How is Macbeth portrayed?

How is Macbeth Portrayed in the First Act?

At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is known as the ‘bravest’ soldier and after the battle the Captain exclaims, ‘But all’s too weak, for brave Macbeth’. This shows that Macbeth is heroic and is a valiant soldier. I think that it is important that Shakespeare has depicted Macbeth as being a brave character because this influences him in murdering Duncan later on and it is crucial that we, as the reader, believe that Macbeth is capable of doing this. His rank is of great value and in the first act he seems to be fit to hold this status. Shakespeare emphasises the greatness of Macbeth by writing that even the king describes him as being a ‘valiant cousin’ and ‘worthy gentleman’. It is important that we see Macbeth in this way so that we do not think that his actions later on are because he is an immoral and inhumane person.
Macbeth is also described by Duncan as ‘[smacking] of honour’. This shows that he is a loyal subject to the king and the king trusts Macbeth and truly believes that Macbeth is a faithful friend of his. Macbeth is portrayed as being a character of great dependence and is a trusted man. This is important so that later on we know that Macbeth killed Duncan not because he was unfaithful but because of another stronger trait. Another thing that illustrates Macbeth as being a trusted man is that he is made the ‘Thane of Cawdor’ by the kind. This rank shows that the king trusts him and that Macbeth is liked by the king. This also shows that he is worthy of being known as a character of great loyalty and bravery.
Macbeth is also depicted as being a man of great ambition. This is shown when the witches have left and Macbeth says to himself, ‘Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind’. This shows Macbeth’s anticipation for becoming king and his excitement for this prospect.
Macbeth is not totally cold, as shown by his terror of the murder, which completely defied his loyalty. There is also love in Macbeth, as shown by his letter to Lady Macbeth, where he calls her his ‘dearest partner of greatness’.
The main feeling in this first act is of temptation. We have clearly been shown that Macbeth was a well-mannered man and so it was not pure evil that made him kill Duncan; but he could not resist the temptation of becoming king. This was the choice Macbeth had in the first chapter, should he resist his temptation and be a loyal ‘kinsman’, ‘subject’ and ‘host’, or should he follow his heart’s urge to force the issue of becoming king.