Macbeth+Reflections

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Connections between Macbeth and other semester one texts

 * Theme: order vs disorder (Macbeth & Beowulf)
 * Structure: start with order, chaos follows murder, order is restored
 * Women: Lady Macbeth and the Wife of Bath have 'masculine' characteristics such as independence, strength of will, and intelligence which make them challenges to the conventional stereotypes of their time
 * God: the theme of man's relationship with God is explored in all three texts. This also has implications for the fate vs free will theme. In Macbeth, the main character faces damnation for his sins and after he knows he is damned it's a downward spiral. In Beowulf we see the Christian ideology of the author being contrasted with the belief in fate of the main characters, plus the ideas of forgiveness and revenge are contrasted. In Chaucer there are several references to the Bible (eg ark in The Miller's Tale), showing its growing influence over the British population.
 * Both Beowulf and Macbeth portray a feudalistic, male dominated society where to be a good soldier/leader is considered the primary achivement of masculinity.
 * Chaucer portays a society in which social roles are more varied and more established.

Act One Character Analyses
I have just finished grading your character analyses and am very impressed by their depth and insight. A couple of thoughts to add:
 * Both Banquo and Duncan praise Lady Macbeth as a gracious hostess. This seems to me to emphasise the fact that others do not see her as she really is.
 * **Foil:**  Character who provokes the protagonist, or simply serves to contrast against the protagonist, so as to highlight more clearly the protagonist’s positive or negative qualities. This seems to me to perfectly fit Banquo, as he serves to highlight Macbeth's disloyalty and lack of reflection, yet nobody used this word when analyzing their relationship.

Act One Scenes One and Two
I love the first two scenes of this play because they have so much potential for a director. It is very easy to imagine the menacing atmosphere of the opening on stage or film. The witches suggest that the theme of the supernatural will be important in the play. Their line 'fair is foul and foul is fair' leaves me with questions - is this about appearance being different from reality? That's a common Shakespearean theme. Scene two establishes war and violence as important aspects of the play. It introduces a violent, power hungry culture and uses strong images to bring the battle to life for the audience with words. My favourite image is 'he unseamed him from the nave to th' chaps' - I imagine a man being undone with a sword like a bag is undone with a zipper, bloody guts falling out instead of books and an ipod. Wonderfully gruesome.
 * Ms Kemsley**

I find the first two scenes of this play are interesting in different ways because in the first scene, the witches create an atmosphere of darkness and fear which creates suspense //**of**// what will happen later in the play. The line after 'fair is foul, and foul is fair.' seems to add to the dark atmosphere in scene one, 'We hover through the fog and filthy air.' In the 2nd scene, the main subjects are war and battles. As the sergeant said, "Doubtful it stood; As two spent swimmers that do cling together and choke their art...", it's like a battle to the death which I believe brings out a feeling of power, and anger in contrast to fear while in the battle. With all this power, going to war gives you the strength to win yet in the 2nd scene, so much blood is depicted. //Alex, great ideas about the first scene but your comments on the second scene are not clear. The image you chose to explore is not really about power and fear; it describes two soldiers clinging together in the middle of a battle just like two drowning swimmers would cling together to save themselves. It communicates the closeness and physicality of the battle.Ms K// The first scene gives that suspenseful feeling to the audience. The three witches don't have names, raising questions: Are the witches nameless so that they hide their identity? Do they have secrets that they don't want to reveal to the audience? The way the witches communicate with each other also adds to the suspense, thus intriguing the audience and exciting them for what's coming. It's seems as though they are planning something that could be good or bad. //It// //definitely won't be good - they are evil!//
 * Alex Zhang**
 * Gabriel Sanchez BLOCK E**

The second scene focuses on a recent battle, with violent imagery. One such example is, "And fixed [Macdonwald's] head upon our battlements" (i.ii.25), where the head of the leader was cut off and used to show that the enemies of Macdonwald had won. It actually promotes violence, as beheading someone shows feelings of hatred and anger. Judging by that particular image, the play will not only have suspenseful moods that the witches create, but also violence that is yet to come. //I agree that the play will be violent, but does it promote violence? This means it says that violence is a good thing....//

