This quote is very important in terms of the whole play,
as it actually could be used to summarise a major theme of this excellent tragedy. The
appearance of the witches and their speech points towards the paradoxical nature of what
happens in this play and the shocking reversal of values that this points towards. Also,
it points towards the confusing nature of what happens to Macbeth as he tries to work
out how to respond to the prophecy that the witches give him and work out what his role
in achieving it should be. You also might like to think of how this statement
foreshadows various points in the play where what is actually "foul" is disguised as
being "fair" and vice versa. Consider Lady Macbeth's advice to her husband in Act I
scene 5 for an example of this:
...look like th'innocent
flower,
But be the serpent
under't.
This quote directly
relates to the gap between appearance vs. reality, which is something that Lady Macbeth
is able herself to achieve perfectly, as is demonstrated by the way in Act I scene 6 she
is able to present herself as the perfect host to Duncan, whilst secretly plotting to
kill him. The statement of the witches therefore points towards a setting where the
normal values of the world have become dislodged and are replaced with an ever-shifting
moral quagmire of seeming good and hidden evil.
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