The Importance of the Three Witches in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

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The Importance of the Three Witches in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

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The witches, who are also known as the three sisters, play an

important part in the play 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare. I will

discuss what impact the witches gave to the Elizabethans and what

impact it gave to the play. I will also discuss what the witches look

like and their illusion on the stage and why James I was so scared of

them.

Shakespeare wrote Macbeth as a historical tragedy. Macbeth was a real

king in Scotland for about 17 years but later he died because Malcolm

(the son of Duncan) killed him after a battle. Shakespeare wrote

Macbeth for king James I who ruled Scotland and England.

James I was born on June 19th. In 1566 he because the king of England

(1603-1625) but he was also known as James VI because he ruled

Scotland (1567-1625). James was the only son of Mary queen of Scots so

when she died James took over to be king. Queen Elizabeth was James'

cousin and she died childless so James was made king James I. James

was terrified of witches and felt threatened that witches would cast a

spell on him. So he had every woman that was thought to be a witch

burnt.

The Elizabethans' thought that witches had supernatural powers. They

were associated with the devil. They were believed to be able to see

into the future. They could make you fall ill and they made potions

and could kill at a distance. If they were likely to be a witch they

were to have a familiars by their side. They could be invisible and
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...pitefulness, violence and grisly

references to mutilation. They never tell lies but, because they speak

in puzzling riddles, it is possible for Macbeth to hear only what he

wants to hear.

The witches are an important feature in the play because of what they

say because they speak as if they are the storytellers and they know

what is going to happen. The witches are linked with Macbeth and lady

Macbeth because they are both evil. They work for the devil. They

create confusion and atmosphere of evil and a lot of chaos. There is a

lot of confusion and riddles to solve, but the words that come out are

the ones that Macbeth wants to hear.

In conclusion the witches are very important to play I think

Shakespeare added them on to here to make the play stand out a lot

more and make it more exciting and scarier to watch.

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