Macbeth Group

Topic: What advice would you give them? What would you tell them about the three witches' predictions?

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1

chucksldy1

Imagine that you are a friend and adviser of Macbeth and his wife.

2

Great question!

I'd tell them to bide their time. Tragedy, in Shakespeare always happens very fast: notice that, on the night that Lady M receives the letter, Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle and his murdered. The action of Romeo and Juliet, and of Othello, only takes a few days to complete. I'd tell them to think for a week before making any sort of decisions.

And I'd tell them the logical paradox which makes the play seem rather ridiculous. Firstly, I'd say "Well, Macbeth, if you do murder the king - how are you going to get the throne? He has two kids, and one of them has just been named his heir". That'd put a damper on plans, I think.

I'd also remind them that, if the witches really are accurate, and really can predict the future, then he will become king no matter what happens. Even if he never sees Duncan again, if the prophecy is true, he'll still become king.

But he knows that already. He says it - but I still think it's the best advice he could hear:

If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me
Without my stir. Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

If chance wants him to be king, then let him be crowned by chance. And then - well, no tragedy!

3

mshurn

I don't think Macbeth or his wife would be open to much advice from anyone, considering how ambitious they both were, but one could always try. I would remind them that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the castle--that they should consider how very fortunate they already were (especially since Macbeth had just become Thane of Cawdor). They had honors, respect, social prestige, wealth, and two estates, without having to worry about ruling a country that seems to have been invaded on a fairly regular basis.

Furthermore, I would appeal to their better natures. Macbeth clearly had a conscience early on; I would appeal to it. He believed in God's judgment, so I would remind him that giving his soul (his "eternal jewel") to the Devil is not a good career plan. As for Lady Macbeth, I would ask her this question, usually a good behavior guide: What would your father think about this? Since she loved her father, this line of argument might get her attention.

Finally, in regard to the witches, I would appeal to the Macbeths' common sense: "If something seems to good to be true, it probably is" and "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Finally, another maxim that might work with them is this one: "Less is more!" Do a whole lot less about gaining the crown (as in "nothing"), and let nature take its course. Trying to micro-manage fate never works anyway.

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