Act I Scene I/II
The audience is first introduced to Macbeth in Act I Scene I. He is straight away linked with the witches as they state that they are going to meet with him on the heath. While this is only a brief mention and he is not described in any way, this will still be the reference to him that stays in our minds the longest as it is the first we hear of him.
“There to meet with Macbeth.”
Our second impression of Macbeth is more positive than the first. He is very brave and loyal to his king, traits which are to be expected from the finest warriors.
“O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!”
“For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name”
Macbeth is a blood-thirsty warrior. Upon meeting with the rebel Macdonwald, he has nothing to say to him. The rebel is given no chance for redemption, no chance to fight back and no last words. Macbeth simply sticks his sword in him and slices him open from stomach to jaw. This is no ordinary murder, it is a vicious, unnecessarily gruesome death, to make a point to the other rebels: not to mess with the king. To strengthen the message further, Macbeth cuts off the rebel’s head and puts it on the battlements - an effective yet slightly over the top statement.
“Till he faced the slave;
Which ne’er shook hands, nor bode farewell to him;
Till he unseamed him from nave to th’chops,
And fixed his head upon our battlements.”
Macbeth is a great captain. He had only just defeated the rebel Macdonwald when the Norwegians, assisted by another rebel, took advantage of Scotland’s supposed weakened state and decided to make yet another attack on the country. However, this did not sway the brave warrior Macbeth. He led his troops into battle once more and, once again, they were victorious. It seems that the rebels’ attacks do not bother or tire Macbeth and his troops in any way, as they just made them more determined. Macbeth’s army fought with such violence and vigour that it seemed as though they were trying to fill the battlefield with blood to bathe in.
“Dismayed not this
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?”
“Yes -
As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.”
“There to meet with Macbeth.”
Our second impression of Macbeth is more positive than the first. He is very brave and loyal to his king, traits which are to be expected from the finest warriors.
“O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!”
“For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name”
Macbeth is a blood-thirsty warrior. Upon meeting with the rebel Macdonwald, he has nothing to say to him. The rebel is given no chance for redemption, no chance to fight back and no last words. Macbeth simply sticks his sword in him and slices him open from stomach to jaw. This is no ordinary murder, it is a vicious, unnecessarily gruesome death, to make a point to the other rebels: not to mess with the king. To strengthen the message further, Macbeth cuts off the rebel’s head and puts it on the battlements - an effective yet slightly over the top statement.
“Till he faced the slave;
Which ne’er shook hands, nor bode farewell to him;
Till he unseamed him from nave to th’chops,
And fixed his head upon our battlements.”
Macbeth is a great captain. He had only just defeated the rebel Macdonwald when the Norwegians, assisted by another rebel, took advantage of Scotland’s supposed weakened state and decided to make yet another attack on the country. However, this did not sway the brave warrior Macbeth. He led his troops into battle once more and, once again, they were victorious. It seems that the rebels’ attacks do not bother or tire Macbeth and his troops in any way, as they just made them more determined. Macbeth’s army fought with such violence and vigour that it seemed as though they were trying to fill the battlefield with blood to bathe in.
“Dismayed not this
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?”
“Yes -
As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.”
Act I Scene III
Macbeth is greeted by the witches as the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and as the future king of Scotland. Following this greeting, he spends much of his meeting with the creatures dumbstruck. When he eventually regains his ability to speak, he is filled with curiosity. Macbeth’s preoccupation upon hearing the predictions of the witches seems to show him with a cautious nature, seeming to feel the need to think things through before coming up with a suitable response to give the witches.
Also, despite his loyalty to the current king of Scotland, when it is suggested that he might take his place, he is less than reluctant. This does not necessarily make him a traitor, though it may slightly lessen the strength of his loyal characteristics.
Also, despite his loyalty to the current king of Scotland, when it is suggested that he might take his place, he is less than reluctant. This does not necessarily make him a traitor, though it may slightly lessen the strength of his loyal characteristics.
Act I, Scene IV
A darker side of Macbeth is revealed to us in this scene. When Duncan announces that Malcolm is to become king, Macbeth realises that this will affect the witches’ prophecies of his kingship. He has to decide between giving up on his aim of becoming king and doing something which will ensure his future kingship. We may presume that he chose the second option, as he then starts talking about practising the art of deception. The loyal Macbeth shown to us in earlier scenes is all but dead.
“The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’er-leap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires!
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.”
“The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’er-leap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires!
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.”