Final answer:
Before Macbeth's physical entrance, lines describing his valor, ambition, and conflict portray a complex character. His reputation for bravery and respect is initially evident, but foreshadowing elements hint at his future moral struggles and susceptibility to supernatural influences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before Macbeth appears in person, there are several lines in the play that contribute to the impression of his character. For instance, the lines “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name” indicate his reputation as a valorous and respected warrior.
This is contrasted by lines that showcase his ambition and internal conflict, such as “Why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair…” and “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,” which reveal his intrigue with the witches' prophecy and foreshadow his descent into moral corruption.
Furthermore, Lady Macbeth’s reading of Macbeth’s letter reveals his burning ambition and the influence of supernatural forces on him described in the lines “They met me in the day of success: and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge.”
These excerpts contribute to the complex image of Macbeth as a character driven by valor, ambition, and the influence of supernatural prophecy.