In this document is a breakdown of every appearance of all key characters in Macbeth, including: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Malcolm, Duncan, Banquo and the Witches. These are very in depth and include quotes, analysis and thematic commentary. These notes contributed to me getting a 9 in GCSE E...
,Macbeth
● Act 1 Scene 2
○ Here, Macbeth does not appear directly but he is described by the Captain and
Duncan. He is called “Great Macbeth” (Captain) and “Worthy gentleman”
(Duncan). These characters praise Macbeth for his courage and violence on the
battlefield, the ruthlessness and brutality prided among them, showing the
encouragement of the violent masculine persona. This is enhanced by vivid
imagery of “smoked with bloody execution”, the idea that Macbeth’s sword
burns with violence and introduces the motif of blood.
○ Duncan introduces the theme of conflict within Macbeth as he says “what he
has lost, noble Macbeth has won.” This presents Macbeth’s character as
honourable and good at this point, being “valour’s minion.”
● Act 1 Scene 3
○ Macbeth is first seen entering the play with the famous words “So foul and fair a
day I have not seen.” This line links him to the supernatural, as the witches
mentioned “fair is foul and foul is fair” and also refers to the pathetic fallacy of the
scene right before they meet the witches. Right before Macbeth enters, the
witches say “the charm’s wound up” and then he enters. These both link him
strongly to supernatural and evil before we even meet him.
○ The witches appear and are shown to be saying “I’ll drain him dry as hay
Sleep shall neither night nor day.” This foreshadows the sleeplessness of
Macbeth and how he and Lady Macbeth will no longer be able to sleep. Also,
perhaps he will be drained of his “milk of human kindness.”
○ Macbeth is shown to be fascinated by the words of the witches as they tell him
that he “that shall be king hereafter.” and also the “Thane of Cawdor” first.
Banquo describes Macbeth as “rapt withal” the witches are saying.
○ Macbeth asks the witches to stay, saying “stay, you imperfect speakers…
would they have stayed.” This shows his willingness to communicate with the
supernatural despite the evil connotations, one that Banquo clearly refers to as
he says “What, can the devil speak true?” Macbeth shows a curiosity of evil and
is tempted by the witches’ words. His ambition is overriding his honour at this
point.
○ Macbeth hears that the words of the witches have been proven true to a certain
extent, however, he still remains hesitant to trust them at this point, saying “this
supernatural soliciting cannot be ill cannot be good.” The anaphora of
“cannot” shows his uncertainty and the alliteration of “supernatural soliciting”
highlighting their prophecies. Macbeth is uncertain because they say he will be
king, which is good, but Duncan is currently king, so that can only mean ill.
○ Macbeth is already thinking about how to get the throne- he says “murder is yet
fantastical.” Macbeth thinks that he must fulfill the words of the witches and
uses to the prophecies to ratify these actions.
● Act 1 Scene 4
, ○ Macbeth watches Malcolm become the heir to the throne and describes him as a
“step on which I must fall down or else overleap.” He sees Malcolm as an
obstacle of his ambition and to the throne and wishes to overcome him, or his
plans will fall down and fail.
○ He is shown to desire the throne but he knows it it wrong. He says “stars, hide
your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires.” The imagery of light
and dark as well as the rhyming couplets shows Macbeth’s struggle between
good and evil and the supernatural; Macbeth is aware of the evil of his thoughts
and does not want light, this being Duncan or others such as Banquo (a great
imagery of light in the play) to see his thoughts.
● Act 1 Scene 5
○ Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth in contrast to her own ambitions. She
describes him as “too full of the milk of human kindness.” This shows that he
is kinder and more gentle than Lady Macbeth and perhaps this will hinder his
ambition. Lady Macbeth womanises Macbeth by the word of “milk” and she
appears to have no such reservations as he to murder, preparing already without
even consulting him to get rid of remorse and guilt.
○ Lady Macbeth is shown to consult Macbeth, telling him that when Duncan arrives
he needs to “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.” This
shows that Lady Macbeth wants to use Macbeth to act as a tool for her ambition
and he merely replies that “We will speak further.” This shows his uncertainty
in the face of her violence.
○ Macbeth is shown to value Lady Macbeth as his equal as he always calls her
“dearest” and never appears to blame her for the consequences of his actions.
● Act 1 Scene 7
○ Macbeth is seen to be considering the murder once more, trying to consider
whether it is possible to act as the lesser of two evils, perhaps making it more
painless, as he says “If it were done when tis done then twere well it were
done quickly.” This shows the reluctance and mercy of Macbeth’s character at
this point, his ambition hindered by his honour and remorse. This shows there
are still good elements in his character- at this point.
○ Macbeth is seen to be considering the betrayal aspects of the murder. He refers
to Duncan being at his home in “double trust.” Macbeth has a duty as his
kinsman and his host to protect him against this sort of thing, not act out the
murder himself.
○ Macbeth clearly recognises his ambition being too great for his current status- he
describes it as “vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself and falls on the
other.” This shows Macbeth knows his ambition will negatively impact on others,
especially those he is, or is supposed to be, loyal to.
○ His soliloquy is long and drawn-out to show how torn he is between morality and
ambition.
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