Macbeth Act 1 Notes

Act 1 Scene 1: In a desolate place 3 witches are there and there is thunder and lightning. ‘Where the hurly-burly’s done, When the battle is lost or won.’

Act 1 Scene 2: King Duncan’s camp near Forres. Alarum within. Enter King, Malcolm, Donald-Bain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Captain. “As 2 spent swimmers that do cling together and choke their art”. This metaphor used by the captain is symbolizing the battle is evenly match and both sides are “leaning” on each other. The fact that the swimmers are “clinging” onto each other could also symbolise that they are in desperate times and fighting an incredibly enduring battle against MacDonald who is against the king and looking to claim his territory. Fortune is on MacDonald’s side and is personifying it when said “And fortune on his damned quarrel smiling showed like a rebel’s whore”. This quote shows that MacDonald is said to have Lady Luck on his side throughout the battle but this character “Macbeth” with his “brandished steel” went through the entire army and stuck the sword from the “nave” to “th’chaps” (jaw) of MacDonald and opened up his body to release all his guts. As soon as the battle was finished they needed to fight against the Norwegian lord with fresh men and with heavy artillery. Captain says “Yes, as sparrows, eagles, or the hare, the lion”. This metaphor is suggesting that the army led by the captain are “sparrows” as they are weaker than the army led by the Norwegian lord (The Vikings) which are the “eagles” so to speak. Duncan is then confronted by Ross who then says to Duncan that the battle against the Norwegians was won by Macbeth. Once that’s done, the army wasn’t allowed to leave until Duncan is paid a huge amount of money. The Lord isn’t dead. Now that the Thane of Cawdor is dead by betraying Duncan, Duncan will reward Macbeth with the Thane of Cawdor’s land and wealth as well as the name. The witches have said to Macbeth that he is “Thane of Glamis” (which he currently is. The second witch says that Macbeth is also the “Thane of Cawdor” however Macbeth doesn’t know that because he knows the actual “Thane of Cawdor” is alive. Then the final witch says “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” This is a controversial comment because in those times thinking about killing the king could be known as treason and therefore punishable by death. Banquo then says to the witches that he also wants to know what will happen to him in the future. According to the witches, Macbeth will be king but then the witches told Banquo that he’s sons will overthrow Macbeth??? This I believe might because conflict between the 2. Macbeth then asks the witches “How can I be the Thane of Cawdor let alone the King”.

Act 1 Scene 3: The witches have said to Macbeth that he is “Thane of Glamis” (which he currently is. The second witch says that Macbeth is also the “Thane of Cawdor” however Macbeth doesn’t know that because he knows the actual “Thane of Cawdor” is alive. Then the final witch says “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” This is a controversial comment because in those times thinking about killing the king could be known as treason and therefore punishable by death. Banquo then says to the witches that he also wants to know what will happen to him in the future. According to the witches, Macbeth will be king but then the witches told Banquo that he’s sons will overthrow Macbeth??? This I believe might because conflict between the 2. Macbeth then asks the witches “How can I be the Thane of Cawdor let alone the King”. Once the witches vanish, Macbeth and Banquo then recollect and repeat what the witches said to them in total shock. “Your children shall be kings” Macbeth tells Banquo. In response to this, Banquo replies with “You shall be king”. This repetition used by Shakespeare was used for 2 reasons. One reason is because Macbeth and Banquo have just been encountered by the “supernatural” and hearing supposed events in the future from the witches and are bewildered. The other reason is because of his audience. Most likely at this stage, his audience might be starting to lose focus, therefore not fully concentrating on what is happening. The use of repetition is in order to tell the audience what was said in case they didn’t hear it the first time. At this moment, Ross and Angus greet Macbeth to tell him the news that King Duncan has just given him the title “Thane of Cawdor”. With this news now told to Macbeth the original response by Banquo was “What, can the devil speak true?” This response is triggered referring to the fact that the witches just told Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth knowing that the Thane of Cawdor questions why he is given this title with the response coming from Angus saying that the current Thane of Cawdor has pleaded guilty to treason with is punished by death. As Banquo takes Ross and Angus to one side, Macbeth starts talking to himself about what has just happened. Again the use of repetition by Shakespeare this time was used to remind the audience what the witches told Macbeth. Then Macbeth then starts to think about the third statement suggesting he will become king and saying that “If chance will have me king,why, chance may crown me without my stir”. What Macbeth is trying to say is that if fate has already decided he will be King, then why attempt to change fate by doing something unnecessary. To conclude the scene, they all head off for King Duncan’s castle.

