How is Macbeth Presented in Act I
How is Macbeth presented in Act I?
At the beginning of the play, in Act I, Scene II, Macbeth is introduced as a valiant warrior whose actions have gained great trust and honour from the king, Duncan. He is portrayed as a man who would do anything for his king. The sergeant tells the audience of Macbeth’s bravery and loyalty by saying ‘for brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—distaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel’, explaining to the audience that Macbeth earned the title ‘brave’ through his actions, having no fear of fate. Duncan also praises Macbeth for his actions by calling him ‘O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!’ expressing his gratitude towards Macbeth for his loyalty and disregard for his own safety, protecting his country and his king and destroying the enemy and traitor, Macdonwald. Although their relation is distant, Duncan is so close to Macbeth as to name him ‘cousin’, clearly showing that he has much faith and trust in him. The ways in which the King and Sergeant refer to Macbeth and the language that they use clearly show that Macbeth is a trusted and relied upon member of the Scottish army and shows his bravery in battle to prove his valiancy.
In Scene V of Act I Macbeth’s words and actions begin to make the audience suspicious about the change in his character when he joins his wife, Lady Macbeth. He changes from a brave, loyal patriotic man, to considering removing King Duncan from his throne and placing himself upon it by the end of the scene. His wife is possibly a driving force in his change in attitude and character. For example she says to Macbeth, ‘Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o' th' milk of human kindness’. She uses these words to emasculate Macbeth and push him into trying to become King. Lady Macbeth’s dominance over her husband may have surprised the audience in the Jacobean era as men were dominant in the relationship and it was unheard of that women would tell their husbands what to do. Lady Macbeth
At the beginning of the play, in Act I, Scene II, Macbeth is introduced as a valiant warrior whose actions have gained great trust and honour from the king, Duncan. He is portrayed as a man who would do anything for his king. The sergeant tells the audience of Macbeth’s bravery and loyalty by saying ‘for brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—distaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel’, explaining to the audience that Macbeth earned the title ‘brave’ through his actions, having no fear of fate. Duncan also praises Macbeth for his actions by calling him ‘O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!’ expressing his gratitude towards Macbeth for his loyalty and disregard for his own safety, protecting his country and his king and destroying the enemy and traitor, Macdonwald. Although their relation is distant, Duncan is so close to Macbeth as to name him ‘cousin’, clearly showing that he has much faith and trust in him. The ways in which the King and Sergeant refer to Macbeth and the language that they use clearly show that Macbeth is a trusted and relied upon member of the Scottish army and shows his bravery in battle to prove his valiancy.
In Scene V of Act I Macbeth’s words and actions begin to make the audience suspicious about the change in his character when he joins his wife, Lady Macbeth. He changes from a brave, loyal patriotic man, to considering removing King Duncan from his throne and placing himself upon it by the end of the scene. His wife is possibly a driving force in his change in attitude and character. For example she says to Macbeth, ‘Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o' th' milk of human kindness’. She uses these words to emasculate Macbeth and push him into trying to become King. Lady Macbeth’s dominance over her husband may have surprised the audience in the Jacobean era as men were dominant in the relationship and it was unheard of that women would tell their husbands what to do. Lady Macbeth