Act One Scenes 1-3

In Act One Scenes 1-3, there is an overwhelming amount of injury and disease because of the recent battle against the traitor MacDonwald. On page 26, the Seargent speaks of Macbeth: "Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution." This is a graphic image of the gore and chaos of medieval warfare. It speaks of the injuries that the brandished steel (sword, axe, etc.) inflicted upon Macbeth's enemies. The Seargent continues to make allusions to injury and illness on page 28, where he says, "But I am faint, my gashes cry for help." This allows us to see the damage that is also inflicted on the side of the Scots. The imagry presented about illness and suffering in the first scenes of the first act let us know that the battle that took place is a very large and important aspect of the play, and that it will stage much of the book.