Sentry Page Protection
MACBETH:
act 1
SETTING
A heath, a military camp, and Inverness Castle.
A heath, a military camp, and Inverness Castle.
SUMMARY
Act 1, scene 1: Three witches decide to meet Macbeth upon a heath when the battle is over.
Act 1, scene 2: King Duncan, along with his two sons - Malcolm and Donalbain, meet a wounded soldier who recounts Macbeth’s bravery in war. He says that Macbeth split a man, Macdonwald, in half. As soon as the Irish issue was resolved, however, the Norwegians attacked, but this did not scare Macbeth and Banquo, who fought twice as hard. The soldier is sent away to be tended to, and a frantic-looking Ross, a Scottish nobleman, enters and recounts what's happening in Fife, where the Norwegians had the upper hand until Macbeth took the victory from them, a victory that they initially had because the treacherous Thane of Cawdor had helped them. So now Sweno, the Norwegian king, wants a treaty, but Ross said that this request would not be considered until the Norwegians retreated to Saint Colme’s Inch and paid them ten thousand dollars. Based on this news, Duncan instructed Ross to announce that the Thane of Cawdor is to be executed and his title is to be given to Macbeth.
Act 1, scene 3: The witches meet and rejoice at Macbeth’s return. Meanwhile, Macbeth and Banquo approach them. Macbeth describes them as three figures that look like women, but their beards make their gender questionable. The three witches greet him as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future king. Banquo notes that Macbeth is speechless at these titles and enquires if they have anything to say about his future. The witches tell Banquo that he is lesser than Macbeth but also greater, not as happy as Macbeth, yet much happier, and that his descendants will be kings even though he will not be one. Macbeth tells the witches that he wants to know more because he understands being greeted as Thane of Glamis because he inherited that position from his father, Sinel, but the Thane of Cawdor is a powerful man who is still alive, and it is impossible for him to become king, but the witches vanish. Ross and Angus then greet them, with Ross explaining that messengers brought the news of Macbeth’s bravery to the king and that Macbeth's reward is that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is shocked, and Angus explains that the original Thane committed treason, so he lost the title. Macbeth ponders the fact that the witches had predicted his change of title, but Banquo warns him that agents of evil often tell half-truths to lead us to our destruction. Despite this warning, Macbeth is piqued at the idea of becoming king and both horrified and anticipatory at the thought of killing to obtain the throne. Banquo notes that Macbeth is in a daze and tells Angus that Macbeth is not used to his new position. Macbeth collected himself and apologized to Angus and Ross, suggesting that they all go to the king. In an aside, he requested that he and Banquo speak after they got time to consider the prophecies.
Act 1, scene 4: Duncan and Malcolm discuss the execution of the former Thane of Cawdor, with Malcolm highlighting that the former Thane had confessed his treasons and begged for the king’s forgiveness. Macbeth, Banquo, Ross and Angus then enter, and the king greets Macbeth with enthusiasm, explaining that he owes Macbeth more than he can ever repay. Macbeth responds by telling the king that the opportunity to serve him is its own reward and that by doing everything that he can to protect the king, he is doing what he should be doing. Duncan then explains that he is invested in ensuring that Macbeth succeeds in his career and offers Banquo the benefit of his goodwill. The king then declares that his eldest son, Malcolm, will be his successor and indicates to Macbeth that he will be visiting his home. Macbeth hurries off to give his wife the good news. In an aside, Macbeth states that to become king, he must step over the prince of Cumberland, Malcolm. He declares that he will not let his eyes look at what his hand is doing because he is going to do what he is horrified to see. Unaware of this, Duncan declares to Banquo that Macbeth is valiant and a man without an equal.
