Macbeth Group

Question:

ahlammm
ahlammm
Student
College - Senior

In act I, "the battle", who does Macbeth fight agains? Does the Thane of Cawdor side with the King of Norway or Macdonwald?

Rate question:

Posted by ahlammm on Wednesday June 10, 2009 at 3:39 AM and tagged with character, macbeth, macbeth battle.

Answers:

  1. mark1966
    mark1966 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    It does get a bit confusing! The Norwegians are attacking King Duncan and Scotland. Allied to the Norwegians are two Scottish traitors, the 'merciless MAcdonwald' and that disloyal traitor the Thane of Cawdor.

    Macbeth is responsible for defeating Macdonwald and 'fixed his head on our battlements.'

    The captains loyal to Kind Duncan are Banquo and Macbeth and they are described as loyal, valient and bold. After the defeat of MacDonwald the 'Norweyan lord surveying vantage with furbish'd arms and new supplies of men began a fresh assault,' aided by Cawdor. This is also defeated by the Scottish and Macbeth is to gain lands and the title of Cawdor is given as a reward to MAcbeth, this is ironic that Macbeth is rewarded for loyalty as he very disloyal himself in the later scenes.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth

    Rate answer:

    Posted by mark1966 on Wednesday June 10, 2009 at 5:50 AM