Macbeth Noblemen

Question 1

Duncan, King of Scotland

Answer 1

Quote 1: “What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won.”
Impact: Duncan’s murder sets the play’s events in motion. His murder at the hands of Macbeth creates a sense of chaos and instability in Scotland, leading to Macbeth’s rise to power and subsequent downfall. Duncan’s character represents the legitimate rule and order that Macbeth disrupts through his ambition and treachery.

Question 2

Macbeth, Thane of Glamis and King of Scotland

Answer 2

Quote 2: “Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”
Impact: Macbeth’s character undergoes a transformation from a loyal and honorable nobleman into a tyrant consumed by ambition and guilt. His actions, particularly the murder of Duncan and subsequent killings, drive the plot forward and reflect themes of ambition, power, and the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition.

Question 3

MacDuff, Thane of Fife

Answer 3

Quote 3: “O nation miserable, with an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered.”
Impact: Macduff serves as a foil to Macbeth, representing loyalty to Scotland and its rightful ruler. His determination to overthrow Macbeth motivates him to flee to England to seek help from Malcolm and eventually leads to Macbeth’s downfall. Macduff’s character highlights the theme of loyalty to country and the consequences of betraying it.

Question 4

Lennox

Answer 4

Role: Lennox is a Scottish nobleman who appears throughout the play as a minor character.
Quote: “The night has been unruly. Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard i’ the air, strange screams of death, And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion and confused events New hatched to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Some say the earth Was feverous and did shake.”
Impact: While Lennox’s role is not as prominent as some other characters, his presence adds to the atmosphere of chaos and disorder that permeates the play. He provides commentary on the unnatural events occurring in Scotland under Macbeth’s rule and indirectly contributes to the sense of unease and foreboding.

Question 5

Ross

Answer 5

Role: Ross is another Scottish nobleman who is a minor character in the play.
Quote: “And, for an earnest of a greater honor, He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor. In which addition, hail, most worthy thane, For it is thine.”
Impact: Ross plays a small but important role in the plot by delivering news and messages to other characters. He informs Macbeth of his new title as Thane of Cawdor, setting in motion Macbeth’s ambitious thoughts of kingship. Additionally, Ross provides insight into the state of Scotland and the growing opposition to Macbeth’s rule.

Question 6

Angus

Answer 6

Role: Angus is yet another Scottish nobleman who appears sporadically in the play.
Quote: “Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe Upon a dwarfish thief.”
Impact: Angus, like Ross, serves as a messenger and delivers important information to other characters. His commentary on Macbeth’s reign reflects the growing discontent among the nobility and contributes to the audience’s understanding of Macbeth’s deteriorating grip on power.