Lady Macbeth: Chapter 31 Summary & Analysis

Gruadh knows that although Macbeth reigned for seventeen years of relative peace and prosperity, he will not be remembered by history, as “contentment is a thing not often recorded in the annals.”

Gruadh reflects on how, given more time, Macbeth would have worked to blend Celtic traditions with the “the ways of the Church and even the Saxons.” Gruadh protested that giving up any Celtic traditions was threatening Scotland’s soul, but Macbeth argued that blending old traditions with new ones would allow Scotland to survive, grow, and thrive, integrating and trading with the outside world. 

Gruadh recalls that in 1054 Lulach married Thorfin’s daughter, Ingebjorg, uniting Moray and Orkney. That spring, Mother Enya died, and in her last meeting with Gruadh told the queen that she should “heed your dreams […] for they are your counselors.” Within a year Lulach and Ingebjorg had a young son, Nechtan. He had dark hair like Thorfin and Bodhe. Gruadh instantly loved him.

Gruadh remembers how one evening Malcolm mac Duncan’s men attacked the fortress at Kincardine where she and Macbeth were staying. Gruadh helped Ingebjorg with her new infant daughter so Ingebjorg could carry Nechtan. Macbeth urged Gruadh to leave whereas he would stay and “put an end to this.” 

Gruadh, her daughter-in-law, and her grandchildren escaped to Banchorrie. They waited all night and in the morning realized it was the seventeenth anniversary of the day Macbeth killed Duncan, which Malcolm mac Duncan had likely known and planned. Eventually, Macbeth arrived. He had been stabbed in between the ribs by Malcolm and was clearly dying. He refused to come inside, but insisted they took a boat south to Scone so they could crown Lulach as king. 

Macbeth explained to Gruadh that if he died before Lulach was made king, Gruadh and all her heirs would be in danger. He also warned Gruadh that Malcolm mac Duncan might force her to marry him, so, instead of staying at Banchorrie to potentially recover, Gruadh agreed to go with Macbeth and Lulach to Scone. They traveled on a boat lent by Thorfin.  

Gruadh remembers feeling dread decades ago when she saw three ravens sitting on a stone. She realizes now the site was Lanfinnan, where Macbeth and Malcolm mac Duncan battled and where Macbeth was fatally wounded.

Gruadh also acknowledges that she almost singlehandedly saved the lives of Malcolm mac Duncan and Donald Bán, both because of her promise to Sybilla and her instincts as a mother. She understands that she indirectly led to the death of her own husband, Macbeth. She believes she made the right choice, but with a steep price.  

Macbeth made sure Gruadh understood that he wants to die in Scone as “rightful king of Scots,” not up north “a wounded king with half a realm.” He insisted on being buried on Iona, like a true king, even if Malcolm mac Duncan protested. Macbeth lived just long enough to see Gruadh crown Lulach, and then died upon the hill where Gruadh once crowned him.