The first scene creates fear and suspense. The descriptions of the witches are vague, leaving their appearance mostly to our imagination.The witches say the line' fair is foul and foul is fair' it makes me wonder what someone must have done that makes them have or what seems to be build up anger. The chanting to Macbeth brings chills to the readers. During the second scene however it seems as if it is an entirely different story. This story has to do with fighting battles and violent imagery. //Thanks for your comments Tania. Do take care with spelling (witches) etc on the wiki. The line foul is fair and fair is foul is not really about anger, but about two contrasting things existing at the same time, or things not being what they first seem to be.// = **Henry Chan (Block E)**  = The first scene of Macbeth gave me a feeling that there will definitely be some disturbance to the peace especially with regards to Macbeth. Since we know that witches, at that time, were considered to be evil and dangerous, I can see that there will be many tricks and magic spells that the witches will lay upon characters throughout the play. I can also see that the witches will play an important part in what might happen to Macbeth or maybe they will influence him into doing things that are evil. The second scene tells us what an honorable and brave man Macbeth is. I find it interesting that we are not introduced to Macbeth in person in the first two scenes. We are only told that Macbeth will undergo evil while he is, at the time, honorable and respected. //Henry, thanks for these insightful comments on the introduction of Macbeth's character.//
 * Tania Hueting**

**Roger Xu Block H** Both versions of the opening scene for the play Macbeth try to invoke a sense of fear and suspicion. But which one does this better? It's arguable that the BBC version provides a rather "cliched" version of Macbeth with the thunder and hazy background from the darkness, the tattered rags of the witches, and the raspy and coarse voices, but it nevertheless gets the message across that there are evil doings of the time (witchcraft), and darkness. The reason why some may feel the first one is more creepy is because the message is clear. Any questions that come from the beginning scene are indefinitely associated the darkness and gloomy feeling.

On the other hand, the version by Roman Polanski is ambiguous. Shakespeare's introduction with words "Thunder and Lightning. Enter Three Witches", is subject to multiple interpretations, but the most obvious of course, is the background is full of thunder and lightning. Roman Polanski strays away from this, and offers his unique interpretation of this beginning which leaves the reader feeling, almost "invaded". There is no thunder and lightning, but there is an ambiguous opening at. The beach setting and shades of color change poses numerous questions. What is this setting? Why does it have to be here? Polanski's opening in his version of Macbeth is much more unideal for a cliched view of witchcraft, but is a much more modern view witchcraft. Society today no longer accepts the casual thunderous background, and dark covered faces, they want to see the unexpected and mysterious. The setting of the beach offers a new insight perfectly, and the burial of a severed arm with a knife in the hand is much more uncommon. There is no cliched thunder, and the witches appearance don't seem to be what one may think. Polanski's perspective may not be as clear as the BBC version, but it's still effective with the number of questions it poses which ultimately increases suspicion. This suspicion, is what "//creeps people out//".

Overall, which ever one is better is obviously opinionated, but on determining which is more idealistic; I would say Polanski's version is better. Polanski's versions is so ambiguous and unlike the cliched feelings of witches, that it jump-started many questions in my mind. The actions of the witches are ritualistic, and there is a sharp creaking noise that draws suspense that anything could happen. One watching Polanski's version at first may not even know they're watching a Shakespearean film until the title screen pops up. If the title had not appeared, the opening would've left me clueless and eager to find out what is about to happen next. //Thanks Roger, thoughtful reflections on the films. As we read the play you will understand the significance of the noose and dagger, which foreshadow what is to come later on. Do you think Polanski's version offers and opinion about whether the witches are to blame or not?//

These two scenes are powerful at setting up the general mood for the play. But I found scene one especially powerful. There Shakespeare craftily used the witches to convey a sense of foreboding, and at the same time foreshadowing the outcome of the play. The quote "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (I.ii.12) conveys some sort of duality in one or some of the characters in the play. Also, these witches seem omniscient in that they are able to predict the future outcome. Furthermore, it is apparent that these witches will play a major role as guiding hands in Macbeth. Whereas the first scene sets up a n  ominous mood, the second scene shows the intense violence in this play. With gruesome imagery and physical violence portrayed in the scene, the audience can predict that there will be more gore and bloodshed in the play. Also, the mention of Macbeth and his ascendency to glory shows the "fair" of Macbeth. However, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" indicates Macbeth will fall from grace some time during the play; perhaps, a villainous man will rise to fame to take Macbeth's previously held title. //Thoughtful reflections, thank you. I wonder if you will come to think that the witches not only predict the future but control it?//
 * Michael Siu (Block H)**

