ACT 1 SCENE 1 The play opens with three witches gathering amidst thunder and lightning. They plan to meet with Macbeth that evening, 'when the battle's lost and won' at 'the set of sun'. - The three witches are planning to meet Macbeth - There has been a battle, which will end soon ACT 1 SCENE 2 At King Duncan's camp, a wounded captain tells the king that 'brave Macbeth' fought well against the rebel forces led by Macdonald. He also reports that there was 'a fresh assault' from Norwegian troops after they had defeated Macdonald, but Macbeth and Banquo 'doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe' and pushed them back as well. Duncan thanks the Captain for the 'honour' of his words and his wounds and sends him to be treated by a surgeon. Ross arrives from Fife with further news of victory. The Norwegian king is pleading for a peace treaty and has paid a ransom, while the rebellious Thane of Cawdor has been captured. Duncan sentences Cawdor to 'present death' and tells Ross to 'greet Macbeth' with his 'former title'. - Macbeth is a brave warrior, defeating the rebels and the Norwegian forces - The Thane of Cawdor has been a 'disloyal traitor' - King Duncan has made Macbeth Thane of Cawdor for his loyalty and bravery (though Macbeth doesn't know it yet) ACT 1 SCENE 3 The witches meet on the heath. One has been killing pigs. Another has been insulted by a sailor's wife so they plot to cast a spell which will disrupt the sailor's next sea journey to Aleppo. They hear Macbeth and Banquo approaching and cast a spell. The men encounter the witches 'that look not like th'inhabitants o'th'earth'. The witches hail Macbeth firstly by his title Thane of Glamis, then as Thane of Cawdor and finally as 'king hereafter' Banquo says there is no need to 'fear things that sound so fair', and asks the witches for his own future. They predict that his children will be 'kings, though thou be none'. Macbeth demands to know how their prediction about him can be true when the Thane of Cawdor is still alive but the witches vanish. Ross and Angus arrive to tell Macbeth that he has been given the title Thane of Cawdor by Duncan to thank him for his valiant efforts in the battle. Macbeth considers 'this supernatural soliciting'. He realises that to become king, Duncan would have to die but he thinks this is a 'horrid image'. Then he adds in an aside that 'chance may crown me, without my stir'. Banquo and Macbeth decide to discuss the witches' prophecies at a later time. - The witches are vicious and have planned a horrible death for a sailor that offended them - The witches look strange and inhuman and Macbeth does not trust them at this point - Before his treasonous acts, the Thane of Cawdor was well respected as a 'prosperous gentleman' ACT 1 SCENE 4 King Duncan asks