The thick musk scent of dried herbs wafted through the dry air. Macbeth aimlessly bumped into the chamber doors. The “firm-set earth” (II.i.69) resonated Macbeth’s strides as he frantically yet cautiously tried to hide himself. As he tried to control his exasperated panting, he halted his breathing and observed his dim-lighted hall to see if he was being watched. Macbeth repeatedly quenched his parched throat by swallowing. A warm, thin film of sweat covered his body. Macbeth’s ruffled claret-stained clothes were moist as they stuck to his torso. Although Macbeth killed scores of Irish and Norwegian men, Macbeth never felt his heart pounding out of his chest so rapidly and fiercely.
“This death… was different.” Macbeth whispered slowly to himself.
Regret flooded Macbeth’s
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How will I ever get rid of my guilt? Go away, ‘false creation’ (II.i.50)!” exclaimed
Macbeth.
Calmly and unhurriedly, King Duncan responded,
“I trusted you. I loved you and thought of you as a kinsman. Have I not given you my utmost respect? Have I caused any problems for you? Have I ever doubted our relationship? After what the previous Thane of Cawdor did to me, I believed that you would have stayed loyal to me. I chose you for a reason, to protect me and serve me. You have not caused pain for yourself, but for the rest of Scotland. I’m in utter pain. I chose you because I believed that you would reflect my actions and thoughts. Instead, you have failed me. No, I have failed myself and all of Scotland for trusting you.” Tears streaked down King Duncan’s cheeks. Aghast and defeated, Macbeth attempted to pry the door open to escape his consequences, but his efforts were futile. In a calm voice,
King Duncan reprimanded Macbeth,
“How dare you, you coward. Do you have no pride? You are nothing but a knave, you treacherous serpent. I knew you were courageous when you ‘unseamed’ (I.ii.24) the renegade,
Macdonwald, but I failed to recognize that you are neither generous, honest, nor