Act I, Scenes 1-3

Scene 1

We discussed witchcraft and the misconceptions made that creates the description of witches we have in this play. The play opened with the witches standing in the forest and the chanted a spooky chant.  Mr. Germann explained that the presidence of the play and its theme is the witches very chant, "Fair is foul, foul is fair".  This sets us up with the plays atmpsphere, mood and tone. 

Nothing is normal.  Good is bad ... bad is good ... honest is dishonest ... love is hate ... etc.

Scene 2

At a camp near Forres, we hear from a wounded soldier and Ross how the civil war is going.  We hear about the valient, heroic, modelesk soldier, Macbeth.  He is described as larger than life, stronger than the average man and able to overcome large odds to defeat Norway and the Scottish traitor.

  

After King Duncan hears about Macbeth's success, he declared that Macbeth with be rewarded and honored with the traitors land, he will be named Thane of Cawdor.  Ross is sent off to give Macbeth his reward.  

Scene 3

On a heath near Forres, we hear the three witches again.  They are bragging and enjoying their stories of making life hard for people. Macbeth enters and they give us the first major conflict of the play, Macbeth and Banquo's predictions.

First Witch 

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch 
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch 
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

... and Banquo's

First Witch 
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

Second Witch 
Not so happy, yet much happier.

Third Witch 
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

These predictions and more importantly, the characters reactions to these predictions, give us the conflict to begin the story.  Banquo discounts the witches immediately. Macbeth beleives them.

Ross and Angus enter with the intention of passing on Macbeths reward.  They tell him that he has been named Thane of Cawdor.  This sends Macbeth into some instant deep thinking. 

Macbeth wonders how the witches were able to know that he was Thane of Glamis and about to be Thane of Cawdor.  His instant thought is to kill the king so he can make the third prediction come true. He questions that if the witches predictions were bad, then why did they give him something good.  If they are good, why does he have the horrific thoughts that he has. 

Macbeth is torn in this deep thought and the others are begining to see him like this.  However, the "Great Macbeth" is able to quickly cover for himself.  He asks the men to guide the way to the king.