The Dramatic Impact of the Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

The Dramatic Impact of the Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

From the very first scene it is clear that the witches will have a

powerful part in the play. They meet in stormy weather and speak of

thunder, lightning, fog and filthy air, all this conjures up images of

evil and supernatural powers being at the centre of this play. The

first 'powerful' lines in the play- 'Fair is foul and foul is fair'

(A1, Sc1, Ln12) seem to contradict each other, how ever they sum up

the play very well in showing that what is good is evil and what is

evil is good, e.g. Macbeth is a Scottish nobleman, trusted by King and

country and yet he kills his King and one of closest friends (Banquo)

to claim the throne. When Macbeth's first line is echoing the same

words 'So foul and fair a day I have not seen.' (A1, Sc2, Ln38) you

see how deeply the link between Macbeth and the witches go. This echo

introduces the idea of a prophecy of evil entwined with good.

At first when the witch speak to Macbeth he seems amazed and 'rapt

withal' (A1, Sc 3, Ln57). But when they go to leave he says 'Stay, you

imperfect speakers, tell me more.' (A1, Sc3, Ln70) it makes you wonder

whether he's already thought about what they are saying about being

king. The witches seem to know that Macbeth already wants to become

King and that he will become Thane of Cawdor.

Macbeth and the witches seem unnaturally close and act with one mind,

but the witches have the overall control. From now on in the play

Macbeth is under the witches' spell. Although the witches have a small

part in the play, even with Act3, Sc5 and Act4, Sc11, Lines 39-43,

being added after Shakespeare wrote this- due to the witches'

popularity-, they are always in the thoughts of Macbeth- and probably

the audience too.

When the consequences of the murders of Duncan and Banquo are too much

for Macbeth to handle, his instinct is to go back to the witches (A4,