Posted: July 31, 2022
Macbeth
As bloody as it is brilliant. The king of the crime and remorse stories.
The genius of the writing of this play is no surprise but there are snatches of verse that I find particularly good. I like the monologue of Macbeth right before he murders Duncan and right after. I suppose I could refer to them as "is this a dagger I see before me?" and "Macbeth dost murder sleep". I am a person who happens to adore sleep so there is no more terrible punishment for me than being unable to sleep peacefully.
As for specific scenes, I would like to mention two that has really made an impression on me. The first one is the when Banquo's ghost appears to disrupt Macbeth's feast. It was fascinating, eerie, amusing, and just - I felt that Macbeth was reaping what he had sown. The other scene which I found so powerful is the one wherein MacDuff is given the news of his family's murder. The emotional impact of this scene brought me near to tears.
Topically,"Macbeth" can be grouped with two other classic works that I've read: Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" and Steinbeck's "The Winter of our Discontent". The latter taking its name from a Shakespeare play. These works are about crossing a moral line and the the implications of the act. It's a timeless topic that has universal application. One doesn't have to be a murderer to be informed by these works. I find that when I commit transgressions during my daily life and feel regret right after; I am reminded of these works. When I feel intense anger and emotion and am about to lash out in some way, knowledge of these works help me get myself under control.
I don't have to recommend "Macbeth"; the whole world recommends it. If you're wondering why, give it a read and you'll find yourself recommending it too.