first encounter with the witches, Macbeth insists several time that the witches tell him more of their prophecy: “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel’s death I know I am thane of Glamis; / But how of Cawdor? / The throne of Cawdor lives, (Shakespeare, 1993, 1.3. 72-74). Macbeth insists that the witches tell him more about how he will become king, but they disappear. It is at this point in the play that we see Macbeth’s obsession with power begin. We see that he starts to think a lot about becoming king. At the same time, the witches tell Banquo: they tell him that he will never be king but that his children will sit upon the throne (Shakespeare, 1993, 1.3. 68-69) Macbeth questions Banquo: “Your children shall be king” (Shakespeare, 1993, 1.3. 89). Macbeth continues to think about the prophecy of him becoming king. As the play continues, Macbeth still obsesses with becoming king and gaining power. He is told that he has been granted the title of thane of Cawdon by the king for his heroism, since he killed the rebel Macdonald. Macbeth is amazed that the witch’s prophecy has come true, but instead of being happy with this title he still questions if he will really become king. He questions Banquo: “Do you hope your children shall be kings, / When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me. / Promised no less them?” (Shakespeare, 1993, 1.3.121-22). Macbeth shares the news with his wife, Lady Macbeth, that he has been granted the title of thane of Cawdon.
He also tells her about the prophecy of the three witches, that he will become king. King Duncan has also announced that his son Malcolm, the Prince of Cumberland, will be heir to the throne. Macbeth tries to show his happiness to the king, but also realizes at this point that Malcolm will get in the way of him becoming king. Macbeth says to himself: “On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, / For in may way lies.” (Shakespeare, 1993, 1.4. 54-55). Lady Macbeth insists on Macbeth to go ahead with his feeling to kill Duncan, so he will not be able to have Malcolm as king, but he would be king. Macbeth thinks long and hard about killing the king, and at first decides against killing him. In this quote, foreshadowing is used, “Bloody instructions which, being taught return / To plague th’inventor” (Shakespeare, 1993, 1.7.9-10). Macbeth thinks about that he may be tormented by the decision to kill King Duncan. With the help of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth decides that even though the king is a good king that it is worth killing him to have more power and become king. Once Macbeth kills King Duncan, he is very shaken up. He is not able to return the dagger to the king’s room as planned. As he waits for Lady Macbeth to return he hears knocking and asks himself: “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” (Shakespeare, 1993, 2.2.58–59), this is
an example of the use of hyperbole. Macbeth is so shaken by committing the murder, his expressions are exaggerated. When it is discovered that King Duncan has been murdered, Macbeth seems to change. He is not shaken up like he was the night before, but is calm and takes control of the situation. Since King Duncan’s sons leave the country because they are afraid they will be killed next, Macbeth becomes King of Scotland. But Macbeth’s obsession with power and keeping his position as king does not stop here. Banquo is suspicious that