, then it would be best if it were over quickly. If it could happen without consequence, and with the death of Duncan I would be successful, then one strike with a knife would be all the solution that would be required. But this puts at risk the fate of our afterlife, such that I my deeds could become my own poison. He has entrusted two tasks in my hand; Being his subject and lord I must ensure he comes to no harm, and furthermore being his host I should be the one protecting him from a murderer, not being the murderer myself! Plus, Duncan has been such a virtuous leader, the angels themselves would mark his passing. The pity of it would spread the news to everyone, and every man who came to know of it would weep, such that the very weather would alter. I have no want to change my intent, only ambition, which would overthrow all of this.

Here we see Macbeth contemplating the consequences of such a course of action, and his explanation of why the murder is so wrong. This is important because it shows that Macbeth does in fact have morals, and how his own decision would be to forget about this entire murder business. This sets up the next scene, to illustrate how powerful Lady Macbeth's manipulation can be, to make a man, a soldier no less, who has just made up his mind turn back upon his previous reasoning so easily.