answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

In Act 1 Scene 2, the noblemen Angus and Ross met up with friends and fellow Generals Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057] and Banquo. In the course of the conversation, Ross said that he was the bearer of good news from King Duncan I [d. August 14, 1040]. The King had given the title and possessions of the Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth. Macbeth didn't know that Cawdor had confessed to betraying his sovereign and asked to be punished. Cawdor held a powerful title and profitable properties. The disposition of Cawdor's earthly titles and possessions was the King's decision to make. Perhaps the King wasn't known for sharing outside of his immediate family. After all, his reward to Banquo for saving crown and county was just a 'thank you'. At any rate, the whole situation was unbelievable to Macbeth even though the witches previously had hailed him as Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. First and foremost, he didn't know of Cawdor's execution. And so, in Lines 108-109, Macbeth asked Angus and Ross, 'The Thane of Cawdor lives./Why do you dress me/In borrowed robes'?

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

It's in Act 1 Scene 3. Line numbers change from edition to edition.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Who said 'The Thane of Cawdor lives Why do you dress me In borrowed robes'?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

How does Macbeth's mentioning of borrowed robes create a sense of uneasiness in the mind of the play's main character?

Macbeth uses the phrase "borrowed robes" in Act 1 Scene 3 as follows: "The Thane of Cawdor lives; why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Your question is a bit strange because the main character is Macbeth, and what Macbeth says does not create a sense of uneasiness in Macbeth's own mind. Nevertheless, he is uneasy when he says these words because Ross has just told him that he is now the Thane of Cawdor, just as the witches predicted. Yet at the same time he knows that the Thane of Cawdor is a "prosperous gentleman" and is certainly alive. Macbeth knows nothing about the battle in Fife where Cawdor was revealed to be a traitor and captured by someone described as "Bellona's bridegroom". Up to the point where Ross calls him Thane of Cawdor he was prepared to dismiss the witches' predictions as silly nonsense; now he uneasily is not so sure.


How does Macbeth come to be Thane of Cawdor?

In the play Macbeth, by Shakespeare, King Duncan promotes Macbeth to thane of Cawdor when he hears that the old thane of Cawdor acted as a traitor against Scotland in a war with Norway. The old thane is killed and Duncan sends word to Macbeth of his new position by word of mouth.


What is the meaning of 'The Thane of Cawdor lives Why do you dress me In borrowed robes' in 'Macbeth'?

In this line from "Macbeth," Macbeth is pondering the news that he has been named the Thane of Cawdor. He questions why he is being given a title that doesn't truly belong to him, implying that he feels undeserving and uncertain about the path ahead. This moment foreshadows Macbeth's internal struggle with ambition and guilt as he contemplates his role in the prophecy.


How has Macbeth come to be Thane of Cawdor?

Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor as recognition of his achievements in battle. We are told he killed the previous Thane of Cawdor, who was a traitor by "unseeming him from the nave to the chaps" - as such he inherits the traitors land and title


Who was almost taken captive during the battle in Macbeth?

Macdonweald. He split him from the nave to the chops. Macbeth did not capture the Thane of Cawdor because when Ross greets him with the title, Macbeth says "The Thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman. Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Had Macbeth captured him, he would not have thought that he was a "prosperous gentleman" and Ross would not have to explain to him that the former Thane was a traitor.


What was the title that duncan gave to Macbeth?

Some people might think that Duncan gives this title to Macbeth because Macbeth was instrumental in capturing the traitor Thane of Cawdor. But this is wrong. The Thane of Ross brings the news to Duncan of Cawdor's treachery but does not name Macbeth as the man that captures him. Ross is then told to find Macbeth and tell him that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. When Ross tells him this, Macbeth is astonished: he says "The thane of Cawdor lives--a prosperous gentleman! Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" He would not have been astonished had he been the man to capture Cawdor. What is more, Ross is not surprised that he is astonished, because Ross knows that Macbeth has not yet heard of Cawdor's treachery. It is possible that Duncan misunderstood Ross's report and believed that Macbeth could simultaneously be in Forres (in northern Scotland) and Fife (in southern Scotland) fighting two different battles at the same time. If he was that much of a dimwit about the geography of the country he was supposed to be king of, then he might have rewarded Macbeth for something he did not do. It is far more likely that Macbeth receives the title either because Duncan wants to reward the brave and victorious Macbeth who defeated Macdonweald, or that his choice of Macbeth as the recipient is entirely arbitrary.


