Impressions of Macbeth
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
What impressions might an audience get of Macbeth from the way he speaks and behaves
in Act I Scene III and Act III Scene I?
Complete the tables below with your ideas.
Act I Scene III: the way he speaks
Impressions (point)
Evidence (quotation)
Effect (comment)
His use of imperatives show
that he is used to being in
control and wants to know
the ‘full picture’ straight
away.
ambitious
scared
‘The Thane of Cawdor lives:
why do you dress me In
borrow’d robes?’
Act I Scene III: the way he behaves
Impressions (point)
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Evidence (quotation)
Effect (comment)
‘This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be
good’
Speaking in soliloquy really
shows the audience Macbeth’s
troubled mind.
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Impressions of Macbeth
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Act III Scene I: the way he speaks
Impressions (point)
Macbeth still sounds forceful
and assertive
Evidence (quotation)
Effect (comment)
‘Fail not our feast.’
Macbeth is no longer Banquo’s
equal. He does not hesitate to
command his former friend
(with the imperative ‘Fail
not’). Macbeth becoming king
has isolated him from his
friends. His assertive tone
does not hide his fear for long
though.
Act III Scene I: the way he behaves
Impressions (point)
Evidence (quotation)
Effect (comment)
[Macbeth employs murderers
to kill Banquo.]
Macbeth is cowardly as well as
being scared. He won’t
actually kill Banquo himself.
His lies to persuade the
murderers to kill Banquo.
Macbeth is now seen as both
evil and manipulative.
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