Scene V shifts now to Inverness, Macbeth's castle. If Macbeth plots against him, he will likely never see it coming. This is some clear foreshadowing, or a hint of what is to come, because it shows how Duncan is overly trusting. Some of Duncan's character is also revealed here as he remarks upon his own inability to judge people accurately he confesses that he had trusted the MacDonwald completely. Duncan announces his plans to celebrate at Macbeth's castle, and Macbeth departs before everyone else in order to make the necessary preparations. Though Macbeth outwardly celebrates with all of Duncan's followers, he inwardly knows that Malcolm is an obstacle to be overcome if he wants to be king. At this time, Duncan publically declares Malcolm to be his heir. Cawdor has been executed for his betrayal of his king, and Duncan's son, Malcolm, reports that Cawdor went bravely to his death and confessed to all of his crimes. The following scene in this act takes place at Duncan's castle. He wonders if the crown will fall to him through the nature course of circumstance or if he would have to take action to make it so. This sets him wondering how the final part of the prophecy-Macbeth as king-might also come true. Macbeth is shocked because it seems to him that the witch's prophecy has come true in part. Ross, having just come from the king, tells Macbeth that Duncan bestows upon him the title of Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth demands an explanation from the witches, but they disappear into thin air.īanquo and Macbeth discuss this strange occurrence but they are interrupted by the arrival of Ross and Angus. Laughing, Banquo demands his own fortune of them, and the witches tell Banquo he will be both greater and lesser than Macbeth because his sons shall be kings. Here, the audience knows that Duncan is already planning to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, but Macbeth has no idea.įinally, the witches hail Macbeth as future king. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that a character does not. Macbeth is, of course, puzzled by this, not knowing why they would greet him by another man's title. However, the witches then hail him as Thane of Cawdor. The witches greet Macbeth by calling him Thane of Glamis-the title that he already holds. Macbeth and Banquo stumble across these witches, commenting that they "look not like th' inhabitants o' th' earth," meaning they look supernatural in their appearance. Clearly, these witches are not pleasant beings. One remarks that she has been off killing swine, while another tells how she is plotting revenge on a woman's husband because the woman refused to give the witch some of the chestnuts she was snacking on. The discussion between the witches here is quite revealing about their characters.
The following scene then shifts again, this time to a location near the battlefield, where the witches have gathered once more. As a reward, King Duncan determines to give Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor and sends Ross as his messenger to deliver to news to Macbeth. A captain reports having seen Macbeth and Banquo fight bravely against the rebels and, in particular, Macbeth killed the traitorous MacDonwald. The king has also been pitted against an army from Norway, allied with the Thane of Cawdor. Scene II then pans over to a recent battle between King Duncan of Scotland and a group of invaders, led by a rebel named MacDonwald. This is an idea that will be echoed time and time again in the play. One of the witches also utters a key phrase in this scene stating, "fair is foul and foul is fair." Basically, this idea means that good is bad and bad is good or, in other words, that nothing is exactly as it seems or as it should be. The witches, supernatural and powerful, are dangerous just as the raging storm is. Weather in Shakespeare plays is often notable, and this is certainly the case here. The sisters gather round and make plans to confront Macbeth while a storm rages in the background. Scene I of Act I of Macbeth begins with three witches or, as they are referred to in the play on some occasions, the three weird sisters.
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