Beginning with the witches' assertion that the fair is foul and the foul is fair, it is clear that Macbeth is a play in which appearances will be misleading and morality will be confused. From the dialogue between King Duncan, Malcolm and the wounded sergeant in scene 2, it would seem that Macbeth is the most just of all the characters mentioned, while Macdonwald, the thane of Cawdor, who betrayed the Scots, is the most filthy. This can be inferred mainly from the sergeant's conversation with Duncan in scene 2, in which he describes Macbeth's bravery in fighting against the ruthless Macdonwald. The injured sergeant describes Macbeth as brave, then tells the king that he deserves the name. King Duncan echoes the sergeant's admiration with his response: O valiant cousin! Worthy sir! In the following lines, the sergeant describes Macbeth's relentless assault on the enemy and compares the scale of his massacre to another Golgotha, which is the place where Christ was crucified. On the other hand, Macdonwald is spoken of with disgust, and as the reader is only aware of the Scottish point of view, we share their disdain. According to the injured sergeant, Macdonwald deserves to be a rebel, which contrasts with his later assertion that Macbeth well deserves to be called courageous. Macdonwald is depicted as surrounded by the villains of nature and Fortune is personified as the rebel's whore. Despite the fact that fortune is on Macdonwald's side, the sergeant explains that his cause was too weak to withstand Macbeth's onslaught. When it is finally reported that the treacherous traitor Macdonwald has been defeated, Duncan joyfully proclaims that his title will be taken from him and given to Macbeth. That being said, however, it is important that the theme of the play, fair is foul and foul is fair, is kept in mind when reading this scene. The very fact that Macbeth seems so righteous is a clue that he actually has a foul heart. What Macdonwald lost and what he gained may include the betrayal of the former Thane of Cawdor as well as his title. It is this contrast between an appearance of fairness and a reality of filth that will dominate the rest of the play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get original essayBanquo seems to counterbalance Macbeth's character by acting as the voice of reason in their dealings with the mysterious witches in scene 3. Both men answer the question. appearance of the three witches with curiosity, but Banquo demonstrates a level of caution not demonstrated by Macbeth. Macbeth seems excited upon seeing the witches, assuming the event to be a supernatural solicitation, but Banquo is quick to remind him that the instruments of darkness attempt to win us over with honest trifles.... While Macbeth is quick to agree the words of witches. , Banquo is reluctant, first wondering if the devil can tell the truth? He doubts the reality of what he sees and goes so far as to ask Macbeth if we have eaten mad root? Perhaps the greatest contrast between Banquo and Macbeth is how they deal with the prophecy after hearing it. Almost immediately, Macbeth begins to take matters into his own hands and comes up with a plan to carry out the witches' predictions himself. In contrast, Banquo describes himself as someone who neither demands nor fears your favor nor your hatred. Banquo is able to accept events as they happen and does little to take control of destiny. At the same time, he recognizes that his friend Macbeth is delighted by what he has heard and reports that new horrors are befalling him. Obviously,Banquo does not experience these horrors, because he does not have to hope for the murder of his king, like Macbeth. In scene 4, it is evident that Macbeth is plotting to fulfill the prophecy that he will become king through murder. Duncan. The challenges facing Macbeth are further heightened this act, when Duncan names Malcolm as his official heir. Macbeth describes Malcolm as a step upon which I must fall or leap, and realizes that he must carry out his plans with all haste if he is to become king. Thus, his motivation in leaving for Inverness before the king is not respect or gratitude, but the first step in his murderous plot. By arriving at the castle before Duncan, he will have time to plan the murder of the king and consult his wife, Lady Macbeth, before the deed is committed. This scene also alludes to the level of influence that Lady Macbeth has over her husband's actions, as he uses her as the reason why he must act as a harbinger and make my wife's hearing joyful. While Macbeth has already toyed with the idea of ​​murdering Duncan, it is Lady Macbeth who acts as the catalyst for his misdeeds. In scene 5, she wastes no time in presenting herself as a murderous, power-hungry woman, determined to push her husband toward success, presumably for her own glorification. Lady Macbeth recognizes that her husband may be too full of the milk of human kindness to follow through on his plans, and appeals to the spirits of evil to rid her of his compassion and fill her... with the greatest cruelty. When she discovers that the king is arriving the next morning, she becomes ecstatic and declares that tomorrow's sun will never see! She then begins to coach Macbeth on how to behave the next day: welcome in your eyes, your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent beneath it. These lines illustrate a key aspect of Macbeth's relationship. and Lady Macbeth. In scene 2, the wounded sergeant gives an account of Macbeth's bravery and excessive brutality on the battlefield, graphically describing how Macbeth undid an enemy's seams and left his head atop the battlements. It seems that Macbeth is outwardly brave and brutal, but perhaps a little barbaric in his thoughts. It therefore seems that Lady Macbeth is the mastermind of the operation. She has mastered subtlety, which Macbeth lacks, and that is why she must tell him precisely how to behave the next day. Until now, Macbeth had no clear plan for Duncan's murder; now his wife intends to come up with a cunning plan. She concludes the scene by saying, leave everything else to me, demonstrating that Macbeth may be more dependent on his wife's trickery than he realizes. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a custom paper essay In scene 7, Macbeth begins to doubt the morality of killing his king, and his conscience compels him to tell Lady Macbeth that she will take this matter no further. Lady Macbeth, however, does not allow her husband to think twice about their plot and begins to belittle him until he finally relents. His arguments are not logic, but demonstrate a clever manipulation of Macbeth's emotional state. She calls him a coward and mocks his manhood, then informs him that from this moment on, I consider your love as such. Essentially, this line means that she will measure Macbeth's love for her based on what he chooses to do in the present case. The threats to Macbeth's manhood are particularly embarrassing, especially in light of the praise he received as a soldier early in the..