Act 1, scene 5: Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband, which states that the witches met him on the day of his victory in battle and they referred to him as Thane of Cawdor and future king. He wanted to share this knowledge with his ‘partner in greatness’, so that she could rejoice with him about the greatness that was promised to him. He asked her to keep it a secret. Her reaction was to first believe that her husband could be king, then pondered if he could do what it takes to seize the throne. She views him as ambitious but not mean enough to feed the ambition. She expressed that she wanted him to hurry home so that she could ensure that he pursued the throne. A servant told her that the king was on his way to her house, and she reveals her intention to ensure that he does not leave alive, going to such lengths as wishing that she would be stripped of her femininity in order to seamlessly take the throne from the king. Macbeth then enters, and Lady Macbeth greets him with his former and current title, claiming that he will be greater than both titles when he becomes king. Macbeth tells her that Duncan is coming, and she asks him when Duncan will leave. Macbeth responds that he leaves the following day. Lady Macbeth then confirms that Duncan will not leave. She advises her husband to look like an innocent flower by greeting Duncan with welcoming expressions and words, but in reality, he should be like a snake that hides underneath the flower. She tells him that she will take care of the preparations; he should project a peaceful disposition in order not to arouse suspicion.
Act 1, scene 7: Macbeth ponders the murder of Duncan. He says that he would gladly kill Duncan if it would all end neatly, but he believes that would not be a neat process because justice would be sought and the poison would come back to him because Duncan was beloved by the people. He also believes that he should be protecting the king because he is Duncan’s kinsman and subject, and Macbeth was his host. He also thought that Duncan was a good leader, free of corruption. He freely states that he cannot spur himself to action; his only motivation is ambition. Lady Macbeth then enters and reports that Duncan asked for Macbeth, who left the dinner early. Macbeth tells his wife that they can’t go through with the plan because the king has just honoured him and people respect him as a result; he just wants to enjoy these honours. Lady Macbeth reacts by asking Macbeth if he is afraid to go after what he wants. Macbeth asks her to stop, because he only wants to do what is proper for a man to do. Lady Macbeth reacts by stating that he is not a man and implies that she is more of a man than him because she would kill her own child if she had committed to doing this. Macbeth reiterates the fact that he is fearful that they will fail, but Lady Macbeth says that they will not fail if he is courageous. She lays out a plan to Macbeth: when Duncan is asleep, Lady Macbeth will get his two servants drunk, they will murder him, and frame the servants who will be too drunk to remember anything. After hearing the plan, Macbeth wished that his wife would only have male children because her fearless spirit can only produce masculinity. She recommended that she and Macbeth grieve loudly after the murder to throw suspicion off them and cement the servants as the culprits. Macbeth then committed to murdering Duncan and encouraged his wife to present a pleasant face to hide an evil heart.
Act 1, scene 1: Three witches decide to meet Macbeth upon a heath when the battle is over.
- How many witches are in scene 1?
- What decision did the witches make?
Act 1, scene 2: King Duncan, along with his two sons - Malcolm and Donalbain, meet a wounded soldier who recounts Macbeth’s bravery in war. He says that Macbeth split a man, Macdonwald, in half. As soon as the Irish issue was resolved, however, the Norwegians attacked, but this did not scare Macbeth and Banquo, who fought twice as hard. The soldier is sent away to be tended to, and a frantic-looking Ross, a Scottish nobleman, enters and recounts what's happening in Fife, where the Norwegians had the upper hand until Macbeth took the victory from them, a victory that they initially had because the treacherous Thane of Cawdor had helped them. So now Sweno, the Norwegian king, wants a treaty, but Ross said that this request would not be considered until the Norwegians retreated to Saint Colme’s Inch and paid them ten thousand dollars. Based on this news, Duncan instructed Ross to announce that the Thane of Cawdor is to be executed and his title is to be given to Macbeth.
- What are the names of Macbeth’s sons?
- What did Macbeth do to prove his bravery in the war?
- What title is Macbeth to receive?
- What did the previous owner do to have his title rescinded? What other punishment did this person receive?
