Act 1 Scene 6 – Before Macbeths castle
In this scene, we have characters Duncan, Banquo, and Lady Macbeth. The scene starts with Duncan entering and basically saying ‘the castle is in a good place, the air is sweet and it appeals to me’. Banquo then speaks, effectively saying that the summer bird (the house martin) make their nests in places where the air is warm and sweet and inviting and they have covered this whole house. He thinks that this shows how inviting the castle is. Lady Macbeth then enters. Duncan speaks again. He is saying look, here comes our honored hostess, and then apologises for his being there, but says he comes because he loves it. To summarise Lady Macbeth’s response, she says that Duncan is always welcome as a guest because of how much he does for her family, and how honorable he is. Duncan then asks Lady Macbeth where Macbeth is, and says that tonight he is Lady Macbeths guest. Lady Macbeth then replies by saying that they serve Duncan and her house is always his. Lady Macbeth says this even though she hates Duncan and wants him dead. This shows how dishonest and evil she is, she says he is welcome and loved in the castle but she is actually plotting his death. The use of dramatic irony shows how trusting Duncan is of Lady Macbeth, and how vulnerable and naive he is at this time. This whole scene is just showing how two-faced Lady Macbeth is to say the least.
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