Arrival in a Strange Land

Roscille, a beautiful and enigmatic young woman from Breizh, is sent by her calculating father, Duke Wrybeard, to marry Macbeth, Thane of Glammis, in eleventh-century Scotland. Her journey is marked by shifting identities—her name and status changing with each border crossed. Disguised as a handmaiden, she arrives in a bleak, superstitious land, her beauty both a blessing and a curse. Roscille's value is not in her wit or skills, but in her otherworldly appearance, rumored to drive men mad. She is a pawn in her father's political games, traded for alliances, and must quickly adapt to the cold, dangerous world of Glammis, where her new husband's motives are as murky as the Scottish mists.

The Veiled Bride's Bargain

Roscille's wedding to Macbeth is a spectacle of ritual and power. She is veiled to protect others from her "witch-kissed" gaze, and the ceremony is both alien and threatening. Macbeth, a formidable and ambitious lord, is captivated by her beauty but wary of her rumored powers. Roscille, determined to survive, invokes an old custom: before consummation, she may ask three requests of her husband. Her first is a gold necklace with a ruby, a demand that sets Macbeth on a path of conquest. Roscille's intelligence is masked by feigned innocence, and she quickly learns to navigate the treacherous dynamics of her new home, where every gesture is a test of loyalty and cunning.

Blood and Prophecy

Macbeth's power is sustained by a dark secret: three chained witches, les Lavandières, who prophesy his rise. Roscille witnesses their auguries—Macbeth will become Thane of Cawder, then King. The witches' presence is both a source of dread and fascination for Roscille, who senses a kinship with their outcast status. Meanwhile, her own survival depends on manipulating the men around her, forging alliances with Banquho and Fléance, and orchestrating political intrigue. The castle is a place of secrets, where violence and prophecy shape every decision, and Roscille's role as both pawn and player becomes increasingly perilous.

The King's Death

Roscille is forced into complicity in Macbeth's plot to murder King Duncane. Using her rumored powers, she ensorcells the king's guards and orchestrates the regicide, ensuring Macbeth's ascension. The act is both horrifying and transformative—Roscille's hands are stained with blood, and her identity as Lady Macbeth is forged in violence. The aftermath is chaos: suspicion, cruentation rituals, and the unraveling of old loyalties. Roscille's guilt and trauma are compounded by the knowledge that her actions have unleashed a tide of bloodshed, and she must now navigate a court where every ally could become an enemy.

The Monster's Secret

Lisander, Duncane's elder son and rightful heir, is revealed to be cursed—by night, he transforms into a dragon, the result of an ancient witch's vengeance on his bloodline. Roscille, herself marked by rumors of witchcraft, finds a kindred spirit in Lisander. Their connection deepens into forbidden love, even as war looms and Macbeth's paranoia grows. Lisander's secret is both a source of power and vulnerability, and Roscille must decide whether to betray him or defy her husband. The revelation of Lisander's monstrous nature reframes the struggle for the throne as a battle not just of men, but of the supernatural and the marginalized.

The Queen's Chains

Roscille's position becomes increasingly precarious. Banquho and Fléance, once her allies, turn against her, subjecting her to brutal punishment for her defiance. She is whipped and humiliated, her body marked by the violence of men desperate to reassert control. Senga, a new handmaiden, becomes her only confidante. Roscille's suffering is both personal and symbolic—a testament to the ways women are bound by the expectations and cruelties of patriarchal power. Yet even in chains, she plots her revenge, drawing strength from the witches and her own indomitable will.

The Witch's Council

In the depths of the castle, Roscille seeks counsel from the chained witches. She learns that she is not the first Lady Macbeth—each witch was once a wife, discarded and imprisoned by Macbeth or his ancestors. The witches offer her a choice: to remain a victim or to claim their collective power. Roscille chooses the latter, embracing her identity as Lady Macbeth and inheriting the strength and vision of those who came before her. This act of solidarity transforms her from pawn to player, and she emerges from the darkness ready to challenge the order that has oppressed her.

The Dragon Unleashed

As war engulfs Glammis, Lisander's curse becomes both a weapon and a symbol. Transformed into a dragon, he slaughters Macbeth's enemies and saves Roscille from Fléance's vengeance. Their love, forged in secrecy and danger, is consummated in a moment of mutual recognition and acceptance of their monstrous natures. Roscille's embrace of Lisander's true form is an act of defiance against the world that would destroy them both. Together, they represent a new kind of power—one that is born of difference, pain, and the refusal to be defined by others' fears.

