Summary: Act 1, scene 1 Thunder and lightning crash above a Scottish moor. Three haggard old women, the witches, appear out of the storm. In eerie, chanting tones, they make plans to meet again upon the heath, after the battle, to confront Macbeth. As quickly as they arrive, they disappear. The opening scene of the play introduces the theme of the play and lets the audience know what to expect.
Due to this unrestrained burst of ambition, Macbeth turns to darkness and he begins to act on his thoughts even though when Banquo asks if he ever thinks about the witches’ prophecy, he denies it all. Although the prophecy the witches foresee in Macbeth’s future is news to him, he is shocked and astonished because he has already thought of becoming a king in the past. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s duplicity in character comes through; he is indecisive, guilty and he becomes the worst type of traitor because he goes against God by murdering King Duncan. Macbeth is a character who undergoes a transformation; he leaves his cocoon and morphs into a butterfly, an evil butterfly for that matter. Banquo, Macbeth’s character foil, is one great character.
This creates a mysterious and mystical atmosphere, which creates suspicion as to why they are using their powers. The scene starts off with the witches being in a deserted place with thunder and lightning. The sound effects of these elements set the strange atmosphere of the play that Shakespeare wanted to achieve. All these elements give a huge dramatic effect that grabs the reader’s attention making them wonder; what are these witches doing. The presence of the witches introduces us to a dangerous and dark play.
Research Essay: Summative The force of evil in the world, specifically minions of Satan, was a real factor in Elizabethan and Jacobean times. Discuss the play MacBeth in the context of the immanent presence of witchcraft in Jacobean England. ENG3UE- Rockland District High school – 3/28/2014 To many, William Shakespeare’s MacBeth, is a play about demonic betrayal and evil misconception. In the play, three witches approach the main character being MacBeth with prophetic knowledge of his near future and his immediate royalty; more specifically him becoming Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King of Scotland. Shortly after his encounter with the witches he is pronounced Thane of Cawdor and due to this knowledge,
Discuss time period. What were men like at this time? Why was Macbeth written? The audience is first introduced to Macbeth when the witches discuss their future plans to ‘meet with Macbeth’. We are unaware of the witches plans regarding Macbeth but it is clear that they are planning to meet him to unleash evil in the play at that is what witches do.
The third witch says, ‘There to meet Macbeth’, this intertwining of Macbeth reflects the relationship which will be made between him and the witches, and the evil which is going to be involved in Macbeth’s life. The arrangement of meeting place shows their target for the forces of evil, and their thorough planning of making an appointment to lure Macbeth to destruction. This scene symbolises the witches as a representation for temptation, therefore foreshadowing Macbeth’s potential human weakness to be susceptible to temptation, before we are even introduced to Macbeth himself. Shakespeare presents Macbeths character as brave and fearless in Scene 2; without Macbeth being present. “Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’chaps and fixed his head upon our battlements”, this quotation is said by the captain, who is commending Macbeth for defeating the leader of the rebel army.
Along the battle, Banquo and Macbeth encounters the witches. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. He that ideal was skeptical until Duncan's soldier came and thanked him and Banquo for the vicotry in battle and to tell MAcbeth that he was indeed been named Thane of Cawdor. Now, he's uncertain for what he expects if the prophecy is correct. Then road home to his wife and told her what happened.
He is filled with thoughts of betrayal and is eager to become King. He is unsure if he should act upon getting the title or if it will just end up in his hands. Shakespeare has incorporated the use of Pathetic fallacy constantly throughout the entire play to reflect emotions and events. He outlines this technique on the gathering of the three witches where they only appear in darkness and during thunderstorms. It establishes a gloomy and bleak atmosphere and foreshadows the horrifying events that are to occur further on in the play.
Structure Intro Paragraph 1 – Macbeth’s desire/ambition for power (triggered by witches) Paragraph 2 – Jack’s desire/ambition for power Paragraph 3 – Macbeth, once power is achieved (corruption) Paragraph 4 – Jack, once power is achieved Paragraph 5 – Summary/Comparision Intro: Power and the desire for power are key themes in both Macbeth and Lord of the Flies. In the beginning of both texts, Macbeth and Jack are introduced by images of darkness and ill omens. In Macbeth in Act I scene i, darkness is presented through the witches and the thunder and lightning. It is as if the natural order is being disrupted by unnatural elements. Macbeth is associated with the witches as they are waiting for him and their riddles mirror his opening remark to Banquo.
/All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. / All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.46-48). Soon after his prophecy Macbeth hears news of his new title (Thane of Cawdor). This assures him that the witch were true in their words. He then begins about the prophecy of becoming king, which then led to thoughts of murder.