What news does ross bring Macbeth act 1, scene 3
What news does ross bring Macbeth act 1, scene 3
In
Act 1, Scene 3, Ross (accompanied by Angus) brings Macbeth the
following crucial news:
- The
King's Praise: He
announces that King Duncan has received the news of Macbeth's great
success in battle with wonder and praise.
- The
New Title: Most
importantly, Ross tells Macbeth that the King has bestowed upon him the
title Thane of Cawdor as a reward and an "earnest of
a greater honor."
- The
Reason: Ross
explains that the previous Thane of Cawdor is a traitor who conspired with
Norway and has been overthrown ("treasons capital, confessed and
proved").
Immediate Significance:
This
news is the catalyst for the entire play. It dramatically confirms the
witches' second prophecy ("All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane
of Cawdor!"). This validation makes Macbeth believe the third and most
ambitious prophecy—that he "shalt be king hereafter"—is also a
genuine prediction of fate.
Macbeth's
reaction, calling the new title "borrowed robes," shows his initial
unease, but in his aside, he immediately begins to contemplate the
"greatest" prophecy still to come, setting his path toward regicide.
Banquo's warning that "instruments of darkness tell us truths... to
betray's in deepest consequence" highlights the dangerous temptation this
"honest trifle" creates.
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