act 1

• play starts dramatically with thunder and lightning - pathetic fallacy for the three witches
• shakespeare uses a collective of 3 witches, close and uniform, seemingly to be one person. triad is strength chorus figures.
• "When the battles lost and won" - Shakespeare wanted to suggest when we have achieved stability and won the war and someone is announced to be the winner, our lives will reach a point of equilibrium
• "fair is foul, and foul is fair" - phrase claims to be chanted, the alliteration of "f" contrasts to the hard sound of the consonant breaking the rhythm (suspense and hidden threat)
• "sparrows, eagles.. hare, lion" - macbeth and banquo are presented as fearless and mighty, like predators to prey. they're on top of their hierarchy, with high respectability
• "memorise another Golgotha" - Golgatha being the place of Jesus' death being compared to Macbeth shows how it could possibly be another death of a tragic hero
• "why do you dress me in borrow'd robes?" - metaphor, the verb "borrow'd" has connotations of misfit, wearing something that doesn't belong to you. to borrow is not to own, suggests Macbeth isnt the right person for being thane of cawdor and won't stay in the throne for long.
• when Macbeth is told he'll be king, he falls victim to the glory that comes alongside being a thane. we learn his weakness which is he's too ambitious, which as a tragic hero will be his downfall.
• "as happy prologues to the swelling act" - 'swelling' suggests Macbeth's intesity/greatness is growing. it's abnormally rising, foreshadowing a future leading to Macbeth becoming king.
• "my dearest partner of greatness" - Macbeth sees Banquo as a rival, but also someone who can help him achieve power. This quote shows how Macbeth views Banquo as a potential obstacle to his ambition.
• "he was a gentleman on whom i built, an absolute trust" - this shows Duncan is a compassionate and loving person who is close with his friends and forms close relationships - a friendly leader
• Shakespeare depicts Duncan as an appreciative and royalty worth king and leader. Him being king, still portrays him as respectful and not demanding of anything. He chases to earn the respect of his people