Macbeth

Macbeth:

Act One Scenes 1-2

As in many Shakespeare plays, we hear about the main character before we see him on stage. The important facts we get are:

• The obviously evil witches are planning to meet with Macbeth – why? Have they detected a potential for evil within him which they may work on, or is he an innocent victim picked at random? You must decide this for yourself, on the evidence of the rest of the play.
• Macbeth has shown amazing courage in the battle and virtually been the saviour of Scotland. He is called 'valiant', 'worthy' and 'noble' by Duncan, and is referred to as 'Bellona's bridegroom' – as if he is like a god.
• But he is also portrayed as savage: he rips one of his enemies apart as if he is an old garment: "unseamed him from the nave to the chaps". He decapitates the man and puts his severed head on a spike on the battlements as a trophy.

We can thus see two possible sides to Macbeth emerging: the noble upholder of his King, and the bloodthirsty man who seems to be trying to replicate 'Golgotha' – the horrific place where Christ's crucifixion took place.

Act One Scenes 3 – 4

We see Macbeth's response to the witches' greetings and prophecies. Guilt and fierce ambition are uppermost.

• Banquo asks "Why do you start…?" The word 'start' meant to jump guiltily.
• Macbeth's imagination immediately takes off, jumping to thoughts of 'murder'.
• Notice the number of 'asides' which shows he dare not reveal his real thoughts.
• His frustration is clear when Duncan proclaims Malcolm as his heir: "Stars hide your fires. Let not light see my black and deep desires." This is the first time in the play that Macbeth invokes darkness, which is symbolic of evil.

Notice that all of these thoughts occur to him before he speaks to Lady Macbeth. It is Macbeth himself who first thinks of murdering the king. However, we can sympathise with Macbeth to an extent as he suffers from merely contemplating what he might do; the 'horrid image' (of himself murdering the king)makes his hair stand on end, and his 'seated heart' knocks at his ribs in terror. The prospect of murder horrifies him.

Act One Scene 7

This scene can be seen as a false turning point. After reflecting on the murder of Duncan in a soliloquy, it seems as if Macbeth will now turn back. Having thought through all the strong moral objections to the murder, he tells Lady Macbeth they will 'go no further' with it. However, when she taunts him with cowardice, saying she will see this as a test of his love for her, he quickly changes his mind, resolving to put on a 'false face'.

Some people interpret this scene by saying Macbeth is a good but weak man who knows the murder would be wrong but gives in to his wife's bullying. But look at the evidence! Macbeth knows full well there…