Which one of the things the witches said about Macbeth is about to come true ( you know but he doesn't)?

"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!" Macbeth is actually already Thane of Cawdor when the witches. Macbeth was fighting the Norwegians and Macdonweald at Forres when someone else was fighting the Norwegians and Cawdor at Fife, so Macbeth is not even aware that the Thane of Cawdor is an attainted traitor. Hence he scoffs at the idea that he could be Cawdor when "the Thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman". However, Ross, Duncan, the witches and the audience know that Macbeth is the new Thane of Cawdor, even though he doesn't.


Does duncan make banquo thane of glamis?

No, Macbeth was already Thane of Glamis.Quote from original Mabeth scene 3."FIRST WITCH.All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!SECOND WITCH.All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!THIRD WITCH.All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter!""MACBETH.Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Glamis;But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives...":)


Why does duncan choose to give the thane of cawdor to Macbeth?

Duncan gives the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth as a reward for his bravery and loyalty in battle. Macbeth proved himself by defeating the traitorous Thane of Cawdor and securing victory for Duncan's forces. This gesture also reflects Duncan's trust in Macbeth and his desire to honor those who serve him faithfully.


What does ross tell the king about the thane of cawdor?

Ross tells the king that the thane of Cawdor confessed his treasonous acts before being executed. Ross explains that the thane of Cawdor faced his fate with dignity and repentance for his betrayal. This revelation foreshadows Macbeth's own downfall due to his own ambitious and treacherous actions.


What were the weird women's first predictions for Macbeth and Banquo?

"All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis" - what he already is "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor" - who lives "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King herafter" and for Banquo they said his children will be kings


What does ross report about confrontation with the thane of cawdor?

Macbeth did not have a confrontation with the Thane of Cawdor. The general Ross is talking about in Act 1 Scene 2 is someone else. Ross says, "Norway himself, assisted by that most disloyal traitor, the Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict, till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof, confronted him with self-comparisons, point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm, curbing his lavish spirit, and, to conclude, the victory fell on us." Macbeth is not mentioned. For good reason, because "Bellona's bridegroom" is someone else. We know that for a number of reasons. First, the battle described by the bloody sergeant took place at Forres. Macbeth defeated Macdonwald at this battle. The battle Ross is talking about took place at Fife, which is about 140 miles away by modern roads. Ross has come from the end of the battle at Fife as fast as he can to Forres to bring the news to the king. It is unthinkable that Macbeth could have made the same trip (which would take about 14 hours by horseback) and have arrived at the beginning of a battle in Forres many hours before Ross. Second, Macbeth does not know that Cawdor is a traitor until Ross tells him as much in Act 1 Scene 4. When the witches call him Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth says, "The Thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman," and when Ross tells him he is the Thane of Cawdor, he says, "The Thane of Cawdor lives; why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" If Macbeth had captured Cawdor it would be ridiculous to describe him as a "prosperous gentleman" and not know why Cawdor is about to be stripped of his title. Third, not only does Macbeth's reaction show that he has no idea of Cawdor's treachery, but Ross's reaction to him shows that Ross knows that Macbeth knows nothing of Cawdor's treachery. When Macbeth says that Cawdor is still alive, Ross says, "Who was the thane lives yet, but under heavy judgement bears that life which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined with those of Norway, or did line the rebel with hidden help and vantage, or that with both he labour'd in his country's wreck, I know not. But treasons capital, confess'd and proved, have overthrown him." Would Ross have made this explanation if Macbeth had confronted the Thane of Cawdor in any way at all? Of course not! It would be ridiculous. It would be like telling Elliot Ness the news that someone has captured Al Capone for doing something illegal. If Macbeth had defeated Cawdor, and Ross had reported the same to Duncan, Ross would not have to make any explanation at all to Macbeth. He would instead have been asking Macbeth for details of Cawdor's treachery. Finally, after the sergeant has told us all about what a great general Macbeth is, and how good at splitting people from the nave to the chaps, what would be the point of having another character say exactly the same thing about him? This would be to gild refined gold or to paint the lily. It would be superfluous. The mature Shakespeare does not write superfluous lines. Ross's report is included in the scene for quite another purpose than to heap further praise upon Macbeth (without ever naming him). Duncan must hear about Cawdor's treachery so that he can give the title to Macbeth. Ross's story of the defeat of the Norwegians at Fife, including the treachery of Cawdor, brings that news to Duncan. It is irrelevant who won the battle at Fife, so he is called "Bellona's bridegroom".