Discuss The Role Of The Witches In Macbeth

Discuss the role of the witches in Macbeth

I think Shakespeare used the witches in the play to give the audience a sense that the witches are in control and very manipulative as they lured Macbeth to perform evil deeds. Shakespeare might have wanted to bring a little excitement and drama into the play. They chant "Fair is foul, and foul is fair!" at the beginning of Act 1 Scene 1 and then in Act 1 Scene 3 they said "Peace! - the charm's wound up" Then in Act 4 Macbeth seems to have been dragged under their spell as they hypnotise him using another one of their chants.

In Shakespeare's time most people were very superstitious believing in witches, ghosts and other supernatural beings. This is reflected in Macbeth. Around nine million women were put to death for being accused of witchcraft in the time of Shakespeare. (Witchcraft is the term for magical powers and the supernatural to control people, events and happenings). The practice of witchcraft was seen to challenge the order of religion and society and was not tolerated. Witch hunting was seen as respectable, moral and highly appreciated. As the majority believed in witches it suggests the powerful figures the witches have, who can practice great power over Macbeth. The intensity of the play depends on whether the witches are proved to be able to control Macbeth's actions or on if he is entirely responsible for his own deeds.

The witches did many things in the play which concluded they were witches. They controlled the weather, could see into the future, could sink ships, had the ability to make people go mad and were able to cast spells by chanting and making potions.

I think Shakespeare started the play with this scene because it sets a good scene. The witches are the first characters the audience sees and so is intended to create the setting and frighten the audience. The setting is in an open wasteland and thunder and lightening can be seen and heard. They inform them of a battle taking place and agree to meet with Macbeth when he returns from battle. The witches chant "Fair is foul, and foul is fair". This is a contradiction statement which is intended too confuse the audience and turn everything upside down.

The witches give the audience profiles of themselves. The audience learns the witches are conjuring up an eerie atmosphere when they say their chants and set the first scene. They have a supernatural form of temptation but are using it as a dramatic device to influence Macbeth to commit regicide.

The witches seem to always speak in a chant-like rhythm

"When shall we three meet again,

In thunder, lighting or in rain?"

I think it's of the witches' nature to speak in chants as they illustrate to the audience throughout the play.

The witches use many riddles throughout the play. This had an effect on the audience as they try to solve the riddle during the play to what the witches mean.

"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!"

This is a riddle because Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis not of Cawdor. This confuses the audience and Macbeth. It is then a riddle to solve to figure out why the witches have said this. Most of the riddles the witches show are at the beginning of the play and begin to be solved by the play later on, as the play proceeds.

In Act 1, Scene 3, the witches and Macbeth meet. When they all meet for the first time, Macbeth is curious of the appearance of the three strange looking characters.

"Speak if you can! - What are you?"

They tell Macbeth he will become, Thane of Cawdor and King. Macbeth says

"Stands not within the prospect belief".

This shows that Macbeth takes interest in what the witches say, but he doesn't take any notice of what they have told him until later on in the play. The same things seam to occur every time the witches are in the play e.g. there is thunder and lightening.

Macbeth and Banquo discuss the witches' predictions but Banquo warns Macbeth not to take any notice. I think this is because he is jealous of Macbeth. At first Macbeth starts to think evil thoughts and tries to get rid of them from his head. As Macbeth's thoughts, ambition and determination are too strong for him to resist the things the witches have told him are forced to be believed. This relates to the battle and also that Macbeth is losing

spiritually inside to himself. The audience learns more and more about Macbeth throughout Act 1. As the scene goes on, the evilness in him becomes stronger and necessary. At first, Macbeth is a loyal soldier but towards the end of Act 1 Macbeth is plotting to kill the King!

Between these two events, the witches act a huge part in Macbeth's thoughts and decisions. They push Macbeth further to do the terrible deed, encouraging him and putting evil thought in his mind.

In Act 1 scene three the witches meet upon the heath. The first witch tells the story of a sailor and his wife. These stories they tell to each other show us their evil side and also their supernatural abilities. She then brings out a pilots thumb to show to the other witches, this brings horror and fear to the scene.

Throughout the scenes in the play, there is a repetition of the use of darkness, thunder ad lightning. Darkness is a good stage setting to create an eerie and scary atmosphere. I think that Shakespeare uses these special effects to show the evil and darkness in the play. For example when Macbeth had the vision of the dagger it was in darkness.

Banquo describes them by "What are these creatures..." He seems confused to who they are and their identity. He also gives the audience the feeling he doesn't like them for what he is hearing about the succession of Macbeth and not any of him. He feels left out and doesn't seem to be very happy when he is told that his children will be king.

The witches then just vanish just after Macbeth demands them to tell him more and Banquo is confused. Macbeth tells Banquo how his children will become king but it doesn't seem to be enough for him

"Your children shall be kings." "YOU shall be king"

In the scene after the witches have disappeared, Ross and Angus tell Macbeth the news that he has become Thane of Cawdor. The witches knew that this would