The Role of the Witches in Macbeth

The Role of the Witches in Macbeth

In the play, Shakespeare used the witches to represent the

supernatural, evil, a destructive force and an inversion of natural

order. At the time the play was written, people believed this, and

feared witches. People believed that witches had the power to change

the weather and other special powers such as predicting the future and

the power of flight.

In Act 1 Scene 1 Shakespeare begins the play with the witches

discussing when they should next meet.

He does this because he wants the audience to be curious about the

witches, and what role they play.

We also see in this scene that the witches have the power to see into

the future.

In this scene we also see that the witches plan to meet with Macbeth

after a battle. This suggests that the witches have plans for Macbeth,

and makes the audience associate Macbeth with Evil.

When the witches meet, they meet in deserted desolate places with bad

weather such as thunder and lightning.

When the witches are deciding when to meet again, the enforce the idea

further that they are evil by asking, "When shall we meet again? In

thunder, lightning or in rain?" This also portrays the idea that that

the witches are powerful, and have the power to control the weather

which was believed at the time.

When the witches are talking, they speak in rhymes and riddles- "When

the hurly-burly's done, When the battles lost and one" which is used

to show that things have double meanings.

Also when the witches speak, the speak in a chant-like rhyme- "Fair is

foul, and foul is fair, hover ...

... middle of paper ...

... went that far.

In early parts of the play, she is in control and is practical as she

plans Duncans murder and also knows about Macbeth's weakness which is

his ambition.

Lady Macbeth also taunts him for lack of manliness.

In Act 1 Scene 7 Lady Macbeth also claims that they will not fail, but

ironicallyshe is not as strong as she first apears and shows her first

signs of weakness when she says she would hav killed Duncan herself if

she did not look like her father.

Lady Macbeth is also ruthless as shown in the scene where she recieves

a letter from Macbeth.

Overall I think that without the witches Macbeth would not have gone

to the lengths he did, and would not have acted in the smae way.

With the witches, they strengthened Macbeth's evil nature and the

importance of loyalty and order in the kingdom.