Act 1, scene 3: The witches meet and rejoice at Macbeth’s return. Meanwhile, Macbeth and Banquo approach them. Macbeth describes them as three figures that look like women, but their beards make their gender questionable. The three witches greet him as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future king. Banquo notes that Macbeth is speechless at these titles and enquires if they have anything to say about his future. The witches tell Banquo that he is lesser than Macbeth but also greater, not as happy as Macbeth, yet much happier, and that his descendants will be kings even though he will not be one. Macbeth tells the witches that he wants to know more because he understands being greeted as Thane of Glamis because he inherited that position from his father, Sinel, but the Thane of Cawdor is a powerful man who is still alive, and it is impossible for him to become king, but the witches vanish. Ross and Angus then greet them, with Ross explaining that messengers brought the news of Macbeth’s bravery to the king and that Macbeth's reward is that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is shocked, and Angus explains that the original Thane committed treason, so he lost the title. Macbeth ponders the fact that the witches had predicted his change of title, but Banquo warns him that agents of evil often tell half-truths to lead us to our destruction. Despite this warning, Macbeth is piqued at the idea of becoming king and both horrified and anticipatory at the thought of killing to obtain the throne. Banquo notes that Macbeth is in a daze and tells Angus that Macbeth is not used to his new position. Macbeth collected himself and apologized to Angus and Ross, suggesting that they all go to the king. In an aside, he requested that he and Banquo speak after they got time to consider the prophecies.
- List the titles that the witches greeted Macbeth with?
- What was the witches’ prophecy for Banquo?
- How did Macbeth respond to the witches’ prophecy about him?
- What was Banquo’s warning to Macbeth?
Act 1, scene 4: Duncan and Malcolm discuss the execution of the former Thane of Cawdor, with Malcolm highlighting that the former Thane had confessed his treasons and begged for the king’s forgiveness. Macbeth, Banquo, Ross and Angus then enter, and the king greets Macbeth with enthusiasm, explaining that he owes Macbeth more than he can ever repay. Macbeth responds by telling the king that the opportunity to serve him is its own reward and that by doing everything that he can to protect the king, he is doing what he should be doing. Duncan then explains that he is invested in ensuring that Macbeth succeeds in his career and offers Banquo the benefit of his goodwill. The king then declares that his eldest son, Malcolm, will be his successor and indicates to Macbeth that he will be visiting his home. Macbeth hurries off to give his wife the good news. In an aside, Macbeth states that to become king, he must step over the prince of Cumberland, Malcolm. He declares that he will not let his eyes look at what his hand is doing because he is going to do what he is horrified to see. Unaware of this, Duncan declares to Banquo that Macbeth is valiant and a man without an equal.
- Who does the king name as his successor?
- How does Macbeth respond to this news?
- How was Banquo rewarded?
- Explain the dramatic irony in this scene.
Act 1, scene 5: Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband, which states that the witches met him on the day of his victory in battle and they referred to him as Thane of Cawdor and future king. He wanted to share this knowledge with his ‘partner in greatness’, so that she could rejoice with him about the greatness that was promised to him. He asked her to keep it a secret. Her reaction was to first believe that her husband could be king, then pondered if he could do what it takes to seize the throne. She views him as ambitious but not mean enough to feed the ambition. She expressed that she wanted him to hurry home so that she could ensure that he pursued the throne. A servant told her that the king was on his way to her house, and she reveals her intention to ensure that he does not leave alive, going to such lengths as wishing that she would be stripped of her femininity in order to seamlessly take the throne from the king. Macbeth then enters, and Lady Macbeth greets him with his former and current title, claiming that he will be greater than both titles when he becomes king. Macbeth tells her that Duncan is coming, and she asks him when Duncan will leave. Macbeth responds that he leaves the following day. Lady Macbeth then confirms that Duncan will not leave. She advises her husband to look like an innocent flower by greeting Duncan with welcoming expressions and words, but in reality, he should be like a snake that hides underneath the flower. She tells him that she will take care of the preparations; he should project a peaceful disposition in order not to arouse suspicion.
- Summarize Macbeth’s letter to Lady Macbeth.
- How does Lady Macbeth respond to the content of the letter?
- What is Lady Macbeth’s opinion of Macbeth?
