At first the weird sisters are alone on the moor. The first witch is questioned by the third, "sister, where thou?" The first witch explains that she saw "a sailor's wife", eating chestnuts and that when she asked for one she was insulted by the woman, "Aroint thee, witch!" All this is relevant to the revenge that the weird sisters take on the woman. The first witch decides that she is going to punish the woman by putting her husband's ship in a storm, "And the very ports they blow." This shows how brutal they are in revenge and how much power they posses from a distance. The witches can see in to the future as we can see from the predictions they give to Macbeth and Banquo. We are told this of the witches so we will believe their malevolence. "…hail to thee Thane of Cawdor". It is very unlikely that the witches would know this as only a few do. "…that shalt be king hereafter." This is a strange thing to say as the King is still very much alive and his two sons are next in line to the throne. Banquo's predictions come next, "lesser than Macbeth, and greater." "Not so happy, yet much happier." and "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none." These are all strange predictions and Banquo reacts by saying, "…have we eaten from the insane root?"
When Macbeth receives the title, "Thane of Cawdor", at first he does not believe Ross, "Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Banquo, however says "what! Can the devil speak true?" The fact that the witches words are referred to as being from the 'devil' shows the theme of death and could be an early sign of the killings that are ahead but not yet mentioned. Banqou says this 'aside' to show how shocked he is. Macbeth is then told that the Thane of Cawdor was a traitor who will lose his life. Macbeth truly believes what the witches have said, He turns to Banquo and says, "Do you not hope your children shall be Kings…" Banquo is a little more questioning of the witches; he says, "That, trusted home, might yet enkindle you into the crown." Despite Banquo's wise words, Macbeth says aside, "two truths are told…" If he believes he will be king, he is likely to make it happen.
The opening scene of Macbeth is short but relevant as the witches mention Macbeth; this gives us a link to him very early on, even before we meet him. The first scene also introduces one of the key themes of the supernatural. In the early 17th century witchcraft and the supernatural were common beliefs of people, the general public feared them. King James I, the Monarch of the time was deeply interested in the reality of witchcraft and even published a book called Demonology in 1597. However, any person found to be practising witchcraft was severely punished by execution even if it was mere suspicion.
Witchcraft and the supernatural are a key part of Lady Macbeth's influence. Lady Macbeth is conveyed as a coercive and ambitious woman who has a strong link with the supernatural and a hold over Macbeth as her equal. We first meet Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 5, when she is reading the letter she has been sent by Macbeth telling her of his predictions and how one of them has already come true; "Thane of Cawdor". The only prediction left is, "Hail, King that shalt be!" Macbeth also tells Lady Macbeth how, if he becomes King she will be hi equal or, "partner of greatness", and be his Queen, she will share in his power. When Lady Macbeth hears all of this she has no hesitation, she is determined that Macbeth will become King. When Lady Macbeth hears that the King will be visiting there that very night she instantly decides that he will be dead by morning and that Macbeth will become King. Supernatural comes up again with Lady Macbeth when she preys on evil spirits to "unsex me here…" and "make thick my blood" and "stop up access and passage to remorse." Now that Lady Macbeth has used this supernatural tongue to make her less remorseful she only has one problem left: Macbeth. Macbeth has a conscience and will therefore need to be persuaded to match her ambition. Lady Macbeth now tells her 'partner' to hurry home.
As soon as Macbeth arrives home, Lady Macbeth confronts him. Lady Macbeth calls her husband by the titles the witches branded him, "Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all - hail hereafter!" Lady Macbeth greets her husband in a very unconventional way this is because she is so determined to fulfil her ambition of becoming Queen, that she can think of nothing else.
When Macbeth tells his wife about King Duncan's visit she has no hesitation of revealing her intentions for him to be killed. Lady Macbeth says, without sounding conspiring, "And when goes hence?" Lady Macbeth does this cleverly so Macbeth still has no idea of what she is planning, but when Macbeth says, "To-morrow, as he purposes" his wife's response of, "O never shall that sun morrow see!" Shocks Macbeth deeply. We know that shocks Macbeth deeply because his wife calmly caries on to say; "your face my thane, is a book where men may read strange matters." Lady Macbeth knows that her husband has a conscience and therefore tries to explain what he has to do, "…look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't." Macbeth however is not yet completely convinced and tells his wife, " we will speak further." Lady Macbeth does not give up and simply states "leave all the rest to me." This is very clever as Lady Macbeth leave her husband knowing that he will have very little to do to in his quest to become King, and this may sway his decision to kill King Duncan.
At the start of Act 1 Scene 4 Macbeth finds out to his surprise that next in line to the thrown will be King Duncan's son, Malcolm. Any other man would see this as a sign to warn him off or see this as a huge problem in their quest for kingship. Macbeth however just sees this as another obstacle to overcome en route to the throne. Macbeth believes the witches 'truths', and with some encouragement from his ambitious wife there is nothing that can stop him completing his murderous journey.
