Act 1 Scene 6

Scene Summary 

The scene opens with Duncan and Banquo arriving at Macbeth’s castle of Inverness. Lady Macbeth greets them at the entrance, and Duncan inquires as to where Macbeth is. Politely, Duncan declares himself and the royal party as guests at Inverness, as he asks Lady Macbeth to lead him to her husband.

Scene Analysis

This is another minor scene, though there are few things to note here. First, again the audience gets another example of Duncan’s trusting nature, and at this point the question is raised to whether such a trusting nature is a testament to Duncan’s character or a detriment. Noting that Macbeth had ridden ahead mysteriously, Duncan ignores it, and for the audience who has witnessed the scene before in which Macbeth and his wife began to plot Duncan’s death, this scene comes across as profoundly ironic. Moreover, Duncan’s description of Lady Macbeth as a “fair and noble hostess” and the castle in which he is to meet his demise as having a “pleasant air” is almost comedic in how darkly foreboding it is.