Revised Open Prompt #2

In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.

People say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but often one can judge literature by its first chapter or scene.  Such a work is Shakespeare’s Macbeth. After reading the play, the reader should recognize witchcraft, and the meaning of fate as a major theme, both of which are in the first scene.  Shakespeare uses witches throughout the play to reinforce the struggle between fate and freewill and the line between good and evil.

The three witches in Macbeth, during their first scene, say “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Shakespeare).  This line introduces a major struggle in Macbeth, good and evil.  As the play progresses the line is a commentary on Macbeth as a character.  Is he truly evil or is he merely misguided?  Does surrendering to temptation make him evil?  These are all questions implied in one line, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Shakespeare). 

Starting in the first scene, the witches predict Macbeth’s future, questioning whether it’s his choice to be king, or if he is fated to be king.  The audience may believe two things about Macbeth’s future: he was fated to live and die the way he did or he formed his life around the witches’ predictions.  Either way, those three witches greatly influenced his life.  Shakespeare doesn’t beat around the bush; he introduces the witches and the theme of fate versus freewill.

Beginning Macbeth with the witches has purpose: Shakespeare uses the witches to introduce fate versus freewill and good versus evil.