Ársrit Torfhildar - 01.04.1989, Blaðsíða 46

Arsrit Torfhildar
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
in the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly . . .
(Act three, scene II, 1. 17-20)
Macbeth er nú djúpt sokkinn og skortir viljastyrk til að
snúa við af illskunnar braut. Enda mælir hann:
... 1 am in blood
Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand,
Which must be acted, ere they may be scanned.
(Act three, scene IV, 1. 136-140)
Macbeth veróur miskunnarlaus. Hann framkvæmir án
nokkurrar ígrundunar: Að hika er sama og tapa. í hræðslubræði
lætur hann slátra konu Malcolms og börnum án nokkurrar
sakargiftar.
Er dauóastund Macbeths nálgast má greina umkomuleysi
lífsreynds manns sem hefur steypt sér í glötun og er það ljóst:
. . . my way of life
Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf;
And that which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have; but in their stead,
Curses not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,
Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.
(Act five, scene III, 1. 22-28)
Breyskleiki Macbeths, metnaóur og græðgi, verða honum
og öðrum að fjörtjóni.
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