Macbeth (Gargoyles)
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Macbeth is a fictional character from the Disney animated television series Gargoyles, voiced by John Rhys-Davies. Macbeth is one of several characters in the show based on characters from plays by William Shakespeare (in this case he is based on the eponymous protagonist from Macbeth), though in fact his back-story is closer to the historical story of Macbeth of Scotland.
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[edit] Description
Macbeth was introduced as a villain in the first season of the show, in the episode Enter Macbeth, and it was soon made clear that he knows much about the fictional gargoyle species at the centre of the series and that he is somehow connected to one of the show's other main antagonists, Demona. However, his full backstory, and his connection to Shakespeare or to the historical king of Scotland was not made clear until part way through the second season, in the "City of Stone" four-part episode.
He was depicted as an elderly Scottish man, wealthy (though not to the same extent as David Xanatos), and having an interest in literature (notably the King Arthur stories). He used several pseudonyms during the series, most prominently going by the name of Lennox Macduff. He was also immortal, having survived through to the 20th century due to a spell cast by the Weird Sisters (in fact, three children of Oberon), that linked him eternally to Demona.
Though he bore no particular malice towards the Manhattan Clan, he was a deadly rival to Demona. To that end, he once attempted to kidnap the clan in hopes to draw out Demona, not knowing that they were her enemies as well. As the series progressed and his tragic history became clear, Macbeth himself became a more sympathetic character. In a late episode of the series, called The Journey, Macbeth (as Lennox Macduff) appeared on television in order to defend the Gargoyles to the public once they had been revealed. Fan fiction stories often go further and have Macbeth as a full ally of the clan.
Aside from the first 2 issues, Macbeth is said to appear in a later issue of Gargoyles.
[edit] Character Biography
Macbeth was reportedly born in 1005 to Finláech, High Steward of Moray. His earliest chronological appearance in the series occurs in 1020. He and his father resided in Castle Moray when they were attacked by a masked assassin known to them only as "the Hunter". Finláech was killed but Macbeth was saved by the intervention of another sworn enemy of the Hunter: Demona.
Demona was leader at the time to remnants of Gargoyle clans from across the British Isles who were hunted mercilessly by the assassin. The Weird Sisters had visited and informed her of the location of her enemy. Demona arrived at the castle just in time to save young Macbeth and his cousin Gruoch. The "Hunter" escaped while she was thus distracted.
The episode revealed the Hunter to be an identity used by Gillecomgain in the employ of young Prince Duncan. Duncan had ordered the assassination in the process of removing other likely heirs to the throne of Scotland to secure his own succession. He promised Gillecomgain to secure the Stewardship of Moray for him.
His next chronological appearance finds an adult Macbeth in 1032. Macbeth was by now in love with Gruoch but her father Bodhe had decided to instead marry her to Gillecomgain. He was outraged but could do little to prevent this marriage. Meanwhile Prince Duncan had become the designated heir to the throne and was father to newborn Prince Canmore.
Duncan had realised that Macbeth was growing restless and ordered Gillecomgain to assassinate him. Gillecomgain however refused. If Macbeth shared the fate of his father, people would start questioning the two mysterious deaths and his possible involvement in them. He was not about to risk the Stewardship of Moray for his former employer and current ally.
A vengeful Duncan changed his plans. He approached Macbeth with information that the Hunter and Gillecomgain are the same person. He thus secured a confrontation between the two men and hoped that both would die. Macbeth and Demona confronted Gillecomgain at the same time. The battle resulted in Macbeth killing his rival and saving the life of Demona. Demona declared that he had repaid his debt and fled away. Macbeth inherited the Stewardship of Moray and married Gruoch. Meanwhile Duncan put on the mask of the "Hunter" and assumed the identity for himself.
[edit] Steward of Moray
The series leaves the following eight years unrecorded. Meanwhile Lulach was born to Gruoch while Duncan succeeded to the throne in 1034. The next events depicted occur in 1040.
Duncan, Macbeth, Canmore and Lulach were out hiking when they encountered the sleeping stone forms of several gargoyles during the day. Duncan suggested taking advantage and destroying them but Macbeth pled for their fate and that his King and cousin spare them. The four then encountered the Weird Sisters who hailed both men as a "King and father of the King hereafter". Macbeth assured Duncan that he neither knew the women nor what they meant.
On the other hand Duncan was convinced that Macbeth conspired against him and that the gargoyles were part of his plot. Duncan soon returned at the gargoyle lair with his guards. All but four were destroyed before the night came and they returned to life. Meanwhile Macbeth feared for his safety and that of his family. He met the grieving Demona on a bog and pled for her help. But his former ally was now very old and infirm.
The two protagonists of the drama were facing an impossible situation and at that point a deus ex machina was introduced in the form of the Weird Sisters. The Weird Sisters offered the two a pact bonding them to each other in exchange for a chance at survival and revenge against their common enemy. The two of them were desperate enough to agree without much questioning. Macbeth aged within moments to a still firm but seemingly middle-aged whilst Demona was restored to her youth. Both could feel the pain of each other and were made effectively immortal, neither able to truly die unless killed by the hand of the other, which would end them both.
