The opening scene is set in open moorland; a place removed from the ordinary society of mankind and accepted social rules. Shakespeare brings the human world and the supernatural world together. The weather is unhealthy and hostile to men; the “fog and filthy air” suggests a sense of evil and darkness. The lightening represents confusion, disorder and turmoil. The witches’ conversation emphasises that their evil and vindictive will won’t be thwarted by men.
When Shakespeare first introduces us to the three witches, they reveal that they are “there to meet Macbeth.” We know that Macbeth and Banquo are returning after a victorious battle against an army of rebels. Macbeth has the title Thane of Glanis and is regarded as the fiercest warrior in support of his King and country. In Act 1 Scene 2, King Duncan receives reports of battles being fought against his enemies. All these reports highlight the heroism of Macbeth. The captain says “Doubtful it stood, As two spent swimmers that do cling together and choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald from the western isles Of Kernes and Gallowglasses is supplied; And Fortune, on his damnèd quarrel smiling, Showed like a rebels whore: but all ‘s too weak; For brave Macbeth, Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like Valour’s minion, carved out his passage, Till he faced the slave; Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps, And fixed his head upon our battlements.” The Thane of Cawdor has betrayed the King, and King Duncan bestows this title onto Macbeth, saying, “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. – Go, pronounce, his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth.” “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.” The audience are intrigued to discover who Macbeth is. Hence Shakespeare provides the audience with a dramatic anticipation. They are left to wonder what Macbeth’s association is with these sinister characters. How does he fit into their plans? Shakespeare also portrays the witches to be both telepathic, having the ability to foresee the future and possessing supernatural and evil powers. Shakespeare also uses the way the witches speak in order to produce dramatic effect. They are made to sound more evil and sinister by the fact that they speak differently to the rest of the characters. They speak in almost chant-like-rhythm, “fair is foul, and foul is fair”. The three witches are accompanied by Greymalkin (a grey cat) and Paddock (a toad). These animals are associated with witchcraft, having taken on demon-like form. Another dramatic method employed, is when Shakespeare encourages the audience to use their powers of imagination. This impact is at its most dramatic during Macbeth’s meeting with the witches. However, it can also be seen when Macbeth hallucinates. Firstly, when he is imagining confronting Duncan – “Is this a dagger I see before me,” and secondly when he sees the ghost of Banquo during the banquet. Shakespeare, throughout the play, concentrates on contrasting themes – light and dark and good and evil.
Another tool to captivate the audience is the use of asides, where a character speaks solely to the audience and not to any of the other characters. It is during these asides that Macbeth disturbed mind is revealed.
In the fourth act scene 1, the witches are preparing a broth which is made as foul, unpleasant and un-Christian as possible in order to prepare the audience for the arrival of Macbeth. This horrible broth contains “Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tounge of dog, Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.” This revolting broth mirrors the evil actions committed by Macbeth and those actions still to be fulfilled according to the witches’ prophecies. Shakespeare increases the dramatic tension as the witches conjure up 3 apparitions. These apparitions’s prophesise Macbeth’s death, Macduff as an infant and young Malcolm coming to Dunsinane. Macbeth doesn’t seem to be overly concerned about these apparitions. It is only the murdered Banquo’s appearance as a ghost that strikes fear into Macbeth.
Banquo’s reaction to the witches is sceptical and noticeably more casual than Macbeth’s. He has serious suspicions about their prophecies but he is nevertheless inquisitive and he does ask the witches if they see anything in the future for him. In their equivocal replies they promise him greatness and happiness, in comparison with Macbeth. The witches’ significant prediction, however, is that his descendants will become kings. Both men are genuinely startled at the immediate fulfilment that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, but Banquo’s puzzlement takes the form of scepticism and a deep distrust of the witches, whom he sees as the “devil” or the “instruments of darkness”.
When Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter about the Witches’ prophecies there is no indication of doubt, suspicion or hesitation in her reaction. Her only worry concerns her husband’s ability to fulfil or enact the prophecy. Lady Macbeth sacrifices her humanity in order that the witch’s prophecy is fulfilled. She shows ruthless ambition claiming “valour of my tounge” will be able to convince her husband to carry out this murderous task. She is morally paralysed and totally focused on her husband becoming King, “Give solely, sovereign, sway and masterdom.” Again Shakespeare uses the contrast between good and evil when in public she acts “like the innocent flower,” but in private the audience witnesses “the serpent under’t’.” The witches have indirectly corrupted Lady Macbeth’s mind.
In conclusion, before Macbeth met the witches he was regarded as a courageous warrior, a respected and noble figure, and a loyal servant to King Duncan. However, after his initial meeting, he is tempted by ambition to become King and reveals “black and deep desires”. He becomes big-headed and is excited by the prospect of becoming King. By the end of the play Macbeth is viewed as a traitor to his King and country, a devious, deceitful and ruthless man, and above all a cold-blooded murderer. In fact Malcolm compares Macbeth to a butcher “This dead butcher and fiend-like queen.” His subsequent actions after his initial meeting with the witches cause his downfall and ultimately cost him his life. The contrast in Macbeth at the very beginning of the play and at the very end of the play could not be greater. The main theme of the play concentrates on the battle between good and evil. Macbeth’s fate runs alongside the moral story of the play. During the play we can acknowledge those characters that represent good but it is the main character, Macbeth, who under the influence of the three witches represents evil.