Preview

Explain How Does Shakespeare Create Mood And Atmosphere In The Opening Scene Of Macbeth

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1214 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Explain How Does Shakespeare Create Mood And Atmosphere In The Opening Scene Of Macbeth
How does Shakespeare create mood and atmosphere in the opening scenes of Macbeth?
Act 1 Scene 1 is set in ‘an open place’, immediately indicating to the reader that something secretive is happening, the very setting of the first scene indicates tension to come. The stage direction reads ‘Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.’ The weather creates a tense atmosphere, when the scene is performed the weather acts as pathetic fallacy, further creating tension in the atmosphere; also the weather suggests a supernatural element, a common component of the Gothic genre. The witches talk in rhyming couplets, as though a chant; Witch 1 says ‘When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?’.This indicates the witches can see into the future, developing further on the supernatural element; Shakespeare mentions this power of the witches …show more content…
The witches agree to meet on ‘the heath’, an isolated and secretive location suggesting their intentions are evil. During this scene Macbeth is mentioned for the first time, the witches say they are to meet him, Shakespeare does this to foreshadow Macbeth’s link to evil, by suggesting Macbeth knows the witches the audience automatically associates Macbeth with the witches. The ending of the scene has great impact, all witches recite ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.’ Again the witches are ‘chanting’ and talking in rhyming couplets, suggesting they have telepathic powers, securing the idea that they have supernatural powers. At the era in which Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, James I was King, he was extremely interested in Witches, so many suggest Shakespeare wrote the play to please the King, and his followers. Act 1 scene 1 is a short impact scene for dramatic effect, Shakespeare introduces the witches as the first characters in the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How Does Shakespeare Present Macbeth An
    • 814 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Does Shakespeare Present Macbeth An

    In Act one Shakespeare introduces the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth using a range of dramatic devices. At the start of the play Macbeth is introduced from two different perspectives. He is firstly introduced by the three witches whom are discussing a meeting with him ‘There to meet with Macbeth’. This scene would create immense tension for the audience as the presence of the witches in the play would indicate a series of evil and sinister events occurring later on in the play which is a technique called foreshadowing. This implies that the main character Macbeth is going to be a character which becomes influenced by evil forces. The first scene is set in a battlefield which creates an eerie atmosphere as it links to the prospect of death and danger. The mood of the play is set in the first scene creating suspense and curiosity for the audience. In comparison, in Act 1, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a very ambitious, manipulative woman. We first meet her in Act one, Scene 5, when she is alone, reading a letter from her husband. This is called a soliloquy.…

    • 814 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How does Shakespeare establish characters and theme in the opening act of "Macbeth"?
    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How does Shakespeare establish characters and theme in the opening act of "Macbeth"?

    A prominent theme of Macbeth is the supernatural. Shakespeare uses the witches as the centre of the supernatural and mystery in the play. Shakespeare establishes an atmosphere of evil connected to the witches by setting the scene during a storm to give a dark eerie mood. The isolated setting and anonymous witches further hints at a separate supernatural world. Shakespeare keeps the scene short for impact and dramatic effect. The witch's speech is trochaic and rhyming which contrasts with the blank verse the rest of the play is written in. The trochaic rhythm is disturbing and pessimistic; it's an unnatural rhythm that sounds ritualistic like a chanting a spell, reinforcing supernatural theme. Their lines are very short for impact, and the speech seems to be split three ways as though the witches are finishing off each other's sentences,…

    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth And Banquo Analysis
    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Macbeth And Banquo Analysis

    Once the exposition is established by the witches’ famous dialogue, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I. i. 10), the reversal moral order is introduced as the theme of the play. This incident precedes the introduction of the diverse belief of both Macbeth and Banquo concerning the witches. Although Macbeth questions the witches’ prophecies in the beginning, he still maintains a flicker of hope that the prophecies are true. Macbeth’s belief in the witches’ predictions reveals to the audience that Macbeth is a credulous character. It only takes favourable prophecies for him to become convinced. During the first encounter between the witches, Macbeth and Banquo, Macbeth displays his anticipation to understand completely the words of the women,…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How does Shakespeare present human weaknesses and flaws through Macbeth
    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How does Shakespeare present human weaknesses and flaws through Macbeth

    Structurally scene 1 opens with the witches gathered together reciting plans about meeting Macbeth, establishing an occult malevolence which permeates the play. The choice of starting with the witches instantly creates a mood of terror and unearthly evil, setting an unnatural and deceptive atmosphere. 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.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Macbeth Act Questions
    • 4388 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Macbeth Act Questions

