Description of the scenes in Act 1 as well as the themes in Act 1:
Act 1 Scene 1: the involvement and influence from other-worldly powers, the fight against other-worldly powers, evil, war, and betrayal/treachery, and trust.
Act 1 Scene 2: war, wartime loss, patriotism, betrayal/treachery, and trust.
Act 1 Scene 3: the involvement and influence of other-worldly powers, the fight against other-worldly powers, war, wartime loss, evil, trust, and betrayal/treachery.
Act 1 Scene 4: war, evil, betrayal/treachery, and trust.
Explanation:
Act 1 Scene 1 Explanation:
The key words and actions that indicate this are:
1) The characters are witches that can fly and use their powers - this is what is meant when they say "anon" (which means until then.. is often used when saying goodbye) and "paddock calls" is what is said when evil beings/spirits or mythical creatures are going to complete their task.. a paddock is an area where you keep cattle and horses on a ranch.. this tells us that the witches can turn into different creatures and animals. This basically means that they are leaving and will use their powers to do achieve their objectives.
If you look up this phrase through the website shakespeare online you will read that "During the Renaissance it was believed that the d-e-v-i-l sent witches malicious spirits to help them carry out their evil deeds. These 'familiars' or 'imps' would appear in animal form.."
This hints that the witches will carry out the evil deeds using their granted powers and forms to alter the actions of the main protagonist.
2) When the third witch states, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air."
This indicates that the witches plan to cause chaos in the story, and the second statement "Hover through the" basically means that they are flying away (leaving) and will return to enact their plan.
Act 1 Scene 2 Explanation:
The key words and actions that support my
1) When the scene starts the main characters enter and discuss the honor of a soldier who valiantly (bravely) fought for the rule of the king and his sons (Duncan, and his son Malcolm).. as well as discuss another soldier named Macbeth..
2) When the bleeding soldier talks about the betrayal of a comrade named Macdonwald and discusses how the honorable Macbeth killed Macdonwald before he could harm his country and commit any further illegal acts or mutiny..
3) Further description of the key words and phrases in the passage..
When it says "two spent swimmers,"
It is describing Macbeth's armies and Macdonwald's armies as they battle..
When it says the "multiplying villanies [villainies] of nature Do swarm upon him-- from the western isles" this is hinting that Macdonwald is working for the country/group that the king of Scotland (Duncan) is at war with..
Where it says "And fortune, on his quarrel smiling, show like..."
This means that Macdonwald is confident and sure that he will win the battle and fights as if luck/fortune itself (personified) is on his side.
When it says "Disdaining fortune... faced the slave,"
This details how Macbeth fights, and how he confronts and Lady Luck (again this is just a saying there is no actual woman named "Lady luck") and defeats Macdonwald and his army.
Where it says "Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps, And fix'd his head upon our battlements,"
This means that Macbeth basically defeated Macdonwald by surprisingly impaled him with his sword slicing him from his center (his stomach/"nave") down to his legs (the chaps).. thus claiming his victory as he sticks Macdonwald's head to the wall of their battlement (think of the top of a fort/castle wall)
" Doubtful it stood;
As two spent swimmers, that do cling together
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald--
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him--from the western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
And fortune, on his quarrel smiling,
Show'd like a rebel's : but all's too weak:
For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valour's minion carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave;
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,
And fix'd his head upon our battlements."
