Macbeth Act 1: Scene 2

The witches had met on a heath and predicted that the battle would be over by sunset. Even though the result of the battle is already known, the adroit playwright weilds his pen such, that the ambience of suspense and curiosity remain.

In this scene, we meet the king of Scotland, Duncan. Macbeth is not only a warrior in the king's army, he is also Duncan's cousin. Duncan has two sons - Malcolm and Donalbain. When the scene opens, the audience is at an advantage. They know that the battle would be over by sunset but the king is unaware of the same.

When the scene opens, a sergeant, bleeding profusely, enters the camp where the king, his sons, a Scottish nobleman Lennox and attendants are present. The king's son Malcolm recognises the segeant as a brave soldier who had once saved Malcolm from being captured by the enemy. The sergeant is encouraged to share news of the battlefront.

The sergeant tells them that the outcome seemed highly doubtful when he left the field. As two exhausted swimmers often cling to each other and seem to stop the other from advancing, similarly the two armies, exhausted after the day's battle, still stood blocking each other's advance. The sergeant curses the merciless opponent Macdonwald with all the negatives in nature yet, grudgingly admits that he was a worthy rebel. He attacked the Scottish (King Duncan's army) from the west with the best arms and ammunition. Fortune seemed to be smiling upon the Norweyan army, favouring him as a whore would favour her keeper. 

But the army and even fortune herself, seemed no match for brave Macbeth. Praising him, the segeant says that Macbeth truly deserves to be called brave for the valour he showed on the field. He disappointed the goddess of fortune which favoured his enemy, by advancing despite all obstacles. He killed all men who came in his way and his 'brandished steel', his sword seemed on fire, executing the enemies, till he had cleared his path to come face to face with Macdonwald. It was as if Macbeth had turned into an agent of valour (courage).

In his joust against Macdonwald, Macbeth was steady and sure with his sword. Eventually, Macbeth's sword cut open his opponent from the jaw to the navel and hung his head upon the Scottish battlements as a declaration of superior strength. 

The audience in the pit would have loved this gory description of the battle while the aristocrats would have enjoyed the endurance and power-play demonstrated by a nobleman. King Duncan too admired his cousin's courage calling him 'valiant' and a 'worthy gentleman'.

The sergeant reacts to the king's comment cautioning him by saying that if the water is calm enough at times to reflect the mighty sun, at other times, it might birth shipwrecking storms and terrible thunders too. Similarly, at times, when we just begin to relax and feel comfortable, discomfort erupts.

As soon as justice had pronounced one victory in Scotland's name (that is, the killing of Macdonwald) and seemed to be compelling the rebels to bow down before Macbeth, another opponent arose. The Norweyan lord saw his advantage when the Scottish army relaxed, and launched a fresh attacked with new men (men who hadn't found yet and therefore, were not tired) armed with fresh weaponry.

King Duncan, listening to the sergeant's account, wondered if this fresh attack worried the captains of his army, Macbeth and Banquo.

The sergeant said that if Macbeth and Banquo were worried, it was equivalent to the miniscule, negligible and even amused worry an eagle feels when attacked by a sparrow or a lion would feel if a hare were to attack it. According to the sergeant, Macbeth and Banquo fought even harder as if they had decided that either this day, they would bathe in their enemies' bleeding wounds or sacrifice their lives as Jesus did when crucified at Golgotha. The sergeant could not relate anymore as his wounds needed immediate attention. The king appreciated the sergeant's courage and devotion, letting the royal surgeons help the soldier.

The thane of Ross entered with a hasty look in his eyes as if he desperately wished to share some strange news. He told the king that he had come from Fife, the battleground. He reported that there came a point in the battle, when the Norweyan banners (flags) were flying in the sky as if fanning our dead warriors and mocking them. The king of Norway had attacked afresh assisted by the traitor, the Thane of Cawdor. Their conflict lasted only till Macbeth arrived at the scene. Macbeth's passionate reply to the attack made him seem married to the Goddess of war herself. Dressed in full armour, Macbeth fought the thane point for point, arm for arm till he was able to curb the thane's spirit and leave him unarmed and defeated. Ross informs Duncan that victory fell in Scotland's lap only after this defeat.

Overjoyed, Duncan decides to reward Macbeth and punish the original thane of Cawdor in one go. When Ross informs the king that the defeated enemy has been asked to pay ten thousand dollars in return for their dead to give them a proper burial, the king decides to execute the original thane of Cawdor and give his title to Macbeth. 

Macbeth, the king's cousin and a valiant warrior was already the thane of Glamis. Now, he becomes the thane of Cawdor too. Thus, the quisling's loss was Macbeth's gain.

It is important to know how Macbeth has been described by the sergeant and by Ross. So far, Macbeth hasn't appeared on the scene at all. The audience only know him through the words of Ross and the soldier. He has been called Bellona's bridegroom, valour's minion and a worthy gentleman. Everyone seems to have a glowing opinion of him. He has been rewarded for his valour, even before he has arrived on the stage. Is this the real Macbeth? Is this the man who will become our protagonist? Only the next few scenes shall tell.