What themes and devices are used in the opening scene of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

The opening scene of "Macbeth" is extremely important in foreboding the future events and setting the tone of the play. The opening stage direction of the play describes the weather on stage. "Thunder and lightning," the use of weather to emphasise the tone of the scene is called pathetic fallacy. The aggressive weather creates an ominous feel to the audience. Then "three witches appear," the witches entrance immediately after this weather links them together and we know that they are evil form the very start. It also means that whenever this weather appears on stage the audience will know the witches are about to appear. "When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning or in rain?" The audience know the withes will meet again when the weather on stage changes again. This is a clever device used by Shakespeare to create a cold and evil tone on stage. This is important as the play is a tragedy so the opening scene reflects this. The witches first few lines forebode later scenes. we learn that they will meet again when the"battles lost and won," "upon the heath" to meet with "Macbeth." The next scene is on a battle field so we know that the witches will be returning. Shakespeare uses language, setting, tone and his characters to create an atmosphere on stage. It's important to appreciate the significance of this scene in setting up the events of the play and showing the dark and evil nature of the witches.