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GCSE English Coursework Macbeth At the beginning of the play, before Macbeth is introduced, the impression given is that he is a very good man indeed. It is as if he was a local hero and could do no wrong. The sergeant refers to him as ‘brave Macbeth’ and Duncan says “O’ valiant cousin!" Worthy gentleman!” Duncan, the king, rewards Macbeth with the title, thane of Cawder, the previous, treacherous thane having been sentenced to death. People speak of Macbeth’s brilliance in comparison with the treachery that he was to replace. Scene 2 is very different and contrasting to Scene 1. The witches in the scene would have immediately triggered an atmosphere of interest and fright in the crowd of Shakespeare time because the people would have believed it. During the period in which this play was actually performed the people watching would have believed the superstitions. The witches would have meant something to the crowd instead of, how a modern day audience would precept them, as just some eary characters. This atmosphere is made when the witches say “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” this alerts the audience to the fact that all is not what it seems, and Macbeth’s apparently kindness and valour may be hiding something more sinister about him. The reaction Macbeth gives to this is not what they would expect from a hero. The reaction is that of fright and interest, maybe he is disturbed by what the witches say, but he doesn’t ignore it and shrug it off like a hero. The statements made of Macbeth’s future stick to him, gradually whittling away his strong character. In scene 3 when he first meets the witches he is told of his future. Macbeth and Banquo were on their journey to Forres, after capturing Cawder, and they came across three evil witches. The witches greet Macbeth as the Thane of Cawder and then the king of Scotland; of course Macbeth is inquisitive, asking why they address him as they do. Macbeth listens to the predictions and is deeply interested in their prophesies, however, takes them with a pinch of salt and doesn’t regard them as serious suggestions. Banquo, standing by, is interested to what the witches say but stands by and is more cynical than Macbeth as to what the witches actually have to say. As the two draw away from the witches Ross approaches them. Ross then pronounces Macbeth as the Thane of Cawder. The encounter with the witches now turns from being something a bit sinister to an incident, which could possibly have some element of truth. Although the witches were simply three hags throwing wild and initially quite unbelievable statements, what they said was now something, which would be niggling at Macbeth’s mind. Macbeth appears to be a person that is in control and was in control of what he thought of the witches until Ross told him he was Thane of Cawder.
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