When Macbeth and Banquo were first came across the witches, Macbeth seemed a little scared of what they might say - it may be something bad and he did not want his their prophecies. This shows the Macbeth has cautions and maybe he has a premonition. He is then shown in a different way, as a greedy person because when they say to him:
"All hail Macbeth Thane of Cawdor" and "All hail Macbeth who shall be King hereafter"
Macbeth starts to think about its meaning and even more when he actually does become Thane of Cawdor. This may be human but Shakespeare put Macbeth’s curiosity over a lot stronger and clearer than he would a minor character. Macbeth is tempted by the idea of greatness, when they first predicted about him become the Thane of Cawdor he does not do anything to make it happen, and then when it did happen without him helping it along, this opens up the possibility of Macbeth becoming King and so he's tempted even more and he tries to make this happen.
Banquo who was with Macbeth at the time of the witches prophecies, seemed a little surprised to make progress fear when he asks:
"Good Sir, why do you start and seem to fear things that sound so fair?”…"Of noble having and Royal hope"
Banquo is questioning why Macbeth fears the witches even though they predict him to a new title of nobility and hope of becoming King, but Macbeth believes that something that seems so good must be bad. Banquo shows Macbeth has a choice – he points out that he doesn’t have to listen to the witches, but still thinks it may be an option. Although Macbeth is scared, Banquo remains calm, Shakespeare uses the idea to contrast the two characters to show that completely different characters in personality can react and work well with each other in a strong friendly relationship.
In Act One Shakespeare introduces the character of Lady Macbeth. As he does with the relationship of Macbeth and Banquo, he tries to contrast the personalities and relationship of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is at first thought of as the brave and victorious, can not go wrong soldier, and Lady Macbeth in my opinion is first thought of as a selfish, evil woman who loves her husband. Lady Macbeth seems to be a mysterious character, who does not have many faces but can be shown in many types of characters. I do not think Shakespeare gives the audience enough time to judge Lady Macbeth for themselves because when she is first on stage she already seems to be plotting murder against Duncan – where as that is not her character at all.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have a very strong and loving relationship, because of this Macbeth uses the strength of their relationship to share the blame of the murder once they had decided on that. We rarely see Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk, but when we do they use short fast sentences, they do this because they then can have thoughts between sentences and they can easily predict what the other person can say and therefore control the conversation. Macbeth does this to get Lady Macbeth involved in the murder of Duncan. He uses the strength of the conversation to lure Lady Macbeth in so that he can share the blame with someone.
Using short questions and short answers Shakespeare gives us the idea that Lady Macbeth is plotting something evil inside her head.
“Macbeth: Duncan comes here tonight.
Lady Macbeth: And when he goes hence?
Macbeth: Tomorrow as he purposes.”
Lady Macbeth is finding out information about Duncan’s staying, such as how long he is staying and even more importantly – how long she has to kill him!
Shakespeare is trying to tell us that Lady Macbeth is either impatient or a fast thinker because she asks brief questions with neither detailed questions nor answers she receives. The ‘impatientness’ also shows the strength of her greed, as she wants to get to work with the plan immediately!
In ‘Macbeth’ the witches add complexity to the play, they add responsibility, they don’t seem to have any real power over anyone at all, it is all in the mind! They don’t force anyone into anything – they show people the door, they don’t make people walk through it!
