Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3 Notes

Act 1 Scene 3: Notes

I) Banquo acts as a foil/contrast to Macbeth

Similarities between the two:

1) both are successful Scottish generals and noblemen (refer to Ross’ speech describing Macbeth’s bravery on the battlefield)

2) both have predictions of greatness made for them and, therefore, are exposed to same temptation (refer to the witches’ prophecies)

Their different reactions to the witches’ prophecies

Macbeth’s reactions	Banquo’s reactions
Banquo: Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? ….. - Macbeth is shocked and frightened by the prophecies - suggests he already harbours evil thoughts – the prophecies express aloud his guilty thoughts - hints at the moral weakness in his character Banquo: My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction Of noble having and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal: ….. Macbeth: Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: ….. Macbeth: Into the air, and what seemed corporal Melted, as breath into the wind. Would they had stayed. - Macbeth’s brooding over the prophecies, his eagerness to learn more about them, the regret as well as amazement he felt when the witches disappear reveal his great interest in them - reinforces the idea that he is morally weak as prophecies are tempting to him since they appeal to his evil desire	Banquo: If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate. - Banquo shows no fear- only a natural curiosity and skepticism about the witches’ ability to predict the future – suggests he has no evil thoughts - indicates he is morally upright / virtuous Banquo: The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them. Whither are they vanished? Is amazed, perhaps, even confounded, by witches’ sudden disappearance – shows no interest in finding out more about their prophecies for him - suggests he does not take their predictions seriously - reinforces the idea that he is honourable and virtuous – there is no evil ambition in him for the prophecies to appeal to
Macbeth: [Aside] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind. ….. Macbeth: [Aside] Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme …. Macbeth: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair …My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical ….. - Macbeth is susceptible to the witches’ influence - he is inclined to believe the prophecies as they seem to promise him the crown of Scotland - encourages him to act on his evil thoughts about murdering Duncan to attain it -reveals Macbeth’s consuming ambition to be king and confirms his moral weakness - shows he is superstitious as he believes in witches and their ability to predict the future	Banquo: What, can the devil speak true? - does not trust the witches whom he regards as evil since they are associated with the devil - is wary of their prophecies - shows he is less superstitious – though he, too, believes in the existence of witches, he did not believe or trust their predictions and is amazed/shocked when one of them comes true
Macbeth: [Aside] This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good: If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? …. - is inclined to believe in the predictions because 1 of them has come true – shows he is foolish/lacks wisdom as he ignores Banquo’s warning not to trust the witches and their prophecies	Banquo: That trusted home Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange: 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. - warns Macbeth against trusting the witches who are “instruments of darkness” – regards them as evil beings whose intentions are ultimately to destroy man by tempting him to do evil – shows Banquo is wise

Another aspect of Macbeth’s character

5) has a vivid imagination and a conscience

- his imagination conjures up such a vivid picture of himself murdering Duncan that he is paralysed by sheer horror – the “horrid image” makes his “seated heart knocked at his ribs” and “doth unfix my hair” and how “function is smothered in surmise”

- his conscience acts through his imagination – struggle between conscience and ambition - his horror at committing murder comes more from the evil of the act than the act itself – as a warrior, he is used to and unafraid to kill – Ross describes Macbeth as not fearing the “Strange images of death” he made on the battlefield – able to kill so fearlessly because his conscience is clear since he is doing it for country and king

II) Themes

1) Theme of Supernatural and its link to Theme of Evil Vs Good

- Macbeth’s internal struggle between good and evil

- the contrast between Macbeth and Banquo’s reactions to the prophecies

- Witches being symbolic of evil forces present in the world which are out to

tempt and corrupt the human soul to do evil

2) Theme of Appearance Vs Reality

- the prophecies which appear “so fair” but are actually temptations to do evil

which would ultimately “win us to our harm”

- the irony of Macbeth being bestowed the Thane of Cawdor since the present

Thane is a traitor who has “labour’d in his country’s wrack” (Why is this ironical?)