Macbeth- Act 1

Macbeth- Act 1

1. Key events

   • The three witches plan to meet Macbeth.
   • Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches, who tell Macbeth he'll be Thane of Cawdor, then King. They tell Banquo his descendants will be king.
   • Duncan makes Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth starts to wonder if the witches' prophecy about him being king will come true too.
   • Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth about the prophecy. She plans to persuade him to murder Duncan.
   • Duncan comes to stay with the Macbeth's. Macbeth is reluctant to kill him, but Lady Macbeth convinces that they can frame Duncan's servants for the murder. Macbeth agrees to the plan.

2. Key quotations

   • "There to meet with Macbeth"
   • "Assisted by the most disloyal traitor The Thane of Cawdor"
     • "go pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth"
       • "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires"
   • "Are ye fantastical , or that indeed Which outwardly ye show?"
     • "Or have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?"
       • "Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine esteem"

3. Shakespears' intentions of the plot/themes

   • He wanted it to be watched not read and he wanted it to be a tradgedy.
   • Shakespeare wanted the audience to have to figure out parts of the plot such as the missing letter.
   • Shakespeare wanted to appeal to King James I so he wrote Macbeth because James was superior to him and he was a strong believer of the supernatural. He did this to show that King James is the rightful ruler of the throne. This is seen when Macbeth kills Duncan but Macbeth does not belong as king after this. At the time, the divine right of kings was thought strongly of. Seen as Macbeth killed the king, God has not chosen him to rule so the natural order of the world flipped. Everything was dark to highlight this.

4. Characters and how they are presented

   • Macbeth: He is an ambitious Scottish nobleman. He is easily deceived by the 3 witches. He has a lust for power that drives him to do unspeakable things like killing.
   • Lady Macbeth: She is Macbeth's wife and is deeply ambitious for power and position. She urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown.
   • Three witches: They plot against Macbeth using spells and prophecies.
   • Banquo: He is a brave, noble general whose children according to the witches will inherit the Scottish throne. Banquo has ambitious thoughts but unlike Macbeth, he does not put them into play.
   • Duncan: He is the good king of Scotland and he is a model for a virtuous, benevolent and farsighted ruler.
   • Malcolm: Son of Duncan who appears weak and uncertain of his power.
   • Donalbain: Duncan's son and Malcom's younger brother.
   • Lennox: He is a nobleman of Scotland.
   • Ross: He is a nobleman of Scotland.