I think that the first scene leaves a great impact on the readers. This scene starts with the three witches pondering when they shall meet again. Automatically, we become more absorbed in the play to find out what kind of evil scheme the witches may be devising. When the scene proceeds with the third witch saying that they will meet Macbeth, we instantly receive the feeling that Macbeth has a dark and gloomy future lying ahead of him. I guess the first scene is effective in giving us a potential clue about what direction the plot of the play will move towards. The second scene was interesting as well. From this scene, we learn that Macbeth is a fierce fighter and that he will soon be rewarded with a high position. However, based on the opening parts of the play, we receive the feeling that this rank may not be accommodated with pleasure or honor. Instead, we start to pessimistically imagine that Macbeth's position will not last long, or that some evil factor such as the witches may corrupt Macbeth to become the villain in the end. //Excellent Hong Kyun, thanks.//
 * Hong Kyun Kim (Block E)**

The first two scenes in Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” clearly reflect the atmosphere that Shakespeare was trying to create. In the first scene, Shakespeare was trying to create a fearful and suspenseful mood to the audience. The thunder and lighting in the background surely help Shakespeare to establish the mood of fear. And when the witches said “there to meet with Macbeth” certainly added the element of suspense for the scene. In the second scene, Shakespeare added violence in the play which foreshadow that the play is going to be violent. There are many descriptions in this scene. For example at scene II line 24 “Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, /And fix his head upon our battlements” created a disturbing image for the readers. People at the time of this play though that witches were evil, so from this we know that the peace which Macbeth brought to his kingdom would be ended soon because the witches said that “there to meet with Macbeth”. From that we know that Macbeth at some point would turn to a villain. //Thanks Jerry, some thoughtful ideas here.//
 * Jerry Hsu block H**

I enjoyed the first two scenes of the play a lot. In the first scene, the witches gave me an erie, creepy feeling. The play did not describe the witches with much detail, so this made you use your imagination. The way they talk and the setting taking place makes the play have a dark, scary start. One of the witches mentions that the next time they will be meeting is with Macbeth. This brings the reader curiosity of why this is going to happen. The second scene is of the gruesome battle. It is neat how the story goes from dark and scary to such violence. Macbeth in the battle scene gives the readers someone to look up to and respect for how he fights. It was said even when all hope seemed lost, him and Banquo never left. It foreshadows how power hungry Macbeth truly is in the story. I thought the story had an interesting first and second scene and I look forward to seeing how everything else will go throughout the play. //Do you really think that the second scene shows Macbeth's power hunger? I think it shows him to be brave and loyal - Shakespeare sets up this reputation in order to both upset our expectations later, and make Macbeth a complex character. He is both loyal AND ambitious, and that's why he hesitates to murder Duncan and needs to be persuaded to do it by his wife.//
 * Stephen Gandolfo (Block E)**

I think the first two senses of Macbeth were both strong and powerful. The setting of the first scene was thunder, lightning and darkness. Although it was short, the mood and the words of the witches created suspense and fear for the audience. The communication between the witches also seemed to be foreshadowing the plot of the play and the downfall of Macbeth when the witches said “There to meet with Macbeth”. I think it is quite interesting how Shakespeare didn’t provide a certain setting or description of the witches’ appearances. This gave the audience more space to imagine the atmosphere of the scene and allowing them to be more absorbed and attracted towards the play. The two opening scenes we watched in the class illustrated this point of how different directors would produce different images according to their personal imaginations with different techniques. I liked Polanski’s version better, it is more updated and seemed to be more realistic compared to the BBC one. The mood of the Plasnski’s version were more frightening and attention grabbing whereas the BBC version seemed to be more cliché with all the typical elements that an audience would have imagined without watching the video. The second scene of //Macbeth// on the other hand, creates an image of a battle scene involved with violence and killing. Through this scene we know that Macbeth is a great fighter and will be honored with glory. However, due to the first scene readers would be able to predict that as the play progress Macbeth would eventually loses his position and becomes immoral. //Thanks Diane - see my comments to Stephen above about Macbeth's character.//
 * Diane Lin (Block H)**

