Act 1

• Key words to describe Macbeth in act 1

  Valiant, Noble, Heroic, Merciless, Violent, Callous, Malleable, Easily Deceived, Emasculated, Inferior, Reckless, Remorseful, Disregarding of the Divine Right of Kings
• Macbeth's influence by the witches

  Macbeth shows signs of influence both physically and orally. Firstly, his initial words in the play echo the Witches' paradox - "so foul and fair a day I have not seen", showing him slowly becoming a mouthpiece for the Witches evil, he is a vessel for their misconduct.

  Moreover, he states "doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs", showing both externally and viscerally the witches have rattled him. The phrase 'doth unfix my hair' could relate to the subtle motif of clothes as a symbol of power, deception, and identity.
• Macbeth influence by witches - hierarchical


  Macbeth questions - "Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Which suggests that he has been awarded a title which does not belong to him. It shows that throughout the play, as he moves through the hierarchical ranking it is superficial and transient (much like clothes) rather than an intrinsic role that he was destined to have.
• Introduction to Macbeth

  Macbeth's reputation precedes him as we learn about him first through others descriptions of him, which establisheestablishes him as a respected figure to emphasise his fall from grace - the descent from a reputable character to one that is abhorred, a key aspect of dramatic tragedy. This makes him a tragic hero.
• Introduction to Macbeth - others

  He is described as "valours minion", suggesting he strongly abides to codes of honour, alternatively, the noun "minion" could foreshadow his susceptibility to manipulation and how he will soon be a marionette of the witches.
• Introduction to Macbeth - others 2

  He is also depicted as violent - "disdaining fortune, smoked with bloody execution". This could suggest he is a relentless force in battle, so skilled his sword didn't have time to cool. Alternatively, 'smoked' could connote to heat and hell, foreshadowing his evil. The phrase 'disdaining fortune' develops this by showing a disregard for his fate, and his attempt to manipulate the natural order. This later becomes evident in his disruption of the Divine Right of Kings.
• Emasculation

  Later, her emasculation becomes explicit. She interrogates him with a rhetorical question - "Was the hope drunk? Wherein you dressed your self?" To ridicule and question his state of mind. This was calculated, as she gives him time to ponder and think about his actions - it is clear she wants to exploit his emotion of embarrassment or shame.

  She uses the epithet "coward", which threatens his entire sense of being as a soldier, not only is she questioning his masculinity, but also his livelihood.
• Emasculation 2

  She blackmails him and makes an example of herself to quantify his weaknesses - she claims she would have " dashed the brains out" of her own child if she's sworn to like Macbeth had sworn to commit the murder. The merciless act of rejecting maternal inclinations characterises Lady Macbeth as violent and determined - she effectively competes with Macbeth who as a man of that era couldn't be weaker than a women.
• Atypical relationship with Lady M

  His initial stoic presentation is starkly juxtaposed with his mass emasculation. His wife, typically synonymous with subservience, makes him her inferior. Lady Macbeth mobilizes the plot of regicide through her manipulation and emasculation of Macbeth. Initially, she belitles him, saying his "face" is "a book where men may read strange matters", she mocks the candidness of his expression. This introduces her manipulation as it portrays Macbeth as weak and vulnerable - these were qualities which fail to align with the ideal masculine archetype of the era.
• Atypical relationship with Lady M 2

  She indirectly questions his ability to fulfill his role, and it would almost be embarrassing and atypical for him to have to be instructed by a woman. She utilises flattery, hailing him "worthy cawdor", echoing the Witches "hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!" Thus, Macbeth has almost harvested two relationships with supernatural entities, who have governed him, both of which are female. His submissive nature to women is the antithesis to the patriarchal norms within society.
• Atypical relationship with Lady M 3

  In the early 17th century, the dominance of men was deeply engrained in society, and not interchangeable. Shakespeare contorts this to elicit fear within his audience - is the barbarity of women an atypical trope or just