    1) This scene is an effective and dramatic opening to the play, as we meet the three witches, also known as the Weird Sisters. We quickly point out that these witches possess powers meant only for evil and pain, as they are already placed in a meeting area in a setting that only screams evil, since it is raining with lightning bolts striking the ground nearby. But what truly makes the witches evil in the sense is that they chant together of meeting with the main character Macbeth, which we have only heard of being good, which means they may be planning to either kill or corrupt the hero. The witches also speak in iambic pentameter, this form of poetry is very well used as the witches speak in chants, giving the reader an even bigger sense of their evil.…

    • 4388 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explain the Importance of the Influence of the Witches and the Supernatural in Macbeth Essay Example
    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Explain the Importance of the Influence of the Witches and the Supernatural in Macbeth Essay Example

    The fact that the Witches open the play is not only visually effective on stage, but it also foreshadows the importance of their role – and that of the supernatural. They combine to chant “Fair is foul, and foul is fair;/ Hover through the fog and filthy air.” The paradox of “foul” and “fair” introduces the theme that everything is not as it seems in Macbeth, a theme borne out through the deceptive behaviour of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and also through the equivocation of the Apparitions later in the play. The importance of the Witches’ influence is directly signposted early in the play when Macbeth’s words ‘So foul and fair a day I have not seen’, echo theirs. We are left wondering if they have already placed a supernatural charm on him. The “fog’ in the chant is also dramatically interesting for the audience as it contradicts the opening stage direction, “Thunder and lightning”, as fog and lightning are conflicting weather systems that do not appear together.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Macbeth CW
    • 2107 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Macbeth CW

    In Act 1 Scene 3 the witches meet with Macbeth for the first time. An evil mood is created at the beginning of the scene as we hear of the discomfort the witches have been causing such as – “killing swine.” Before Macbeth arrives at the place where he will meet the witches, the witches prepare…

    • 2107 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Character Analysis
    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Macbeth Character Analysis

    Not only to develop Macbeth’s character, but to develop multiple themes throughout the play. One of the main thing the Witches do in the play is to create the theme of evil and supernatural. They do this from the very first scene when come and talking about about meeting Macbeth and saying their famous chant, “Fair is foul,foul is fair,/Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (1.1 13-14) When they say these lines and mention meeting with Macbeth; they immediately create the theme of evil and supernatural and make the audience wonder what they are planning to do to Macbeth. The Witches also help to create the theme of ambition They do this by giving Macbeth profecias and once one comes true, Macbeth says, “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical.” (1.3 38) When Macbeth says this line; it can be seen that Macbeth is thinking ambitious thoughts of killing the king to have the second part come true. Later in the play Macbeth returns to the Witches for more prophecies; they gave him deceptive prophecies that gave him false hope. These prophecies made Macbeth think he was invulnerable which made him over confident. When he found out the prophecies tricked him he says, “ Accused be the tongue that tells me so,/ For it hath cow’d my better part of man.” (5.8 17-18)He says this because he finally realises that he was deceived by the Witches. Throughout the play, the witches help the theme of evil and supernatural,…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Corruption In Macbeth
    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Corruption In Macbeth

    As creators of turmoil by nature, the witches catalyze changes in Macbeth that enable his transformation from a righteous military general into a committed megalomaniac. Furthermore, they inspire the awakening of Macbeth’s ambition and fool him by providing a false sense of security. This exploitation is expected from the dark and sinister creatures as they firmly believe that “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” The paradox and enigma behind this principle suggests that the witches feel disdain towards the laws of human nature, morality, and ethics. Their embodiment of pure evil allows the witches to find meaning and delight in the harshest of things while despising compassion. Furthermore, this belief shows that for them, there is a…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    macbeth
    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages

    macbeth

    Act 1, Scene 3: Now that the witches' prophecy has been realized, they reconvene at the predetermined heath. The first witch explains to the others why she was late in coming. Angered at the impudence of a sailor's wife in not giving her chestnuts, the first witch vows to seek revenge on the sailor, making him a sleepless, cursed man. It is important to note here that the witch (and thus Shakespeare and the audience) associates sleeplessness with an evil or cursed life. Macbeth, after killing King Duncan, can hardly sleep because of his ghastly nightmares. While the witches are talking, Macbeth and Banquo enter the area. Macbeth proclaims that he has never seen a day "so fair and foul." (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 38) This is reminiscent of the weird sisters' statement in Act 1, Scene 1 that "fair is foul and foul is fair." This is a prominent theme in the play, as it beautifully expresses the macabre state of affairs within Macbeth and without. Banquo, after seeing the witches, becomes horrified by their hideous appearances.…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Fair Is Foul Is Fair In Macbeth By William Shakespeare
    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Fair Is Foul Is Fair In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