The Siege of Glammis

Æthelstan's English army, led by Evander, besieges Glammis. Macbeth's rule is crumbling—his men are discontent, his right hand Banquho is dead, and the prophecies that once assured his victory now seem hollow. Roscille, blindfolded and silenced, is forced to watch as the world burns around her. Yet she is not powerless; she orchestrates Senga's escape and prepares for the final confrontation. The siege is both literal and metaphorical—a test of endurance, cunning, and the limits of violence as a means of control.

The Fall of Banquho

Banquho, Macbeth's most trusted ally, is destroyed by the very prophecies that once bound them. Accused of treachery, he is subjected to a brutal trepanation, his mind and body broken in a public spectacle of power. Fléance, his son, is imprisoned and humiliated. Roscille's vengeance is complete, but it brings her little satisfaction—violence begets only more violence, and the cycle of betrayal continues. The fall of Banquho marks the end of the old order and the beginning of a new, more uncertain era.

The Lady's Vengeance

Roscille, stripped of her titles and dignity, is cast into the witches' darkness by Macbeth, accused of adultery and witchcraft. In the depths, she communes with the spirits of the former Lady Macbeths, drawing on their collective rage and wisdom. She sheds her symbols of subjugation—the cloak, the necklace, the veil—and emerges transformed. With the strength of four women, she breaks free, determined to end Macbeth's reign and claim her own destiny.

The Prophecy Fulfilled

As the battle rages, the prophecies are fulfilled in unexpected ways. The "wood" comes to the hill as Lisander, in dragon form, emerges from the forest, covered in moss and branches, to slay Fléance. No "man of woman born" can kill Macbeth—but Roscille, neither man nor ordinary woman, confronts him in the castle's depths. Their final confrontation is a battle of wills and gazes, as Roscille's stare, once feared and reviled, becomes the instrument of Macbeth's destruction. The cycle of violence is broken not by brute force, but by the reclamation of power denied to women for generations.

The End of Macbeth

Macbeth, undone by his own ambition and the very prophecies he sought to control, is killed by Roscille. His death is both a personal and political victory—a repudiation of the violence, misogyny, and superstition that sustained his rule. The witches' chains are broken, and the castle is freed from its curse. Roscille's triumph is not just over a man, but over a system that sought to erase her and those like her.

The Queen Unveiled

With Macbeth dead, Lisander is crowned king, his monstrous nature now a symbol of resilience and difference rather than shame. Roscille, unveiled and unafraid, claims her place as queen—not as a pawn or a victim, but as a woman who has survived, fought, and remade the world in her own image. The witches, now free, bless her reign. The new order is one of justice, solidarity, and the recognition of power in all its forms.

The New Order

The story ends with the promise of a new era. Roscille and Lisander, united by love and shared suffering, rule over a Scotland transformed by their defiance. The lessons of the past—of violence, betrayal, and the silencing of women—are not forgotten, but serve as a warning and a guide. The witches, once chained, now dream in freedom. The cycle of pain is broken, and the future is open to those who dare to claim it.

Characters

Roscille (Lady Macbeth)

Roscille is the heart of the novel—a woman whose beauty is both her weapon and her curse. Traded by her father for political gain, she is forced to navigate a world that seeks to control, silence, and destroy her. Her intelligence is masked by feigned innocence, but beneath the surface she is a strategist, a survivor, and ultimately a revolutionary. Roscille's journey is one of self-discovery and reclamation: from pawn to player, from victim to avenger, from veiled bride to unveiled queen. Her relationships—with Macbeth, Lisander, Banquho, Fléance, Senga, and the witches—are complex, marked by shifting power dynamics, betrayal, and unexpected solidarity. Psychologically, she is shaped by trauma, guilt, and a fierce desire for agency. Her development is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of women in a world designed to break them.

Macbeth

Macbeth is both a product and a perpetrator of violence. His rise to power is fueled by prophecy, witchcraft, and ruthless ambition. He is captivated by Roscille's beauty but ultimately seeks to control and destroy her. Macbeth's reliance on the witches' prophecies is both his strength and his undoing—he becomes increasingly paranoid, isolated, and tyrannical. His relationships are transactional, marked by suspicion and betrayal. Psychologically, Macbeth is driven by insecurity, a need for validation, and a terror of losing control. His downfall is both tragic and inevitable, a warning against the dangers of unchecked power and the dehumanization of others.

