Mojo, The Bard, & Me

Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there

Weep our sad bosoms empty.

-Malcolm

Macbeth                                        Act IV, scene iii, line 2

These are the opening lines of the scene. Malcolm and Macduff are in England where they are looking for English support to help get rid of Macbeth. Remember that Malcolm is the exiled son of Duncan, and that Duncan was the king of Scotland before Macbeth murdered him, made himself king, and then began a murderous and treacherous reign.

So Malcolm is starting the scene with a ‘Oh, woe are we!’ lament. Macduff tells him to buck up, and then the scene goes on from there.

 

What about this? Does this qualify as desolate shade? Clearly it's shade. And, well, is that even a tree? Or maybe the better question is what makes shade desolate? Personally, I think that shade looks at least a little bit desolate. What do you think?