Act 1, Scene 4

Summary

• Duncan thanks Macbeth for his service then announces Malcolm as his heir.

Quotes

• The first character in the play to recognise that looks can be deceiving.

• Foreshadows the central theme during the play - nothing is as it seems.

• Duncan trusted Macdonwald.

• Links to his trust towards Macbeth and the betrayal.

• Irony.

• Macbeth is walking onto the stage during this time, implying he could be another traitorous Thane of Cawdor.

• Presents Duncan as a humble, good character.

• He wishes he deserved less, so that his thanks would be equal to what he deserves.

• Dramatic irony shows Macbeth will not be worthy of this hyperbolic praise.

• Extended metaphor of plants.

• Shows that Duncan sees it as his duty to nurture people who are loyal to him.

• He might see Macbeth as a potential successor, suggesting his fate might make Macbeth king without him doing anything.

• Duncan is good, generous, and humble - he plans to honour all who deserves it.

• Macbeth acknowledges that Malcolm is an obstacle in his way to the throne.

• He is determined to knock everything out of his way and become king.

• He wants to achieve the role of king.

• Extended metaphor of stars.

• He wants to be hidden by the darkness.

• The light might reveal his dark intentions.

• Feared.

• ‘black’ - connotations of death, suffering, and evil.

• ‘deep’ - connotations of the unknown, something that should be hidden, hinting at evil intentions.

• ‘desires’ - connotations of something that is good, it is a natural feeling rather than a willingness to become evil - it is not Macbeth’s fault he feels this way, or so he would like to believe. Macbeth is constantly reassuring himself that this is a good thing to do, and that he is not truly evil. He refuses to believe that he is the problem.

• Hiding knowledge.

• Secretive.

• During Macbeth’s evil soliloquy, Banquo and Duncan were praising Macbeth.

• Irony.

• Boosting the ego of Macbeth.

• The audience is shocked as they have just heard Macbeth’s murderous intentions, yet have straight after heard him being praised - the antithesis of who he truly is.