ISC Macbeth Workbook Answers : Act 1 Scene 2

The scene is laid in an army camp near Forres in Scotland. Having secured our attention in the first scene, Shakespeare now deals with the plot of the play. There is Duncan, the King of Scotland, waiting for news of the battle—the battle of which we heard in the opening scene. There has been a revolt in Scotland; Duncan’s army is fighting the rebel Macdonwald; the king is anxiously waiting for the news of war. A bleeding sergeant, who had saved Duncan’s son, Malcolm from being caught by the enemy, comes to tell them the news from the battlefield.
He tells the king:

For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel,
Which smok’d with bloody execution,
Like Valour’s minion carv’d out his passage
Till he fac’d the slave,
Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseam’d him from the nave to th’chaps
And fix’d his head upon our battlements.

All through the narration of the sergeant we are presented with a picture of the heroism of Macbeth, one of Duncan’s generals, in ensuring the victory of King Duncan. He is referred to as brave Macbeth, Valour’s minion, eagle and lion, compared to whom the enemy is only a sparrow or a hare. Macbeth is portrayed as an epic hero—fearless and ferocious. His superhuman qualities are highlighted by the sergeant. Duncan’s basic character is shown in this scene. He is sentimental, meek and mild. He built his trust on Macdonwald, the Thane of Cawdor and is now going to build it on Macbeth. The dramatic irony of the situation is projected in this comparison as Macbeth is going to betray Duncan’s trust.

The king is pleased with the news. As the Sergeant has shed too much blood and is exhausted, he is sent out so that his wounds may be treated.

According to the report, brandishing his sword replete with blood, Macbeth cut his way through the ranks of the enemy and came face to face with Macdonwald, the rebel thane. Without following any formality, he attacked Macdonwald and ripped him open from the navel to the jaws. Then Macbeth cut his head and hung it up on the parapet as a warning to other rebels.

Ross, a noble thane, comes from Fife, to report on the attack made by the Norwegian King, assisted by the Thane of Cawdor. Even here, Macbeth rose to the occasion.

Clad in heavy armour he confronted the King of Norway face to face in a hand-to-hand fight. He crossed the spear with spear and sword with sword and fought bravely against the enemy’s attack. Ultimately, he succeeded in defeating the Norwegian King with all his forces. Ross concludes by saying that Duncan’s troops won great victory over the rebels and their allies.

Duncan is pleased with the heroic deeds of Macbeth. He announces that the Thane of Cawdor, a traitor who secretly assisted Norway, will be executed and send, Ross to tell Macbeth that the title of the Thane of Cawdor is bestowed on him.