How Is Macbeth Presented in Act 1 Scene 2-4

How is Macbeth presented in Act I
scenes iii-iv?
In the archetypal Scottish play ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a tragic hero in order to
explore the self-destructive nature of a patriarchal society, to serve as a warning to the nobility
against the crime of regicide and to flatter king James to maintaining the social order without
persecuting Catholics. Furthermore, Shakespeare shows how violence can lead to moral failure
paired with the transient and fleeting influence of temptation, which is demonstrated through the
limitations of Macbeth’s power, echoing the Christian sentiments of the presence of devilish forces
that tempt mankind. However, the contrasting depictions of temptation at the end of Act 1 scene 4
enable Shakespeare to comment on the regrettable features of Jacobean society.
In Act 1 Scene 2, Shakespeare utilises Macbeth as a construct to portray him as the quintessential
form of a Scottish soldier who epitomises toxic and repressive masculinity, ultimately associating
manhood with violence. Initially, Shakespeare characterises Macbeth as “brave” which immediately
propels Macbeth as a tragic hero as this epithet paired with the revelation that he is highly skilled
with a sword are both traits which fulfil the role of the stereotypical hero and the ideal warrior as
these traits are synonymous with heroism. When the captain praises Macbeth when he say “all’s too
weak for brave Macbeth”; the juxtaposition between “weak” and “brave” foreshadow Macbeth’s
transgression from “brave” to “weak” as he is tempted by the witches blasphemous regime.
Shakespeare explores how bloodshed and violence is romanticised in a war setting when he utilises
the vivid imagery of “smoked with bloody execution” and “disdaining fortune”. Since Macbeth is
fighting as a patriot, his actions are considered honourable and righteous but when he acts in a
similar ruthless manner later in the play, he’s viewed as tyrannical and cruel. Shakespeare may have
created this juxtaposition within Macbeth’s character to criticise the culture of aggressive
masculinity and honourable warfare. Furthermore, Shakespeare doesn’t just describe it as an
execution but a “bloody execution” which is quite significant as it shows that not only is he efficient
at killing but also that he aims for gore which highlights his bloodlust and enforces this as Macbeth’s
hamartia which leads to his eventual downfall from his noble status as a brave warrior to a coward.
Alternatively, Shakespeare’s use of the metaphor “smoked with bloody execution” employs violence
as a self-destructive force which can lead to moral failure as Shakespeare combines “smoke” and
“blood” which are recurring motifs that are linked to Macbeth’s guilt. This imagery could be an
allusion to the flaming swords in the Bible where the angels and other representatives of Gods were
granted flaming swords to protect the garden of Eden after ‘the fall’ (Adam and Eve’s expulsion from
heaven) and this is significant as it brings about a parallelism of Macbeth being portrayed as a soldier
of God as he fights on the side of good and has God’s blessing due to the divine right of kings as he
serves king and consequently God. Alternatively this biblical parallelism to the flaming swords may
symbolise Macbeth’s own downfall to the fall of Adam and Eve who were once loyal to God but once
Macbeth commits the act of regicide he has acted against God similar to Adam and Eve and this
parallelism would be recognisable to the highly pious Jacobean audience who would have
recognised that the crime of regicide is inconceivable and it would act as a warning to the nobility or
public that the usurpation of the monarch would be going directly against God. Furthermore,
Macbeth’s characterisation of being “brave” and “like valour’s minion” shows how highly respected
and admired Macbeth was by his peers and this highlights how violence in battle is seen as righteous
in this martial society as in the Jacobean era, violence was widely synonymous with manhood and
masculinity and things that could be observed as violent and ruthless acts are linked with masculine
ideas of honour and bravery which was prevalent in the martial society where the epitome of
masculinity was almost always located in the engagement of battles. In Macbeth’s martial
society, ,men are supposed to be noble and strong leaders but the path to obtaining this respect
and nobility manifests into Macbeth’s hamartia: his bloodlust. Shakespeare could be implying that
these Jacobean ideals of bravery and honour are simply a façade to hide injustices and inevitably the
glorification of violence leads to the moral failure of Macbeth as his bloodlust seems to mirror his
violent society and Macbeth is eager to retain his masculinity as this is where his power lies. Overall,
Macbeth’s transgression from strong, noble warrior to a passive feminine coward later in the play
show how his obsession with retaining his masculinity is expressive of his villainy and perhaps
Shakespeare is suggesting that masculinity in the martial Jacobean society is inherently evil and
toxic.

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