The first scene seems to foreshadow the mood and plot of the play; thunder and lighting contribute to creating a gloomy setting; the advent of the three witches implies the tragedy of the play. Furthermore, I had an impression that the three witches represent the Fates (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) in Greek mythology, because the witches seem to know about Macbeth’s fate. Therefore, the first scene effectively dragged my attention to the play. The second scene, as interesting as the first, allowed me to picture the character of Macbeth in my head. Triumphant in the battle, Macbeth seems to be an omnipotent general, similar to Othello, in Shakespeare’s play “Othello.” However, considering dark mood of the first scene, I felt that although Macbeth is promoted to a new position, he would face tragic incidents. I thought that conflicts would arise between Macbeth and Banquo, because they both control Duncan’s army, while Macbeth was only given the title of Cawdor’s thane. Thus, reading the first two scenes attracted me to the play and gave me impressions that there is great tragedy within the play. //Thanks Matthew, I really like your comments, particularly about the allusions to Greek mythology. We need more on this and the power of the number three - perhaps you could make this the topic for your wikipost for assignment 5?//
 * Matthew Kweon (Block H)**

Ka-Wai To (Block H) Thunder and lightning! Because Act I Scene I is vastly different from Act I Scene II, I think that Scene I acts as a foreshadowing prelude. Although some interpretations, such as the Polanski video, may choose the setting in something that Shakespeare didn't imagine, it's clear that Shakespeare wants to start off Macbeth with an eerie and mysterious tone. The line "When the hurly-burly's done" (3) raises a possible question: will we see the witches again? Also,why do they speak that way? It seems as if the witches are spectating the state of affairs from a top-down viewpoint. Later, we see that their motive for the next meeting is to "meet with Macbeth" (8), which would add to their seemingly great power. Think of the following to illustrate what Shakespeare is trying to do in the modern sense: A silhouetted man whispers to another man in a dark, deserted alley, "After John's competition, we'll meet with him." Doesn't that seem creepy how the witches know about Macbeth's involvement in the war? Of course Macbeth would be socially recognized due to his position, but the stalker-like words and potential motives scared me quite a bit. //Lovely response, thanks - so engaged and therefore engaging. I wonder what you mean by top down viewpoint though?//

Ms Kemsley, I think that the line 'fair is foul and foul is fair' (12) does deal with the contrast between appearance and reality. The line is a paradox; how could fair be foul and vice versa? Maybe this is a signal to the audience that we have to watch out later in the play? Maybe it means that what seems to be true/heroic/friendly may not be so in the next act. //I know that!! I was trying to model a student response and encourage thoughtful reflection! Thanks for the tip though!! :)//

The second scene is jam-packed with images of war! I enjoy the lines "As two spent swimmers that do cling together/ And choke their art" (10-11) - soldiers are described as tired swimmers, fighting to stay afloat. I loved the other comparison in the scene - the one comparing Macbeth and Banquo to eagles and lions and the new soldiers sent by the Norwegian lord as sparrows and rabbits.

Gabriel, I definitely agree with your suggestion that the nameless witches may add to obscuring their identity. However, this is Shakespeare; he normally writes barebone stage directions and seldom adds extraneous information. Thus, I think that while the nameless witches contributes to the overall forbidden mood, this may amount to nothing more than Shakespeare using the witches as a literary device and not as fully **decorated** (should be developed)characters. //Good job Ka Wai.//

I thought, although the first two scenes does not mentioned much about what the following story will be, they foreshadow the story. Especially, like most of Shakespeare's literature, the opening scene was quite interesting that was enough to entertain me to read the next scene. I thought the lightning and thunder are the perfect match to this scene. Also, the videoes that we watched during the class helped me to understand the mood of the play. I never noticed that directing is such important work to do, but it really gives us the different mood and emotion. After watching videoes, I felt more creepy and live feeling about the play. For the scene 2, the metaphors that decribe the war was the most vivid part that I liked. At some point, it is quite violent and intense how they describe about the war, but it seemed realistic and helped me to be into the play. Also, I could tell the Macbeth is a brave, honorable man who everyone admires. However, as the first scene foreshadows, I guess his life will be quite dramatic. //Yes - not only brave and loyal but ambitious. Directing IS a massive part of theater. It will help you to enjoy the play if you think like a director as we read it - try to imagine how you would instruct an actor to perform particular scenes, for example.//
 * Grace Yang**

