How do the audience view the role of Macbeth in act 1, is he a hero or a villain.
We gain first impressions of Macbeth (main character of the play) before he even enters the play. The 3 witches tell us of the nature of Macbeth's character, saying that thy will meet Macbeth upon a heath. This portrays Macbeth as a dark, evil character, a character who is very powerful and very strong, and a character who strikes fear into all who oppose him, someone who cannot be beaten because he has these witches that he meets with. He doesn't seem like a trustworthy man because he is involved in witches and "evil".
Scene 2.
Here Macbeth is spoken of as a "brave" man who took down the traitor Macdonald, he is spoken off with great admiration and people envy he's courage and valour as described by the Captain "Like valour's minion". People speak of the way he fights like it's a art, people love this man because of he's loyalty to he's king and he's bravery in the battlefield, They describe he's fighting as "cannons over-charged with double cracks" which already portrays such a powerful image of Macbeth in our minds, as this man who is noble, loyal, brave, valiant, fearless, powerful, unstoppable force. Immediately King Duncan becomes one of many admirers of Macbeth after hearing he's captain tell him about this heroic, brave and loyal man, and to show he's gratitude towards Macbeth he takes the title of thane of Cawdor away from the traitor Macdonald and gives it to Macbeth.
Scene 3.
The 3 witches wait for the arrival of Macbeth at the top of the heath and Macbeth finally arrives to be greeted by each of the witches with a different title, the first witch greets him "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis", the second which greets him "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor", and the third witch greets him "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter". Macbeth is straight away puzzled by these witches, Macbeth is already Thane of Glamis, but he is puzzled, he doesn't understand why he is been referred to as the thane of Cawdor when the current thane lives a prosperous life, and he is even more puzzled that he is told he will become king.
