The Impact of the Weïrd Sisters on Macbeth
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is not only one of the most tragic, but also one of the most violent and uncanny plays. It is a story about war and treachery, blind ambition and murder. From the beginning, the story is governed by a brutal war between Scotland and Norway, which soon claimes its first live of Thane of Cawdor. However, it is not only this violence that creates a dark and heavy mood over the play, but also the use of black magic. The introduction of the Weïrd Sisters in the very first scene set the uncanny mood for the following actions. Their wicked atmosphere is additionally underlined by a mostly nightly setting in uncanny woods or cold castles. As a result, their evil presence dominates the mood throughout the play, even though they only occur three times (1.1, 1.3, 4.1) in Macbeth. Despite their corrupting influence on the play, their figures are difficult to define. Many critics have analysed their characteristics and compared them to several mythological beings (Z). However, the Weïrd Sisters features are so unique that they cannot fit to a single mythological figure. Similarly to their mythological background, their function within the play is controversial, too. Whereas some critics argue that they symbolize the evil itself, others think that they also act as a comic relief by using ironic statements and ambiguous spells (Z). Either way, Walter Clyde Curry states rightly that the Weïrd Sisters are „immensel complex and therefore the more stimulating, compounded out of many contradictory elements, assimilated and fused by the artistic imagination into a unified whole (Curry 396). Therefore, it is also essential to analyse their various power and their diverse influence on Macb...
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...hat function
Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is
But what is not. (1.4.131)
Works Cited
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Leggatt, Alexander. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. A sourcebook. London: Routledge, 2006.
Macrae, Alasdair D. F.. Macbeth. William Shakespeare. York Notes Advanced. York: York Press, 2005.
Curry, Walter Clyde. The Demonic Metaphysics of „Macbeth“. In: Studies in Philology 30:3. University of North Carolina Press (1933), 395-426.
Johnston, Mark Albert. Bearded Women in Early Modern England. In: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 47:1. Rice University (2007), 1-28.
The Tragedy of Macbeth has many elements that contribute to the overall theme and plot of the play; the leading antagonists of these elements are The Witches. Also known as “The Weird Sisters”, these characters inspire the central action of the play by disturbing Macbeth’s mental state and morality, influencing the creation of themes throughout the play, using their specific characteristics to spread an air of inevitability and terror, and finally, using their magic to disrupt other characters’ lives as well as stirring the audience’s emotions. Historical information is used throughout the play to make The Witches’ magic and reasons for doing so that much more terrifying. The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare uses The Witches to further critical components of the story; these characters make the play increasingly more terrifying because their actions reach to the audience’s emotions as they corrupt Macbeth and his principles, use historic evidence to alter the meaning of their actions, summon
Stallybrass, Peter. "Macbeth and Witchcraft." In Focus on Macbeth. Ed. John Russell Brown. Boston: Routledge, 1982.
In the play of “Macbeth”, Shakespeare gradually and effectively deepens our understanding of the themes and most importantly the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The main theme of Macbeth is ambition, and how it compels the main characters to pursue it. The antagonists of the play are the three witches, who symbolise the theme appearance and reality. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relation is an irony throughout the play, as most of their relation is based on greed and power. This is different from most of Shakespeare’s other plays, which are mostly based on romance and trust. There is also guilt that leads Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to the final consequences of the play. As the progresses, the constant changes in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are exposed.
When the Weird Sisters hail Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and the future king, Macbeth’s mind is put under a curse of selfish and greedy ambition. These prophecies controlled the way that Macbeth thought and acted and eventually lead to his downfall. Immediately after the Weird Sisters present Macbeth with the prophecies, Macbeth states to the Weird Sisters “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more...:” (Document A). This statement is the precursor that shows the uprooting of Macbeth’s power-seeking characteristics that were once buried beneath the morals that were “too full o' the milk of human kindness” (Document B).