- What advice does Lady Macbeth give her husband?
- Highlight one character trait of Lady Macbeth and provide one example
- Who greeted Duncan?
- How does Duncan feel about Macbeth’s character?
Act 1, scene 7: Macbeth ponders the murder of Duncan. He says that he would gladly kill Duncan if it would all end neatly, but he believes that would not be a neat process because justice would be sought and the poison would come back to him because Duncan was beloved by the people. He also believes that he should be protecting the king because he is Duncan’s kinsman and subject, and Macbeth was his host. He also thought that Duncan was a good leader, free of corruption. He freely states that he cannot spur himself to action; his only motivation is ambition. Lady Macbeth then enters and reports that Duncan asked for Macbeth, who left the dinner early. Macbeth tells his wife that they can’t go through with the plan because the king has just honoured him and people respect him as a result; he just wants to enjoy these honours. Lady Macbeth reacts by asking Macbeth if he is afraid to go after what he wants. Macbeth asks her to stop, because he only wants to do what is proper for a man to do. Lady Macbeth reacts by stating that he is not a man and implies that she is more of a man than him because she would kill her own child if she had committed to doing this. Macbeth reiterates the fact that he is fearful that they will fail, but Lady Macbeth says that they will not fail if he is courageous. She lays out a plan to Macbeth: when Duncan is asleep, Lady Macbeth will get his two servants drunk, they will murder him, and frame the servants who will be too drunk to remember anything. After hearing the plan, Macbeth wished that his wife would only have male children because her fearless spirit can only produce masculinity. She recommended that she and Macbeth grieve loudly after the murder to throw suspicion off them and cement the servants as the culprits. Macbeth then committed to murdering Duncan and encouraged his wife to present a pleasant face to hide an evil heart.
- Why was Macbeth weary about killing Duncan?
- How did Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill Duncan?
- Outline Lady Macbeth’s plan to kill Duncan.
- Quote the line that proves that he committed to the act of murdering Duncan.
- What advice did Macbeth give Lady Macbeth at the end of this scene? Quote the line.
CHARACTERIZATION
Macbeth
Macbeth is an inherently violent man, which is seen when he cuts Macdonwald in half. We can argue that it is wartime, which requires these vicious acts, but Macbeth is particularly adept at these violent acts because he is hailed as a hero above all other soldiers, which means that he excels at being violent. The context of the times, war, will have these violent acts being hailed as heroic and brave, but beneath it, it must be acknowledged that it is embedded in violence: “For brave Macbeth … Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, Like valor’s minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave … Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chaps, and fixed his head upon our battlements.” (Act 1, scene 1, lines 16-23, p. 4). So, Macbeth’s sword is smoking from the deaths that it has executed, and he literally cut a man in half on the battlefield. In wartime, a man like this will be hailed as brave and heroic, but it takes an inherently violent nature to excel at murder.
The reader’s first peak of Macbeth’s ambitious nature is when he admits that he is considering killing the king to get the throne: “If good, why do I yield to the suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature?” (Act 1, scene 3, lines 136-139, p.20). Macbeth is wondering if he is such a good man; why is he considering murdering Duncan? This question highlights his ambition because that is his answer. Macbeth is intrigued by the prospect of becoming king, especially since the prophecy about obtaining the title of Thane of Cawdor was realized.
Macbeth’s ambition, again, rears its head when the king named Malcolm as his successor. This is a threat to Macbeth because that means that his path to Duncan’s title is blocked. Macbeth’s decision to do whatever it takes to get this title is seen in his declaration that he must overstep Malcolm or give up: “That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap. For in my way it lies … Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (Act 1, scene 4, lines 51-55, p.28). The reality of the situation is very clear to him; Duncan and Malcolm are threats to his ambition to become king of Scotland.
