"Macbeth" is one of Shakespeare's most well known tragedies, which was first performed to King James in 1906. The play is like a kaleidoscope. Every time it is performed or read, it reveals different shapes, patterns, meanings and interpretations. The play is named after its main character, Macbeth. He was first mentioned in scene 1 act 1.
At the first scene of the play, what ever is said in it has to be very carefully chosen as it is like a base to the play and leaves a picture in the mind of the audience of what to expect next. Shakespeare presents Macbeth very carefully using evil witches in the first scene to give the audience the feeling that Macbeth is linked to them. In act 1 scene 1, the witches plan to meat with Macbeth "There to meet with Macbeth". Shakespeare is trying to get the message that the witches want to speak with Macbeth or tell him something important. They discuss the place and they decide to meet him "Upon the heath". This makes the audience look forward to the meeting and start to think what might happen in the meeting. In the same scene, line 12, the witches use the words: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair". .
Shakespeare uses the same type of words later on in the play in act 1 scene 3, line 36, when Macbeth says: .
"So foul and fair a day I have not seen".
Shakespeare does this deliberately to give the impression that Macbeth is linked to the witches somehow. It gives the idea as if the witches have casted a spell on Macbeth or as if he is under control of the witches. These methods that Shakespeare uses, make the audience convinced that Macbeth has something to do with the witches and get the feeling that Macbeth is connected with evil as the witches were thought to be at that time. The way that Shakespeare builds this negative image of Macbeth is important as it introduces Macbeth's evil side earlier in the play.
Shakespeare then presents Macbeth as being very noble and loyal to the king, to make a contrast of what he has already written about him earlier and also to introduce his good side.