Through the first two scenes of //Macbeth//,Shakespeare creates endless possibilities for the play. He sets up a mysterious, foreshadowing mood in scene I with the conversation between the three witches. Given this gloomy mood that Shakespeare introduces, the play is most likely bound for tragedy. The audience is immediately hooked to the play, constantly anticipating what the outcome might be. In scene II, Shakespeare creates a completely drastic mood. The characters are brought good news; they have won a battle between them and the Norwegians. This is done to create a positive feeling among the characters, one which later will be once again destroyed by Shakespeare. It is typical in a tragedy to start with fortune, and then kill this fortune to bring misfortune. The progression of the play at this point seems logical yet also intriguing. //Thanks for these interesting comments on the plot structure.//
 * Michael Chai**

The first two seans can be seen in two ways - from a reader's and a director's piot of view. From a reader's piot of veiw, there is not much to the scenes. The first scene is just a hook. The idea is to get the readers interest by bulding suspense and forshdowing. The second scene is used to build up the character Macbeth. From a director's point of view, the seans are bacicly blank slates. I mean you can play just about everything in the sean. The seans can be done in so many whays. Like instead of old wiches in a dark and scary place we can have three butifule girls around a tree stump prforming wich craft. In the second sean, instead of a old king and solders in midevile timse we can have a moders vertion with gangs. I personaly don’t like that we are having to study the play from a book and in desks. This is a play and not a book. I feel that we should study this from a theater piont of view. This is because when we read about it indtead of seeing this on stage, we loose the caricters, the whay thay interact with one another, and the internal battlse that the caricters face. //Thanks for your comments Sajed, I like it that you are thinking from a director's point of view. We will approach the play as actively as possible, but of course there will have to be some reading and discussion since this is English class! Please run your posting through word spell check next time.//
 * Sajed Ahmad**

The first two scenes of Macbeth describe two very different scenarios. Shakespeare leaves a lot of room for directors and readers to interpret his play. While the first scene foreshadows a future event, scene II describes an event- war. The first scene is very ambiguous. In the BBC version of scene I, the director chooses to use a standard setting for “thunder and lighting.” The setting is dim, there is thunder and lighting in the background and three raggedy old Witches communicate on a large rock. Their voices are croaky and raspy like how most people interpret witches. There isn’t much originality to this scene. It’s almost like the director used the protocol or obvious interpretation of thunder, lightning and witches. Polansky’s interpretation of scene I is more adventurous and interesting. He strays away from how readers would naturally depict “Thunder and lighting. Enter three Witches.” Instead, he illustrates three Witches on a beach. When they speak, they sound possessed. Their actions are strange as well. The witches bury someone’s arm, pour blood on top of the burial then spit on it. Of course this will force the audience to wonder, what is happening? Why did the Witches do that? Who’s arm is it? In my opinion, Polansky’s direction of scene I is more intriguing. Scene II is very straightforward. As Ka Wai mentioned, this scene is “jam-packed with images of war!” Unlike Ka Wai, I am not that intrigued by this scene. War is so generic in Shakespeare’s plays. I am not the one to be fixated on war images- gory and bloody. The description of war, of captains reporting to King Duncan and such, does not make me want to read further. But this is due to my own taste in literature. Having said that, this scene foreshadows the rest of the play. I can now determine possible themes of the play like, betrayal. I guess these two scenes leave readers thinking about the proceeding scenes. //Stephanie, thanks for your interesting and honest response, I really enjoyed reading it. Also you have given me food for thought with your comment about war being generic in Shakespeare - thanks!//
 * Stephanie Yin Block A**

 In the first two scenes of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses little amount of words to make reader curious what will happen later. The descriptions of the witches create the atmosphere of fear and supernatural and it also let me think that there will be something bad happen later in the play. After i read the first scene, I was wondering what the witches are doing? And what is the meaning behind it? The second scene is also interesting because it let readers know the atmosphere of the war but it does not describe it in detail so we can only imagine it ourselves. I think Shakespeare using these two scenes to attract people, make readers want to read further more. //Thanks Joan. Try to talk in future about the audience rather than readers - these plays were written to be performed!//
 * Joan Chuang, Block A**

