Macdonwald In Macbeth

Many minor characters in the play have a symbolic importance allowing the play to advance further or make parallels between characters. One important minor character in the play is Macdonwald. He was the leader of rebel forces against the King of Scotland allying with the King of Norway in their war. Macbeth defeated him in battle at the beginning of the play. He was not presented in the play physically, but the audience comes to know him in Act I, Scene ii, line 1 when Duncan calls the wounded sergeant bringing messages from the war as the “bloody man” as he brought the news of Macdonwald’s death. The soldier recounts in Act I, Scene ii, lines 9-25:

“Doubtful it stood,

As two spent swimmers that do cling together

And choke their art. The

This ferocity and ruthlessness showed how strong Macbeth was in battle. The soldier seemed to marvel in awe and praised him as he gave Macbeth titles such as “brave”. Duncan was impressed with his cousin, however gave little attention to Banquo. As a result of his victory, Macbeth was given new titles such as Thane of Cawdor. This victory serves as the beginning of Macbeth’s downfall eventually fulfilling the witches’ prophesies leading to his demise. The winning strategy of Macdonwald was the root cause for killing Duncan which led Macbeth to rule the state and ruin himself through all of his killings. Symbolically, like Macdonwald, Macbeth becomes a traitor serving as a symbol for ultimate evil within the play. Macbeth, who began the play as a worthy savior from a dreaded enemy, later became under the name of Thane of Cawdor, the symbol of

He was a nobleman of Scotland and Macduff’s cousin. He serves as the messenger in the play, bringing both bad and good news. He eventually turned on Macbeth and chose to side with Malcolm and the English forces. In Act I, Scene 2 Ross told Duncan about the progress of the war, that the Thane of Cawdor was one of the traitors, and about the bravery and victories of Macbeth. This is significant because it fulfilled the witches’ prophecy. In Act 1, Scene 3 he met up with Macbeth and told him that Duncan was very pleased with him and that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. By providing Macbeth his new title, it began the root cause of his desire to become king and kill Duncan. In Act 2, Scene 4 he converses with an old man on the night of Duncan’s murder saying that it was an awful night, how the King’s horses were restless, and who was suspected of the murder. In Act 4, Scene 2, Ross tried to explain Macduff’s actions of leaving his family to go the England in order to help free Scotland from Macbeth’s rule to Macduff’s scared and irritated wife. He also advised her to flee as well. Later in the scene, Ross traveled to England to tell Macduff the terrible news of the slaughter of whole family sent by Macbeth. This information creates the wish in Macduff to kill Macbeth and fulfill the prophecies of the apparitions. And finally in Act 5, Scene 8 Ross delivered his last piece of news to Siward to inform him that his son has been killed by