During act III the first time Lennox appears is during the feast. This act is very important in pointing out Lennox characterization and his shift in opinion. This first time we see Lennox is when he asks Macbeth to sit with them. “May ’t please your highness sit.”(III.IV.107). Even tough this quote seems to be insignificant, this show how Lennox is noble and educated to ask the king to sit with them even thought the king does not need any invitation to sit, he may sit where he desires. As the scene continues, Lennox politely shows Macbeth to his sit, also showing his respect by guiding the king to the most important sit. As Macbeth hesitates where to sit, even though he has just showed him were to sit, he get suspicious of Macbeth’s situation “Here, my good lord. What is ’t that moves your highness?”(III.IV.107). He worries about the king and wonders what is happening that Macbeth is acting weird. Until this part of the act Lennox is acting as a good noble and trustful lord, building up the his expectation of a loyal lord to the king. But as the act continues Lennox perhaps is the only one that notices and questions Macbeth’s actions, not only during the feast but the actions he took before becoming king. “ Damnèd fact! /How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight /In pious rage the two delinquents tear/ That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,/ For ’twould have angered any heart alive/ To hear the men deny ’t. So that, I say,/ He has borne all things well.” (III.VI.114). Perhaps this is one of the most important passages of this act, not only because it adds to the play as a whole, but it also add to Lennox characterization. This passage is a conversation between Lennox and another lord. Lennox in this quote questions the reason on why Macbeth kill those servants after they discovered Duncan was dead. Lennox tries to convince himself that Macbeth had done the right thing, but he also wonders if those servants were kept alive for trial, they might have said the truth about the true murder, that it was after all Macbeth. The reason why this passage is so important in constructing Lennox characterization is because at the beginning of the act, we are presented a loyal Lennox that worries about his kings well being and is a loyal servant to Macbeth ““Good night, and better health/ Attend his majesty!”(III.IV.107). But as act goes on we Lennox proves him self to be smart and question what all of the other lords do not have the courage to question. Lennox seems to not believe in all the acting Macbeth is doing and it is not clear weather Lennox is pretending to care about the kings well being during the feast, or if he really did not suspect a thing until Macbeth starts acting weird. But either way we can see how Lennox changes from a normal lord, to more dangerous person to Macbeth, for he does not know that Lennox suspects of him. “Advise him to a caution, t’ hold what distance/ His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel/ Fly to the court of England and unfold/ His message ere he come, that a swift blessing/ May soon return to this our suffering country/ Under a hand accursed!”(III.VI.115). In this last quote, we are know sure Lennox does not support Macbeth and is completely against Macbeth. It is also an important passage because it shows the shift in Lennox opinion toward Macbeth, from King and to tyrant. This quote also considered a hyperbole, because of the way Lennox exaggerates “suffering country” and “some holy angel” when he refers to Scotland and Macduff. In conclusion Lennox is very important to this act because we now have a third suspicious character, and this time Macbeth might not realize it is one of his noble lords.
In act III Ross is not so present as Lennox is but there are still some very important, passages that contribute to the story. The first time Ross appears is also during the feast. “Lays blame upon his promise. Please ’t your highness/ To grace us with your royal company?”(III.IV.107). In this passage the person Ross is referring to is Banquo. Ross states on how disrespectful Banquo was in not showing up to Macbeth’s feast. This passage is important because of two reasons. The first is that it shows how Ross is also loyal and caring towards Macbeth, because he asks if his majesty will be kind a grace them with his presence, meaning he wants the king to join them in the feast. The second reason is because in this passage we a dramatic irony, which is that Ross is talking on how disrespectful Banquo is being be missing the feast, but while Ross talks about Banquo, Macbeth and us the readers know the true reason on why Banquo is missing. It is also ironical that Macbeth leaves Ross to critic Banquo while he know the true fate of Banquo.
