Act 1 Scene 2


Scene Summary 


King Duncan meets soldiers and noblemen who tell him that the rebels and invaders who threatened his rule have been defeated.


 The former Thane of Cawdor is condemned to death for his treachery. 


A camp near Forres. Alarum1


DUNCAN What bloody man2


.


Duncan instructs Ross to give Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor as a reward for his bravery in battle.


within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding SERGEANT


is that? He can report,


As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state3


MALCOLM This is the sergeant


Who like a good and hardy soldier fought 'Gainst my captivity4


. Hail, brave friend!


Say to the king the knowledge of the broil5 As thou didst leave it.


SERGEANT Doubtful it stood;6


As two spent swimmers, that do cling together And choke their art.7


10


Worthy to be a rebel, for to that The multiplying villanies of nature Do swarm upon him – from theWestern Isles9 Of kerns and gallowglasses10


is supplied;


And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,11 Showed like a rebel's whore12


carved out his passage 12 : but all's too weak:13


For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, LikeValour's minion14


20


Till he faced the slave;15 Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements.16


DUNCAN O valiant cousin!17


worthy gentleman! 13 14 15 The merciless Macdonwald8 – 11 10 3 4


1 Alarum: trumpets 2


bloody man: The visual spectacle of the wounded sergeant effectively establishes the backdrop of war. Images of blood occur throughout the play.


newest state: latest news (of the battle)


’Gainst my captivity: prevented my capture


5 broil: brawl (the battle) 6


7


Doubtful it stood: The outcome was uncertain.


As two spent…choke their art: Like two exhausted swimmers holding onto each other and drowning as a result


8 Macdonwald: a rebel leader 9 Western Isles: Ireland


kerns and gallowglasses: Kerns were Irish foot soldiers. Gallowglasses were soldiers on horseback.


Fortune…smiling: Fortune (fate/luck) at first favoured Macdonwald.


rebel’s whore: Fortune prostituted herself to the rebels.


all’s too weak: Even Fortune was too weak to defeat Macbeth.


Valour’s minion: Bravery’s favourite


Disdaining…slave: Treating fortune with contempt, Macbeth wielded his sword and fought his way through the rebels till he faced Macdonwald.


16


Till he unseamed…battlements: Until he cut him from the navel to his jaw and placed his decapitated head upon the parapet


17


valiant cousin: brave cousin, Macbeth is cousin to Duncan


7


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