Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXVII, No. 3, September 1850

GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE.
Vol. XXXVII. Sept, 1850. No. 3.
Table of Contents
Fiction, Literature and Articles
Poetry, Music and Fashion
GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE.
Vol. XXXVII. PHILADELPHIA, September, 1850. No. 3.
ANALYSIS OF MACBETH.
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BY HENRY C. MOORHEAD.
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The reader who has not considered the subject in Ulrici’s point of view, will, perhaps, scarcely be prepared, at first sight, to believe that the two plays of Macbeth and the Merchant of Venice, have the same “ground-idea;” that both are, throughout, imbued with the same sentiment, yet he will readily perceive the similarity of the leading incidents of these plays. Shylock insists on the literal terms of his bond, and “stands for judgment,” according to the strict law of Venice. He is entitled to a pound of flesh; “the law allows it, and the court awards it;” but his bond gives him no drop of blood, and neither more nor less than just a pound. Thus the letter of the law, on which he has so sternly insisted, serves in the end to defeat him. In like manner Macbeth relies with fatal confidence on the predictions of the weird sisters, that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth;” and that he “shall never vanquished be till Birnam wood do come to Dunsinane.” The predictions are more literally fulfilled than he anticipated, and that very strictness of interpretation makes them worthless.