Act 1, Scene 4
1.First obstacle:
(aside) “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step On 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.”
“The prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies”: Macbeth reacts to the news that Malcolm, the Prince of Cumberland, has been named heir to the throne. He sees this as a significant obstacle in his path to becoming king. He acknowledges that he must either accept this obstacle (fall down) or find a way to overcome it (o’erleap).
“Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires”: Macbeth metaphorically calls upon the stars to hide their light, symbolising divine forces, as he harbours dark and immoral desires. This line reveals Macbeth’s awareness of the wickedness of his ambitions and his desire to conceal them from divine scrutiny or judgment.
The personification, “The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see”: Macbeth expresses a desire for his actions to be concealed from sight, even if his own eyes see them. He hopes that his hands will carry out the deeds he wishes to accomplish, but he wishes to shield his conscience from witnessing the full horror of his actions. This reflects Macbeth’s moral conflict and his attempt to reconcile his ambition with his conscience.
Overall, this quote illustrates Macbeth’s internal struggle and his increasing willingness to resort to immoral means to achieve his ambitions. It showcases his awareness of the obstacles in his path, his acknowledgment of the darkness within himself, and his attempts to navigate the moral dilemmas he faces.
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