The Enigma Solved

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mind has played on him, he has in fact been warned away from falling into the very trap laid for him by his ambitions and by the Witches. Banquo warns Macbeth, after the latter has learned that he has been made the Thane of Cawdor, that the agents of the devil sometimes tell us small truths "to betrays/ In deepest consequence." But the unheeding Macbeth in the very next speech refers
to the predictions as "supernatural soliciting."
Now, Macbeth's conscience must contend not only with his powerful ambitions. Macbeth's conscience must also contend with Lady Macbeth, his wife, and Macbeth's love for his wife. Macbeth's love for his wife is so great that his ambitions strive as much for her as for himself. In his letter to her telling of his meeting with the Witches he calls her "my dearest partner of greatness" and he says that he wishes her not to be ignorant of what greatness "is promised thee." All of his thoughts, when he thinks of the pleasures and prestige of the kingship include ...

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for not killing Duncan is that pity should prevent Macbeth from harming the good man and gentle king that Duncan has been. For most Elizabethans these reasons would have implied a concern with religion and morality, the extent of which Macbeth does not consciously admit.
Yet Macbeth allows himself to be shamed into the crime by Lady Macbeth. But, while she has whipped him into committing the act, she has not succeeded in silencing his conscience or stopping his concern with eternal things. After the murder he is distressed that he has not been able to say "Amen" at the end of prayers he had heard two men reciting. And at the same time his conscience hurts so, that he thinks he hears ...

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