Seyton... again
Alright I know what you all are thinking. "Phil didnt you already get your point across about the whole Seyton thing". Yes, but I am here to reiterate my point with some additional evidence that really adds to Shakespeare's cleverness.
In Act V Scene 3 Seyton, an aide to Macbeth, is summoned when the King says, "Seyton!- I am sick at heart" (19). I wonder if this is the first admit of defeat by Macbeth or the first time he sees himself as something less than dominant. It is also the beginning of the end once he is called (within four scenes he will be slain). Seyton acts like a butler, a mentor and even a fortune teller? In class we discussed the possibility that Seyton may not have exited the stage in Scene V which certainly is a possibility, but it is even more creepy that he knew Lady had died by almost instinct. I think another idea that is shocking is the possibility that Seyton was there the entire time. There is no conclusive evidence that Seyton arrived or left at a specific time, instead he may have been there the entire time. Assuming the castle is hell, there is a really spooky possibility that Seyton was there at all times in the shadows.
In Act V Scene 3 Seyton, an aide to Macbeth, is summoned when the King says, "Seyton!- I am sick at heart" (19). I wonder if this is the first admit of defeat by Macbeth or the first time he sees himself as something less than dominant. It is also the beginning of the end once he is called (within four scenes he will be slain). Seyton acts like a butler, a mentor and even a fortune teller? In class we discussed the possibility that Seyton may not have exited the stage in Scene V which certainly is a possibility, but it is even more creepy that he knew Lady had died by almost instinct. I think another idea that is shocking is the possibility that Seyton was there the entire time. There is no conclusive evidence that Seyton arrived or left at a specific time, instead he may have been there the entire time. Assuming the castle is hell, there is a really spooky possibility that Seyton was there at all times in the shadows.
I do not know about the psychic premonition of Lady Macbeth's death, especially since in my version there's an exit stage cue, but I like this idea that Seyton was here the entire time. Although he is never mentioned before Act V, who would serve such a despicable ruler except those who were there with him from the start? It give this ominous feel that Macbeth had control over Satan himself.
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