Macbeth- act 1: scene 4
This scene is significant because it could have been picked up and placed at the end of act 5 to be talking about Macbeth and it would make perfect sense for the play's story progression.
This shows the idea of the play following the idea of the cycle of life and that the cycle of good and evil will continue.
It foreshadows Macbeth's fate. It's dramatic irony for a modern audience.
"there's no art to find the mind's construction on the face"
Key Theme: Appearance VS Reality
"The loyalty I owe"
This line could be perceived two ways: Either Macbeth is lying to others about the fact he is truly loyal to Duncan and this is an example of him being deceiving; it could be seen as him telling the truth as, at this point in the play, he is still against acting on the prophecy and therefore he is trying to remind himself of who he is and where is loyalties lie.
"they should be doing everything safe toward your love and honour"
Macbeth is trying to convince himself that he lie on the good and virtuous side of life and that his doesn't want to act on his desires to be greater.
links to act 1: scene 3 (lines 135-140)
"I have begun to plant thee"
Key Imagery: Growth
"is there I grow, the harvest is your own"
This shows a key difference in character between Macbeth and Banquo and shows how they are different- Banquo is not affected by desire and want for more so he, therefore, was not affected by the words of the prophecy so he feels more at ease with letting fate take course whereas Macbeth is affected by ambition and desire and so he feels weary of where he treads on the ground of the prophecy
"I'll be myself the harbinger"
A Harbinger is commonly meant to symbolise a bad omen and a sign that something is coming in the near future
The fact Macbeth has himself gone to be he messenger of Duncan's arrival in Inverness is symbolic that he himself is the bad omen and is him who is brining the change.
"That is a step on which I must fall down or else o'er-leap, for in my way it lies"
Hubris and Hamartia
The Caesuras are significant as it shows he is thinking clearly and precisely as he has made up his mind- he is thinking clearly and directly, which is reflected in his speech.
This is Macbeth's Hamartia!
He has convinced himself that he could kill Duncan if he wanted to but he hasn't yet decided if that is the path he will follow. All he knows is that it is an option and he either needs to do it or get over it.
"stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires"
"fires" is representative of light shining in on his dark thoughts and brining them into his consciousness
This is a type of self-prayer, and Macbeth is calling on God to forgive him
subjunctive mood- trying to convince himself that he doesn't want to act on these "black and deep desires"