The Scottish Play
“The Scottish Play”
ACT I Macbeth changes immensely and several times throughout the play of the same name. When we meet Macbeth, through the conversation of Duncan, Malcolm, and a Sergeant after the Sergeant was injured. He says, “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name”, letting us know that Macbeth is a brave man and soldier. Later, in the same scene, Duncan adds to this, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!”, showing that yes, indeed, Macbeth is a good man. However, in the scene following this, Macbeth echoes a line spoken by the witches, the initial evil of the play, saying, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” This goes to show that while we are supposed to think Macbeth is a good man, he is also on the same page, as it were, with these evil witches.
ACT II In Act II, I think there is a very good line said by Banquo that shows that he knows his friend is not who he thought: “So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my boom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counsell’d.” Here, I see Banquo as saying that he knows Macbeth is up to something and he will be on his side…as long as Macbeth agrees to leave him out of it. I think this shows that Banquo is weary of his friend’s actions, something you wouldn’t expect from Macbeth’s greatest friend. Another quote in this Act and even this same scene shows that Macbeth himself is starting to see himself losing it when he says, “Mine eyes are made the fools o’ the other senses, or else worth all the rest.” He realizes his guilt, panic, and paranoia is starting to get to him.
ACT III In Act III, the opening lines by Banquo leave no doubt in the mind of the audience: he knows Macbeth has done very foul deeds to become king and he proves this when he says, “I fear thou play’dst most foully for’t”. This line shows that even if the murderous act did not prove it, Macbeth is certainly more foul than fair at this point in the play. As if killing the king wasn’t enough to prove this
ACT I Macbeth changes immensely and several times throughout the play of the same name. When we meet Macbeth, through the conversation of Duncan, Malcolm, and a Sergeant after the Sergeant was injured. He says, “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name”, letting us know that Macbeth is a brave man and soldier. Later, in the same scene, Duncan adds to this, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!”, showing that yes, indeed, Macbeth is a good man. However, in the scene following this, Macbeth echoes a line spoken by the witches, the initial evil of the play, saying, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” This goes to show that while we are supposed to think Macbeth is a good man, he is also on the same page, as it were, with these evil witches.
ACT II In Act II, I think there is a very good line said by Banquo that shows that he knows his friend is not who he thought: “So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my boom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counsell’d.” Here, I see Banquo as saying that he knows Macbeth is up to something and he will be on his side…as long as Macbeth agrees to leave him out of it. I think this shows that Banquo is weary of his friend’s actions, something you wouldn’t expect from Macbeth’s greatest friend. Another quote in this Act and even this same scene shows that Macbeth himself is starting to see himself losing it when he says, “Mine eyes are made the fools o’ the other senses, or else worth all the rest.” He realizes his guilt, panic, and paranoia is starting to get to him.
ACT III In Act III, the opening lines by Banquo leave no doubt in the mind of the audience: he knows Macbeth has done very foul deeds to become king and he proves this when he says, “I fear thou play’dst most foully for’t”. This line shows that even if the murderous act did not prove it, Macbeth is certainly more foul than fair at this point in the play. As if killing the king wasn’t enough to prove this