    The witches appeared suddenly in the mid-conversation, which was dramatic and created unclear ideas about the dubious topics of conversation. This in turn created an air of tension, suspicion and an ominous atmosphere. The presence of thunder and lightning was a symbol of evil and created a more hostile atmosphere. This suggested that the rest of the play would be full of deceit, revenge, anger and pain, implying the play would be a tragedy. Later on the witches planned to meet Macbeth in the play on the heath. Antithesis was used in the ultimate stanza, where the witches chant a warning: Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air? This implied that appearances were deceptive, and it created a sense of mystery and encouraged thought as to what significance this may hold for later in…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Use Of Darkness In Macbeth
    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Use Of Darkness In Macbeth

    The last quote at the end of scene one “Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air” shows that the meeting place of the witches was not only in the thunder but also in the dark smoggy filthy air (I, i, 14-15). Further symbolizing the witches evilness through the power of darkness. The very appearance of the witches shows their evil and how they are ominous and the controllers of fate. When the witches say “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” on the dark and stormy night it instantly sparks a flame of evil inside Macbeth (I, i, 151). Shortly after Macbeth states, “Stars, hide your light so no one can see the terrible desires within me. . I won’t let my eye look at what my hand is doing, but in the end I’m still going to do that thing I’d be horrified to see”(I, iv, 331-336). This quote from macbeth is already showing how the darkness is seeping inside of him turning him evil only a few scenes after the witches revealed his prophecy, though we do see some hesitation in his advances. Macbeth however isn't…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth Essay
    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Macbeth Essay

    Shakespeare successfully sends the message to the audience of darkness and mysteriousness; uncertainty. When we first see the three witches (or wicked sisters) in the opening scene of the play, we are not sure where they've come from, who they are or what they are, or what their intentions are when they say they plan to meet Macbeth. What we do know is that they've gathered amidst thunder and lightening and move about the fog and "filthy" air, which symbolises their own mysteriousness and darkness. Just like us, Banquo and Macbeth are uncertain about the sisters' identity when they meet them on the heath: “… What are these
So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught
That man may question?” (I.III.1) The three witches respond with the infamous lines that set the tone for the play: "Fair is foul and foul is fair" (I.I.4). This means that nothing, including the identity of the witches, is certain. Throughout the play, the witches lurk like dark thoughts and unconscious temptations to evil. In part, the mischief they cause stems from their supernatural powers, but mainly it…

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth
    • 2675 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Macbeth

    Firstly, I will be looking at Act 1 Scene 1, which is the first appearance of the witches and helps sets the tone for the rest of the play. Throughout the play Shakespeare portrays the witches as being evil. One of the main quotes of this scene is “Fair is foul and foul is fair”. It is implying that all that is good is bad and all that is bad is good. It is also showing that if you wish to be successful and gain power, you must be prepared to complete bad deeds. This is a good example of the witches being shown as evil by Shakespeare. This quote is said by all of the witches together and is a rhyming couplet. The use of Trochaic Tetrameter is important within the quote and helps to portray the witches as being bad and evil. This is how a lot of supernatural characters speak within other Shakespeare plays, whereas most other characters from the play talk in blank verse. However, you see as the play goes on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both start to talk in Trochaic Tetrameter; a sign they have become evil. I should mention that at this time people strongly believed in the idea of witches. The king, James I, was obsessed with witchcraft and even passed laws condemning witchcraft and the practice of sorcery. This is significant, in that Shakespeare is believed to have written the play Macbeth to please the king. A way in which the witches are seen as having power is in their ability to control the weather. This is shown in the quote “When shall we three meet again in? /In thunder lightening or in rain?”. This is also an example of a pathetic fallacy because it adds to the dark atmosphere making the scene seem more frightening in bad weather. The idea of “thunder” and “lightening” also add to the…

    • 2675 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Dramatic Techniques in Macbeth
    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Dramatic Techniques in Macbeth

    Dramatic irony is employed from the beginning of the play. The repetition of the paradox “fair is foul and foul is fair” (Act 1 Sc 1) by the Witches introduces the theme of the disruption of the natural order. Macbeth echoes similar words just before his first encounter with them, “so foul and fair a day I have not seen” (Act 1 Sc lll). This draws to the audience's attention the relationship that will form between Macbeth and the Weird Sisters. Dramatic irony is employed here, since Macbeth is unaware at this stage of the importance of his words. The audience though are able to see the connection, which creates dramatic suspense. His words highlight the contribution of the Witches to the events and outcomes of the play. Foreshadowing is one of the first dramatic techniques to be used in the play. In his meeting with the witches in Act 1 Sc lll, Macbeth learns of the prophecy. It plants the idea of treason in his mind. It is Macbeth's ambition that compels him to commit regicide. Without the deliverance of the prophecy by the Witches, Macbeth would not have considered becoming king. Macbeth at this stage of the action considers the witches insignificant, lowly and evil. He is initially fearful of them and approaches them with…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics