In Act 1 Scene 3, we meet Macbeth for the first time. The scene begins with one of the witches telling a story of how she was wronged, and so punished a family. This confirms our beliefs that the witches are evil and plot against people. Macbeth’s first line is also a repetition of what the witches said in Act 1 Scene 1; ‘So foul and fair’. This makes us think that already Macbeth has no control over his own life. Upon seeing the witches Banquo states that they ‘look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth. This shows that Banquo already knows that they are inhuman, so they cannot be good. The witches then hail Macbeth, saying ‘All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis’ ‘ All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor’ ‘All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!’ Macbeth knows he is already Thane of Glamis, ‘by Sinel’s death (his father). However, although we know that Macbeth is the new Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth doesn’t know this, and believes he ‘lives a prosperous gentleman.’ Last, Macbeth has no belief whatsoever that he can possibly become king, as it ‘stands not within the prospect of belief.’ This shows that Macbeth, at this point of the play is modest, and believes in following the king. Banquo on the other hand, thinks they are ‘things that do sound so fair’, and wishes the witches to predict his future, as he is a man who ‘neither beg nor fear your favours nor your hate.’ Showing that he is unafraid of the witches power, and wants to also hear good points about himself. Banquo tells the witches that Macbeth ‘starts with fear’ and is ‘rapt withal’, saying that he is speechless with shock. This gives us the impression that Macbeth may not want these other titles, as he knows that the men with them currently, would have to die for him to receive them. When Ross and Angus enter the scene, it is ironic, as Macbeth and Banquo have just been talking about the title, reminding the audience of the prediction, right before we hear of the news. Once Macbeth and Banquo hear of Macbeth’s new title, Banquo speaks ‘aside’, asking if ‘the devil speak true?’ This shows that he knows the witches are evil, by calling them the ‘devil’. Macbeth’s reaction is to ask why they dress him in ‘borrowed robes’. This gives the image of not belonging. After he has got used to the idea, he says to himself ‘Glamis and thane of Cawdor. The greatest is behind.’ This shows that Macbeth has started having faith in what the witches have said. Macbeth then goes on to talk about the rest of the prophecy. Saying that ‘two truths are told as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme.’ This means that as the other things that the witches said came true, then there is a possibility that the last part (about him becoming king) may also come true, even though if he did become king, he wouldn’t feel like it was reality, more like he would be acting in a play.
Macbeth becomes confused with what is happening, as it ‘cannot be ill, cannot be good’. Showing that it is unclear. He recognises that what the witches said must be evil, as ‘if good, why do I yeild to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature.’ This shows that, because he feels his heart is beating unnaturally and the thought of becoming king is making his hair stand on end, it cannot be good. Macbeth then gets lost in his thoughts, saying ‘and nothing is but what is not’, showing that Macbeth can now think of nothing else, knowing that he would probably have to murder the current king, in order to take his place. He is also confused and he needs to be able to tell what is good and what is not.
Finally Macbeth decides to leave it to chance, if he becomes king, as ‘if chance would have me king, why chance may crown me.’ Meaning that if Macbeth managed to fulfil the other predictions from the witches, without acting upon them, then he may also be crowned king in the same way, so he is not going to do anything, and see what happens. This shows that Macbeth is a curious person and is patient enough to wait and see what happens.
Right at the end of the scene, Macbeth says to Banquo ‘ let us speak our free hearts to each other’. This shows that as they are best friends, they speak openly and honestly to each other. We, as the audience, know here, from the theme of the play, that this will probably never happen.
In act 1 Scene 4 Macbeth learns about Duncan’s heir, and knows that unless he does something about it, he will not become the next king. He is then thinking about the murder, but does not want others to see and asks ‘stars hide your fires, let not the light see my black and deep desires.’ This shows that Macbeth feels wrong about considering the murder, and doesn’t want anyone to find out about his evil thoughts.
When Macbeth enters the scene, the stage directions show that it is for dramatic timing. This is as the king had just been talking about how the past Thane of Cawdor was ‘a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.’ Macbeth then enters, which shows us that he will also be a man who the king trusts and who will betray him.
Macbeth is then shown to have the wrong mindset to become the future king. Duncan begins by talking in imagery, about his subjects being plants, which he has planted, and ‘will labour, to make thee full of growing’. Banquo then continues the imagery, saying that ‘if I grow, the harvest is your own.’ This shows that he and Duncan are on the same page, whereas Macbeth cannot join in with the imagery.
In Act 1 Scene 5 we first Lady Macbeth, Macbeths wife for the first time. As the scene starts, Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from her husband, about his recent happenings. We get the impression that she and Macbeth are a very intimate couple, as he has told her of his meeting with the witches, meaning he trusts her completely. Also we know that Macbeth was eager to tell his wife the news, as he was to arrive only shortly after the letter. Upon reading the letter, Lady Macbeth becomes ignorant, saying ‘shalt be what thou art promised’. This shows that she believes what the witches have said, and will use any force necessary, in order to make Macbeth the king. When she decides this, she tell us that Macbeth is ‘too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness’, meaning that she fears he is a kind person and is too selfless to use force to become king. She then asks ‘unsex me here, and fill me from the crown of the toe top-full of direst cruelty’. By saying this, she is telling us that she wishes to lose all her femininity to make room for cruelty, so that she can convince unclear Macbeth to kill the present king. This shows that Macbeth must be a very noble person, if she has to be ‘filled’ with evil, in order to convince him.
When Macbeth enters the scene, she takes responsibility and sets her plan in motion. Although she is in charge, Macbeth does not agree with her evilness, saying ‘we will speak further’ meaning that he thinks she is wrong, but he doesn’t want to argue with her as he is too kind a person.
There is no sign of Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 6. This shows that he is in turmoil and can’t face up to Duncan, as Lady Macbeth has put evil thoughts in his head.
In Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth is showing detachment. Although he is uncertain, he starts listing only the reasons against killing the king, which shows he is too loyal a subject to find reasons for the alternative. His main reason is ‘if th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence’. This shows us as an audience that he is afraid that if he did actually kill the king, he would be caught and punished for his act of selfishness. He also praises the king, saying he is ‘so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels. This shows that his character, at this point in the play is still a nice person, as he is even complimenting the person who may be his victim. Macbeth finally decides that he will not kill the king, saying ‘we will proceed no further in this business. He hath honoured me of late’ and the kings praise has bode well for Macbeth. Lady Macbeth then threatens her husband manhood, asking him ‘art thou afeard’. This shows that she does not like Macbeths character at this point, as he is too much a moral man. To finally convince Macbeth to change his mind, Lady Macbeth tells him that she would rather kill her own child, having ‘dashed the brains out’ than go back on a promise, like she believes Macbeth has. Macbeth’s character then becomes immoral and he asks ‘if we should fail?’ This shows that Macbeth has changed his mind and that he will now kill the king, telling the audience he can no longer be a good person, if he is about to kill someone for his own personal gain.
