{"id":641,"date":"2024-10-26T12:43:54","date_gmt":"2024-10-26T16:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/?p=641"},"modified":"2024-11-04T12:39:39","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T17:39:39","slug":"bumping-into-macbeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/general-interest\/bumping-into-macbeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Bumping Into Macbeth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We recently returned from a nine-day visit to Scotland and to my joy and excitement, we kept bumping into Macbeth! My fascination with the \u201cScottish Play\u201d began in the previous century when I provided the sound effects for an amateur traveling company which performed the play in the New York and New Jersey area. This was so long ago that today\u2019s common use of computer audio files was only just a gleam in some computer-nerd\u2019s eye and so for the sound of <\/a>thunder, I twisted a large thin sheet of metal. This particular effect was very important because, as you may remember, right after Macbeth kills King Duncan, Lennox reports to Macbeth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

\u201cThe night has been unruly: where we lay, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lamentings heard i’ the air; strange screams of death,<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And prophesying with accents terrible<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of dire combustion and confused events<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New hatch’d to the woeful time: the obscure bird<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clamour’d the livelong night: some say, the earth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was feverous and did shake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

It was my responsibility as soundman to make the earth sound \u201cfeverous and shaky\u201d so I twisted that metal sheet with fervor. I also provided \u201cstrange screams of death\u201d to the best of my ability. Macbeth then responds to Lennox with one of the greatest understatements of all time, \u201c\u2019Twas a rough night.\u201d That line always brought a smile to my face despite the horror of regicide just witnessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We traveled from Inverness to Edinburg by car stopping at only a few of the Macbeth referenced sites for the sake of time but passing so many more. It should be kept in mind that most of the castles referenced in the play had actually nothing to do with the historical King Macbeth who reigned from 1040 to 1057.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inverness and Glamis Castles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of the play, King Duncan is traveling to Inverness to visit Macbeth and his lady. There is, of course, a castle in Inverness, now closed to the public for renovation but clearly visible high above the city and I have included a picture of it below. Macbeth is also the Thane of Glamis and Glamis Castle can be visited but once again it has no relation to historical Macbeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Castle at Inverness on the Ness River. Duncan’s murder takes place here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Glamis Castle:
First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cawdor Castle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early in the play, the witches predict that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor. He rejects the possibility, \u201cI know I am thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman.\u201d Soon after, Macbeth is greeted by one of King Duncan\u2019s officers as the Thane of Cawdor. He is incredulous, \u201cThe thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrow’d robes?\u201d He soon finds out that that Cawdor has been executed as a traitor and he is being rewarded for his loyalty to King Duncan with the new title. There is a Cawdor Castle and had it not been shut down for maintenance we would have, no doubt, visited it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cawdor Castle:
Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!<\/em>
Macbeth: The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrow’d robes?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FIFE<\/strong> CASTLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most ghastly of murders in the play occur at the home of Macbeth\u2019s rival Macduff, a castle in Fife. Macbeth gives the ruthless order to wipe out Macduff\u2019s whole family line:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe castle of Macduff I will surprise;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was one place I would have loved to visit but unfortunately, according to Google, \u201cThere are 173 castles, towers and fortified houses in the county of Fife.\u201d So that was out of the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birnam Wood and High Dunsinane Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As armies are marshaled against Macbeth, he is secure in the knowledge that he cannot be defeated. For as the witches have told him:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMacbeth shall never vanquish’d be until<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shall come against him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The power of man, for none of woman born<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shall harm Macbeth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving down A9 from Inverness towards Perth you will come upon an exit sign to Birnham. Here you will find the last remaining tree of the Birnham forest which according to Shakespear were cut down to provide cover for the army which defeated Macbeth. True to the witches\u2019 predictions, Macbeth dies when not only does \u201cGreat Birnam to high Dunsinane hill come against him,\u201d but his sworn enemy, MacDuff, \u201dwas from his mother’s womb untimely ripp’d\u201d and therefore not of woman born!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Birnam Woods: Supposedly, the last remaining tree from Birnam Wood along the River Tay.
Third Witch: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dunsinane Hill:
Macbeth: I will not be afraid of death and bane,
Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

SCONE CASTLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MacDuff slays Macbeth, cuts off his head and presents it to the new king, Malcom. King Malcom then recites the final two lines of the play:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, thanks to all at once and to each one,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whom we invite to see us crown’d at Scone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scone castle is the historic crowning place of Scottish kings. Here was located the Stone of Scone which was used as part of the crowning ceremony until the 13th century. Also known as the Stone of Destiny, this is where the historical Macbeth was actually crowned! The stone remained at Scone until 1296 when the English defeated the Scots and, as they are wont to do, the English stole the stone and moved it to London where it was used for English royal coronations for the next 700 years except for a short period in 1950 when it was stolen by a group of Scottish Nationalist students. In 1996 the stone was moved back to Edinburgh Castle and stored along with the original Crown of Scotland. It now resides in the Perth Museum. The stone remains the property of the British Crown and it is still used for English coronations so in April of 2023 it was transported to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Charles II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scone Castle (with friends)
Malcolm: So, thanks to all at once and to each one, whom we invite to see us crown’d at Scone.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scone Castle: Through the gate of the original walls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scone Castle: Investment mound.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scone Castle: Chapel on the Investment mound<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scone Castle: Stone of Scone or Stone of Destiny.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scone Castle: Reproduction of the Stone of Destiny.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Plaques surround the Stone of Destiny with the date of Scottish king enthronements. Here is Macbeth’s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Edinburgh Castle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this castle has no connection to the Macbeth play nor the historical Macbeth, it is an astounding castle where, among other events, Mary Queen of Scots in 1566 gave birth to her son, James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To this day the Scottish Crown Jewels are displayed here consisting of a crown, scepter and a sword. They can be seen but no photographs are allowed. It is also in this castle that I found an interesting series of murals illustrating the reigning sequence of the early Kings of Scotland and a correction to Shakespear. In the play, King Duncan is murdered by Macbeth who becomes king until he is killed by MacDuff making Malcolm the king; Duncan, Macbeth and Malcom, so writes the Bard. In reality the actual order of succession was Malcolm, Duncan and then Macbeth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul Kreingold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leesburg, VA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Edinburgh Castle: Site of the Scottish Crown Jewels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Edinburgh Castle: View of Edinburgh from the battlements of the castle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Edinburgh Castle: Entrance to the Crown Jewels display. No pictures allowed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Edinburgh Castle: This mural identifies the actual sequence of Scottish Kings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We recently returned from a nine-day visit to Scotland and to my joy and excitement, we kept bumping into Macbeth! My fascination with the \u201cScottish Play\u201d began in the previous century when I provided the sound effects for an amateur traveling company which performed the play in the New York and New Jersey area. This […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-interest"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=641"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":661,"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641\/revisions\/661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potomacrocks.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}