Hath Won

Hath Won

"What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won." (1.2.67) Macbeth's bravery easily won him the trust and love of the gentle King Duncan. The Thane of Cawdor took advantage of the king's trust by betraying him and helping the Norweyan army. By killing men ruthlessly and having no fear for his own life Macbeth, in the king's eyes deserved the title of Thane of Cawdor that would raise Macbeth's status. Alas prophecies will come true as will hopes and dreams, but others know they could come with a price to pay. How does one so noble as Macbeth go from the king's beloved servant to plotting his very own death.

King Duncan, gentle, loving, gullible King Duncan is so trusting that he takes a captain's word. The Captain stands bleeding and still delivers his message to the king that the Thane of Cawdor has betrayed him and that Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, was ever so brave while defending his hyness. The Captain claimed, "For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name" (1.2.16). The king was quick to act upon the words of the Thanes that delivered the news of the Thane of Cawdor's betrayal, by bestowing that very title upon Macbeth.

There are dark forces at work at the time, such as three sisters, whom are witches, who foreshadow themselves. The stage opens with thundering and lightning and a witch states, "When shall we three meet again? / In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" (1.1.1-2). The witches plot out when they will meet with Macbeth and what will happen when they do. Whether or not they know what affect their prophecies will have on Macbeth, when they do meet him, Macbeth does not know whether or not to act upon the witches' predictions. As they told him that he will be Thane of Cawdor and become then become King. Wise Banquo states, "And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths" (1.3.123-124).