Act 1 scene 7

• A soliloquy is a piece in a play where a character speaks as if to him or herself, with others present on stage or nearby, but they are supposed to be unable to hear what's being said.
• In this scene, Macbeth puts forward an incredibly logical and convincing argument as to why he shouldn't kill his king.
• Macbeth considers the fate of a murderer and admits that once you've killed one person, it's often a slippery slope.
• Macbeth's opening line of this soliloquy, "If it were done when it is done, then it's done quickly", is a significant line that is worth analyzing.
• Macbeth is saying that if the murder has to be done, it should be done fast to get it over and done with, showing no bloodlust.
• The next line suggests that Macbeth is worried about what comes after the murder, admitting that these deeds often cause knock-on effects and he's worried the murder of Duncan will create a chain of events out of his control.
• Macbeth's argument against the murder is so compelling in this scene, he says he shouldn't kill Duncan because he is his king, his relative, and a guest in his home.
• Macbeth argues that he has no spur to murder his king, except his ambition.
• Lady Macbeth enters the scene just as Macbeth has made a clear and logical argument against the murder.
• One of the key questions in the play is whether or not Lady Macbeth is to blame for the events which take place.
• Macbeth, the warrior and leader in battle, is verbally battered and destroyed by his wife.
• Lady Macbeth attacks Macbeth using several techniques: she calls him inconsistent and changes his mind often, she uses his love for her against him, she says he's no better than someone who's drunk all the time, and she challenges his manhood.
• Macbeth has no answer to these attacks and the entire play hinges on four little words he utters: "If we should fail, we are still loyal to King Duncan."
• Macbeth has already given in to his wife and is looking for her to take the reins to tell him what the plan is so he can follow her rather than decide anything for himself.
• Macbeth is completely under Lady Macbeth's spell and his fate is in her hands.
• The final words in the scene echo the theme of deception established in earlier scenes.
• Macbeth admits that Duncan has been a great king and is loved and respected by all, saying that killing him would cause a terrible reaction from the people of Scotland.
• Macbeth even goes so far as to say that he has no good reason to kill Duncan, no spur except his ambition.
• A spur is a metallic or sharp object used to hit or kick a horse.