A reinforced Macbeth led his forces against Duncan and killed his cousin in battle. Elevating himself to the throne with Gruoch as his Queen consort and Demona as his chief advisor, giving her the name "Demona" because her fighting made him think of a demon, Macbeth felt secure enough to allow young Canmore to live. But exiled the boy to the Kingdom of England with his meager possessions. Among them, however, was the mask of the "Hunter". Canmore swore to avenge his father as the third man to assume the identity.
[edit] King of Scotland
Macbeth reigned in the Kingdom of Scotland for seventeen years that were not depicted in the series. But the "Hunter" returned to his life in 1057. Canmore invaded Scotland with the aid of English forces. His initial attacks were held off by the allied human and gargoyle armies of Macbeth and Demona.
However his father-in-law Bodhe was convinced that the English cared little for who held the throne of Scotland but were more interested in "purifying" Great Britain from the last gargoyles known to survive in it. Bodhe suggested that if Macbeth removed the gargoyles himself, the English would abandon Canmore to his fate and return to England. Macbeth doubted it, but when his son expressed outrage at the idea, MacBeth told him that a good king must consider all his options before making his decision. This conversation was unfortunately overheard by Demona who concluded that Macbeth had already decided to betray her.
Demona abandoned Macbeth and allied herself to Canmore. As all of Macbeth's plans for the defense of his castle were centered around the aid of the gargoyles, his forces proved unable to beat Canmore's armies back. Macbeth managed to escape the burning castle with Gruoch, but was found and confronted by both Canmore and Demona. While Demona accused Macbeth of betraying her and her people, Canmore took the opportunity to stab Macbeth from behind. Immediately both Macbeth and Demona fell to the ground, apparently dead. Canmore concluded that the rumours of Macbeth's magical link to the gargoyle was true and that when one of them died, both died. He had already secretly killed the remaining gargoyles serving under Demona, and with Macbeth dead and the forces of Lulach, Macbeth's son approaching, Canmore left the two for dead and departed the battlefield.
The body of Macbeth was approached by Lulach who took the crown and placed it on his own head. He then left the scene to prepare the coming battle against Canmore. Gruoch then arrived to grieve over her dead husband and King. But at that moment Demona and then Macbeth rose again. Canmore had failed to understand the mechanics of the spell binding them together. When one of them lived, both lived, and thus they would live eternally bound forever until one perished at the hands of the other.
Macbeth wanted to return to battle and defend Scotland. But Gruoch convinced him that even his loyal forces would fear a man who returned from death. He had to vanish from Scotland and allow Lulach to continue the battle for him. Macbeth reluctantly agreed and left Scotland and Gruoch.
[edit] Present Day
His activities until 1994 are not known. Though, he had amassed a huge fortune to the point where he was able to build a castle in New York and a Chateau in France, hire goons to do his bidding, and amass a large arsenal of technology and advanced weaponry, such as his signature lighting gun. He is hinted to have had several encounters with Demona over the course of the nine centuries but the circumstances are not known. At the same time the Weird Sisters used them as part of a wider scheme by the villainous Archmage of Castle Wyvern to take over Avalon, the mystical island. When the Archmage's plans were foiled, Macbeth and Demona were sent to Paris with no memory of being controlled by the Weird Sisters or their activities on Avalon.
In Paris, they would both nearly fall victim to plotting by Thailog. Using Demona as a willing "partner", he had Demona, in her human form, romance Macbeth, eventually convincing him to marry her. According to the plan as told to Demona, she and Thailog would then reveal their true colors, imprison Macbeth, and take his fortune. Unfortunately, Thailog's true plan called for Demona and Macbeth to kill each other, thus leaving both their fortunes in Thailog's talons. Fortunately for them, however, the plot was foiled by the timely appearance of Goliath, Elisa, and Angela, who had been sent to Paris by Avalon.
Macbeth would eventually make his way back to Manhattan, where he would enact a ritual to bring a powerful magic to him. However, the result of the spell was the unexpected appearance of the legendary King Arthur and the gargoyle Griff. Upon discovering that Arthur was trying to find the legendary sword Excalibur, Macbeth took it upon himself to challenge the king for the right to wield the sword. In the rivalry, the immortal Macbeth claimed the sword, but it was revealed to be a decoy. When King Arthur found the true Excalibur, Macbeth conceded that he was truly more worthy of it than himself. The pair reconciled and although Macbeth declined Arthur's offer to be one of his knights, he offered his assistance if the King ever needed him.
[edit] 2198
In the unmade spinoff, Gargoyles 2198, Macbeth upon the start of the series would have the status of a hermit. According to Weismen, he would be active again in 2199. No further detail though.
TV series (Episodes) • Comic book • Characters • Gargoyle clans • Locations • Items • Quotes
Characters & Groups
Goliath • Elisa Maza • David Xanatos • Demona
Archmage • Owen Burnett • Coldstone • Hakon • The Hunters • Macbeth • Mutates • Oberon's Children • The Pack • Anton Sevarius • Steel Clan • Thailog
Cast & Crew
Greg Weisman • Frank Paur • Michael Reaves • Cary Bates • Voice actors
