Macbeth Act 1, Scene 2

Question 1

Structure:

Answer 1

Scene 2 is a contrast to the eerie opening scene. Shakespeare now introduces the audience to the brutality of the battlefield.
Scene 2 gives audience important information to understand the rest of the play.
Shakespeare presents Macbeth and, to a lesser extent, Banquo through the opinions of other people. The audience haven’t yet met Macbeth and so their view of him is based on what the other characters say. They are described through their actions in battle.

Question 2

What affect does introducing Macbeth through other people have?

Answer 2

• It adds anticipation for when the audience actually do get to meet Macbeth. The play is named after him so the audience will be eagerly waiting to meet him.
• It also shows how well Macbeth is respected by the other Noblemen in Scotland. This gives what happens in the rest of the play more drama and impact.

Question 3

How is Macbeth portrayed in this scene?

Answer 3

Macbeth is portrayed as a hero and loyal to his country.
The Captain/Sergeant describes Macbeth as:
“brave”
“he deserves that name”
“smok’d with bloody execution” this describes how Macbeth was so skilled at battle that his sword didn’t have chance to cool down with all the killing he was doing.
The sergeant and Duncan describe him as “brave” and “valiant” (shows courage and determination)

Question 4

What’s the tone in this scene?

Answer 4

It’s displays the violence and brutality in the world of Macbeth. It’s fierce, aggressive and masculinity is praised though success on the battlefield. The more one kills the more masculine one is perceived.

Question 5

Characters in this scene

Answer 5

The wounded sergeant is key to this scene. He has returned from battle to tell Duncan and the audience what has happened. He conveys the brutal acts of Macbeth on the battlefield.

Question 6

Language Technique

Answer 6

Irony - in this scene they celebrate Macbeth’s blood thirsty nature. He cut the traitor Macdonald “from the nave to the chops”. This violence is ironic as it eventually leads to Macbeth’s downfall.

Imagery - “smok’d with bloody execution” - brutal imagery to show how relentless Macbeth was on the battlefield. His sword never cooled down from one killing to the next.

Question 7

Literary Device

Answer 7

Paradox - Shakespeare creates an interesting paradox in Scottish Nobleman, the Thane of Cawdor who betrayed Scotland and sided with the King of Norway.
He’s stripped of his title which is then given to Macbeth as a reward for his bravery and loyalty. Here the audience is meant to see the contrast between the disloyal, treasonous Thane of Cawdor and the loyalty and bravery of Macbeth.

Foreshadowing - By the end of the play however the Thane of Cawdor and Macbeth are very similar with Macbeth going on to betray his king and his country.

Question 8

Theme

Answer 8

• Reality and Appearance: The audience listens to a description of Macbeth as “brave” and “valiant. Remember the the last line of the 1st scene though “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. The Witches warned the audience that things may not be as they seem. This suggests that the “Worthy” Macbeth might not be as good as the characters believe.
• Brutal and violent world of Macbeth through the description of events on the battlefield. The King and other characters find the brutal actions of Macbeth as admirable and praiseworthy.
  This is reinforced when Duncan orders the death of Cawdor in 5 words:
  “Go pronounce his present death” it’s just done with no sentimentality.

Question 9

Key quotes

Answer 9

The sergeant describes how Macbeth carves a path through soldiers of the rebel forces, found MacDonald, the rebel leader and
“unseamed him from the nave to th’chops,
And fixed his head upon our battlements.”
This essentially means unzipped him from his belly to his chin, chopped off his head, put it on a stake.
This displays the violent and brutal world of Macbeth. This is reinforced by the admiration of the King and other characters who deem this as praiseworthy.

Little value is placed on life in this brutal world as Duncan orders Cawdor’s death in 5 words:
“Go pronounce his present death”. The lack of sentimentality reinforces this aggressive and violent world.

“What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won”