Lastly, Macbeth literally admits that he is motivated by ambition only because he really does not voluntarily wish to kill Duncan. He actually admires and respects him, but he stands in the way of the throne: “This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels …. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 15-19, 25-28, p. 40). So Macbeth’s vaulting ambition is what leads him to kill Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is extremely ambitious. She literally seizes on the idea of Macbeth becoming king and wishes for the strength to do anything to achieve the goal of making Macbeth king: “unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top full Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood. Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose …. Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 43-49, p.32). So this woman wishes that everything that makes her soft and feminine be eradicated, so that she can become as cruel as possible in her attempts to get the throne of Scotland for her husband. This is the definition of ambition. She is willing to change her character as a means to achieve the throne.
Lady Macbeth’s ambition is supported by her strategic/ conniving nature. This is revealed in the advice that she gives her husband: “Bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 66-68, p.34). In essence, she is advising her husband to look above reproach so that no suspicion falls on him when the treacherous act of murdering Duncan is done. So her strategic/ conniving nature supports her ambitious nature.
Finally, Lady Macbeth is manipulative because she plays on her husband’s insecurities and fears to get him to agree to the plan of killing Duncan. She does this by attacking his masculinity, through her implication that she was more of a man than he was: “I have given suck, and know How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 54-59, p.44).
Banquo
Banquo is a wise man, as seen in the advice/ warning that he gives Macbeth: “And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray ‘s In deepest consequence” (Act 1, scene 3, lines 125-128, p.20). So Banquo observed the witches and concluded that they were not trustworthy. He, unlike Macbeth, was able to look beyond the prophecies and see what was at hand. It must be noted that Banquo got some good news: his life would be on par with Macbeth’s and his descendants would be kings, yet he was able to look beyond that and focus on who was delivering the news. This takes a wise mind and a distinct lack of greed. Macbeth, on the other hand, could not get beyond the prophecy because his ambition is fueled by greed. A less greedy man could have been satisfied with being the new Thane of Cawdor.
Duncan
Despite being a flat character, the king is presented as a good man. He rewards Macbeth and Banquo for their bravery, appears to have a good relationship with his sons, and is transparent. We see this when he openly declares his heir. Duncan is just a good man and is also trusting, by extension. Even Macbeth confirms that he respects Duncan and the Scottish people love him: “This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels … Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the wind.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 16-18, 23-25, p.40). Therefore, Duncan is such a good person that even an ultra-ambitious man such as Macbeth respects him and does not want to murder him, and the Scottish people love him because he is above reproach.
Macbeth is an inherently violent man, which is seen when he cuts Macdonwald in half. We can argue that it is wartime, which requires these vicious acts, but Macbeth is particularly adept at these violent acts because he is hailed as a hero above all other soldiers, which means that he excels at being violent. The context of the times, war, will have these violent acts being hailed as heroic and brave, but beneath it, it must be acknowledged that it is embedded in violence: “For brave Macbeth … Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, Like valor’s minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave … Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chaps, and fixed his head upon our battlements.” (Act 1, scene 1, lines 16-23, p. 4). So, Macbeth’s sword is smoking from the deaths that it has executed, and he literally cut a man in half on the battlefield. In wartime, a man like this will be hailed as brave and heroic, but it takes an inherently violent nature to excel at murder.
The reader’s first peak of Macbeth’s ambitious nature is when he admits that he is considering killing the king to get the throne: “If good, why do I yield to the suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature?” (Act 1, scene 3, lines 136-139, p.20). Macbeth is wondering if he is such a good man; why is he considering murdering Duncan? This question highlights his ambition because that is his answer. Macbeth is intrigued by the prospect of becoming king, especially since the prophecy about obtaining the title of Thane of Cawdor was realized.
Macbeth’s ambition, again, rears its head when the king named Malcolm as his successor. This is a threat to Macbeth because that means that his path to Duncan’s title is blocked. Macbeth’s decision to do whatever it takes to get this title is seen in his declaration that he must overstep Malcolm or give up: “That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap. For in my way it lies … Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (Act 1, scene 4, lines 51-55, p.28). The reality of the situation is very clear to him; Duncan and Malcolm are threats to his ambition to become king of Scotland.
