Context:
Duncan is full of praise for Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 4. He calls him 'worthiest cousin'. But notice he also says that Banquo has 'no less deserved'. If Macbeth had been listening carefully to this he might have realised that he shouldn't have expected promotion above his fellow general.
In this production when Duncan begins to announce who will succeed him on the throne: 'We will establish our estate upon ...' Macbeth steps forward in eager anticipation. It is clear that he is expecting to be Duncan's choice.
In Holinshed's Chronicles, the main source for Macbeth, it is evident Macbeth feels defrauded out of his expectations by Duncan's appointment of Malcolm. Shakespeare has compressed the timescale so that all of this happens within a few lines. |
