All Hail Thee!!

As part of our grand finale in Scotland, we, along with our friends, are touring the Macbeth castles.  Now, Macbeth never lived in any of these nor did these titles even exist in the historic Macbeth's time, but Shakespeare played fast and loose with reality to create Macbeth.  And, we enjoyed visiting the places that come up in the play. Disclaimer:  this post is about Macbeth connections to the castles; another post will be about the castles as tourist destinations.

First stop:  Scone Palace, The Crowning Place of Scottish Kings

Here is where Macbeth is crowned after killing Duncan to get the throne

MACDUFF:  He is already named, and gone to Scone
To be invested.  (II, iv)

And where Malcolm is crowned after Macduff kills Macbeth in battle

MALCOLM:  So, thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.  (V, viii)

An imposing palace where the Queen was having lunch the day after we toured it (still following us around).

Second stop:  Glamis Castle

Macbeth, at the start of the play, is thane of Glamis, but he and his wife have their eyes on more!

FIRST WITCH:  All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! (I, iii)

Now, the tour guide at Glamis showed us Duncan's chamber, a room where Macbeth killed King Duncan; however, in the play, even though Macbeth was thane of Glamis, he lived at Inverness Castle. At least according to Shakespeare, who has Duncan invite himself to visit Macbeth after the victory over Norway.

DUNCAN:   From hence to Inverness,

And bind us further to you.  (I, iv)

Third stop:  Cawdor Castle

When the witches promise Macbeth greater honors, the first is Thane of Cawdor.  Macbeth does not know that Duncan has already pledged to award him this title for his valour in the war against Norway, so when he finds out he wonders if the witches are also telling him the truth about becoming king.

SECOND WITCH:  All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!  (I, iii)

And this prophecy is the beginning of the end for Macbeth as it awakens his greed and ambition and sets Lady Macbeth down the path of evil and destruction hand and hand with Macbeth.


LADY MACBETH:  Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
What thou art promised  (I, v)

Extra Stop:  Forres

Macbeth and Duncan encounter the witches on their way to Forres, where they are to meet King Duncan.  We drove through the town of Forres after a very long ride through some beautiful mountains (the pace was slow then add in some carsick kids and the scenery started to pale), so these lines seemed very fitting.

BANQUO:  How far is't call'd to Forres?

It was great fun to seek out these Macbeth connections!  Next, I'll give you the run down of how these castles compared!!  Off to celebrate Cormac's 14th birthday and my and Liam's wedding anniversary.