Macbeth (Vol. 69) | Bert O. States (essay date 1985)

Bert O. States (essay date 1985)

SOURCE: States, Bert O. “The Horses of Macbeth.” Kenyon Review 7, no. 2 (spring 1985): 52-66.

[In the following essay, States examines Macbeth's ‘pity’ soliloquy (Act I, scene vii) in order to discover an apocalyptic reading of the drama—rather than one based upon the theme of ambition.]

                                                                                Where's the Thane of Cawdor?
We cours'd him at the heels, and had a purpose
To be his purveyor; but he rides well;
And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him
To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,
We are your guest tonight.

(I, 6,20-25)

This speech of Duncan's occurs some half-dozen lines before Macbeth's great “pity” soliloquy.1 It is of negligible interest except for the word spur which is...

[The entire page is 8041 words long]

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