Act 1 scene 6

• Act 1 scene 6 of William Shakespeare's Macbeth is the calm before the storm, where Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle unaware of the plotting and scheming going on inside.
• The scene is ironic in its entirety, with Duncan praising the beauty of the castle where he is to be murdered.
• Duncan speaks very generously about the castle, describing it as having a pleasant seat, air, and a sweetly recommending itself unto our gentle senses.
• While praising the beauty of his surroundings, Duncan also speaks warmly to Lady Macbeth, indicating his love and respect for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
• The scene is here to build up the shock the audience will feel when the king is finally murdered.
• Duncan feels as safe as he possibly could in this place, and Lady Macbeth is skilled at appearing like a flower but being the serpent underneath.
• The final image of the scene is the honored hostess leading the king by the hand to his own grave, another example of dramatic irony where the audience knows something that the characters on stage do not.
• Duncan's presumption that Macbeth rode ahead at speed to prepare for his kingly visit is true in one sense, but the audience knows that Macbeth wanted to prepare for Duncan's murder and not his reception.
• The scene is short but packs a punch, and the series is ongoing.