The minor characters in Macbeth are important to the overall plot of the play. They help develop and create the situations that occur in the play.
Ross starts his messenger role early in the play. He tells King Duncan that the thane of Cawdor has betrayed him and fought on the kerns and gallowglasses side. Ross says "assisted by the most disloyal traitor, the thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict"(I,II,52) This causes King Duncan to denounce the thane of Cawdor and kill him and name Macbeth the new thane of Cawdor by saying "go pronounce his present death and with his former tittle greet Macbeth."(I,II,64) Ross is the only person in this play who doesn't tell a lie. Ross doesn't only deliver messages though; he also gave Macbeth the clothing needed for the thane of Cawdor. Angus says "we are sent to give thee form our royal master Thanks; only to herald thee into his sight, not pay thee."(I,III,100) Also Ross seems to know about everything that is going on in the play. He might be a professional message deliverer. Everybody can believe what comes out of Roses mouth. For example, when Ross told Lady Macduff that Macduff left to England, she didn't start asking other people to make sure he left. The next thing she asked was "what had he done, to make him fly the land?"(III,II,1).
Then after the murder's killed Lady Macduff and her son, Ross even went to England to tell Macduff. Ross likes being the messenger and he does it throughout the play, even at the end when he tells Macbeth that Lady Macbeth has killed herself.
Ross has ways in some scenes of how he tells people the bad news. If it's a friend of his he shows some kind of compassion to his friend when he tells them. When he tells King Duncan about the traitor situation he is direct and to the point. The king asks "whence camest thou, worthy thane?"(I,II,44) he says "from Fife, great king." (I,II,49) When Ross talks to the king he doesn't waste any time with his answers.
