As the First Witch in Macbeth, I am annoyed by Mary Bousted’s words in “Excessive esteem is the real tragedy” (Comment, 3 May). Dr Bousted writes that “Shakespeare sometimes warmed up slowly and beginnings were not always his forte. Macbeth is a prime example.” And: “The wounded Sergeant’s speech ... is virtually incomprehensible.” That boring Sergeant does not open the play! We do. And we always scare people. I will not curse Dr Bousted this time. Next time, though, she should check the first page of anything she writes about.

First Witch, Macbeth, Author details supplied.