Macbeth Opening Scene Essay

Macbeth Scene Critique Macbeth is known for being a very bloody play that demonstrates the damaging affects that political ambition has, to those who strive for power. The play begins with a scene that causes confusion at first, however, once the play progresses Shakespeare’s intention of this scene is quite effective. Throughout the play the mood is primarily dark and gloomy. By starting the play with three witches in an empty field stating, “fair is foul and foul is fair” (Shakespeare, I, i, 12) the mood is immediately established and prepares the audience for up coming events. During Shakespeare’s time, witches and the supernatural were very popular so by using the Witches he not only draws people to his plays but also keeps them interested. There are many different productions of this scene as well as different understandings of this scene, Roman
Polanski’s 1971 production is a very effective demonstration on all the aspects the first scene portrays.
The first scene of Macbeth is very effective towards the rest of the play, it immediately sets the mood and creates interest. This scene creates interest because of the confusion it comes with. When the Third Witch says, “[t]here to meet with Macbeth.” (I, i, 8) the audience is confused and do not know whether the witches have good or evil intentions for Macbeth and by the end of the scene they are still unsure. Shakespeare uses this uncertainty to make the audience eager to continue the play and figure out what the witches intend on doing. This scene is also effective by establishing the mood for the rest of the play. When the First Which says, “[w]hen shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?” (I,i,1-2) and by having it take place on a battlefield in thunder and lighting (I,i) it immediately sets the dark and gloomy feeling of the play. There are many different interpretations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, some that are effective and others that are not. Roman Polanski’s
production of Macbeth effectively creates the same mood and interest as Shakespeare’s original does. In Polanski’s production the witches clothing as well as the noose, severed hand and dagger (Polanski, Roman 1971) all bring the same dark and gloomy feeling that the original play brings. For the peoplewatching for the first time, the scene creates confusion about the Witches intentions for Macbeth which results in the audience wanting to continue watching the play. Polanski’s version of this scene takes play on an empty beach shows how the Witches do not interact with people unless it is necessary and do whatever they please. This is shown throughout the remainder of the play as the Witches only appear to Macbeth and Banquo and recite their fate, and once Macbeth demands them to say more they simply vanish. The three witches in Polanski’s film are perfect for the roll, their voices and looks both help create the uneasy feeling that remains throughout the whole play. Shakespeare is known as a genius and master of language and this scene demonstrates why. The opening scene in Macbeth is an extremely effective way to set the mood of the play while keeping the audience interested. The uneasy feelings the Witches have make the audience uncertain about what they what they want to see Macbeth for. Polanski puts on an effective production because it causes all the same reactions form the audience that Shakespeare’s original does. Act I scene i is a very effective opening scene for both Shakespeare and Polanski.