But the death takes place offstage, which is presumably because Shakespeare wants the head brought back on. It’s not an easy thing to achieve, but in an ideal production it’s important. Macbeth has lived entirely through his head, or has tried to. It’s that head that’s been exploding, full of all these dreadful images and certainties and worries. And all he is at the end is the head. ‘Look at that, look at that! That’s where it all happened, that’s what the play has been about.’
