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Macbeth Act 1 Analysis

858 Words4 Pages

Act I introduces Macbeth to the idea of power through the foresight of the witches. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a loyal general that serves the king; yet once he hears the prophecies, his transition from loyal to corrupt begins to take shape. The future the witches portray peaks Macbeth’s interests, as shown by his desire to know more which he states in these lines: “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more. /...Say from whence / You owe this strange intelligence, or why / Upon this blasted heath you stop our way / With such prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you” (1.3.71-79). As time progresses and Macbeth finds the first prophecy has come true, he invests his future in the idea of being king. Initially he presumed fate would make it so, but when Malcolm is announced to be the next king, his mindset shifts into the new possibility that he himself will have to make it so. This is the first insight into Macbeth’s mind that shows corruption …show more content…

Macbeth, however, seems to only take the message that he wants to hear from each one. This results in his downfall, for he does not see beneath the mask of the witches trickery; he is blinded by his current state as powerful king, and presumes he will stay that way. The murder of Macduff’s family represents the final stage of Macbeth’s corruption. No longer does Macbeth feel guilt or shame of any kind when performing the deadliest of sins, as he sentences the family to death simply because Macduff fled from Macbeth’s ruling;
From this moment
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand. And even now,
To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line.

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