Macbeth Act 1 Scene 2

Macbeth

Act 1 Scene 2

Opening of Scene 2

At a military camp near his palace at Forres, King Duncan of Scotland asks a wounded captain for news about the Scots’ battle with two separate invading armies—one from Ireland, led by the rebel Macdonwald, and one from Norway.

The Generals

The captain, who was wounded helping Duncan’s son Malcolm escape capture by the Irish, replies that the Scottish generals Macbeth and Banquo fought with great courage and violence.

Macdonwald, the traitor, is killed by Macbeth

The captain then describes for Duncan how Macbeth slew the traitorous Macdonwald.

The Thane of Cawdor

As the captain is carried off to have his wounds attended to, the thane of Ross, a Scottish nobleman, enters and tells the king that the traitorous thane of Cawdor has been defeated and the army of Norway repelled.

Macbeth is Given Another Title

 Duncan decrees that the thane of Cawdor be put to death and that Macbeth, the hero of the victorious army, be given Cawdor’s title. Ross leaves to deliver the news to Macbeth.