Macbeth’s speech (Act 1, scene 3, lines 128-142) is very important to the play’s plot. This is because of three reasons. Firstly, the first truth is told from the witches’ prophecies. Secondly, this extract shows Macbeth’s reaction to the first prophecy coming true in his thoughts. Lastly, his speech shows the start of Macbeth’s vaulting ambition.
The three witches revealed to Macbeth that he will soon become the Thane of Cawdor, and later onwards, the King. You see the plot slowly advancing when Macbeth is pronounced Thane of Cawdor by Ross and Angus, Kind Duncan’s messengers, (“happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme” Act 1, Scene 3, lines 129-130) Thus, with the first prophecy coming true, Macbeth’s trust for the witches becomes slightly stronger as he starts to believe that “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me”.
Macbeth’s speech shows his confusion and fear of what him becoming King could mean. Macbeth was confused between good and evil, for example ” If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success”. Here Macbeth is wondering, if this supernatural persuasion is wrong, then why has it given me the honour of becoming Thane of Cawdor. Another example, ” If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, and make my seated heart knock at my ribs”. Here, Macbeth is questioning, if this is right, then why am I so afraid.
The Essay on Macbeth – Written To Please King James
KING JAMES OF GREAT BRITAIN (And the design of Macbeth for his approval.) The late 16th century was a time of massive change for England, as old traditions were being discarded and new concepts discovered; in science, commerce, religion, technology – and perhaps most prominently, the arts. In 1603, Queen Elizabeth I, the major instigator of this change, died. James I, who until then had reigned ...
Macbeth is also afraid of what him soon to be becoming a King would mean to the present King, Duncan. If Macbeth were to be King, that would mean that both Duncan and his son Malcolm would have to die or be executed. Macbeth wasn’t as much thinking about what might happen to Duncan but rather, what Macbeth would do to him… murder.
This extract of the play reveals the start of Macbeth’s vaulting ambition. Macbeth’s ambition to kill Duncan and Malcolm and finally become King rises with every new scene. It shows that there is conflict between Macbeth’s ambition and his conscience. For example, in lines 139-141, its states “my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical shakes so my single state of man that function is smothered in surmise”. There he is firstly saying that the idea of murdering Duncan is fantastic, but then his conscience kicks in and tells him that he is too scared of doing so. However, his ambition steps forward and finishes Macbeth’s speech with “nothing is but what is not”.
Hence, this extract is very important to the rest of the play because the first of the two prophecies become true and thus this unfolds the plot, you are told of Macbeth’s reaction to this coming true and finally, the ambitious Macbeth begins.
