Natural and the Unnatural - Act 1

Natural and the unnatural

Shakespeare manages to include the theme of the natural and the unnatural by adding eerie scenes, often foreshadowing the future situation. Throughout the first act, this is demonstrated by including scenes with the three witches.

• Act 1, Scene 1 : The witches meeting during the storm. The weather adds in eerie setting, showing that some bad and unnatural things will happen. And the conversation foreshadows what troubles are to come : that there will be a battle, that chaos will ensue.

First Witch : “When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?”

Second Witch : “When the hurlyburly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won.”  (p. 3, lines 1-4)

• Act 1, Scene 6 : Lady Macbeth as just admitted to Macbeth that she wishes to kill Duncan, in order to let Macbeth be King. This being said, a murder is about to happen. Yet, the next scene is set a bit differently. Banquo’s quote foreshadows that even if it seems calm right now, something bad in bound to happen.

Banquo : I have observed, the air is delicate.  (p.19, lines 9-10)