The witches also say “Fair is foul and foul is fair” which confuses us and introduces the idea of illusion and reality. Later on in the play Macbeth says “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” And we think why are the words of the witches in Macbeth’s mouth. The witches “hover through the filthy air” which suggests that they are going to fly which is not human.
Act 1 scene 2 is a total contrast to the first scene as it is a normal scene with ordinary people away from the witches. Blood is mentioned a lot during this scene and we can relate it to murder, violence and war. Even though the scene is away from the witches the blood still makes the scene very dramatic. Duncan, the king, does nothing but praise Macbeth during this scene. The battle that has just happened is the battle in which the witches referred to. The enemy was supported by the Thane of Cawdor, who has deceived the king. The king decides to give the title to Macbeth for his bravery during the battle. He then says “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive”. This line is ironic as little does the king though Macbeth shall deceive him as he kills him. Duncan also says that what the previous thane of Cawdor lost Macbeth has won which we can link to the witches. The witches said “when the battles lost and won.” This is how it is lost and won.
The sound of the alarums contrast with the thunder and lightening of the first scene and the play shifts from the wild world of the witches to a place where royal authority is demonstrated. The focus or our attention in this scene is on Macbeth and his virtues as a loyal soldier.
In Act 1 scene 3 the witches recount the dreadful things that they can do to men. The weather is again foul. Macbeth and Banquo meet them and the witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, which his title already is, Thane of Cawdor and king to be. Banquo is told that he will produce sons who will become kings. They both have very different reactions to the witches’ predictions. Banquo’s reaction is casual and he almost laughs sat them saying that they are not like any inhabitants on the earth showing that they are not human.
When Macbeth is told that he will be king Banquo is just as shocked as Macbeth but cannot see how it is true and sees the witches as the devil and evil creatures. Macbeth asks to know more and the witches vanish. Just at that moment Ross and Angus arrive to announce that the king has conferred on Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor. The witches’ prediction was correct and Macbeth believes them. From now on it is as if he is under their spell and their words are in his thoughts.
In the first two scenes of the play the world of the witches has been separated from the world of men. Now these two world have been brought together by the meeting of people and witches. The witches speak in rhyme as though they are chanting it. They answer Macbeth rather than Banquo as Macbeth believes them. This is showing their evil. Macbeth is perturbed and frightened whist Banquo’s reaction is calm and sceptical. The confirmation of Macbeth and Banquo, who is concerned that men are easily tempted into sin by the instruments of darkness. In his aside, Macbeth revels a deeply disturbed mind in the witches’ words and it is this exposure of his inner mind that gives him concern. Furthermore, if the witches have been proved right about Thane of Cawdor, then the next stage maybe inevitable. Macbeth believes that he has to act.
In Act 1 scene 5 Lady Macbeth reads the witches prophecy in Macbeth’s letter there is no indication of doubt, suspicion of hesitation in her reaction. She asks to be “unsexed” as she does not want to be feminine, like an innocent flower but like a serpent and to be cruel so she can kill the king. Although she does not speak in rhyme, it is witchy and spell like as the witches are connected to the devil and it sounds like she is asking to be unsexed by the devil as he is one of the only people who could perform such a task.
The opening scene of the play is particularly important in establishing a mood or atmosphere in which the main action of the play will be seen by the audience and because it can play a major role in establishing the key elements throughout the rest of the performance. The main elements are the characters, themes, language, setting and plot. The audience have usually had an insight into the typical mood and language of the play. It also enables the viewers to have a taster of the style of the author’s writing.
The scene is set in an open space, a place removed from the ordinary business of men. I think that Shakespeare chose to start the play with witches so we do not think the play will be happy play. The witches set the mood of the play. It also had to be gripping and exciting. The weather would have been associated with evil as not many people like bad weather. The witches are up to no good as they are the only ones that appear in the first scene and they speak in rhyme which sounds mysterious and untrustworthy. Macbeth is first mentioned by the witches “There to meet with Macbeth” in Act 1 scene 1 and we wonder how Macbeth relates to the witches. The witches also speak in rhyme and are the only people to do so throughout the entire play. Spells are usually cast in rhyme and we think they are casting a spell on Macbeth. In a way they are because when they tell him his future he believes them and it is as if he is under their spell. The witches also say lines which confuses us “When the battles lost and won.” The witches have power over Macbeth as he believes what they are telling him. Although the first scene is exceptionally short, it manages to tell the audience that the witches will meet again, “When the hurly-burly’s done, after the battle, on a heath and they will confront Macbeth.
