Graham's Magazine, Vol. XIX, No. 6, December 1841Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XIX, No. 6, December 1841
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Here another awful deed of her husband flashes across her recollection.
But still rubbing, still toiling—still with a perseverance which shows
how frightfully she is under the dominion of horror at her crime, she is
striving and ever striving to efface its mark, and through all with the
perception that it is in vain. Then she is at the banquet, where
Macbeth’s phrenzy conjures up the ghost of Banquo, and half betrays
them.
The Doctor has now seen and heard enough to show him the nature of the
secret which is destroying the life of his patient, and his horror
overflows immediately in a sort of confidential communication with the
waiting woman.
Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.
_Gentlewoman._ She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of
that: Heaven knows what she has known.
_Lady._ Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of
Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh! oh!
_Doctor._ What a sight is there! The heart is sorely charg’d.
_Gent._ I would not have such a heart in my bosom, for the
dignity of the whole body.
Here we have the moral of this grand mighty scene. Guilt—successful
guilt—guilt in the bosom, of a scoffer—an atheist—a blasphemer—guilt
in the strongest impersonation of earthliness—of
nerve—courage—self-confidence—power, philosophy—profound sense, and
a high order of human genius. Lady Macbeth had obviously all these. She
impresses you powerfully with a haughty superiority over every one
around her. She would do to lead an army—to defend a citadel. Her mind
is that of a Spartan dame—or a Roman matron: and the courage and
understanding she displays are such as, if rightly used, if guided by
the spirit of virtue and religion, might have elevated her to the
dignity of a great historical heroine. None can rationally hope to bear
up by philosophy and strength of intellect alone, against the
consciousness of sin, if Lady Macbeth, in those rude times, could not.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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