Macbeth

Macbeth

by

William Shakespeare

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Macbeth: Act 1, scene 1 Summary & Analysis

Read our modern English translation of this scene.
Summary
Analysis
As a storm rages, three witches appear, speaking in rhyming, paradoxical couplets: "when the battle's lost and won" (1.1.4); "fair is foul, and foul is fair" (1.1.10). They agree to meet again on the heath (plain) when the battle now raging ends. There they'll meet Macbeth.
The witches' rhyming speech makes them seem inhuman, ominous, and paranormal, which, in fact, they are.
Themes
Fate Theme Icon
Nature and the Unnatural Theme Icon
Quotes
Literary Devices