Lastly, Macbeth literally admits that he is motivated by ambition only because he really does not voluntarily wish to kill Duncan. He actually admires and respects him, but he stands in the way of the throne: “This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels …. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 15-19, 25-28, p. 40). So Macbeth’s vaulting ambition is what leads him to kill Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is extremely ambitious. She literally seizes on the idea of Macbeth becoming king and wishes for the strength to do anything to achieve the goal of making Macbeth king: “unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top full Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood. Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose …. Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 43-49, p.32). So this woman wishes that everything that makes her soft and feminine be eradicated, so that she can become as cruel as possible in her attempts to get the throne of Scotland for her husband. This is the definition of ambition. She is willing to change her character as a means to achieve the throne.
Lady Macbeth’s ambition is supported by her strategic/ conniving nature. This is revealed in the advice that she gives her husband: “Bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 66-68, p.34). In essence, she is advising her husband to look above reproach so that no suspicion falls on him when the treacherous act of murdering Duncan is done. So her strategic/ conniving nature supports her ambitious nature.
Finally, Lady Macbeth is manipulative because she plays on her husband’s insecurities and fears to get him to agree to the plan of killing Duncan. She does this by attacking his masculinity, through her implication that she was more of a man than he was: “I have given suck, and know How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 54-59, p.44).
Banquo
Banquo is a wise man, as seen in the advice/ warning that he gives Macbeth: “And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray ‘s In deepest consequence” (Act 1, scene 3, lines 125-128, p.20). So Banquo observed the witches and concluded that they were not trustworthy. He, unlike Macbeth, was able to look beyond the prophecies and see what was at hand. It must be noted that Banquo got some good news: his life would be on par with Macbeth’s and his descendants would be kings, yet he was able to look beyond that and focus on who was delivering the news. This takes a wise mind and a distinct lack of greed. Macbeth, on the other hand, could not get beyond the prophecy because his ambition is fueled by greed. A less greedy man could have been satisfied with being the new Thane of Cawdor.
Duncan
Despite being a flat character, the king is presented as a good man. He rewards Macbeth and Banquo for their bravery, appears to have a good relationship with his sons, and is transparent. We see this when he openly declares his heir. Duncan is just a good man and is also trusting, by extension. Even Macbeth confirms that he respects Duncan and the Scottish people love him: “This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels … Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, that tears shall drown the wind.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 16-18, 23-25, p.40). Therefore, Duncan is such a good person that even an ultra-ambitious man such as Macbeth respects him and does not want to murder him, and the Scottish people love him because he is above reproach.
TECHNIQUE
Dramatic Irony: This is seen when the audience is made aware, through an aside, of Macbeth’s musings on the fact that he has to get rid of Malcolm because he stands in the way of the witches’ prophecy, which declares that Macbeth will be king: .“The prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap. For in my way it lies” (Act 1, scene 4, lines 51-53). Duncan is unaware of Macbeth’s inner musings and plans, so, based on Macbeth’s heroic actions, he deems him to be valiant and representing the best of men.
Foreshadowing: Macbeth’s skill in war highlights a violent nature. This capacity for violence acts as a foreshadowing of the many violent acts that are to come in the play.
Irony: Duncan has so much faith, trust, and admiration in a man who was actively plotting to overthrow him.
Juxtaposition: King Duncan and Macbeth are juxtaposed, and must be declared to be foils. Duncan is open and transparent, while Macbeth is not what he appears to be. On the outside, he looks like a hero, but on the inside he is a man driven by the prospect of becoming king, while Duncan is the same good and decent person, inside and out.
Foreshadowing: Macbeth’s skill in war highlights a violent nature. This capacity for violence acts as a foreshadowing of the many violent acts that are to come in the play.
Irony: Duncan has so much faith, trust, and admiration in a man who was actively plotting to overthrow him.
Juxtaposition: King Duncan and Macbeth are juxtaposed, and must be declared to be foils. Duncan is open and transparent, while Macbeth is not what he appears to be. On the outside, he looks like a hero, but on the inside he is a man driven by the prospect of becoming king, while Duncan is the same good and decent person, inside and out.
