Question about macbeth?

Question:Why is Macbeth not there to greet king duncan at the castle when he arrives?

he should be there! he is the host!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Why is Macbeth not there to greet king duncan at the castle when he arrives?

he should be there! he is the host!

Double check the order of scenes and time line. Lady Macbeth receives the letter from Macbeth, only moments before Duncan arrives at the castle (immediately on the heels of one of her most famous monologues) - the dramatic irony is that Duncan actually arrives at her home (hence, "the raven is hoarse that croaks the arrival of Duncan to my battlements").

Macbeth does not greet him as he is mid-travel on his way home.

They arrive at roughly the same time (not too far apart) and so the dramatical assumption is that Macbeth and Duncan meet in the courtyard; once Duncan is inside the home ettiquiette dictated that the woman of the house would show him quarters to freshen up before being greeted by the host at dinner.

:)

PS: At dinner, Duncan is already settled at the castle. Macbeth does leave due to guilty feelings and second thoughts, and then proceeds to go loopy after seeing Banquo's ghost at the feast.

It isnt really clear in the text just where Macbeth is when the king arrives, but I think he leaves the dining room as the king arrives as he feels he cannot face him knowing the plans Lady Macbeth has encouraged him to go ahead with. So he is fighting his own demons as he knows what he intends to do is not right when King Duncan trusts him.