Lady Macbeth: Chapter 22  Summary & Analysis

King Malcolm’s body is brought to Scone, where candlelight vigils are held. At Scone, Gruadh also witnesses Duncan’s crowning. Macbeth stands on the hill with Duncan as the ceremony begins, and Gruadh observes he “looked far more a king than plain, stocky Duncan.” Gruadh reports that the ceremony is a “crowning” not a “coronation,” because the kingship it is not bestowed by the church, but by “ancient, mystical rite.”

Crinan serves as Duncan’s crowner, which, because they are father and son, “smacked of conspiracy to some.” That day and night, although there are celebrations, Gruadh has an ominous feeling.   

Malcolm is buried at Iona. Macbeth goes with the escort, but Gruadh remains at Dunsinnan. Gruadh reflects on Lady Sybilla, who is “effectively queen,” although because she is Saxon can never be a fully Celtic queen. Gruadh wonders if she will also have the title of queen, acknowledging envy is a sin and coveting anyway.

Gruadh and Lady Sybilla spend a lot of time together while their husbands are away. The morning Gruadh is set to leave Dunsinnan, Lady Sybilla asks Gruadh to promise that if she dies, Gruadh will watch over her children, Donald Bán and Malcolm mac Duncan. Gruadh agrees.

Macbeth has returned from Iona and travels home with Gruadh. He hopes to be buried on Iona one day. Shortly into Lent, Gruadh miscarries a premature son. Macbeth is away when his wife miscarries, but rushes home. He tells her that her health is all that matters, but Gruadh is embarrassed she “kept such ill care of the little souls we invited between us.”

When Macbeth, Finn, and Ruari all ride out without telling Gruadh where they are going, she reflects on how, although she has a place on the war council, lately she has not been included. Stuck at home, bored, she decides to do more charitable works in the community. She feels her “arms [are] so empty,” and knows Macbeth needs his people’s loyalty. 

As she learns the names of her tenants and becomes known in her community, Gruadh begins to prepare herself for queenship. In exchange for her goodwill, people in Moray begin to send gifts back to her, which she sees as an indication that in the future they will provide loyalty and support if Macbeth ever makes a bid for the crown.

That summer, Finn and Ruari return with two thousand men. Macbeth returns with sixteen hundred. They are preparing for war, and make arrangements for the men to be housed, armored, and fed. Gruadh wonders if this is on Duncan’s behalf or for Macbeth’s personal army. Finn explains Macbeth is both recruiting an army for the king and one for himself at once.

Macbeth anticipates that Duncan will dispute the southern Saxon border, although King Malcolm had hashed it out years earlier with King Cnut. Gruadh complains to Macbeth that she wants to be on his war council, and to participate in “what may come.” Macbeth corrects her that she will participate in “what will come,” but that she must be patient. 

That fall, Gruadh becomes acutely sad that she is unable to carry a baby to term. She wonders if this is divine punishment for having ambitions and for wanting Macbeth to be king. Her husband comforts her, pointing out that they want the kingdom so that they will have something to give their children.

Still, Maeve tells Gruadh “old grief” is “poisoning” her body against pregnancy, and that by trying to be a warrior she is hurting her ability to be a mother. Gruadh disagrees. She believes “a queen tends to both” domestic duties and war games outside the home.

One day Macbeth returns home with a letter from Duncan—compensation for Bodhe’s death. He gives Gruadh crowning rights, which would make her bloodline second only to the king’s. They both understand this would “dilute” Gruadh’s claim to the throne but that refusing “would be rebellious.” She recognizes that, in theory, this is a great honor and, although angry, signs that she agrees to Duncan’s terms.