In Act 1, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth", it is the Third Witch who speaks first.The three witches are the first characters to appear in the play, and they are gathered together on a moor, preparing to meet Macbeth and Banquo. The Third Witch speaks the famous line "Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd", which is followed by the other two witches speaking their lines.
William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" opens with an atmospheric and foreboding scene that sets the stage for the tragedy to come. Act 1, Scene 1 unfolds against the backdrop of a desolate heath, where three witches gather with an air of eerie anticipation. In this enigmatic opening, it is the Third Witch who speaks first, casting a spell of ominous prophecy over the play.
The scene opens with thunder rolling, lightning flashing across the sky, and the witches entering the stage. The very setting—barren and wild—creates an immediate sense of the supernatural and the otherworldly. As the Weird Sisters, as they are often called, convene, their presence becomes a harbinger of the supernatural forces that will shape the fate of the characters.
Amid the crackling energy of the heath, the Third Witch, distinct in her role within the trio, takes the lead in the exchange of cryptic dialogue. The precise words she utters are etched into the annals of literary history, resonating with an air of both menace and prophecy. "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!" she declares, marking the beginning of the witches' ominous predictions.
The choice of Macbeth as the object of the Third Witch's proclamation is significant, as it foreshadows the central character's pivotal role in the unfolding tragedy. At this point in the play, Macbeth is merely the Thane of Glamis, a nobleman in the service of King Duncan. However, the witches' prophecy serves as a catalyst, igniting the flames of ambition within Macbeth and setting in motion a chain of events that will lead to his ascent to power and subsequent downfall.
The prophetic nature of the witches' utterances introduces the theme of destiny and free will, a recurring motif throughout the play. Macbeth's interaction with the witches and his subsequent choices will be shaped by the seeds of ambition planted in this initial encounter on the heath.
The Third Witch's role as the harbinger of fate is further underscored by the subsequent prophecies she delivers, including the iconic lines: "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!" and "All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!" These prophecies unveil a future of ambition, power, and treachery for Macbeth, hinting at the dark path that lies ahead.
As the witches vanish into the misty heath, their words linger, leaving an indelible mark on the audience and foreshadowing the tragedy that will unfold. The Third Witch's role as the speaker of the first prophetic lines in "Macbeth" Act 1, Scene 1 establishes her as a mysterious and potent force, setting the tone for the supernatural elements that will shape the destinies of the characters in Shakespeare's haunting and timeless play.