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All Site ContentMacbethAct 3Scene 4
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"mortal murders on their crowns"
Wordplay
Act 3,
Scene 4
Lines 79-87a

An explanation of wordplay in Act 3, Scene 4 of myShakespeare’s Macbeth.

Macbeth

Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time,
Ere human statute purged the gentle weal.
Ay, and since too, murders have been performed,
Too terrible for the ear. The times have been,
That, when the brains were out, the man would die —
And there an end. But now they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools. This is more strange
Than such a murder is.

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

Lords

[Re-enter ghost of Banquo]

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

[Ghost of Banquo vanishes]

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

Ross

Lady Macbeth

Lennox

Lady Macbeth

[Exit all but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth]

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

[Exit]

The wordplay offers a few possible interpretations:

  • The obvious meaning is that Banquo has risen from the dead, despite twenty mortal wounds (murders) on his head (crown), and taken Macbeth's seat (stool) at the banquet.
  • These lines could also be read as a description of these treasonous times, when someone would rise up in rebellion against the king and push him from his throne (stool) by committing murders which are on his head (where now sits the crown).