In this act we only have a quick participation from Lennox, but in this rapid appearance we learn a lot about his characterization and his role in the play at this moment. “’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word/Macduff is fled to England.”(IV.I.131). Lennox tell the king that Macduff has fled to England. In the last moments of act III, Lennox was talking to Macduff about them trying to save Scotland from Macbeth, the tyrant. But in this act Lennox is telling about Macduff’s whereabouts. This passage is important for two reasons. The first reason is because it construct to the play. As Lennox tells Macbeth that Macduff is in England he immediately proves himself to be a loyal lord to Macbeth, and from this moment he effects the events of the act, because if he never had told Macbeth he would not have gone to Macduff’s family, or he would discover from someone else and then Lennox could not prove himself loyal. The second reason is that this passage constructs on Lennox characterization and shows his motivations and objectives. Although Lennox is not alike Macduff in terms of action, Lennox is very smart for his objective is to prove himself loyal to the king in order to be as an insider in court in order to help others, since he showed to be a sympathizer to Macduff’s cause. He is also motivated to be alive and safe, because if someone else had told the king, the king could have suspected Lennox to be a traitor. But telling the king immediately makes him a more loyal person. This act constructs Lennox’s characterization since he instead of acting, and going to England live Macduff, he stays in Scotland and makes himself a loyal subject of the king. Which might later help him in his cause against the King.
The presence of Ross in this act is very important. He plays a role in constructing the play and also helps us understand his motives and objective in this act. Without Ross presence in this act much would not have happened. “I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,/ He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows/ The fits o’ th’ season. I dare not speak much further;/ But cruel are the times when we are traitors/ And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor/ From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,/ But float upon a wild and violent sea/ Each way and none.”(IV.II.133). In this passage Ross Is talking to Lady Macduff, he has told her that Macduff had left to England. Ross not only seems to be helping her, he tells her to not speak further in those matters, but he also helps her understand that when frightening rumors are spread people don’t even know what they are truly afraid of. We understand that Ross is somewhat protecting Macduff’s reputation to his wife, but also explain that he has not left her but he is trying to make things better. The second time Ross appears, he is in England and he went there in order to meet Malcolm and Macduff. In this moment we see that Ross is playing a more important role, since he seems to be involved in this plan of riding Scotland from Macbeth. “Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot/ Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing,”(IV.III.151-152). In this passage we understand him motives, he is a messenger to Macduff he explains what happens in Scotland, this is also a dramatic irony, since he tells Macduff that Scotland can be called a grave, and little does he know that his children have been slayed. “Which was to my belief witnessed the rather/For that I saw the tyrant’s power afoot./Now is the time of help. Your eye in Scotland
Would create soldiers, make our women fight,/To doff their dire distresses.”(IV.III.152). Another passage that shows that Ross is as an insider in Macbeth court and now is giving his information to Malcolm. This passage is also important because it shows Ross’s objectives, he want to know and wants them( Macduff and Malcolm) to go back and take Scotland from Macbeth and save it. “Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes/ Savagely slaughtered. To relate the manner,/Were, on the quarry of these murdered deer/ To add the death of you.”(IV.III.153) . This last quote shows how intelligent Ross is, he waits to know that Macduff and Malcolm, have a plan to go back to Scotland in order to give Macduff this tragic message. He also tell Macduff in order to arise a hatred in Macduff towards Macbeth. If Ross had not told Macduff, Macduff would not announce he would kill Macbeth himself and the play could also have a different path. Ross played a very important part, since we now know which side he is and for whom he will fight.
Lennox, his appearance in this act is very swift and fast, but is was also very important in this closing act. For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file/ Of all the gentry. There is Siward’s son,/ (V.II.167). In this passage we see how Lennox talks about the young man that will join them in the battle. And also how this will make them men. This passage is also important because we learn that Donalbain has not joined them in battle since Lennox has just left Birnam woods and he has not spotted him there. This passage shows that Lennox is fully on Macduff’s side and that he will fight against him. This also show to a certain point that Lennox is very experienced in battle, because he talks about those young boys referring to them as “And many unrough youths that even now/Protest their first of manhood.” They are to young yet. And it also gives a sense of how old Lennox is because he already must have a beard but he also is very experienced in war. Another important passage in this act is, “Or so much as it needs,/ To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. Make we our march towards Birnam.(V.II.167-169)” This passage is important because it shows Lennox determination in defeating Macbeth. As he says it does not matter how much blood they need to spill in order to make Malcolm king and kill Macbeth, they need to march from Birnam wood and attack at one. This passage is very important because it marks the pre climax of the act, because we now know that the army will be marching towards Macbeth. And it is almost as a foreshadowing in what is about to happen, because Lennox says it does not matter how much blood they will spill, as long as Macbeth is dead. It is almost as a promise that Macbeth will die and Malcolm will become king.