Act 1 Scene 4: Macbeth is at the castle and awaiting to be honored by Duncan as Thane of Cawdor. Duncan asks Malcolm (Duncan’s son) if they have beheaded the current Thane of Cawdor. Malcolm’s response is that he didn’t personally see it but has heard he was killed but said that he was sorry. Duncan says that he doesn’t have enough wealth to give Macbeth after what he has done. Duncan then says that “I have begun to plant thee and will labour to make thee full of growing”. Duncan is trying to suggest that no matter what I have, I will watch you prosper.

Macbeth the says aside: “The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step on which I fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires, the eye wink at the hand. Yet let that be, which the eye fears when it is done to see.”

This paragraph is designed by Shakespeare in order to unravel Macbeth’s plans to the audience in order to pursue the use of dramatic irony. In the first part of the quote, Macbeth says that the Prince of Cumberland is now in his way aside from the King in order for his power-hungry mind to become King. The next part, the metaphor “Stars, hide your fires” is suggesting for God to look away from him referring to the stars, don’t see my deepest and darkest secret of wanting to kill the king. In the final part, he is trying to say that he doesn’t want to do it but will anyway. He is trying to deny himself, and he doesn’t know what he is doing and is acting against his correct reasoning.

Act 1 Scene 5: Lady Macbeth enters the stage and starts reading the letter sent by Macbeth’s messenger. It talks about Macbeth’s encounter with the witches. It further describes how the witches promised Macbeth to become King.  Once the letter has been read, we understand the sort of character that Macbeth is. “What though art promised; yet I do fear thy nature, it is too full o’th’milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way”. She is implying that despite being promised by the witches to be King, she doesn’t believe he has the guts to become King and lacks the killer instinct. “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear” is a metaphor that demonstrates her attempts to poison Macbeth’s mind into killing the king.  She also is suggesting she has the one thing that Macbeth needs and will do so by manipulating his mind.

Later on, Lady Macbeth talks about wanting to kill Duncan herself and she wants to have her entire body full of poison. “Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark.” This metaphor is illustrating that what is about to do is unlawful and knows that killing the king is going against the will of God. In the end, she says that she doesn’t trust Macbeth to complete the deed of killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth ends it all by saying once the act is done, don’t act suspicious and let me deal with the rest of the hassle.

Act 1 Scene 6: Duncan enters the castle and suggests what a wonderful. He is innocent not knowing what is in store for him. Banquo is going on about the weather. Duncan then addresses Lady Macbeth about how he is grateful for troubling her. Lady Macbeth responds with a sarcasm that only us the audience understand.

Act 1 Scene 7: Macbeth enters the stage alone and starts to talk about killing the King. He talks about getting the murder over and done with in case he gets caught. Macbeth questions whether what he will do will have any consequences in the long term. Macbeth reinforces the reasons for Duncan to trust him. Macbeth says about how Duncan is a good man and how he has done nothing wrong. Macbeth has no reason to kill Duncan but will do it to fulfill his ambition to be King. To summarise, Macbeth is weighing up the consequences and accepts that he will do it. Lady Macbeth enters, interrupting Macbeth’s desire. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth he doesn’t want to do it. Lady Macbeth goes ballistic telling Macbeth he is a coward. Macbeth then says to Lady Macbeth that if she was a man, he wouldn’t ask for it to happen. Lady Macbeth talks on about how she would smash a baby’s head in if she promised to do it despite the fact that she might have loved the baby. Macbeth questions what will happen if he fails. Lady Macbeth in response to this says that she will get the guards drunk and thenMacbeth will stab the king.

Macbeth’s internal psychology: 

When he kills MacDonald: Good but kinda weird because he doesn’t want to kill.

When he meets the witches: Who are they and why are they hear to speak to me.

Sends letter to Lady Macbeth: Stressful bexcuse of promises he made that he can’t fulfill.