Banquet & Sleep Walking Scene in Macbeth

BANQUET SCENE:

The Banquet scene takes place in Act III, Sc.iv. It is a very important scene because it catches the crisis in the play besides the supernatural element, which heightens the inner drama of conflict and dichotomy in the mind of Macbeth. Macbeth’s unfounded doubts and too much faith in the words of witches, make him plan the murder of Banquo and Fleance. The scene also draws comparison between the strong will of Lady Macbeth and the continuing hallucinations with Macbeth. Macbeth arranges murderers to kill Banquo, and the murderers manage to kill only Banquo, where as Fleance escapes. The news of the murder is conveyed to Macbeth and immediately at the mention of his name at the banquet table the ghost of Banquo makes an appearance. The ghost is visible only to Macbeth and further heightens the irony and tension. The reaction of Macbeth throws clues at the murder and Lady Macbeth intelligently puts an end to the confessions. The invitees are shocked and at the same time the reverie of Macbeth is ‘ revealing’ for some. The words of Macbeth reveal that the sight of the ghost is appalling and unnerves even a hero like Macbeth. The ghost disappears for some time and Macbeth wonders if the graves were making way for the dead. With the reappearance of the ghost, Macbeth becomes quite talkative and Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth may speak out the details of the murder of Duncan. The scene shows the inner cowardice of Macbeth. It also shows the guilt, fear and the corruption deep within Macbeth. The scene portrays the fears in Macbeth about the consequences of his sin.

THE SLEEP WALKING SCENE

The sleepwalking scene in Macbeth is a much celebrated and appreciated scene in the play. It gives an insight into the psyche of Lady Macbeth. Act V, Sc.i, in Macbeth is identified as the sleepwalking scene. Shakespeare’s uniqueness and ability are very much visible in the scene. At a time when the very term psychology was unknown, he uses psycho-analysis to lay bare the psyche of his characters and we come across words like ‘mind sickness’. The scene provides a peep into the sick mind of Lady Macbeth, who becomes a patient of somnambulism after the distancing of Macbeth and the feeling of guilt weighing heavy on her. The doctor who is called to treat her accepts that he has no cure for such ‘unnatural’ disease. The lady walks out of her chamber with a lighted candle, writes something, reads and utters strange words which shock the doctor and the maid. The lady rubs her hands repeatedly ‘washing’ the bloodstains created by the too much blood of the ‘old man’. The words of Lady Macbeth also intermittently capture the discussion between the Lady and her husband. Her words reveal that she objected to the series of murders perpetrated by Macbeth. She mentions the death of the ‘old man’ and Banquo besides the lady and children of Macduff. She opines that all the perfumes of Arabia cannot cleanse her pretty hands. The words show the deep-seated guilt in her and her attempts to wash off the guilt from the soul. The lady becomes sick, when Macbeth fails to provide the necessary support and company to his wife, pursuing his own trail. The doctor opines that he cannot treat the ‘infected minds’ and only the divine can help the lady. The scene portrays the terrible feeling of sin, and guilt experienced by Lady Macbeth, which also shows that she is capable of regeneration where as Macbeth continues to be a criminal all through.

 Md. Jamil Hossain Sujon

  2^nd year 2^nd semester

 Department of English

 Jagannath University

           Dhaka.

 Cell. 01737434727