Macbeth: Shakespeare

How is the character of Macbeth presented in the play from 1:1 to 1:5?

Shakespeare first introduces us to the character of Macbeth through the words of others. In the opening Scene of the play the audience is first introduced to three witches who first utter the name of Macbeth. In the contemporary time witches were believed to have supernatural powers, this leads the audience to believe Macbeth is either evil or cursed by the witches. For example, in Act 1 Scene 1 the witches chant "Fair is foul, and foul is fair", later in Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeths first spoken words echo the witches saying, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen". This enforces the idea that Shakespeare intends Macbeth to be portrayed as cursed by the witches. Later in Act 1 Scene 3 the witches each address Macbeth in different ways "Thane of Glamis", "thane of Cawdor" and as "King hereafter". The audience and Macbeth both know that he is Thane of Glamis already but what only the audience knows is that Macbeth has also become Thane of Cawdor in Act 1 Scene 2. Here the witches have prophesied this already. This shows that Macbeth is intended to be put in a dark light for the audience.

Shakespeare does not only portray Macbeth as dark and evil due to the witches but also as brave from the Captain. For example, in Act 1 Scene 2, he reports how Macbeth fought in the battle saying, "Distaining fortune, with his brandished steel" and "Carved out his passage". He is saying Macbeth has no fear of dying and he is ruthless. This seems brutal and heartless to a modern audience but for a contemporary audience this is what the ideal fighter would be like on a battlefield. Coming from a reliable source like the Captain this makes that audience unsure of what to believe now. The uncertainty is increased when Duncan, the king of Scotland, agrees with the Captain in Act 1 Scene 2 saying "O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman" and "noble Macbeth hath won". The King is noble and of a high stature and contemporary audiences are prone to believe anything he is going to say. This sheds a positive light on Macbeth again, but the audience still has the first shock of Macbeth being a cursed being in their minds. Shakespeare uses the negative first impression to leave the audience uncertain.

The first physical appearance of Macbeth is in Act 1 Scene 3. The first impression of Macbeths behavior comes across to the audience as curious. For example, he says, "Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more" and "Speak, I charge you". This putts the impression on Macbeth that he is brave for wanting to speak more with the witches but leaves the audience questioning why Macbeth would be drawn to them. In an aside in Act 1 Scene 3 Macbeth starts imagining that he could kill the King, this was a crime in contemporary times so the audience is again left unsure of what nature Macbeth has. For example, Macbeth thinks "Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair". Here he sees himself killing and becoming the king, but this makes his hair bristle out of fear or excitement, the audience does not know which. The audience now knows that Macbeth has these evil thoughts is him and they are led to believe that the witches curse may have worked even though the King of Scotland thinks differently.

Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as two-faced. He is a noble and honorable fighter on the outside yet has horrible and gruesome ideas of killing the king inside him. Duncan says "To find the mind's construction in the face" in Act 1 Scene 4. This explains Macbeths two faced nature. He has a dark and unsure inner side but does not let that show on his face and actions. Macbeth thinks in an aside in Act 1 Scene 4 "Let not light see my black and deep desires;" This shows that he wants darkness and the witches to be with him inside, but he feels shame because he is so treasonous with his thinking standing next to Duncan, his King. These thoughts are in Macbeths mind when Duncan says "Peerless Kingsman" to Macbeth. Duncan thinks he is loyal without comparison and he is on the outside. Now the audience, contemporary as well as modern, sees how Macbeth is inside and out and this sheds a negative light on Macbeth. Shakespeare used this technique to leave the audiences wondering whether Macbeth is strong enough emotionally to commit this terrible crime or whether he will need the persuading of others. This creates suspense and leaves the audience wanting to continue watching the play.