Act I, Scene I
The Scene
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches
First Witch When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
Third Witch That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch Where the place?
Second Witch Upon the heath.
Third Witch There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch I come, Graymalkin!
Second Witch Paddock calls.
Third Witch Anon.
ALL Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Exeunt
Summary
The play begins on a barren piece of heath land. There is thunder and lightning, which signals to the audience that there is a disturbance in nature. Shakespeare is using pathetic fallacy to suggest that there is also something wrong in society. The appearance of the witches confirms this. The audience would automatically have assumed that they were evil. Their chanting hints at their involvement in the turmoil and strife affecting Scotland. They indicate their intention to meet Macbeth before the day is done.
The witches are plainly evil. There would have been many visual clues to signal this to the audience. In addition, they seem to delight in equivocation. There also seems to be some as yet unexplained link between the witches and Macbeth. It is notable that they wish to meet with Macbeth rather than confront or harm him. It is unclear so far how much power the witches have.
The audience will have received a poor first impression of Macbeth. He is inextricably linked with evil from the very beginning of the play.
Important Quotes
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.” - The Three Witches
Good is bad and bad is good. This concise summary of the witches’ creed has many echoes throughout the play. The fog may be used to symbolise the moral confusion generated by the witches and felt by Macbeth. ‘Hover’ may suggest that they leave the stage by flying!
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches
First Witch When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
Third Witch That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch Where the place?
Second Witch Upon the heath.
Third Witch There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch I come, Graymalkin!
Second Witch Paddock calls.
Third Witch Anon.
ALL Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Exeunt
Summary
The play begins on a barren piece of heath land. There is thunder and lightning, which signals to the audience that there is a disturbance in nature. Shakespeare is using pathetic fallacy to suggest that there is also something wrong in society. The appearance of the witches confirms this. The audience would automatically have assumed that they were evil. Their chanting hints at their involvement in the turmoil and strife affecting Scotland. They indicate their intention to meet Macbeth before the day is done.
The witches are plainly evil. There would have been many visual clues to signal this to the audience. In addition, they seem to delight in equivocation. There also seems to be some as yet unexplained link between the witches and Macbeth. It is notable that they wish to meet with Macbeth rather than confront or harm him. It is unclear so far how much power the witches have.
The audience will have received a poor first impression of Macbeth. He is inextricably linked with evil from the very beginning of the play.
Important Quotes
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.” - The Three Witches
Good is bad and bad is good. This concise summary of the witches’ creed has many echoes throughout the play. The fog may be used to symbolise the moral confusion generated by the witches and felt by Macbeth. ‘Hover’ may suggest that they leave the stage by flying!
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