There can be no play without characters who tell the story. In Shakespeare's works, although he borrowed many of his stories, the characters are his own inventions based on various sources. Although there is no mention in the play's text of any of Macbeth's physical characteristics, such as height or hair and eye color, we see a psychological progression from "brave Macbeth" (1.1.16) to "dead butcher " (5.9.36). The playwright, through the actor who plays the role, offers us an almost schematic study of the destruction of a man and his reputation, as well as the rebirth of Scotland. Unlike many other Shakespeare plays, the eponymous hero does not make his entrance until the third scene of Act I. At the opening of the play we are given only a brief sketch to whet our expectations. The witches are the first characters we see, and if Shakespeare intended to grab our attention, this opening certainly succeeds. They are "real" in the sense that we can actually see them, but they are also supernatural in the sense that we believe witches belong to the world of evil spirits and chanting spells. In lines 7-8 they inform us that they are to meet Macbeth on the moor, nothing else. But we must ask ourselves: why Macbeth? Why on the moor? What do they want? The following scene takes us to a battlefield. King Duncan receives details of a clash between his forces and rebel forces led by Macdonald and Norwegian troops. The Captain tells the King that "brave Macbeth" (1.2.16) met the traitor Macdonald with his sword drawn and killed him in a truly horrible and bloody way. Therefore our first description of Macbeth is that of a brave and loyal soldier who defends his king and country from those who would take the throne and enslave the people. The king is so pleased with Macbeth's performance that he gives Macbeth the title of traitor, Thane of Cawdor, calling him "noble Macbeth" (1.2.67). We are thus led to believe that Macbeth is a good, loyal, courageous and determined man. He has proven his worth and is duly rewarded by the King. Soon after, however, we are shown the witches for the second time in three scenes, effectively framing Macbeth the soldier with the witches, which may imply that Macbeth is not a warrior ordinary. When Macbeth enters, his opening lines echo those of the witches in the first scene:
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