Lisander (Prince of Cumberland)

Lisander is the rightful heir to the Scottish throne, but his life is blighted by a witch's curse that transforms him into a dragon. His monstrous nature is both a source of shame and a hidden strength. Lisander's relationship with Roscille is central to the novel—a love that transcends fear, difference, and the violence of the world around them. He is introspective, gentle, and burdened by the expectations of others. Psychologically, Lisander grapples with self-loathing, isolation, and the longing for acceptance. His development is a journey from self-denial to self-acceptance, and his eventual ascension to the throne is a victory for all those who have been marginalized and misunderstood.

Banquho

Banquho is Macbeth's right hand, a warrior whose loyalty is ultimately repaid with suspicion and violence. He is both a father and a soldier, torn between duty and love for his son, Fléance. Banquho's downfall is a result of the very system he helped uphold—a world where loyalty is always suspect and power is maintained through brutality. Psychologically, he is driven by pride, fear, and a desperate need for validation. His death is both a personal tragedy and a symbol of the collapse of the old order.

Fléance

Fléance is Banquho's son, eager to prove himself in a world that values violence and cunning. His relationship with Roscille is fraught with resentment, desire, and betrayal. Fléance's actions are driven by a need to escape his father's shadow and claim his own place in the world. Psychologically, he is marked by insecurity, jealousy, and a willingness to harm others to achieve his goals. His eventual death at the hands of the dragon is both a punishment and a release.

Senga

Senga is Roscille's handmaiden and confidante, a woman marked by her own suffering and survival. She represents the everyday resilience of women who endure violence, loss, and marginalization. Senga's relationship with Roscille is one of mutual support and solidarity—a rare and precious bond in a world of betrayal. Psychologically, she is shaped by hardship, but her strength lies in her capacity for care, wisdom, and quiet defiance.

The Witches (Les Lavandières / Gruoch and others)

The witches are both literal and symbolic—women who were once Lady Macbeths, now imprisoned and forced to serve the ambitions of men. They represent the collective rage, wisdom, and power of women silenced by history. Their prophecies drive the plot, but their true significance lies in their solidarity with Roscille and their role in her transformation. Psychologically, they are marked by trauma, bitterness, and a longing for justice. Their eventual liberation is a triumph for all those who have been chained by patriarchy.

Duke Wrybeard (Alan Varvek)

Roscille's father is the architect of her fate—a man who values cunning above all else and sees his daughter as a tool for political gain. His influence shapes Roscille's understanding of power, loyalty, and survival. Psychologically, he is emotionally distant, manipulative, and incapable of genuine affection. His legacy is both a burden and a source of strength for Roscille.

King Duncane

Duncane is the old king, whose death sets the plot in motion. He is a figure of authority, tradition, and religious piety, but also of weakness and decline. His treatise on witchcraft and his obsession with purity are both a reflection of his own fears and a catalyst for the violence that follows. Psychologically, he is haunted by guilt, illness, and the knowledge that his line is cursed.

Evander

Evander is Duncane's younger son, a warrior who leads the English army against Macbeth. He is marked by loyalty to his father and brother, but also by a tragic inability to escape the cycle of violence. Psychologically, he is driven by grief, rage, and a longing for justice.

Plot Devices

Prophecy and Foreshadowing

The novel is structured around the witches' prophecies, which both drive the action and subvert expectations. Each prophecy is a double-edged sword—seemingly promising power, but ultimately leading to destruction. The use of prophecy allows for dramatic irony, as characters misinterpret or attempt to outmaneuver their fates. Foreshadowing is woven throughout, with repeated motifs of blood, chains, and transformation signaling the coming upheaval. The narrative structure mirrors a tragic arc, with rising tension, a catastrophic climax, and a hard-won resolution.

Symbolism and Motif

Key symbols include the veil (female subjugation and hidden power), the necklace and cloak (trophies of conquest and identity), and the dragon (monstrosity, difference, and hidden strength). The recurring motif of chains and imprisonment reflects the constraints placed on women and the marginalized. The transformation of Lisander into a dragon and Roscille's embrace of her witch identity are central metaphors for the reclamation of agency and the subversion of patriarchal norms.

Psychological Realism and Unreliable Narration

The novel delves deeply into the psychological states of its characters, particularly Roscille, whose perceptions are shaped by trauma, desire, and fear. The use of unreliable narration—what is real, what is rumor, what is magic—creates a sense of instability and ambiguity. The boundaries between victim and perpetrator, human and monster, are constantly blurred, forcing readers to question the nature of power and agency.

Feminist Reinterpretation

By centering the experiences of Roscille and the witches, the novel reimagines the Lady Macbeth myth as a story of female survival, solidarity, and resistance. The narrative structure allows for multiple perspectives, with the voices of the silenced and marginalized breaking through the dominant male

Last updated: May 10, 2025