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:

  1. The King's Praise: He announces that King Duncan has received the news of Macbeth's great success in battle with wonder and praise.
  2. 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."
  3. 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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