Macbeth Deconstruction - Lennox's Speech to Other Lords Act 3

A tyrant’s treachery – the start of the downfall

King Duncan has just been murdered and “brave Macbeth” (1 ii 18) has been crowned king. Duncan’s two sons, Donalbain and Malcolm, fled for fear for their lives and for arousing suspicion. Lennox and a fellow Lord have met in the palace at Forres. Here they discuss the current political situation in Scotland. As a result of this scene, people begin to distrust Macbeth’s legitimacy:

My former speeches

Have but hit your thoughts,

Which can interpret farther, only I say

Thing’s have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan

Was pitied of Macbeth – marry he was dead.

And the right valiant Banquo walked too late –

Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance killed,

For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late.

Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous

It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain 10

To kill their gracious father? Damned fact!

How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight,

In pious rage, the two delinquents tear

That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?

Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,

For ‘twould have angered any heart alive

To hear the men deny it.

…

But, peace! For from broad words, and ‘cause he failed 22

His presence at the tyrant’s feast, I hear,

Macduff lives in disgrace. (3 vi 1-24)

People have started to be concerned about the state of Scotland. By saying:

My former speeches

Have but hit your thoughts,

Which can interpret farther, only I say

Thing’s have been strangely borne. - (1-4)

Lennox is acknowledging that there have already been previous words, “My former speeches”, exchanged over the state of Scotland’s kingship. It can be assumed that the other Lord agrees because Lennox subsequently unleashes scathing sarcasms about Macbeth. “Things have been strangely borne” lets the audience know that things are not as they should be; that there have been abnormal acts occurring. A possible reason for these strange...