Macbeth Act 1 (Scenes 1-7)

Macbeth Key Characters

Macbeth - Thane of Cawdor and Glamis and he will be King

Banquo - Macbeth's friend, a general, Scottish thane, his children will become King but he will not

King Duncan - The King. good, benevolent ruler

Malcolm - The King's son and heir to the throne

The 3 witches - the witches in the play, their prophecies/predictions are important

Rosse, Lennox, Angus - Scottish Thanes

Act 1 Scene 1 -  Summary, Characters and language/Techniques

Summary 

Scene 1 starts with the witches and they talk about meeting with Macbeth after a battle has finished

Characters 

First witch, second witch and the third witch

Language/Techniques

The wiches use paradox to suggest that things are not as they seem

Summary, Characters and Language/Techniques

contains spoilers

Summary - The Scottish army (led by Macbeth and Banquo) are fighting a invasion and a rebel army. When King Duncan hears of this he rewards Macbeth with the title Thane of Cawdor

Characters - King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Captain, Rosse and Angus

Language/Techniques 

Foreshadowing - Macbeth beheads a traitor. This foreshadows his own death

Irony - Macbeth is praised for his violence. Later in the play violence makes him a tyrant

Summary, Characters, Language/Analysis

Summary

The witches predict that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and he will be King. Macbeth learns that he is Thane of Cawdor.

Characters - the witches, Macbeth, Banquo, Rosse and Angus

Language/Analysis

Dramatic irony - the audience already knows that the first part of the witches' prophecy has come true

Ambition - In Macbeth's aside, has already started to consider murdering Duncan to become King

Summary, Characters, Language/Techniques

Summary

Malcolm says that the old Thane of Cawdor has been executed. Duncan makes Malcolm heir to the throne. Duncan thanks Macbeth and Banquo, Macbeth considers murdering Duncan.

Characters - Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Macbeth, Banquo, Rosse and Angus

Language/Techniques 

Dramatic irony - The King says that there is no way to tell that someone is trustworthy, the audience knows that he wrongly trusts Macbeth

Rhyme - In Macbeth's aside, he uses rhyming couplets which creates a strong rythm which emphasises what he is saying

Summary, Characters, Language/Analysis

Summary

Scene 4 ends with Macbeth saying that he will go tell his wife (Lady Macbeth) that the King is coming to their castle, Lady Macbeth plots to kill Duncan.

Characters - Lady Macbeth, Messenger and Macbeth

Language/Analysis

Soliloquy - Lady's Macbeth's solioqiues and monologue tells us her character and motives

Characters, Summary and Language/Structure

Where: Macbeth's Castle

Characters: Duncan. Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Rosse, Angus and Attendants

Summary

Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle, Lady Macbeth greets him politely to disguise the fact that she and Macbeth plan to murder him.

Language and Structure

Dramatic Irony - Duncan's describes the castle where he is going to be murdered as "pleasant"

Characters, Summary, Language and Structure

Characters - Macbeth, Lady Macbeth

Summary - Macbeth has doubts about killing Duncan plus he knows it's immoral. Lady Mcbeth says they should blame Duncan's servants. Macbeth agrees to the plan.

Note: Pay attention to 1. the theme of ambition and how it affects Macbeth,   2. the struggle between good and evil.    3. the persuasion techniques that Lady Macbeth uses to persuade to her husband to agree to the plan.

Language and Structure - Foreshadowing - Macbeth's comment that muderers get killed foreshadows his own death

Metaphor - Macbeth compares his ambition to a horse that jumps too high over a obstacle and falls as it lands

Indecision - Macbeth changes his mind about the murder - he's either easily influenced or didn't need much convincing

You might need to read the scenes first :)

Act 1 Scene 1 Questions

How does Shakespeare create a mysterious, foreboding atmosphere in this scene?

Act 1 Scene 2 Questions

What kind of impression from Duncan in this scene? What kind of King to you think he is?

Act 1 Scene 3 Questions

How does Shakespeare use imagery in this scene?

Act 1 Scene 4 Questions

True or false? Macbeth criticises Macbeth to the King?

Act 1 Scene 5 Questions

What news does Lady Macbeth get from the letter?

Thanks for reading!

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