Overview

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ACT 1

Act 1 of Macbeth begins with three witches, or "weird sisters," who plan to meet with Macbeth after a battle. While they are waiting, they discuss the fact that they have already met with Banquo, another warrior who fought in the battle. As Macbeth and Banquo arrive, the witches greet them and make prophecies. They tell Macbeth that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually the King of Scotland. They also tell Banquo that he will not be king, but that his descendants will be. After the witches leave, Macbeth and Banquo are approached by Ross and Angus, who tell them that Macbeth has been named the Thane of Cawdor, just as the witches predicted. This news makes Macbeth and Banquo think about the other prophecy, which says that Macbeth will become king. Meanwhile, King Duncan, who is the current ruler of Scotland, decides to visit Macbeth at his castle. When Duncan arrives, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, welcome him and plan to murder him in order to fulfill the prophecy and make Macbeth the new king.

Key Quotations

"(Excited) Oh – Gerald – you’ve got it – is it the one [ring] you wanted me to have?"

Analysis

“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.”

Analysis

“He creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”

Analysis

“We may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together – for lower costs and higher prices.”

Analysis

“You’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks!”

Analysis

“By the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense.”

Analysis

“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”

Analysis

“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own – and – We hear the sharp ring of a front doorbell."

Analysis

"But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people."

Analysis

"I told him that if they didn’t get rid of that girl, I’d never go near the place again and I’d persuade mother to close our account with them"

Analysis

"(laughs rather hysterically) Why – you fool – he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet. You’ll see. You’ll see."

Analysis

"After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals"

Analysis

“It would do us all a bit of good if sometimes we tried to put ourselves in the place of these young women counting their pennies in their dingy little back bedrooms.”

Analysis