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How is Macbeth presented as superior at the beginning of the play?

Early in Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth is seen as a respected military leader and nobleman. He has a strong relationship with King Duncan and has proven himself effective on the battlefield.


In Act I, scene ii, the Captain reports to Duncan that the Scots, under the command of Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated the Norwegians in a particularly bloody battle. Macdonwald, Thane of Cawdor, has betrayed the crown and fought with the Norwegians. To punish Macdonwald and reward Macbeth, Duncan decides to give Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor. 


A couple of scenes later, in Act I, scene iv, Duncan awards Macbeth the title and addresses him as "My worthy Cawdor" (line 47). Despite receiving the acclaim of the king, though, Macbeth is resentful because it is in this same scene that Duncan names his oldest son, Malcolm, as his official heir. Macbeth sees that someone else is above him in the line of succession, and in order to feel superior again, he vows to eliminate the threat of Malcolm. Macbeth's superiority complex is exacerbated by the witches' prophecies in Act I, scene iii. Once he hears that he will become "King hereafter" and receives the zealous encouragement of his wife, Macbeth will do everything in his power to gain and keep the highest position in the country. 


Macbeth's superiority, both in his own mind and in the reality of his position as king, does not last long, however. His ambition and paranoia cause Macbeth to make mistakes that come back to haunt him and result in his death at the end of Act V. 

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