The declaration also reveals that King Duncan may view his son Malcolm to possess more ‘kingly’ qualities as he equally could have chosen Macbeth, showing that Macbeth is not worth of becoming king.Īnother important quote that is revealed in Scene 4 is “stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires” (i.iv line 51-52). Moreover the play was written a year after the gunpowder plot so the themes within the play are contextually relevant to the reception at the time of writing. Again dealing with the idea of regicide in Jacobean Britain, therefore Macbeth could be viewed as a cautionary tale to those who are planning to kill the King. Scene 4 also reveals that Malcolm (King Duncan’s son) is named “ The Prince of Cumberland” (i.iv line 40) therefore going against the prophesy that Macbeth will be the King of Scotland, therefore giving Macbeth a motive to kill Duncan in order to take the title. Duncan places “ an absolute trust” (i.iv line 15) in the Thane a prolepsis for Duncan will come to the castle of the Macbeth’s in “double trust” (i.vii line 12) implying how Macbeth will become a traitor. What is also apparent is the parallels that are drawn between the ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and Macbeth later in the play. Moreover Macbeth is the one who administers the “bloody execution” (i.ii line 18) suggesting that he is a ‘Tragic hero’ and brings his own damnation upon himself. It is this courage to play with fate that made Macbeth murder his countless victims based on the advice of the witches.The scene begins with King Duncan declaring “Is execution done on Cawdor?” (i.iv line 1), it foreshadows the death and downfall of Macbeth because the title ‘Thane of Cawdor’ will be bestowed upon Macbeth. Duncan says, "What he hath lost, Macbeth hath won." (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 66) Thus, the king has fulfilled part of the witches' prophecy-"when the battle's lost and won." Furthermore, the fact that Macbeth defies fate in fighting Macdonwald indicates his propensity to twist the present to alter a supposedly fixed future. In addition, King Duncan orders the immediate execution of the Thane of Cawdor and asks that Ross greet Macbeth with the news that he will be the new Thane of Cawdor. Duncan prepares to make peace with Sweno, Norway's king and asks for ten thousand dollars from him in return for the proper burial of his men. He also tells the king, however, that after much bloody fight the victory fell to Scotland.
The title "thane" indicates a Scottish nobleman. Ross tells King Duncan that the traitorous Thane of Cawdor assisted the King of Norway in the battle. Ross and Angus, Scottish noblemen, hasten into the courtroom with a wild look in their eyes. Macbeth and Banquo, undeterred from their mission, continued to fight with ardor.Īt this point, the captain reels from weakness and the king orders surgeons to attend to him. He says that just when the turn of events seemed favorable for Scotland, the Norwegian lord began a fresh assault with more men and supplies. King Duncan praises Macbeth's courage and encourages the captain to continue with his narration. Although fate seemed to be with Macdonwald, Macbeth boldly made his way to the "rebel," split him from the navel to the jaws and hung his head over the battlefield. He says that the rebel Macdonwald swarmed the battlefield with his men, who claimed nativity from far-off places like the Western Isles. Malcolm bids the captain, who valiantly fought in the battle, to tell the king the present state of affairs. The "weird" sisters agree to reconvene once "the battle's lost and won" upon "the heath." (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 4 7) The details of this battle are unknown until the later scenes in this act of the play.Īct 1, Scene 2: King Duncan, his sons Malcolm and Donalbain and the nobleman Lennox meet with a bleeding captain who recounts the details of the aforementioned battle. Act 1, Scene 1: The three infamous witches of Macbeth make their first appearance as they make convoluted conversation with each other amidst terrifying thunder and lightning.
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