Act 1 Adam Coveyduc, Mallory Davis, Coltin Elson, Flannery Head and Natalie Walsh.

Act 1

Adam Coveyduc, Mallory Davis, Coltin Elson, Flannery Head and Natalie Walsh.

Character Analysis – Major Characters

• Macbeth – Macbeth is the main character of the play. He is the Thane of Glamis, the new Thane of Cawdor. He is considered to be a noble person and he is very respected in Scotland. He is a very brave warrior and he is not afraid of a battle. He is King Duncan’s cousin and Malcolm’s second cousin. Lady Macbeth is his wife and Banquo is his loyal friend.

• Duncan – Duncan is presently the king of Scotland. He has a lot of power

that Macbeth wants. He is just as noble and respected, if not more, as Macbeth. He is very nice, friendly and gracious to people, especially to Lady Macbeth and Macbeth when he is invited into their castle. He is Malcolm’s father and Macbeth’s cousin. There has been talk that Malcolm will be crowned king when he abdicates and Macbeth wishes to become king instead of Malcolm.

Character Analysis – Major Characters

• Lady Macbeth – Lady Macbeth is a cunning, manipulative schemer who has a warm, friendly appearance and she wants to have power. She influenced her husband Macbeth into murdering Duncan so that he would become king.

• 3 Witches – The 3 witches are the ones who predict

Macbeth’s future. They said that he would become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually king. They appear to be big supporters of Macbeth and want him to have lots of power over Scotland. They don’t communicate with anyone other than Macbeth and Banquo.

Character Analysis – Minor Characters

• Malcolm – Malcolm is the Prince of Cumberland and the son of Duncan. He is next line to be king.

• Sergeant – He is one of the captains in charge of the battle. He was present when Macbeth killed the traitor MacDonwald. He met with King Duncan to tell him what transpired with the battle.

• Lennox – Lennox is one of the 5 Thanes of Scotland in the play. He is often with King Duncan and his son Malcolm.

Character Analysis – Minor Characters

• Ross – Ross is another one of the Thanes of Scotland. He accompanies Lennox and King Duncan.

• Angus – Angus is the third Thane of Scotland in Act 1. He, along with Lennox and Ross, accompanied Duncan when he was told about Macbeth’s victory.

• Banquo – Banquo is Macbeth’s loyal friend. He helped Macbeth fight in the battle and helped him slay MacDonwald. Macbeth and Banquo met with the three witches when they told Macbeth of their prophecy.

• Messenger – The messenger delivered a letter to Lady Macbeth which told her about Macbeth’s accomplishments.

Plot Overviews – Scene 1

• This scene showed three witches having a premonition of Macbeth becoming king. They plan to meet with Macbeth after the great battle is done.

• Important events in this scene are the witches talking about Macbeth becoming King. This scene is important because it is foreshadowing the events to come.

Plot Overviews – Scene 2• Malcolm brings a bloody soldier to the King. The King wants to know who

the bloody man was. The man was the captain and he talks about how well Macbeth and Banquo have fought at the battle. He also talks about how the Norwegians’ began attacking them unexpectedly. Ross and Lennox, two Thanes of Scotland, enter the scene and speak to Duncan about how bravely Macbeth fought at the battle. He continued to battle hard even when feeling outnumbered. They tell Duncan that Macbeth has slain the Thane of Cawdor. As King, Duncan decides that Macbeth has proven himself and wants to make him the new Thane of Cawdor.

• This scene shows that Macbeth will be given power and that the premonitions of the witches are true. This shows the audience that Macbeth will be given power. This scene exemplifies the bloody nature of war in the play.

Plot Overviews – Scene 3• Malcolm brings a bloody soldier to the King. The King wants to know who

the bloody man was. The man was the captain and he talks about how well Macbeth and Banquo have fought at the battle. He also talks about how the Norwegians’ began attacking them unexpectedly. Ross and Lennox, two Thanes of Scotland, enter the scene and speak to Duncan about how bravely Macbeth fought at the battle. He continued to battle hard even when feeling outnumbered. They tell Duncan that Macbeth has slain the Thane of Cawdor. As King, Duncan decides that Macbeth has proven himself and wants to make him the new Thane of Cawdor.

• This scene shows that Macbeth will be given power and that the premonitions of the witches are true. This shows the audience that Macbeth will be given power. This scene exemplifies the bloody nature of war in the play.

Plot Overviews – Scene 4• Malcolm brings a bloody soldier to the king. The king wants to know who

the bloody man was. The man was the captain and he talks about how well Macbeth and Banquo have fought at the battle. He also talks about how the Norwegians’ began attacking them unexpectedly. Ross and Lennox, two Thanes of Scotland, enter the scene and speak to Duncan about how bravely Macbeth fought at the battle. He continued to battle hard even when feeling outnumbered. They tell Duncan that Macbeth has slain the Thane of Cawdor. As King, Duncan decides that Macbeth has proven himself and wants to make him the new Thane of Cawdor.

