Act 1, Scene 1
Thunder and lightning*1. Enter three Witches.
(Stage directions: Pathetic fallacy, darkness or stormy weather*1, establishing an atmosphere that continues throughout the play. )
First Witch (seen as an mischief maker on the side of evil and chaos):
When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
When will we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or rain?
Second Witch:
When the hurly-burly’s (chaos) done, When the battle’s lost and won.
When all the chaos is over, When the battle is lost and won.
Third Witch:
That will be ere (before) the set of sun.
That will be before sunset.
First Witch:
Where the place?
Where will we meet?
Second Witch:
Upon the heath (open field).
On the open field.
Third Witch:
There to meet with Macbeth.
We’ll meet Macbeth there.
First Witch:
I come, Graymalkin!
My cat, Graymalkin, is calling!
Second Witch:
Paddock calls.
My toad, Paddock, is calling too.
Third Witch:
Anon!
I’ll be there soon!
ALL:
Fair (good) is foul (bad), and foul is fair*2: Hover through the fog and filthy air.
What’s good is bad, and what’s bad is good: Let’s fly through the fog and dirty air.
They exit.
Insights of Act 1, Scene 1
Plots
- Opening with Thunder and Lightning: The scene starts with thunder and lightning, which creates a spooky and intense atmosphere. This hints that something bad or supernatural is going to happen.
- Planning to Meet: The witches are discussing when to meet again after the chaos (hurly-burly) of a battle is over. This shows they are involved in or aware of the conflict.
- Mentioning Macbeth: They specifically say they will meet Macbeth, which tells us right away that he will be important to the story and that the witches have plans involving him.
- Familiars: The witches mention their supernatural helpers: Graymalkin, the cat, and Paddock, the toad. In folklore, familiars are spirits that assist witches, emphasizing their supernatural nature.
- Setting the Tone: This opening scene sets a mood of foreboding and hints at the supernatural elements that will play a crucial role in the story. It prepares the audience for the dark and mysterious events that are about to unfold.
Famous Expressions and Sayings
- “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” from Act 1, Scene 1: This famous line means that things aren’t what they seem. Good things might actually be bad, and bad things might turn out to be good. It’s a key theme in the play of appearances versus reality. It chants and reinforces the sense of confusion, distortion, obscuring and deceiving*2.
This scene effectively establishes the witches as otherworldly characters with a significant influence on the plot, and it sets the stage for the themes of ambiguity and deceit that will run throughout the play.