The play then switches to King Duncan of Scotland’s military camp, located close to his palace in Forres. The king speaks to a wounded captain (who was wounded helping the King’s son Malcolm escape the fighting), seeking an update regarding the Scots’ battle with the Irish invaders who are led by Macdonwald, a rebel. The captain tells the king how the Scottish general Macbeth and Banquo bravely overcame Macdonwald, with Macbeth killing Macdonwald and placing the rebel’s head on the castle’s battlements. The thane of Ross then enters as the the captain is taken away to be treated to, revealing... (More)

Macbeth, despite influences of the witches and Lady Macbeth, is responsible for his downfall. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth is a tragic hero who destroys himself by his own wicked and selfish ambitions. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a courageous, noble hero of Scotland who has bravely won the war. As the story continues, Macbeth soon becomes a tyrant king who is willing to murder anyone who becomes a threat to his kingdom.

As the play begins, Macbeth proves himself to be a hero as he demonstrates his bravery and courage. He is praised... (More)

Brave, Noble Soldier

• “Till he unseam’d him from his nave to his chaps”
• “Bellona’s bridegroom”
• “Noble macbeth”
• “Valour’s minion”

Ambitious, but not ruthless

• “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition”
• “I do fear thy nature, it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness that should attend it”

Loves his wife

• “My dearest partner of greatness”
• “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”
• “Bring forth men children only”

Deceptive

• “Stars, hide your fires, let... (More)

Act 1

• Fair is foul, and foul is fair – The Witches (Act 1, Scene 1)

• If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, speak. – Banquo (Act 1, Scene 3)

• And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence. – Banquo (Act 1, Scene 3)

• If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me. – Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 3)

• There’s no art to find... (More)