CONFLICT
The major conflict in this act is man versus himself. This can be seen when Macbeth has a brief conflict with himself about whether or not he should kill Duncan in order to get his throne: “This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels …. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 15-19, 25-28). Man versus man is also seen in this act, through the existence of the war between Scotland and Ireland, then Scotland and Norway. The reality of this conflict is seen in the praise that Macbeth received for vanquishing so many of the enemy and literally cutting a man in half on the battlefield: “For brave Macbeth … Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valor’s minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave … Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chaps, and fixed his head upon our battlements.” (Act 1, scene 1, lines 16-23).
The major conflict in this act is man versus himself. This can be seen when Macbeth has a brief conflict with himself about whether or not he should kill Duncan in order to get his throne: “This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels …. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 15-19, 25-28). Man versus man is also seen in this act, through the existence of the war between Scotland and Ireland, then Scotland and Norway. The reality of this conflict is seen in the praise that Macbeth received for vanquishing so many of the enemy and literally cutting a man in half on the battlefield: “For brave Macbeth … Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valor’s minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave … Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chaps, and fixed his head upon our battlements.” (Act 1, scene 1, lines 16-23).
THEME
The major theme in Act 1 is power. This is the case because every decision that was made found its genesis in this capacity or ability to direct, influence, or accomplish something - power. Macbeth, in this act, learns that he is destined to obtain the most powerful position, the king, and we see him weighing whether or not he should take control of his destiny by killing Duncan or leaving things alone. The pursuit of power wins when he decides, in scene 7, to control his destiny by eradicating the block that Duncan represented: “I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 79-80). Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, did not struggle with the idea of murdering Duncan to obtain the power that the Scottish throne represented. The very second that she received the letter from Macbeth, with the news of the possibility of him becoming king, she was intent on making this possibility a reality: “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised … Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valor of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 14-15, 24-27).
Lady Macbeth pursued power intentionally. She assessed her husband and found him lacking, “Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 15-17), then took matters into her own hands by manipulating him into making her preferred decision. She even went as far as emasculating him by implying that she, a woman, was a better man than him: “I have given suck, and know How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 54-59).
Another theme in this act is appearance versus reality. This is when Lady Macbeth advises her husband to look like an innocent flower by greeting Duncan with welcoming expressions and words, but in reality, he should be like a snake that hides underneath the flower, “Look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 70-71, p.34). This is appearance versus reality because Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to project a particular image that he is not. He means to harm King Duncan, but he must act as if he means Duncan no harm. Macbeth does the same thing when he also encourages Lady Macbeth to welcome their guests, despite their harmful intentions, “Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 81-82, p.46). Lady Macbeth should hide her true and treacherous intentions with a ‘false face’.
Lady Macbeth pursued power intentionally. She assessed her husband and found him lacking, “Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 15-17), then took matters into her own hands by manipulating him into making her preferred decision. She even went as far as emasculating him by implying that she, a woman, was a better man than him: “I have given suck, and know How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 54-59).
Another theme in this act is appearance versus reality. This is when Lady Macbeth advises her husband to look like an innocent flower by greeting Duncan with welcoming expressions and words, but in reality, he should be like a snake that hides underneath the flower, “Look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 70-71, p.34). This is appearance versus reality because Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to project a particular image that he is not. He means to harm King Duncan, but he must act as if he means Duncan no harm. Macbeth does the same thing when he also encourages Lady Macbeth to welcome their guests, despite their harmful intentions, “Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 81-82, p.46). Lady Macbeth should hide her true and treacherous intentions with a ‘false face’.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth. 2003 Spark Publishing, Canada.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/macbeth-powerpoint-80354614/80354614?nway-content_model=A
https://literarydevices.com/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563773/full
No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth. 2003 Spark Publishing, Canada.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/macbeth-powerpoint-80354614/80354614?nway-content_model=A
https://literarydevices.com/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563773/full
