Macbeth First Thoughts!

                                 

As a novice to the Shakespearian language, the play was quite baffling after the first read-through. Thankfully after reading the scenes repeatedly, with the aid of re-enactments, I have come to comprehend the play quite well. 

The first act begins with the appearance of the ghastly three witches. The setting of lightning and thunder indicate that the witches have no good intentions to follow. The quote "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (I.i) which is essentially translated into "good is bad, and bad is good," highlights the witches' devilish natures. With the reversal of good and bad, it undermines the reader's definition of right and wrong. Since the witches outlined the entire Macbeth play, I believe that they will be important characters as the play progresses.

As the witches were notifying Macbeth and Banquo of their near future, they stated that Macbeth was going to be appointed the title of “thane.” With the word “thane,” I understood that the play was set in Scotland hundreds of years back. With the witches’ foresight, I know that Macbeth will quickly ascend in the noble rankings until he is King. The witches also state that Banquo’s children will be kings. The witches speak in contradicting riddles which underlines how mysterious they really are. The mysterious factor is backed up with the sudden vanishing of the witches immediately after Macbeth questions them.

After reading the first act of Macbeth, I am extremely intrigued with the plot development. Will the prophecies come true? How far will Macbeth go in order to become king? There are many questions that remain answered after the first act. The witches are also a very interesting character group. Their devious nature makes me believe that they are leading Macbeth into a trap. Anxiously, I prepare myself to dive deeper into the book.  

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