Death Scenes of Macbeth
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), a prolific English writer produces at least 37 plays and 154 sonnets as well as 2 long narrative poems. 10 are tragedies among the 37 plays which include a common scene that is the death of both good and evil characters. Besides, looking at his tragic plays, we see some common dramatic elements such as a tragic hero, good against evil, conflict, hamartia, fate, catharsis, supernaturals, and so on. Let’s see the death scenes in Macbeth. Though Macbeth is the third shortest play written by Shakespeare, it has nine death scenes in total which are:
MACDOWNALD AND THANE OF CAWDOR: ACT 2, SCENE I;
The death scene first appears in act 1, scene ii of the play. At the beginning of this scene, we know that king Duncan’s both brave general, Macbeth along with Banquo has conquered the battle against the combined forces, formed by the king of Norway, Macdownald (a lord of the western islands of Ireland) and thane of Cawdor that is still under the reign of King Duncan. Here, Macbeth kills Macdownald by cutting him openly from navel to face.
Also, at the end part of this act, the thane of Cawdor was hanged for making treachery against King Duncan by the order of the king himself.
KING DUNCAN: ACT 2, SCENE II;
Although we never see the actual murder, at the end of Act II, Scene II, Macbeth kills King Duncan, and Duncan is found dead in the next scene. King Duncan comes to pay a visit to Macbeth’s castle after their victory against the combined forces. Lady Macbeth sends off Macbeth to kill the king as she has intoxicated the king’s guards. Macbeth likes Duncan and doesn’t really want to kill him. Although he really wants to be king. Suddenly, a ghostly dagger floats in front of him and points the way to King Duncan’s bedroom. Macbeth stabs Duncan. Covering with blood he comes back, and still holding a murder weapon.
KING’S GUARDS: ACT 2, SCENE III;
In the earlier scene, we see how Macbeth kills King Duncan. Now, we will see how the king’s guards are killed and how Duncan is found to be dead.
Macduff and Lenox have come to Macbeth’s castle to meet the king. Macbeth engages himself in a conversation with Lenox while Macduff goes to the king to awaken him. But alas! He returns with the death news. Hearing the news Macbeth, the real killer pretends to be mourned and shows his false anger to the killers. He, himself then suspects the king’s guards as the killers and kills them.
BANQUO: ACT 3, SCENE III;
Macbeth and Banquo are best friends. But here we see Macbeth plotting to assassinate Banquo. He invites Banquo to a banquet. Their friendship has changed and things seem exciting between them. Macbeth remembers what the witches said to the children of Banquo about becoming king of Scotland. He is worried that Banquo’s son will take over from him. Although Banquo is his best friend, Macbeth hires some gangsters to kill him and his son. The gangsters brutally stab and kill Banquo, but his son, Fleance, escapes.
MACDUFF’S FAMILY: ACT 4, SCENE II;
In this play, Macbeth is a character who is ready for anything to occupy the king’s throne. In Act 4, Scene 2, Macbeth recruits assassins to kill MacDuff and his entire family. Tragically, MacDuff’s wife and children were brutally killed. However, McDuff survives; As he is in England, trying to persuade Malcolm to challenge Macbeth.
LADY MACBETH: ACT 5, SCENE V;
At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a determined woman who is actually very cruel and heartless. In act 5, scene 5, we come to know her death news. Though, the mystery behind her death remains unclear that whether she dies of a disease or by committing suicide. It is generally accepted that Lady Macbeth commits suicide. Evidence of this can be found in Malcolm’s speech in Act 5, scene 8, where he states that it is rumored that Macbeth’s “fiendlike” queen “took off her life”. Macbeth declares that “Life … is a tale; Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” Becoming depressed on the death news of his partner.
YOUNG SIWARD: ACT 5, SCENE VII;
In just a few lines in a short scene; scene seven of act 5, the death of Young Siward plays a significant role in the play, Macbeth. The combined forces are now ready for the battle against Macbeth. At this point, Young Siward enters and asks Macbeth his name. Macbeth tells the boy that if he hears his name he will be scared. This display of arrogance, however, does not make Young Siward frightened, and they fight. Macbeth kills the boy and rejoices in his own helplessness. Macbeth then leaves, presumably carrying Young Siward’s dead body with him as a kind of terrifying trophy.
MACBETH: ACT 5, SCENE VIII;
Macbeth, the protagonist, meets death at the end of the play. On the battlefield, Macbeth faces Macduff at the last minute. They fight, and when Macbeth insists that he is unbeatable because of the witches’ prophecy. Macduff tells Macbeth that he is not born of a woman rather “from his mother’s womb/untimely ripped”. Macbeth is suddenly scared for his life, but he announces that he will not surrender. Macbeth wishes to continue their fight and is killed in the encounter.
