The Renaissance Period {1485-1660}
What happened?
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Duncan, King of Scotland
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Malcolm, King’s eldest son and heir to the throne, some people think he is guilty of his father’s murder
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Macbeth, nobleman of Scotland, ambition leads him to become Thane of Cawdor and eventual, king
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Banquo, nobleman of Scotland, Macbeth’s best friend, suspicious of witches
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Lennox, nobleman of Scotland
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Ross, nobleman of Scotland
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Angus, nobleman of Scotland
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Captain, wounded in war, no significant role
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Witches, three prophecies
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Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s control freak wife who taunts him into killing Duncan
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Fleance, Banquo’s son
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Porter, Drunkard used as comic relief
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Macduff, nobleman of Scotland who thinks Macbeth is guilty of Duncan’s murder
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Donalbain, Duncan’s youngest son who many think is guilty of Duncan’s murder
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Old Man, used to describe unnatural events that foreshadow Duncan’s death
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Act I, scene i: Three witches are planning to meet Macbeth on the heath as he returns from battle.
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Act I, scene ii: A captain reports to King Duncan of Scotland that Macbeth has killed traitor Macdonwald in battle. Ross reports to the King that Macbeth and Banquo have forced the Norwegians to surrender. Duncan condemns Thane of Cawdor to death for treason and awards the title to Macbeth. Macbeth does not know any of this.
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Act I, scene iii: Three witches give Macbeth and Banquo three prophecies: 1. Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor. 2. Macbeth will become king. 3. Banquo’s children will become kings. Macbeth is excited about these prophecies, but Banquo is very cautious. Banquo realizes that witches usually use evil to fulfill such prophecies. Macbeth is too excited to worry about such details, but later does realize that he will either have to wait for fate to make him king or take matters into his own hands and kill King Duncan himself.
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Act I, scene iv: King Duncan decides to make his eldest son, Malcolm, heir to the throne. Macbeth looks at Malcolm as a small obstacle to overcome before he can actually get the throne.
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Act I, scene v: Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth telling her about the witches’ prophecies. Lady Macbeth is excited, but fears that her husband is not manly enough to make the prophecy (of him becoming king) true. She then decides that she is going to have to help him.
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Act I, scene vi: King Duncan visits Macbeth’s castle and comments on its peacefulness. Lady Macbeth greets him graciously, but is thinking about his murder.
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Act I, scene vii: Macbeth talks about how he has thoughts of murder. These thoughts seem to surprise him. Knowing Macbeth is apprehensive about killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth questions his manliness in order to get him to kill Duncan.
An aside: when a character talks directly to another character or to the audience, but the other characters on stage are oblivious to this happening.
A paradox (page 307 lines 65-66) is used to compare Macbeth to Banquo.
A metaphor (page 308 lines 107-108) is used to foreshadow Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor. The borrowed robes are compared to the position of the Thane.
Also consider: why is it that only witches rhyme when they say their lines?
A Comparison of Banquo and Macbeth!
Important to Know!
ACT I
This section provides us with the characters we have met, an overview of what happened, important facts to know, and a comparison of Macbeth and Banquo in ACT I of "That Play"
