The Diaries and Exchanges of Macbeth and his Lady - by Matt Dimaria
Dear, Lady Macbeth August 12, 1040
The beating sun sets upon the horizon. The battle has ended and much blood has been spilt. Bodies lie strewn about the field; friends and foes alike lie tangled and mangled as evening approaches. A lancer makes his rounds across the battlefield silencing the wounded forever. Despite the bloodshed and violence, our troops have achieved victory. The Thane of Cawdor was captured and executed during battle. My great prominence and success in battle elevated me to be promoted the new Thane of Cawdor. The most peculiar thing occurred only minutes before this promotion. On my ride I encountered a group of three disfigured witches who told me a most amazing prophecy. They addressed me my newly bestowed title the Thane of Cawdor. Furthermore they had the audacity to name me a future king! Could you imagine? Macbeth, king of Scotland!
Dear Macbeth, August 16, 1040
Macbeth, this news that you have told me fills me with the upmost ambition! This is our time to rise up as rulers of this land. You must think of your future, if these witches’ prophesies are true then you will be a king! A true man would do anything to secure his future as ruler. However, I fear you are overflowing with the milk of human kindness which must be soured to gall. A man is strong, courageous, and ever willing to do what must be done. I am a woman but I have the will and mind of a man. We must plot the murder of our beloved king Duncan, for he stands between ourselves and the crown.
Macbeth- A word to myself August 20, 1040
My lady is twisting the very nature of my mind. She is filling it with the vile poison of treason. Her plan to kill Duncan is cruel and I do not dare to take part in it. Nonetheless, if Duncan was slain I would certainly be made king! But wait, Duncan is my king and my guest, I should be the one to protect him against murderers not kill him myself! In the past judgment has reigned down and plagued those who have plotted and killed for no just reason. The consequences of my actions could be terrible. On the other hand if I were to get away with it, the reward would be great. If this murder was conducted it must be quick and quite, as to arise no suspicion.
Dear Macbeth, August 23, 1040
We must kill him, Macbeth, for he is in your way. If you were truly a man you would realize that his murder is the only way you can be king. You are like a cat Macbeth; you want the fish in the river but are too afraid of getting your feet wet. You told me you would do this, I would rather bash the brains out of my child than break my word. I am ruthless and want this crown more than anything. Duncan must die!
Macbeth- A word to myself August 26, 2010
She questions my manhood! How dare my wife question the very nature of my gender? I am a man, a strong and ambitious man. What does she know for she is only a woman? This murder would be a man’s work and thus I have made my decision….
Dear Macbeth, August 27, 2010
Macbeth, you disappoint me. You did what I asked of you and killed the sleeping Duncan but not according to plan. You brought the daggers outside the room and stood there like a frightened child ranting on about how you could not say Amen. I was the one that had to return them and smear the blame of blood on the servants because you did not have the courage, NO! the manhood to do it. I fear you truly are filled to the brim with the milk of human kindness to rule over Scotland. Man up and start doing what is necessary or we will be found guilty of treason and be hung.
Dear Lady Macbeth, August 28, 1040
My lady what have we done? I slew Duncan but this blood! It is more blood than I have ever seen in my life. Duncan looked like a sleeping baby; he could cause me no harm. There was a voice that cried out in the night saying god bless us and then another relaying the words amen. But for the very life of me I could not say Amen! I needed a blessing and the very words that I wanted to cry out into the night were stuck in my throat.
Dear Lady Macbeth, September 15, 1040
Banquo frightened me for he was a threat to my rule. I had him murdered out of fear and manipulation of the commoners. I was able to convince three murderers that Banquo was the cause of their misfortune and it almost worked perfectly until they told me that Fleance escaped. “Though shalt get kings, though thou be none.” This is what the witches told Banquo. His sons will be kings though he shall never be one. Since Fleance has escaped he is still a threat to me. This ghost I see torments my mind. The ghost of Banquo would frighten even the devil himself. It is better to be dead and lie at peace then be alive and tortured by the very thing that I killed. I am in an unfit state of mind. I need a solace so I am going to journey to the witches that I first encountered and see if they have some comforting words for me.
Dear Macbeth September 17, 1040
Macbeth you are succumbing to the paranoia that is tormenting your mind. You must not believe that everyone is out to get you. We must still be cautious, but the best way to overcome our guilt is to forget about Duncan’s death. Tonight was an utter disaster; your face was as pale as the moon when you looked at that empty chair. There was no ghost for it was only a figment of your imagination, an imagination that is causing you much suffering lately. Our friends are beginning to fear us and seek nothing more than our abdication of the throne. We must proceed with caution with these next few weeks, do not act rashly and ensure that you think before you act.
Macbeth- A note to myself September 20, 1040
The witches filled me with the upmost confidence. I became aware of Macduff as a new threat and thus I will silence him and his family. I have ordered the murder of Macduff family as a sign of my unquestionable power as king. No one will go against me for I have put the people in a state of fear. The witches put me in a sense of security where I know no one can hurt me. They told me that until Birnam wood travels to Dunsinane Hill no one can hurt Macbeth. They also told me that anyone woman born cannot kill me.
Lady Macbeth- A note to myself September 25, 1040
My mind is slowly digressing into utter madness. This guilt has all but consumed me. I sleepwalk through halls of my castle attempting to furiously scrub my hands to rid myself of King Duncan’s blood. The sight of his bloody corpse has filled my head and will not leave. It is not Macbeth that shall sleep no more but rather I! Murder truly is a man’s job for I no longer have the will to endure such violence. I was unsexed once but for a short time. The milk in my breasts’ was soured for only a brief period. I was once strong because it was I that convinced Macbeth to do such a deed as to kill Duncan. It was by my will power that the deed was done. But alas, the man is in peace and I in agony! How much death must I endure? Banquo was slaughtered and the Macduff’s as well! What did they do to deserve such a treacherous end? It was Macduff that my husband should fear not his wife and children. I fear these entries are nothing more than a rant from a mad woman whose destiny has already been determined….
Lady Macbeth- A note to myself September 30, 1040
It must be done; I shall never be able to live my life with these agonizing hallucinations and this unbearable guilt. I cannot bear the sight of blood again, just as I cannot bear to think of what I’ve done. Macbeth, what have we done? We have unleashed a reign of tyranny and oppression. Innocent lives are taken, and your fruitless crown will be diminished. Troops that were once friends now draw swords against us. All of this chaos is because of the murder of Duncan. I can no longer take it. This ends now…..
Macbeth- A note to myself October 1, 1040
My wife is dead, and yet I do not miss her. Life is but a walking shadow constantly moving on. I find it funny, I finally became the man that Lady Macbeth wanted me to be and for what? I no longer care and I have been a cruel tyrant oppressing my people. Yet I still have hope! The prophecies that the witches told me will protect me!
Macbeth- A note to myself October 5, 1040
It is over the witches were cunning and deceitful. I took solace in a false prophecy and held a false sense of security. I must die now as I am no match for Macduff who is not of woman born.
