Macbeth Act 1 Analysis

Brandon Chandler Macbeth Act 1 Throughout the first act of Macbeth there is an unsettling and disturbing atmosphere, mainly caused by the witches and the descriptions of the soldiers and battles. One example of this unsettling atmosphere comes from the witches second meeting, when they are discussing what has happened after their first meeting. The first witch tells her sisters about a woman who refused to give her chestnuts and insulted the witch, and how she plans on torturing her husband who had just sailed away. “I’ll drain the life out of him. He won’t catch a wink of sleep, either at night or during the day. He will live as a cursed man. For eighty-one weeks he will waste away in agony.” The first witch plans on torturing the man because his wife refused to give chestnuts to her, …show more content…
The second example of this atmosphere comes from Macbeth after finding out that he will become the new thane of Cawdor, and realizing that the witches predictions are coming true, meaning he will soon become king as well. “why do I find myself thinking about murdering King Duncan, a thought so horrifying that it makes my hair stand on end and my heart pound inside my chest? The dangers that actually threaten me here and now frighten me less than the horrible things I’m imagining.” Right after realizing he is the new thane, he starts to think about killing King Duncan so he may become king himself. The disturbing atmosphere moves on in the story and is shown in the Macbeth's thoughts and later actions. The final example comes from both Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth again. When Macbeth sends his wife word about the witches and their predictions, she encourages Macbeth's thoughts and actions of murder, helping him plan and push him to eventually murder King Duncan. “There’s something you want, but you’re afraid to do what you need to do to get it. You want it to be done for you. Hurry home so I can persuade you and talk you out of whatever’s