Finally Lennox is very important to the play, because firstly starts as a noble and loyal lord, and is loyal to Macbeth. But soon after the death of Banquo he stars suspecting Macbeth, and form that moment on the play has a sudden plot twist, for other lords that are not loyal to Macbeth star realizing that he is a tyrant. But is also interesting to analyze that at first Lennox did not act he remained next to Macbeth until act four, when he finally left Macbeth to join Malcolm’s forces. He also proves to be very determined to rid Macbeth of the throne making him a loyal lord to Malcolm and we can also predict that he must have turned into an Earl, since Malcolm promised this title to all that were loyal to him.
“Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier’s debt. He only lived but till he was a man,/ The which no sooner had his prowess confirmed/ In the unshrinking station where he fought,/ But like a man he died. (V.VIII.187)”
In this quote Ross gives the sad news that the Siward’s son has died in battle. But the interesting fact is how Ross continues on the message. He addresses that Siward’s has died as a man, and that his last moments of his life were spent as a true man, since he died during a battle, that made him a man. Ross part in this passage is almost as the informant, he must have just arrived from the battle filed and brings the message from what has happened and what is going on. Another interesting that Ross says is “Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow/ Must not be measured by his worth, for then/ It hath no end. (V.VIII.189)”. This passage Ross says that Siward should not grieve and that he should be extremely proud of his because he has died a noble death. In this passage we can also compare how things were different at that time, that it was a honor to die fighting and even though you were only a child it was extremely an honor for a parent to learn you died fighting. This passage also proves that Ross is a very honorable man, for he comfort Siward in say how proud he should be of his son.
Although Ross does not appear to much during this final act, his presences was very important throughout the play. Ross seems to be the messenger, for he has appeared almost all the past act as a messenger, he was the one to tell Lady Macduff about her Husband, and also he was the one that traveled to England to encounter Malcolm and Macduff in order to update them on what was happening on Scotland and also to bring Macduff the horrible new, that later made that he promised to kill Macbeth. Even though we did not truly know which side Ross was until the last acts, we can understand that he was present in almost all the important scenes the play, and every time he gave the message it was almost as a foreshadowing on what was going to happen, since all his news lead to important events, such as the murder of Macduff’s’ family and the Macduff saying that he was going to kill Macbeth.
Macbeth Characters and Motifs 
During act III the first time Lennox appears is during the feast. This act is very important in pointing out Lennox characterization and his shift in opinion. This first time we see Lennox is when he asks Macbeth to sit with them. “May ’t please your highness sit.”(III.IV.107). Even tough this quote seems to be insignificant, this show how Lennox is noble and educated to ask the king to sit with them even thought the king does not need any invitation to sit, he may sit where he desires. As the scene continues, Lennox politely shows Macbeth to his sit, also showing his respect by guiding the king to the most important sit. As Macbeth hesitates where to sit, even though he has just showed him were to sit, he get suspicious of Macbeth’s situation “Here, my good lord. What is ’t that moves your highness?”(III.IV.107). He worries about the king and wonders what is happening that Macbeth is acting weird. Until this part of the act Lennox is acting as a good noble and trustful lord, building up the his expectation of a loyal lord to the king. But as the act continues Lennox perhaps is the only one that notices and questions Macbeth’s actions, not only during the feast but the actions he took before becoming king. “ Damnèd fact! /How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight /In pious rage the two delinquents tear/ That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too,/ For ’twould have angered any heart alive/ To hear the men deny ’t. So that, I say,/ He has borne all things well.” (III.VI.114). Perhaps this is one of the most important passages of this act, not only because it adds to the play as a whole, but it also add to Lennox characterization. This passage is a conversation between Lennox and another lord. Lennox in this quote questions the reason on why Macbeth kill those servants after they discovered Duncan was dead. Lennox tries to convince himself that Macbeth had done the right thing, but he also wonders if those servants were kept alive for trial, they might have said the truth about the true murder, that it was after all Macbeth. The reason why this passage is so important in constructing Lennox characterization is because at the beginning of the act, we are presented a loyal Lennox that worries about his kings well being and is a loyal servant to Macbeth ““Good night, and better health/ Attend his majesty!”(III.IV.107). But as act goes on we Lennox proves him self to be smart and question what all of the other lords do not have the courage to question. Lennox seems to not believe in all the acting Macbeth is doing and it is not clear weather Lennox is pretending to care about the kings well being during the feast, or if he really did not suspect a thing until Macbeth starts acting weird. But either way we can see how Lennox changes from a normal lord, to more dangerous person to Macbeth, for he does not know that Lennox suspects of him. “Advise him to a caution, t’ hold what distance/ His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel/ Fly to the court of England and unfold/ His message ere he come, that a swift blessing/ May soon return to this our suffering country/ Under a hand accursed!”(III.VI.115). In this last quote, we are know sure Lennox does not support Macbeth and is completely against Macbeth. It is also an important passage because it shows the shift in Lennox opinion toward Macbeth, from King and to tyrant. This quote also considered a hyperbole, because of the way Lennox exaggerates “suffering country” and “some holy angel” when he refers to Scotland and Macduff. In conclusion Lennox is very important to this act because we now have a third suspicious character, and this time Macbeth might not realize it is one of his noble lords.
