Macbeth’s True Story: First Thoughts (Introduction) here:https://descriptionsonfiction.org/2026/03/09/macbeths-true-story/
Comparison to Other Works
When Macbeth, or Macbethad, accuses Gille Coemgáin of murdering his father, my immediate thought was Hamlet seeking revenge for his uncle/stepfather for murdering his father. There are more complications with Gille’s marriage, as it is not a direct link to royal blood. The Queen of Macbeth is a direct descendant of the crown. It’s the same story of marrying for political reasons or to gain wealth.
Comparison of William Shakespeare’s Script
In William Shakespeare’s original script, a picture is painted of Lady Macbeth as the only character to blame, since she urges her husband to murder his rivals. Shakespeare’s view, is that she is the brains behind the bloodshed. Val McDermid paints the picture of a woman with no other social choice, but there is a condition: she must keep the three women who have been by her side since childhood. Gille clearly doesn’t like his wife being with these three women, but he doesn’t like the situation either. There is a moment when Gruoch (Queen) does commit an act of bloodshed on the sper of the moment. Self defence?
McDermid gives readers what I believe to be a valuable life lesson as the quote describes below.
“We want the good, we have to live with the bad,” (PAGE 28).