Macbeth, Act I, Scene 1

Macbeth
Act I, Scene 1

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Shakespeare
for Scholars: Shakespeare
for Everyone Else:

Thunder and lightning.

Macbeth... Macduff... Murder...

Macsex, Macviolence, and Macrock n’ roll...
The play begins in Scotland, a long time ago. There is some Scottish thunder, and some Scottish lightning, just to put the audience in a pleasant mood.

Enter three Witches
First Witch:
Suddenly, three witches enter, and one of them speaks.

When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Second Witch:
When the hurlyburly's done,
They discuss important “witching” matters, such as when their next meeting will be held.

When the battle 's lost and won.

Third Witch:
One of them mentions a battle, which is apparently going on right now.

That will be ere the set of sun.

First Witch:
Where the place?

Second Witch:
The word "ere" means "before." They think this battle will end before the sun sets.

Upon the heath.

Third Witch:
A heath is "an area of mainly level uncultivated land which has poor, course, undrained soil and which is typically rich in peat or peaty humus." Now, if we only knew what "peaty humus" was...

There to meet with Macbeth.

First Witch:
The Third Witch says that they will “meet with Macbeth.” She never realizes that, no matter how one looks at it, "the Heath" simply does not rhyme with "Macbeth."

I come, Graymalkin!:

Second Witch:
Graymalkin? Who is Graymalkin? Apparently, the First Witch is speaking to her "familiar." A familiar is a witches' demon. Hers is her favorite cat.

Paddock calls.

Third Witch:
Paddock may be a reference to the Second Witches' own familiar, a large, ugly toad.

Anon.

All Three Witches:
The word "anon" means "right away" or "immediately" or "in just a moment," or "whenever I feel like it, okay, so just back off!"

Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Then, confused, they all three decide that “fair is foul, and foul is fair.”

Hover through the fog and filthy air. "Hover"? How exactly does a witch "hover"? This scene alone may be worth the price of admission.

(Exeunt) Having planned their next meeting (I can’t wait—can you?) they retire to the dressing room, to fix their make-up.

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	You can listen to some music as you read. Click on the icon above. (You can also shut if off, if you find it annoying.)


Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
*Thunder and lightning.*	Macbeth... Macduff... Murder...
	Macsex, Macviolence, and Macrock n’ roll... The play begins in Scotland, a long time ago. There is some Scottish thunder, and some Scottish lightning, just to put the audience in a pleasant mood.
*Enter three Witches* *First Witch:*	Suddenly, three witches enter, and one of them speaks.
When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain? *Second Witch:* When the hurlyburly's done,	They discuss important “witching” matters, such as when their next meeting will be held.
When the battle 's lost and won. *Third Witch:*	One of them mentions a battle, which is apparently going on right now.
That will be ere the set of sun. *First Witch:* Where the place? *Second Witch:*	The word "ere" means "before." They think this battle will end before the sun sets.
Upon the heath. *Third Witch:*	A heath is "an area of mainly level uncultivated land which has poor, course, undrained soil and which is typically rich in peat or peaty humus." Now, if we only knew what "peaty humus" was...
There to meet with Macbeth. *First Witch:*	The Third Witch says that they will “meet with Macbeth.” She never realizes that, no matter how one looks at it, "the Heath" simply does not rhyme with "Macbeth."
I come, Graymalkin!: *Second Witch:*	Graymalkin? Who is Graymalkin? Apparently, the First Witch is speaking to her "familiar." A familiar is a witches' demon. Hers is her favorite cat.
Paddock calls. *Third Witch:*	Paddock may be a reference to the Second Witches' own familiar, a large, ugly toad.
Anon. *All Three Witches:*	The word "anon" means "right away" or "immediately" or "in just a moment," or "whenever I feel like it, okay, so just back off!"
Fair is foul, and foul is fair:	Then, confused, they all three decide that “fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
Hover through the fog and filthy air.	"Hover"? How exactly does a witch "hover"? This scene alone may be worth the price of admission.
*(Exeunt)*	Having planned their next meeting (I can’t wait—can you?) they retire to the dressing room, to fix their make-up.