• This scene shows that Macbeth will be given power and that the premonitions of the witches are true. This shows the audience that Macbeth will be given power. This scene exemplifies the bloody nature of war in the play.

Plot Overviews – Scene 5

• During this scene, Lady Macbeth finds out that King Duncan is coming to their castle. When Macbeth arrives he and Lady Macbeth talk of their plan to insure that Macbeth becomes king. “Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor, greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter” (Shakespeare, act 1, scene 5, line 53-54). This is a moving point in the play because it introduces the main conflict that the play revolves around: the plan to make Macbeth king.

Plot Overviews – Scene 6

• Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle. He avows his love and respect for Lady Macbeth and her husband. “Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly, and shall continue our graces towards him” (Shakespeare, act 1, scene 6, line 29-30). This demonstrates how Duncan is a nice guy who does not deserve to be murdered by someone he loves.

Plot Overviews – Scene 7

• Macbeth is having second thoughts about going through with the plan to kill Duncan; Duncan has just honoured him. Lady Macbeth does not accept to discontinue to plan and says they can just blame the servants who they plan on getting drunk. Macbeth agrees and decides to go through with the plan.

Scene 1: Summary

• This scene is foreshadowing the evil and tragedy that is to come. Three witches want to meet with Macbeth.

Scene 1: Quote 1• Quote: “When shall we three meet again in

thunder, lightning, or in rain?” (lines 1-2)• The quote was said by the first witch to the other

two witches. • It is referring to planning when they wish to get

together. • Is it significant to the play because it sets a dark

and eerie atmosphere and the audience member can take from this quote that the play is tragic and creepy based on the weather in the setting.

Scene 2: Summary

• A large battle at Forres is taking place and Duncan learns from returning soldier that Macbeth and Banquo won the battle. The Thane of Cawdor has been killed. Macbeth is rewarded the title of Thane of Cawdor after the battle is won.

Scene 2: Quote 1

• Quote: “Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps, and fix’d his head upon our battlements.” (lines 22-23)

• This was said by the sergeant to Duncan and Malcom. • He was referring to how gruesomely Macdonwald was

killed. • It is significant to the play because it illustrates the

goriness of the wars during that time period. • The audience can gain from this quote that the play is

going to be very brutal and grisly.

Scene 2: Quote 2• Quote: “Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, or

memorize another Golgotha.” (lines 40-41)• The soldier says this to Duncan when he is describing the battle to

him. The speaker is referring to how horrifically Banquo and Macbeth are fighting by saying it was similar to Golgotha, where Christ was crucified.

• This quote is significant to the play because it reinforces the idea of blood and gore in the play.

• A member of the audience can take from this quote that the audience during the time the play was written would have been predominantly Christian.

• They audience can also take that whatever was going on at Forres was horrendous and primitive.

Scene 2: Quote 3• Quote: “What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath

won.” (line 69)• In this quote Duncan is elucidating to Ross how

the deceitful Thane of Cawdor has lost his title; it has been given to Macbeth.

• It is significant to the play as it shows that the people of the audience respect Macbeth and feel he is a noble man who would be a good Cawdor.

• An audience member can take that the villagers revere him and find him to be a good person.

Scene 3: Summary

• During this scene, the three witches prophesize Macbeth’s future. They tell Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth will become the thane of Cawdor and then king. At first, Macbeth is confused because he thinks the thane of Cawdor lives, but soon finds out he is dead and that he indeed has been titled thane of Cawdor. He worries about what he will do to become king.

Scene 3: Quote 1• Quote: “Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make.”

(line 96)• Ross is speaking about Macbeth to Angus. • He is referring to how brave Macbeth is and how he

isn’t afraid of dying even though he is killing a lot of people and is in the middle of a battle.

• It is significant to the play because it shows how Macbeth is brave and a little reckless in the eyes of the other characters.

• The audience gets to know Macbeth better and they learn more about his personality traits based on how the other characters perceive him.

Scene 3: Quote 2• Quote: “This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill,

cannot be good: if ill” (lines 130-131)• This quote was said by Macbeth to himself and

he is referring to the prophecy of the witches. • It is significant to the play because it foreshadows

what will happen in the future. • It predicts that the prophecy will turn out to be a

bad thing. • The audience can predict the future of the play

based on this quote.

Scene 3: Quote 3• Quote: “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.” (lines 137-

138)• Macbeth is talking to himself about how even with the battles going

on here and how his life in his life he is more fearful of what he is imagining in his head about what he is capable of doing to become king.

• This is significant to the play because it is a form of foreshadowing. Macbeth is thinking to himself about how scary the things he is willing to do to become king are. Later, he ends up committing an act of murder; the act he was afraid of when he first imagined it.

• The audience can take from this that Macbeth is conscious about what he is thinking. He knows right from wrong and is aware that what he plans to do to become king is evil.

Scene 4: Summary

• Duncan tells Macbeth that his son Malcom will be the new king. Macbeth then says that he had to be king and he is afraid of what he might do.

