Final answer:
The opening of Macbeth establishes an ominous and foreboding atmosphere with a tone that ranges from contemplative to fearful, highlighting Macbeth's internal conflict and the influence of supernatural forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The atmosphere and tone at the beginning of Macbeth Scene 1 are ominous and foreboding. The play opens with the three witches in a dark and stormy setting, which immediately gives the audience a sense of unease and anticipation for the dark events to come. Macbeth's lines depict a world where the supernatural can have a direct and disturbing effect on the natural order, as seen in his reflections on the witches vanishing 'Into the air; and what seem'd corporal melted As breath into the wind.' This line evokes a feeling that not everything is as it seems, heightening the sense of mystery and dread.
The tone of Macbeth fluctuates from contemplative to fearful. Expressions like 'This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good' and questions such as 'Whence is that knocking?' underline Macbeth's internal conflict and paranoia, further intensifying the atmosphere. Macbeth's ambition and his subsequent actions create a tone of darkness and malevolence, epitomized when he speaks of hiding deceit with a friendly appearance: 'False face must hide what the false heart doth know.'
Overall, the initial scenes of Macbeth establish a grim and tense environment that foreshadows the tragic events to come, underlined by Macbeth's internal turmoil and the influence of dark supernatural forces.