When Macbeth Appeals to Earth Not to Sense His Misdeeds

How many readers of The Tragedy of Macbeth are ever attracted by the question of when and why Macbeth appeals to Earth? The answer is hard to find many people. However, one of the greatest Shakespearean soliloquies in the play unveils this appeal of Macbeth. It shows how desperate the prime character of the play is to urge the Earth not to sense his misdeeds.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth contains several significant soliloquies, some of which appear most meaningful. One such powerful soliloquy is visible in Act II, Sc. I of the play, when Macbeth appeals to Earth to ignore or not perceive his heinous crime.

The lines containing the soliloquy are –

“Thou sure and firm-set Earth,/ Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear/Thy very stones …………../ Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.”

The said soliloquy takes place before Macbeth commits the murder of King Duncan. The tragic hero of the play becomes influenced by Lady Macbeth’s words that nothing is unfair in killing the King as he is only making efforts to pursue his aim. But his conscience somehow raises its voice and pricks his human sensibility. To tame his mind and to get rid of this situation, Macbeth prays to Earth to become deaf and blind.

As part of this initiative, the tragic hero chooses to evoke the fearful dark night atmosphere before killing the generous King. Next, he pleads to the firm Earth not to listen to his footsteps. Macbeth even begs Earth not to note or track the direction of these steps.

Macbeth is terrified that if Earth hears his footsteps, the very stones will betray or denounce his presence. It is his inescapable apprehension that if the stones or rocks utter, then the extreme silence of the night will no longer remain quiet. In a word, it will break the quietness of the evil dark atmosphere. And at the same time, it will decrease the horror of the current time.

The Shakespearean hero moves every step to ensure that the dark night atmosphere makes everything in the universe so dark that even sharp eyes can’t perceive his deeds. His appealing words unlock an uncanny feeling that enhances the indomitable urge of curiosity for all readers.

The tragic hero here unveils the necessity of horror and sinister silence to evoke an atmosphere of terror. He aims to integrate the two properly so that he can successfully fulfill his crime in acute secret. He knows that evil silence has the potential to unleash a sense of absolute terror and compels the universe to remain silent and keep a blind eye. In short, Macbeth doesn’t want the dark moment to lose track of the frightful or dreadful suspicion.

The soliloquy uncovers the truth that Macbeth realizes one thing very clearly: time is slipping rapidly. And the time when he is uttering the threat, King Duncan is still very much alive. In short, he doesn’t have much time left in his hand. Therefore, it is not a good choice anymore for him to waste time and energy on unnecessary talking. Also, lingering the time unnecessarily will diminish the gravity of the action and its impact. So, to maintain the magnitude of the situation, Macbeth appeals to Earth to ignore his presence and not to sense his heinous crime.

One of the matchless features of Shakespearean plays is that they remain accurate in producing, in time, events in the dramas. It doesn’t matter whether the play is a tragedy, comedy, or romance. William Shakespeare’s artistry is remarkably profound and exceptionally powerful in snatching the readers and the audiences’ attention while presenting timely effects in the drama.

The Tragedy of Macbeth is undeniably a great example of this feature. It shows the playwright is a master in accurately sensing and reading the curiosity lurking behind the thoughts of readers and audiences. His unmatchable insight in reading and realizing this curious nature helps him measure the exact moment to present the circumstances, like – Macbeth appeals to Earth to ignore his wrongdoings. Notably, this mastery reaches the zenith of attraction when Shakespeare’s words become acute and meaningful as the prime character’s verse in the play.

It is hard to deny that every word that Macbeth utters unlocks the impression of his nervousness. It shows how a man with a criminal mind is facing a situation of fear and confusion. One reason behind this anxiety could be Macbeth’s first-time preparation to murder a generous human who trusted him with all his belief and hope.

However, instead of fear and confusion, Macbeth is confident enough to build a solid frame of mind to commit murder. Moreover, the crucial part is he knows that he has chosen an uncertain or unpredictable moment. And a minor distraction could divert or discourage him from executing the action that should take place in the warmth of passion. Undoubtedly, it is an undeniable solid inner urge that makes him so desperate to carry out his goal. In addition, Macbeth appeals to Earth for smooth execution.