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In act III Ross is not so present as Lennox is but there are still some very important, passages that contribute to the story. The first time Ross appears is also during the feast. “Lays blame upon his promise. Please ’t your highness/ To grace us with your royal company?”(III.IV.107). In this passage the person Ross is referring to is Banquo. Ross states on how disrespectful Banquo was in not showing up to Macbeth’s feast. This passage is important because of two reasons. The first is that it shows how Ross is also loyal and caring towards Macbeth, because he asks if his majesty will be kind a grace them with his presence, meaning he wants the king to join them in the feast. The second reason is because in this passage we a dramatic irony, which is that Ross is talking on how disrespectful Banquo is being be missing the feast, but while Ross talks about Banquo, Macbeth and us the readers know the true reason on why Banquo is missing. It is also ironical that Macbeth leaves Ross to critic Banquo while he know the true fate of Banquo.
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Fe, good comments on both Lennox and Ross and their importance in this act. (Watch proof reading of spelling and possessive apostrophes particularly.)
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In this act we only have a quick participation from Lennox, but in this rapid appearance we learn a lot about his characterization and his role in the play at this moment. “’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word/Macduff is fled to England.”(IV.I.131). Lennox tell the king that Macduff has fled to England. In the last moments of act III, Lennox was talking to Macduff about them trying to save Scotland from Macbeth, the tyrant. But in this act Lennox is telling about Macduff’s whereabouts. This passage is important for two reasons. The first reason is because it construct to the play. As Lennox tells Macbeth that Macduff is in England he immediately proves himself to be a loyal lord to Macbeth, and from this moment he effects the events of the act, because if he never had told Macbeth he would not have gone to Macduff’s family, or he would discover from someone else and then Lennox could not prove himself loyal. The second reason is that this passage constructs on Lennox characterization and shows his motivations and objectives. Although Lennox is not alike Macduff in terms of action, Lennox is very smart for his objective is to prove himself loyal to the king in order to be as an insider in court in order to help others, since he showed to be a sympathizer to Macduff’s cause. He is also motivated to be alive and safe, because if someone else had told the king, the king could have suspected Lennox to be a traitor. But telling the king immediately makes him a more loyal person. This act constructs Lennox’s characterization since he instead of acting, and going to England live Macduff, he stays in Scotland and makes himself a loyal subject of the king. Which might later help him in his cause against the King.
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The presence of Ross in this act is very important. He plays a role in constructing the play and also helps us understand his motives and objective in this act. Without Ross presence in this act much would not have happened. “I pray you school yourself. But for your husband,/ He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows/ The fits o’ th’ season. I dare not speak much further;/ But cruel are the times when we are traitors/ And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumor/ From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,/ But float upon a wild and violent sea/ Each way and none.”(IV.II.133). In this passage Ross Is talking to Lady Macduff, he has told her that Macduff had left to England. Ross not only seems to be helping her, he tells her to not speak further in those matters, but he also helps her understand that when frightening rumors are spread people don’t even know what they are truly afraid of. We understand that Ross is somewhat protecting Macduff’s reputation to his wife, but also explain that he has not left her but he is trying to make things better. The second time Ross appears, he is in England and he went there in order to meet Malcolm and Macduff. In this moment we see that Ross is playing a more important role, since he seems to be involved in this plan of riding Scotland from Macbeth. “Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot/ Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing,”(IV.III.151-152). In this passage we understand him motives, he is a messenger to Macduff he explains what happens in Scotland, this is also a dramatic irony, since he tells Macduff that Scotland can be called a grave, and little does he know that his children have been slayed. “Which was to my belief witnessed the rather/For that I saw the tyrant’s power afoot./Now is the time of help. Your eye in Scotland
Would create soldiers, make our women fight,/To doff their dire distresses.”(IV.III.152). Another passage that shows that Ross is as an insider in Macbeth court and now is giving his information to Malcolm. This passage is also important because it shows Ross’s objectives, he want to know and wants them( Macduff and Malcolm) to go back and take Scotland from Macbeth and save it. “Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes/ Savagely slaughtered. To relate the manner,/Were, on the quarry of these murdered deer/ To add the death of you.”(IV.III.153) . This last quote shows how intelligent Ross is, he waits to know that Macduff and Malcolm, have a plan to go back to Scotland in order to give Macduff this tragic message. He also tell Macduff in order to arise a hatred in Macduff towards Macbeth. If Ross had not told Macduff, Macduff would not announce he would kill Macbeth himself and the play could also have a different path. Ross played a very important part, since we now know which side he is and for whom he will fight.
