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Act 1, Scene 1

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

 

Second Witch:
When the hurly-burly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.  

 

Third Witch:
That will be ere the set of sun.  

 

First Witch:
Where the place?  

 

Second Witch:
Upon the heath.

 

Third Witch:
There to meet with Macbeth.

The murky and menacing tone of Macbeth is made clear in its opening, where we overhear three witches making plans to meet the title character and set their frightful plans in motion. That the witches meet “in thunder, lightning, or in rain” has symbolic significance for them as well as for the play overall. Read more about this passage in Quotes by Character: The Three Witches (the first quote). Read more about how this passage puts weather at the forefront of the play in Quotes by Symbols: The Weather (the first quote).

 

Fair is foul, and foul is fair
Hover through the fog and filthy air.

The opening scene of the play ends as it began, with the three witches meeting amidst inclement weather as they plot to upset order within Scotland. It also marks the first use of the play’s famously enigmatic phrase, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Read more about this passage and the fair/foul juxtaposing in Quotes by Symbol: The Weather (the second quote).

 

Act 1, Scene 2

Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,
Or memorize another Golgotha,
I cannot tell—

In Act 1, Scene 2, a soldier describes to King Duncan the carnage of the battle that has just occurred. His description helps to set the stage for the bloody brutality and violence that will take place throughout the play. Read more about this passage in Quotes by Symbol: Blood (the first quote).

 

Go, pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth

In Act, 1 Scene 2, King Duncan makes this pronouncement that the title “Thane of Cawdor” will pass from its previous holder—a traitor whohad sided with Sweno, the King of Norway, against Scotland—to Macbeth, who had distinguished himself in battle against the invaders.

 

Act 1, Scene 3

So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

Here, in Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth unknowingly echoes the “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” statement made by the witches in Act 1, Scene 1. Both quotes are examples of the importance of the role of the weather and prevalence of enigmatic occurrences in the play. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Symbol: The Weather (the third quote).

 

First Witch:
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

 

Second Witch:
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

 

Third Witch:
All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!

In Act 1, Scene 3, the statements the witches say to Macbeth in their initial encounter in essence set up much of the action that is to come in the play. The witches’ statements astonish Macbeth—both because they predict events that have yet to take place and because they address some of his innermost and personal ambitions. Read more about this passage in Quotes by Character: The Three Witches (the second quote).

 

First Witch:
Lesser than Macbeth and greater.

 

Second Witch:
Not so happy, yet much happier.

 

Third Witch:
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

 

After the witches predict Macbeth’s future in Act 1, Scene 3, Banquo somewhat impulsively asks the witches to do the same for him. There will be hugely significant consequences to Banquo having his future prophesized by the witches as the play progresses.  Read more about this passage in Quotes by Character: The Three Witches (the third quote).

 

Every one did bear
Thy praises in his kingdom’s great defense

This comment about Macbeth’s bravery in the battle to defend Scotland in Act 1, Scene 3, will prove to be ironic when Macbeth becomes a scourge within his country later in the play. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Theme: The Difference Between Kingship and Tyranny (the first quote).

 

That, trusted home,
Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
Besides the thane of Cawdor. But ‘tis strange.
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
In deepest consequence.

This passage is from Act 1, Scene 3, after Macbeth and Banquo’s exchanges with the witches. It shows Banquo to be more discerning regarding the witches and their intentions than Macbeth. Read more about this passage in Quotes by Character: Banquo (the first quote).

 

Two truths are told
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of th’imperial theme

In this quote from Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth starts to confront the potential meaning of the witches’ prophecies, and we begin to gain insights on the impact their predictions will have on Macbeth’s character. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Theme: The Corrupting Power of Unchecked Ambition (the first quote).

 

This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
That function is smothered in surmise,
And nothing is but what is not.

In Act 1, Scene 3, after Macbeth and Banquo meet with the witches, Macbeth tries to figure out the significance what they have told him. Read more about this soliloquy in Quotes by Character: Macbeth (the first quote).

 

Act 1, Scene 4

Our duties are to your throne and state children and servants

Here, in Act 1, Scene 5, Macbeth sounds every bit like a loyal and patriotic subject, but his virtuous words are hollow, since in fact he is planning to murder King Duncan and steal his throne. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Theme: The Difference Between Kingship and Tyranny (the second quote).

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