Macbeth Act one; how can it be considered Gothic?

The opening act of Macbeth undoubtedly hints at elements of the Gothic genre, and therefore can be interpreted as a Gothic play. A most obvious use of Gothic elements in act 1 is the settings described in the stage directions which state thunder and lightning are present in both scenes the witches are there. Thunder and lightning portray a feeling of fear, macabre and tension in the audience which is common place for Gothic settings. This use of weather could be hinting at the fact that the witches are plotting something sinister that will have a severe impact in the play, like the way thunder also has a great presence and impact when it strikes.

Another way the play Macbeth touches on the Gothic genre is the secrecy and plotting undergone. Macbeth sends a letter to his wife informing her of his encounter with the witches and his view of what that meant. The use of letters is frequent in novels considered Gothic, often used to produce a feeling of mystery and unknown in some of the characters. The play Macbeth similarly shows a plan or idea process only known by two people; murdering the king so Macbeth can take his place as the witches predicted. Then, further through the act it is noted how Macbeth feels undecided on killing the king or not. His fear of the consequences gives him a dilemma which he does not want to face. This is also a feature in many Gothic novels