The weird sisters (witches) have a great impact on Macbeths state of mind when he decides to follow through with many of his actions. The witches are responsible for putting the idea of Macbeth becoming king in his head. Faith in the witches compromises his honour since they are believed to be evil however Macbeth
There are myriad fine lines in life, seemingly unattainable happy mediums that we endeavour to find, and spectrums that we attempt to exist in between. As sentient beings, we are continually evolving, and yet we are always searching for something that will remain constant in our often haphazard lives: Balance. Without it, one may see structure within their life deteriorate, as an overwhelming sense of chaos begins to percolate day to day existence. When we fail to achieve balance, adverse effects soon transpire. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, the type of balance being discussed is that of ambition and pride. The author suggests that ambition and pride are both respectable qualities to possess, and can coexist within a person
The themes of love, supernatural, and tragedy in Macbeth make this tale loved by many. The supernatural ideas are most noteworthy and dramatic. Witches, apparitions, and hallucinations give the play the sense of the unknown. Shakespeare used the supernatural occurrences and witches to show humans wickedness and depravity. The characters in this play were not at all hesitant to do evil acts once prophecies had been given showing their innermost desires come true. In the end, while the prophecies may have come to fruition, it was not how the characters had anticipated.
----. Macbeth. The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Fifth Edition. ed. David Bevington. New York: Pearson Longman. 2004. 1255-1293
As with all great works of literature, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth has spawned countless essays concerning its interpretation. Two such essays, “Shakespearean Tragedy” and “General Macbeth,” produced by two eminent literary critics, A.C. Bradley and Mary McCarthy, find themselves in conflict. The essays’ respective authors diverge on subjective points such as interpretation of character, original intent, and meaning. Bradley’s Macbeth is courageous and encumbered by the dregs of guilt, while McCarthy’s version takes a less orthodox path.
The story of Lady Macbeth throughout Macbeth is one unlike those of its time in its unusually forward-thinking portrayal of a woman with thoughts and actions which would have been considered indecent. This is seen through the representation of her relationship with Macbeth and how they interact. It is also illustrated through Lady Macbeth’s morals and their effect on how she acts and reacts in situations which would weigh heavily on most peoples’ conscious. Her power-hungry attitude is one often reserved for men, especially in this era of literature. All of these factors create a character in Lady Macbeth which is dissimilar to the classic portrayal of women in the seventeenth century.
Macbeth shows how greed and ambition can bring down a person as well as others and how the changes of power occur because of loyalty and betrayal. Macbeth is the play’s main unhappy character. The play tells of Macbeth's greedy thirst for power is a dangerous trait.
The Three weird sisters are the most mysterious characters in Macbeth. The audiance spends most of the time wondering what they are up to. These characters set a gloomy mood to the play. They say, “Fair is foul and foul is fair,” in Act I Scene I informing the audience that looks can be deceiving. The prophecy they inform Macbeth about appears to be helpful, but instead hinders. They tell Macbeth that he wil...
Macbeth is a very complex character whom reflects man's thirst for power through the drastic changes of his personality; thus being one of the slightest reasons in which make this intriguing character, greatest of all Shakespearean’s well-known works.
In the beginning of the book after the war ended, the witches tell Macbeth about his destiny to become king, after that he becomes paranoid on when and how he will be king. “All’s well.- I dreamt last night of the three Weïrd Sisters.- To you they have show'd some truth” (2.1.25-26). The witches speak to Macbeth. He said they were speaking the truth, so now he believes them. Since Macbeth said the three witches “show’d some truth” (2.2.47-52) about his destiny while he was dreaming, Macbeth believes what he is being told, so he becomes paranoid wondering when and how something is going to happen. After Macbeth dreamt about the three witches he says “Methought I heard voice cry, sleep no more!” (2.2.47-52). He also said that “sleep that
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth, a noble thane, is corrupted because of his unchecked ambitions. Macbeth’s ambitious personality is awakened when three witches appear to hail him as the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King. This prophecy convinces Macbeth to murder King Duncan, so he can become King; consequently, he is forced to kill others to cover up his first murder. After so much blood is spilled, Macbeth becomes a barbaric tyrant. Macbeth’s 180-degree transformation is a result of the “weird sisters.” Despite the witches being present in only three scenes of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, they advance the plot by foreshadowing events, generating imagery, and introducing main themes.