Act I Character Development for Macbeth
Shakespeare reveals his characters in 4 ways:
Through what characters say to one another in dialogue
Through what characters say to the audience in soliloquies/asides
Through what other characters say about them
Through the character’s actions
As you read through Act I, review the given scenes in column 1 for what they reveal about Macbeth’s character. Fill in column 2 with cited evidence (x2)
from the specific scene in column 1. Using complete sentences, fill in column 3 with your own words of explanation or clarification for each piece of cited
evidence in the 2nd column.
Scene What Macbeth says, does or what
others say about him (x2)
What this reveals about Macbeth’s character (x2)
Act I, scene ii
The captain describes
Macbeth’s actions during the
battle.
Act I, scene iii
Macbeth and Banquo meet
the 3 witches.
Act I, scene iii
Ross and Angus tell
Macbeth that Duncan has
pronounced him Thane of
Cawdor.
Act I, scene iv
Duncan names his son
Malcolm as Prince of
Cumberland (heir to the
throne).
