What does Macbeth mean when he says come what come may Time and the hour runs through the roughest day?

Passage 1: Act 1 Scene 3

MACBETH

[Aside] Two truths are told,

As happy prologues to the swelling act

Of the imperial theme.--I thank you, gentlemen.

[Aside] This supernatural soliciting

Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill,

Why hath it given me earnest of success,

Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor:

If good, why do I yield to that suggestion

Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair

And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,

Against the use of nature? Present fears

Are less than horrible imaginings:

My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,

Shakes so my single state of man that function

Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is

But what is not.

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Passage One from Act 1 Scene 3 takes place just after Macbeth has just been announced as Thane of Cawdor proving part of the Witches’ prophecy true “All hail Macbeth…Thane of Cawdor…/that shalt be king hereafter.” This part of the play is the first insight we have on Macbeth’s inner thoughts.

Macbeth’s firm and thoughtful tone in the opening alliteration “two truths are told” stresses how serious he takes the Witches’ predictions. Shakespeare presents this passage as a soliloquy in order to convey Macbeth’s true inner thoughts and motives. As this is Macbeth’s first soliloquy, it emphasises the strong possibility of Macbeth heading down a dark journey as he cannot forget the Witches’ predictions “(it) cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, / Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth?”

Shakespeare uses the metaphor of theatre for fate. The meta-theatrical reference, ‘as happy prologues to the swelling act’ makes the audience consider the action that will unfold in the following scenes through foreshadowing.

Macbeth feels that committing regicide will be a “supernatural soliciting”.The word “supernatural” demonstrates that Macbeth acknowledges that such an act is “against the use of nature.” It suggests that if Macbeth kills Duncan, he will forever be trapped in the supernatural world for his dishonourable action. The alliteration of “supernatural soliciting” sounds incredibly seductive, and therefore highlights Macbeth’s lust and thirst for the crown.

There is a physiological response to his unnerving thoughts as the ‘horrid image doth unfix my hair’ and ‘my seated heart knock at my ribs’, emphasising the horror of Macbeth has with himself at his thoughts.

The personification “my seated heart knock at my ribs” once again depicts the increasing fear that Macbeth experiences as his heart is not “seated” with its connotations of calmness and steadiness but “knock(ing)” which is associated with alarming fear.

As Macbeth struggles with his conscience and fears “my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/ Shakes so my single state of man,” he is uncertain whether or not he should take the prophecy into his own hands and murder Duncan or, let time decide his fate “time and the hour runs through the roughest day”. The consonance ’s’, Shakes so my single state of man”..‍

The alliteration “smothered in surmise” demonstrates how Macbeth’s vivid imagination causes him to struggle with fear and hesitate undergoing the action that is foreseen by him as a “horrid image.” These mental images are of significance throughout the play as it is evident that Macbeth’ conscience results in him “seeing” a dagger and also Banquo’s ghost.

The antithesis “and nothing is,/ But what is not” is deliberately broken up into two lines to demonstrate the ambiguity of Macbeth’s thoughts and the confusion which evidently contributes to his overall fear. Macbeth’s actions become overpowered by his imagination until ‘nothing is but what is not’ or imagination carries more weight than action. The partial alliteration of ‘smother’d in surmise’ and the antithesis of ‘nothing is but what is not’ makes this notion seem again, particularly seductive to the audience. The word ‘smother’d’, with it’s connotations of oppression, further amplifies the notion and even suggests that Macbeth’s imagination takes the place of his will.

MACBETH, aside Glamis and Thane of Cawdor! 125
The greatest is behind. To Ross and Angus. Thanksfor your pains.

Aside to Banquo. Do you not hope your children

shall be kings,

When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me 130

Promised no less to them?

BANQUO That, trusted home,Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange.

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, 135

The instruments of darkness tell us truths,Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’sIn deepest consequence.—

Cousins, a word, I pray you. They step aside.

MACBETH, aside Two truths are told 140As happy prologues to the swelling actOf the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.

