Macbeth Act 1 NCGO

witches

wise

Can see into the future in a way, prophersize Macbeth's
future of being trhe Thaine of Cawdor

powerful

Can use their supernatural powers to commit
horrible deeds

"I’ll drain him dry as hay.
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid."

vengeful

Would murder a woman's husband because she did
insulted one of the witches

"But in a sieve I’ll thither sail,
And, like a rat without a tail,
I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do. " (ACT I, SCENE II, 10-12)

Macbeth

Protagonist

brave

As described by Malcom, Macbeth is brave for cutting a man
from belly to cheek

"For brave Macbeth,—well he deserves that name,—
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel,
Which smok’d with bloody execution, " (ACT I. SCENE II, 20-22)

Macbeth is brave enough to commit bloodshed

ambitious

Wants to kill Duncan or kill Malcom to rise above his station,
However has many doubts

"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,
Without my stir. " (ACT I, SCENE III, 156-157)

"The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’er-leap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires!
Let not light see my black and deep desires;
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see." (ACT I, SCENE IV, 58-64)

Macbeth decides on whether he should step down or
jump ahead of the other "next in line"'s and kill Malcom

doubtful

MacBeth has doubts on whether or not he should
kill Duncan

Lady Macbeth

extremely ambitious

Attempts to Pursuade Macbeth to go through
killing Duncan

would commit the act of killing Duncan herself
if she were not a woman

Brutal

Insults Macbeth's "manhood"

"What beast was’t, then,
That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it then you were a man;" (ACT I, SCENE VII, 55-57)

begs the spirits to "unsex" her

"unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top full
Of direst cruelty;"

Lady Macbeth wishes she is a man to fuel her ambition and
kill Duncan

Duncan

King of Scottland

"Gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend!
Say to the king the knowledge of the broil"

oblivious

oblivious to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's true intentions,
and assumes they are kind people to provide him with hospitality

Banquo

Does not trust easily

When the witches speak of Maxbeth's future,
Banquo believes he is hallucinating, and asks
the witches to tell Banquo his future if they really
can predict it.

"th' name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show?" (1*3*56-57)

person vs self

Macbeth constantly is battling within himself on whether
he should pursue a certain action or not

internal battle between whether he should Kill Malcom
and become a prince or give up the throne

internal battle on whether he should Kill Duncan and if
it's right for the people or not

person vs society

The Thain of Cawdor is a traitor going agianst Duncan

person vs person

Macbeth informs Lady Macbeth on how he does not
want to kill Duncan anymore

Lady Macbeth argues with Macbeth on this, claiming
he does not have a spark of manhood since he does not
want to kill Duncan anymore

Duncan, king of Scottland is at war with the King of Norway

weird witch place

where the witches meet

witches prophecized Macbeth's future

battlefield

Duncan appears at the battlefield because Scotland is at war
with Norway due to the Thain of Cawdor being a traitor

Macbeth's castle

Where Duncan takes hospitality

Macbeth has doubts on killing Duncan

Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth's manhood

ambition

Reveals Macbeth's ambition in becoming King

Reveals Lady Macbeth's ambition in aiding Macbeth

doubt

Macbeth has many doubts throughout the first act

reverse gender roles

Lady Macbeth shows greater ambition and lust for
power than her husband Macbethy

betrayal

The Thain of Cawdor betrays Duncan by conspiring
with the King of Norway, sending them into battle

"Norway himself,
With terrible numbers,
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor,
The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict;" (AC I, SCENE II, 61-64)