Critical analysis of Macbeth.

Second Witch: "When the hurlyburly's done, / When the battle's lost and won." On a heath the Three Witches decide to meet again after a battle being fought nearby. Thunder, storms and the desolate heath, paint a gloomy picture, setting the tone of this play and defining an imagery of nature at war with itself, a recurring theme in this play... The play begins upon a heath. Thunder and lighting rake the air. Three Witches ask …

…intermission; front to front / Bring thou this fiend of Scotland [Macbeth] and myself; / Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape, / Heaven forgive him too!" (but gentle heavens, do not take waste any more time. Bring Macbeth within a sword's length of me and if he escapes, heaven forgive him too!), (Lines 230-234). Malcolm ends the scene on a dark note, remarking: "The night is long that never finds the day" (Line 238).return top.