Act 1, Scene 1
Summary
- We meet the witches towards the end of their meeting.
- They discuss when they shall meet again.
Quotes
‘Thunder and lightning’ (stage direction)
- Creates an eerie atmosphere.
- Slightly implies that the witches are evil rather than good.
- Associates them with thunder and lighting.
- Dark and violent mood.
‘When the hurlyburly’s done. When the battle’s lost and won’
- Sounds like a chant
- Unclear prediction which may become clearer as the play progresses.
‘hurlyburly’s’
- Meaning boisterous activity.
- Implying that chaos is about to ensue.
‘fair is foul and foul is fair’
- Reflects the witches disregard for goodness.
- Shows that the witches have evil intent.
- Possibly good as well as evil.
- Constant use of ‘f’, showing their violent intentions.
- The witches often have sentences structured to sound like a chant - creating an eerie mood - like they are casting an evil spell.
- Introduces the idea that nothing is as it seems.
- Paradox
Themes
- Evil
- Femininity/Gender
The Witches
- The first characters on stage - showing how important their supernatural is.
- Female in a patriarchal society - a society run by males and disregarding females.
- Might have turned to power and manipulation as it is the only way they have control over themselves and society.
- Shakespeare might be against the patriarchal society and be trying to reflect that through the witches without clearly expressing his controversial opinions to the easily angered audience.
- Context - King James I thought women were inferior