Act 5

As the English army, lead by Malcolm and Macduff, marched to fight me, more and more men deserted my army to join the ‘true king’. The thanes and their soldiers have been joining the other side. They are determined to bring me down. They are not aware of my invincibility. Even though I believed that I would never fall, my wife and I went to Dunsinane to supervise the fortifying of the castle. I knew that it was neither loyalty nor love but fear of me that held my army together. But no matter. I will never be defeated. Messengers keep telling me of useless news of the enemy’s advancement. But I wanted news on my wife’s illness. She’s looking more ghastly every day. I could see the sadness and confusion in her eyes accompanied by tired posture that comes from lack of sleep. I hired a famous physician to look after her but he doesn’t seem to be making any progress. He told me that there was really nothing he could do about my wife. A few day passed and the English army of geese crept ever closer to my castle like a giant herd of ants. I was on the top of the battlement with Seyton when I heard the cry of a woman. Seyton left me alone to check out the commotion. While he was gone, I realized that I almost forgot what fear felt like. I used to be fearful of every dark corner of the castle, stories of ghosts and monsters. Now that I have waded through a swamp full of horrors, nothing can scare me. However, when Seyton came back with the news of my wife’s passing, I realized the meaninglessness of life. Gone like a candle light. In the end, everyone is just living to see the end. Life doesn’t mean anything but to idiots who pass down the story, full of noise and emotion. My wife has left me alone too early! Before  I could even begin to grieve over my wife’s death, a messenger came running up the stairs. I was in no mood for another report of another thane deserting me, but this one told me of something I never expected. What does he tell me? Birnam Wood is marching up to fight me! I accused him of lying, but my confidence was failing me. When I looked over the battlement, I saw the forest moving. I couldn’t believe it! Was my end finally coming? If the end is coming for me, I’ll go down like a man with sword in hand. I will never run, hide, or surrender. What was it the bloody child told me? I will never be defeated by man born of woman. But I care no more! I’m tired of living! I want to see the world plunge into chaos.

Act 4

I rode to where I first met the three witches. When I got there I saw three witches standing around a pot chanting a spell while throwing the foulest things imaginable into the pot. I went up to them and commanded them to tell me more of my future. This time they brought with them their master of dark magic. I had gone beyond caring and confronted those foul beings. First one took a shape of head encased in a helmet. I was about to ask him of my future when one of the witches told me not to interrupt and told me that this unknown power could read my mind. The head told me to beware of Macduff, Thane of Fife. The second being took the form of a bloody child. This bloody child told me to be violent, bold, and firm. Laugh at the power of other men, because nobody born from a woman will ever harm me! The third took the form of a child wearing a crown just like mine. He told me to be brave like the lion and proud. Don’t even worry about who hates me, who resents me, and who conspires against me. Since I will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight me at Dunsinane Hill. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was as good as invincible! How can trees pull their roots out of the earth? Macduff is a man; thus, he will never harm me! Before returning to my horse, I asked the question that had been nagging me. Will Banquo’s issue ever reign in this kingdom? Fog settled upon us. Through the fog came numbers of ghost-like kings. They looked too much like Banquo. Eight of them appeared -- the last one with a mirror. In the mirror there were so many more men wearing crowns. Some of them were carrying double balls and triple scepters, meaning they’re kings of more than one country! The ghost-like kings rushed me, and I blacked out. When I came to, the witches were gone. When I got back to the main road away from the witches’ den, I found Lennox riding toward me. He told me that Macduff had fled to England. The witches’ apparitions had warned me to beware of Macduff, Thane of Fife. I must do, I have to do, before time can stop me. I will send some men to storm Fife; I’ll kill his wife, his youngling and his bloodline. I will burn Fife to the ground and set an example. I will cut Macduff’s heart apart.

Act 3

I am the king of Scotland now, but there is a hitch: Banquo. He was a friend and advisor but now he is my worst enemy. When I was walking through my palace I came upon him getting ready to ride in the stable with his son, Fleance. While I talked to him and learned of his plan for the afternoon, a plan was already forming in my head. After inviting Banquo to my coronation banquet I stood and watched him and his son ride away, hoping that it would be the last time I saw him. I needed myself rid of all loose end. I wouldn’t tell a living soul of this but I’m deathly afraid of Banquo. He has been smart and brave as long as I knew his. I fear to have him around, and the prophecy feeds my fear even more.  If I kill him and his son, I’ll be safe.  I didn’t kill Duncan for Banquo’s children, didn’t infect my dreams with the old man’s blood for them to rule the kingdom. I will not stand by and watch it happen. I’d rather fight fate itself to the death.

After my private session in my head, I called for my servant to bring in my two special friends. Those two special friends are the descendants of Banquo’s long dead nemesis. He was smart and brave enough to vanquish his nemesis but he was too soft to finish off the threat. Now I am taking advantage of his past stupidity. Banquo and his son will not live to see another day. As I sent off my special friends with their special task, my wife came up to my chamber to talk of my problems. She doesn’t know that we are still in dangerous waters with sharks circling around us. She doesn’t know how far I have waded out into this sea of blood to ensure our safety. She’ll know it after this dark night and she’ll never call me a coward again.

As the sun hid and the darkness showed its face, my coronation banquet started. I sounded as cheerful and happy as a recently crowned king would’ve been. Then I saw a bloody face peering out from the door. I never was gladder to see a bloody face. I excused myself from the diners. As I approached my special friend, I could see the worry in his face. When I asked him of his deed he confirmed that Banquo had been killed, but when I asked of Fleance he went silent for seconds then confirmed their failure to kill him. The joy in my face from the first news vanished in an instant when I heard the second news. It was almost perfect. I got the cut-throat to confirm his deed again. At least we got the grown serpent. But what can I do of the worm? He’ll burrow into dirt and hide in earth, he’ll wait for his fangs to grow and attack when he’s ready. I could’ve been whole as the marble, founded as the rock, as broad and general as the casing air. But I’ll rest easy for now.

When I came back to the banquet my wife told me to give the toast. As soon as I finished I noticed another man sitting in my place. People started talking to me but I couldn’t hear anything. The man turned around and stared at me with dead eyes. It was Banquo. He shook his bloody head at me. I told him that I didn’t do it but it looked like he couldn’t hear me. As I backed away, he stood up and walked toward me with his arms outstretched, grabbing the air as if to reach me. I tripped and fell backwards. I looked up in fear, but Banquo was already gone. I stood back up and tried to act as naturally as possible. I made excuses for my behaviours but then Banquo came back. I screamed at his face. He should be dead! Yet he walks toward me reaching out for me. The ghost vanished again, and this time Lady Macbeth dismissed everyone. As I calmed down, we talked of our missing guest and I decided to visit the witches again. Now I walk myself to nightmare-filled sleep.