Aside. This supernatural soliciting

Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,

Why hath it given me earnest of success 145

Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.If good, why do I yield to that suggestionWhose horrid image doth unfix my hairAnd make my seated heart knock at my ribs

Against the use of nature? Present fears 150

Are less than horrible imaginings.My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,Shakes so my single state of manThat function is smothered in surmise,

And nothing is but what is not. 155

Macbeth does some private ruminating. On the one hand, the sisters' first prophecy that Macbeth will be named Thane of Cawdor can't be evil, since it's true. On the other hand, the witch's prophecy could be evil, especially since it's got Macbeth thinking about something naughty. This is where we get the first inkling that Macbeth might be down for a little regicide (fancy word for killing a king). He says he's just had a really awful and disgusting thought about "murder" that's made him feel a little panicky.

Page 2


Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Flourish. Enter King Duncan, Lennox, Malcolm, Donalbain, and Attendants. DUNCANIs execution done on Cawdor? Are not Those in commission yet returned? MALCOLM My liege,They are not yet come back. But I have spoke With one that saw him die, who did report 5 That very frankly he confessed his treasons,Implored your Highness’ pardon, and set forthA deep repentance. Nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it. He died As one that had been studied in his death 10 To throw away the dearest thing he owed As ’twere a careless trifle.	Back to Duncan, who wants to know if the Thane of Cawdor is dead. Duncan's son, Malcolm, says he is, and he confessed to being a traitor right before he died.
DUNCAN There’s no artTo find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built 15 An absolute trust. Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus. O worthiest cousin,The sin of my ingratitude even nowWas heavy on me. Thou art so far before That swiftest wing of recompense is slow 20 To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,That the proportion both of thanks and paymentMight have been mine! Only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay.	Duncan muses that it's impossible to tell what's going on in someone's mind just by looking at their face. He trusted the Thane of Cawdor implicitly and had no idea he was capable of such treason. Ah well. When Macbeth and company enter, Duncan expresses his gratitude for their excellent fighting in the battle. He wishes he could pay them more—they certainly deserve a lot.
MACBETH The service and the loyalty I owe 25In doing it pays itself. Your Highness’ partIs to receive our duties, and our dutiesAre to your throne and state children and servants,Which do but what they should by doing everything Safe toward your love and honor. 30 DUNCAN Welcome hither.I have begun to plant thee and will laborTo make thee full of growing.—Noble Banquo,That hast no less deserved nor must be known No less to have done so, let me enfold thee 35 And hold thee to my heart. BANQUO There, if I grow, The harvest is your own.	As Duncan continues to express his gratitude, Macbeth and Banquo both pledge their loyalty; group hugs all around.
DUNCAN My plenteous joys, Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves 40In drops of sorrow.—Sons, kinsmen, thanes,And you whose places are the nearest, knowWe will establish our estate uponOur eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must 45 Not unaccompanied invest him only,But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shineOn all deservers.—From hence to Inverness And bind us further to you.	The King announces that his son Malcolm will be named Prince of Cumberland, which is the last stop before being King of Scotland. They'll all celebrate the good news at Macbeth's place.
MACBETH The rest is labor which is not used for you. 50I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyfulThe hearing of my wife with your approach. So humbly take my leave. DUNCAN My worthy Cawdor. MACBETH, aside The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step 55On which I must fall down or else o’erleap,For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;Let not light see my black and deep desires.The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. 60 He exits.	Aloud, Macbeth says that sounds great. He and his wife are happy to host. He'll just run ahead and let her know everyone is coming so they can prepare. Quietly, to himself (and the audience), he says that Malcolm is all that stands in the way of his kingship. He's thinking naughty thoughts again and hopes nobody can tell that he's got "black and deep desires."
DUNCANTrue, worthy Banquo. He is full so valiant,And in his commendations I am fed:It is a banquet to me.—Let’s after him,Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome. It is a peerless kinsman. 65 Flourish. They exit.	Duncan turns to Banquo and says, "Isn't he great?" about Macbeth. And then they all trot off to Macbeth's castle, Inverness.