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Lennox, his appearance in this act is very swift and fast, but is was also very important in this closing act. For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file/ Of all the gentry. There is Siward’s son,/ (V.II.167). In this passage we see how Lennox talks about the young man that will join them in the battle. And also how this will make them men. This passage is also important because we learn that Donalbain has not joined them in battle since Lennox has just left Birnam woods and he has not spotted him there. This passage shows that Lennox is fully on Macduff’s side and that he will fight against him. This also show to a certain point that Lennox is very experienced in battle, because he talks about those young boys referring to them as “And many unrough youths that even now/Protest their first of manhood.” They are to young yet. And it also gives a sense of how old Lennox is because he already must have a beard but he also is very experienced in war. Another important passage in this act is, “Or so much as it needs,/ To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. Make we our march towards Birnam.(V.II.167-169)” This passage is important because it shows Lennox determination in defeating Macbeth. As he says it does not matter how much blood they need to spill in order to make Malcolm king and kill Macbeth, they need to march from Birnam wood and attack at one. This passage is very important because it marks the pre climax of the act, because we now know that the army will be marching towards Macbeth. And it is almost as a foreshadowing in what is about to happen, because Lennox says it does not matter how much blood they will spill, as long as Macbeth is dead. It is almost as a promise that Macbeth will die and Malcolm will become king.
Finally Lennox is very important to the play, because firstly starts as a noble and loyal lord, and is loyal to Macbeth. But soon after the death of Banquo he stars suspecting Macbeth, and form that moment on the play has a sudden plot twist, for other lords that are not loyal to Macbeth star realizing that he is a tyrant. But is also interesting to analyze that at first Lennox did not act he remained next to Macbeth until act four, when he finally left Macbeth to join Malcolm’s forces. He also proves to be very determined to rid Macbeth of the throne making him a loyal lord to Malcolm and we can also predict that he must have turned into an Earl, since Malcolm promised this title to all that were loyal to him.
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“Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier’s debt. He only lived but till he was a man,/ The which no sooner had his prowess confirmed/ In the unshrinking station where he fought,/ But like a man he died. (V.VIII.187)”
In this quote Ross gives the sad news that the Siward’s son has died in battle. But the interesting fact is how Ross continues on the message. He addresses that Siward’s has died as a man, and that his last moments of his life were spent as a true man, since he died during a battle, that made him a man. Ross part in this passage is almost as the informant, he must have just arrived from the battle filed and brings the message from what has happened and what is going on. Another interesting that Ross says is “Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow/ Must not be measured by his worth, for then/ It hath no end. (V.VIII.189)”. This passage Ross says that Siward should not grieve and that he should be extremely proud of his because he has died a noble death. In this passage we can also compare how things were different at that time, that it was a honor to die fighting and even though you were only a child it was extremely an honor for a parent to learn you died fighting. This passage also proves that Ross is a very honorable man, for he comfort Siward in say how proud he should be of his son.
Although Ross does not appear to much during this final act, his presences was very important throughout the play. Ross seems to be the messenger, for he has appeared almost all the past act as a messenger, he was the one to tell Lady Macduff about her Husband, and also he was the one that traveled to England to encounter Malcolm and Macduff in order to update them on what was happening on Scotland and also to bring Macduff the horrible new, that later made that he promised to kill Macbeth. Even though we did not truly know which side Ross was until the last acts, we can understand that he was present in almost all the important scenes the play, and every time he gave the message it was almost as a foreshadowing on what was going to happen, since all his news lead to important events, such as the murder of Macduff’s’ family and the Macduff saying that he was going to kill Macbeth.
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