Character Sketch from ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 1 Scene 6 of King Duncan, Lady Macbeth Banquo, and Other Characters
A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of King Duncan, Lady Macbeth Banquo and Other Characters from ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 1 Scene 6
- Character Sketch of King Duncan
- Questions related to the Character of King Duncan
- Character Sketch of Lady Macbeth
- Questions related to the character of Lady Macbeth
- Character Sketch of Banquo
- Questions related to the character of Banquo
- Character Sketch of Other Characters
Related:
Character Sketch of King Duncan
King Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle, Inverness, as a trusting and gracious guest. He is portrayed as kind and completely unsuspecting of the treachery planned against him. His dialogue emphasizes his generosity and his high regard for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. He praises the castle’s pleasant atmosphere ‘This castle hath a pleasant seat’ and warmly greets Lady Macbeth, thanking her for the trouble of his visit. His greatest dramatic function in this scene is to highlight the dramatic irony, he feels safe, loved, and honored, which contrasts sharply with the audience’s knowledge that his death is imminent.
Questions related to the Character of King Duncan
Q1. What irony does the king face?
Q2. Why does the king have high regards for Macbeth and his wife?
Character Sketch of Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is presented as the perfect, devoted hostess. She is the embodiment of hypocrisy and deception, masking her murderous intentions with overwhelming courtesy and humility. She uses flowery, extravagant language to express her and Macbeth’s deep debt to Duncan for his past and current honors, stating that all their service would be ‘poor and single’ compared to his generosity. Her exaggerated display of loyalty successfully lulls Duncan into a false sense of security, moving the plot forward by drawing the king fully into her trap.
Questions related to the character of Lady Macbeth
Q1. How does Lady Macbeth display deception?
Q2. How does Lady Macbeth give a false sense of security to King Duncan?
Character Sketch of Banquo
Although Banquo only speaks a few lines, he plays an important role by offering a poetic description of the castle’s atmosphere. He notes that the ‘temple-haunting martlet’, a type of swift or swallow, builds its nest there, concluding that ‘the air is delicate’. Like Duncan, Banquo is unaware of the danger; his observation of the peaceful, natural beauty of the place reinforces the deceptive appearance of Macbeth’s home, unknowingly confirming Duncan’s sense of ease and trust.
Questions related to the character of Banquo
Q1. What special description does Banquo give?
Q2. How does Banquo decide that the air is delicate?
Character Sketch of Other Characters
The stage directions list the entrance of several other nobles: Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, and Angus, along with Attendants. However, none of these characters speak in this scene. Their presence simply establishes the setting and the royal company that has accompanied King Duncan to Macbeth’s home, making the setting appear grand and celebratory before the dark events of the next scene unfold.