Scene 4: Quote 1• Quote: “There’s no art to find the mind’s

construction in the face. He was a gentleman on who I built and absolute trust.” (lines 12-14)

• Here, Duncan is talking to Malcom about how you cannot tell if a person is loyal or a traitor based solely on their looks.

• This is a significant quote because it is an important life lesson even today.

• The audience can reflect upon and take something from this quote to apply to their own lives.

Scene 4: Quote 2

• Quote: “Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires.” (lines 50-51)

• Macbeth is speaking to himself referring to how he is feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and guilty about his malicious thoughts.

• It holds significance because it is a turning point for his character because up until now he was pretty much a nice, respectable guy, but now he is starting to think horrible things and we can see his weakness.

• The audience members can gain that he does have a working conscience though.

Scene 4: Quote 3• Quote: “The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be which

the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (lines 52-53)• Here, Macbeth is talking to himself referring to the fact

that he knows that what he will do to become king is wrong but he knows he will do it nonetheless.

• This quote’s significance is that it demonstrates how Macbeth has a dark side and is capable of committing evil acts.

• The audience gains a changed point of Macbeth because they can no see that he is putting his desire to become king above what he knows to be morally correct.

Scene 5: Summary

• Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth informing her of his new title and the witches’ prophecy. She feels he is too soft and kind to do what it takes to fulfill it; however, she plans to talk him into doing what he has to do so that he may become king.

Scene 5: Quote 1

• Quote: “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promis’d. Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full of the milk of human kindness.” (lines 14-16)

• Lady Macbeth is talking to herself and referring to how she wants Macbeth to be king but that he is too nice to do what he needs to do to become king.

• It is significant because Lady Macbeth is sort of selfish and power hungry, and she wants her husband to be higher up, no matter what the cost is.

•

Scene 5: Quote 2• Quote: “This night is great business into my dispatch;

which shall to all our nights and days to come give solely sovereign sway and master dom.” (lines 67-69)

• This quote was said by Lady Macbeth to Macbeth and she is referring to how she is planning on eliminating Duncan that night and how their lives will be a lot better after that because they will be royalty.

• It is significant because it shows how greed and impatience have taken over Lady Macbeth.

• This audience can take that they are going to kill Duncan pretty quickly and that Lady Macbeth has no guilt or second thoughts.

Scene 5: Quote 3

• Quote: “To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me.” (lines 71-72)

• Lady Macbeth is talking to Macbeth and referring to how Macbeth just needs to act himself and not be suspicious and she’ll take care of figuring out a surefire way for him to become king.

• It is significant because it shows how Lady Macbeth is the evil mastermind behind Macbeth’s acts.

• An audience member could take that Lady Macbeth is a scheming person who likes to control situations.

Scene 6: Summary

• Duncan and company arrive at Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s castle and are greeted very kindly by Lady Macbeth. She is being kind and gracious because she is secretly planning to kill while trying to conceal it.

Scene 6: Quote 1• Quote: “The love that follows us sometimes is our trouble, which

still we thank as love. Herein I teach you how you shall bid God ild us for your pains, and thank us for your trouble.” (lines 11-14)

• Here, Duncan is speaking to Lady Macbeth. • He is referring to how she is kind to have him stay in her castle. • This is significant to the play because it shows the irony behind Lady

Macbeth’s actions. • It is ironic because Duncan is thanking her for being kind when in

reality she is planning on killing him. • The audience members will feel sorry for Duncan because they

know Lady Macbeth is plotting his death and Duncan is innocent and oblivious. (Dramatic irony).

Scene 7: Summary

• Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Duncan are in Macbeths home. Macbeth is having second thoughts about going through with the plan to kill Duncan but Lady Macbeth convinces him to do it and the scene ends with Macbeth deciding to kill King Duncan.

Scene 7: Quote 1

• Quote: “I dare do all that may become a man; who dares do more, is none”. (line 46-47)

• Macbeth was talking to Lady Macbeth and he is referring to how he will do everything to become a man to gain respect and become king, but he does more by cheating his way to kinghood he is nothing.

• It is significant because it shows that he is not completely evil on his own, but rather it is his wife that does not have a guilty conscience.

• The audience can take that Macbeth has doubts about murdering Duncan. He is scared that if they fail they may be caught.

Scene 7: Quote 2

• Quote: Who dares receive it other, as we shall make our griefs and clamour roar upon his death?” (lines 78-79)

• It is said by Lady Macbeth to Macbeth.• Lady Macbeth is referring to how no one will ever suspect her

and Macbeth for Duncan’s murder because they will act like they are grief stricken when he dies.

• It is significant because it shows that Lady Macbeth is an evil character and that she has almost no guilt at all.

• The audience can see how sneaky and guiltless Lady Macbeth is.

Scene 7: Quote 3

• Quote: “I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know”. (lines 80-84)

• It is said by Macbeth to Lady Macbeth and he is refering to how he is going to go through with the plan to kill Duncan.

• It is significant because he has finally decided to actually kill King Duncan.

• The audience can take that even though Macbeth could have chosen not to kill Duncan his thirst for power made him decide to go through with the plan.