Macbeth Questions Act One, scenes 1-3: What reasons can you think of as to why Macbeth is first introduced to us through the witches

In the first three scenes of Act One, rather than meeting Macbeth immediately, we are presented with others’ reactions to him. Scene one begins with the witches, accepted symbols of evil. They arrange to meet with Macbeth sometime in the near future when a battle which is obviously in progress is concluded. They also introduce the central paradox of the play: fair is foul, foul is fair.

• What reasons can you think of as to why Macbeth is first introduced to us through the witches ?
• Explain what you think is meant by the paradoxical: Fair is foul, foul is fair .