Tuesday, November 12, 2013

In Macbeth, what happened after Macbeth's death?

The final scene of the play, Act V scene 9, is the scene
you want to focus on. Notice that Macbeth meets his end at the hands of Macduff at the
end of Act V scene 8, when we are told that these two characters exit the stage and then
re-enter fighting, and then "Macbeth slain." In Act V scene 9, Malcolm and Siward walk
together around Macbeth's castle, which they have now conquered. Ross tells Siward the
news that his son has been killed. Macduff then emerges with Macbeth's head, and
proclaims Malcolm King of Sotland. Malcolm's first act as King is to declare that all of
his thanes will be made earls, following the English custom of peerage. This will be a
break from Scottish tradition, and they will be the first lords in Scottish history. As
Malcolm calls his fellow soldiers his friends, inviting exiles from Macbeth's rule back
to Scotland,  and invites them to his crowning, he curses Macbeth and his
wife:



...Of
this dead butcher, and his fiend-like Queen,


Who as 'tis
thought, by self and violent hands


Took off her
life...



The play thus ends
after Macbeth's death with the restoration of stability and the crown passing to
Duncan's son, who should have had it in the first place. We expect more peaceful times
for Scotland.

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