Act.1Scene1 foreshadows the tragedy of Macbeth according to the lines that the witches say. The line “There to meet with Macbeth” supports clearly this foreshadowing. The Shakespeare uses simple stage direction to leave rooms for the producers to create their own settings with their imaginations which makes the Shakespearean plays so great because it allows multiple different types of setting and atmospheres to the play. The BBC video clip starts its setting in the desert or plain ground with three witches crouching and then standing up. They were also depicted as old and filthy. But the Polansky version of Macbeth was different. It began with beach as a setting showing some changes in colors of sky from bright to spooky dark bluish resulting mysterious, chilling mood towards the play. Also, among the witches, one of them was young and the other two are old which creates interests to audiences because witches are usually shown as old grandmothers. I found out that how the different setting can change the entire atmosphere of the play even though same scripts are used. Scene 2 starts with a bleeding soldier telling the king of Scotland, Duncan the success in the battle showing that there has been a war in past. Also the description of how Macbeth fights helps the audiences to predict that he has dignities and bravery. The king was obviously very impressed by Macbeth according to his lines. Shakespeare uses this kind of dialogue of his characters to tell the readers the events that were not mentioned in the book. He gives them the details of the events indirectly to make sure that the play doesn’t focus or emphasis on the parts that shouldn’t be. //Thanks Alum - thoughtful.//
 * Alum Woo, Block A**

The first scene in the play Macbeth is both engaging and suspenseful. The opening is engaging because it gives you just enough of an idea to make a few a few theories and begin to foreshadow. The witches saying 'Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair' could have a various amount of meaning. The fair gives you an idea saying that the good people involved, this being MacBeth, are actually foul and the foul within the entire mess is actually good in the end. While this scene is filled with your ideas about what exactly is going to happen next the second scene is consists of a totally different feel. A battle has just occured and the great Macbeth has come out a victor. With the witches predicts you could assume that there would be some kind of disturbance. The opening two scenes does a good job of beginning the play and serves as a great hook to want to read more of the play. With a war beginning and a predictation by three evil witches you can't help to wonder what happens next. //Thanks Dillon. Please see my comment to Joan about readers vs audience.//
 * Dillon Warren Block A**

In the first scene of Macbeth, it makes me curious about what witches were saying. The line where ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ adds more darkness and mysterious feelings in the play, and it seems like it is foreshadowing something in the future. However, scene two in Macbeth seems like there is no relation between scene one. Scene two is more about battle scene, also imagery of violence. As I was reading first two scene, I realizes author have used lots of lines and imagery which makes reader to keep on reading it. //Thanks Dillon. Try to include some examples or details next time. Check out KaWai's post for ideas.//
 * Derek Wang Block A **

The first two scenes in Macbeth leave the reader with curiosity about what is going to happen. The first scene is about three witches who convey the message to the reader that something terrible is going to happen. The first scene of the play is shown in a different style in the BBC version and Polanski's film. In the BBC version the scene is shot on a rock in a deserted place and it is thundering and raining heavily. The three witches old ragged clothes and their voice is rough and croaky. This does not make it any interesting and one loses all the interest in watching the movie, this may be because the scene was not shot properly as it was a much older version of Macbeth. In Polanski's movie the scene is very well shot, the scene shows the three witches meeting at the beach and the director over shows the image of the flying eagle in the sky and use of water as a tool to the sound effects. The scene shows the witches burying the hand of a unknown person now this makes it more interesting for the reader and we want to find out more, the director is trying to get us involved in the plot. Even though both the versions tell us the same message, in my opinion the Polanskis version is much clearer.
 * RAJ POWAR Block A**

The first scene helps us predict what is going to happen in rest of the book, we also learned that witches in the scene are foreshadowing. The knife and the hand in Polanski's version shows imagery of death.The witches mentioning Macbeth tells us that he is going to play a big part of their foreseen future. //Thanks Raj, detailed reflections on the films here.//

Katie Yao Block A The openning of the play grabs the audience's attention with witch and spells, especially in Shakespear's time where they have special interest in witch crafts. They forshadowes where the story is heading, a conflict will arise in the futre with Macbeth. It clearly shows that the witches are three important "guides" of the play, they are like signs that helps the audience to understands the play and also they seems to be manipulating Macbeth's fate, or maybe they are the symbols for "fate", like what Matthew says. Scene 1 seems really short, but it is probably one the most important scenes in the play, simple but it will be a hard task for the director to present it in an effective way. In the second scene, Macbeth is introduced to be a brave and fair man, showing that in the beginning he is a good person. This impression reflects the witches' quote "fair is foul, and foul is fair", maybe the witches are hinting the audience that Macbeth may not be as fair as we see in the future of the play.