The role of the witches in Macbeth 1:1 and 1:3
Edward Boal 12RJ : English Essay : Macbeth
Realization of a Shakespeare Text
The role of the witches in Macbeth 1:1 and 1:3
Many forms of imagery are used in Macbeth. In scenes one and three the imagery used is built around the presence of the witches. Each detail in this imagery, it seems to me, contains an important symbol of the play, and symbols that we must understand if we are to understand either the passage it is in, or the play as a whole. In any instance, Macbeth's imagery is used cleverly and aids the plot and creates the right atmosphere for the occasion.
The Three witches in the tragedy Macbeth are introduced right at the beginning of the play. They recount to Macbeth three prophesies. That Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King. This prophesies introduce Macbeth to ideas of greatness. Macbeth will eventually follow through on killing king Duncan. It was sometimes thought that the witches had the ability to reverse the natural order of things.
This brings into the play idea of fate and the role with which it has in the play. We wonder if Macbeth ever had a chance of doing what was right after he met with the witches. It is however; more realistic to believe that Macbeth was responsible for his own actions throughout the play and in the end it was he who made the final decisions.
The witches could foretell the future, they can add temptation, and influence Macbeth, but they can not control his destiny. Macbeth creates his own misery when he is driven by his own sense of guilt. This causes him to become insecure as to the reasons for his actions which in turn cause him to commit more murders in a chain reaction of increased ambition and drive. The witches offer great enticement, but it is in the end, each individual's decision to fall for the temptation, or to be strong enough to resist their captivation.
The three Witches ...
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The witches could foretell the future, they can add temptation, and influence Macbeth, but they can not control his destiny. Macbeth creates his own misery when he is driven by his own sense of guilt. This causes him to become insecure as to the reasons for his actions which in turn cause him to commit more murders in a chain reaction of increased ambition and drive. The witches offer great enticement, but it is in the end, each individual's decision to fall for the temptation, or to be strong enough to resist their captivation.
The three Witches are only responsible for the introduction of these ideas and for further forming ideas in Macbeth head, but they are not responsible for his actions throughout the play. Lady Macbeth is shown early in the play as an ambitious woman with a single purpose. She can manipulate Macbeth easily. This is shown in the line "That I may pour my spirits in thine ear".
Though we can examine extensively the input of the witches in this story of tragedy, we are going to look at Shakespeare's stagecraft and how imagery is used.
At the top of the first scene, we can see denoted in the stage directions Thunder and Lightning. This is a good example of objective correlative where the elements for example create the atmosphere of the event or scene. In the video of Macbeth, there is a fog and the sky is a dark crimson red colour also aiding the plot. This red sky is also used in further scenes to indicate battle. Also their location as shown in the directions is that they are in an open place which also helps to make the scene more eerie. The constant noise of howling wind in the background and the sharp high pitched sound when the camera turns on the witches are another components - no detail has been left out.
Even here, there language also shows that they are corrupt "Fair is foul and foul is fair" showing that the good and the bad are confused; there is an evil influence.
The next appearance of the witches is in scene three when they meet upon the heath as arranged in scene one. The first witch tells a tale - she saw a sailors wife eating chestnuts, she ask for them and she refused so she cursed the sailor so as his ship would be tempest-tossed. These stories they teel 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 graphic visual effect brings a touch of horror to the scene.
The only stage direction for this scene is thunder - apart from watching the video, any other images are made in our mind from our knowledge of what the atmosphere should be from the first scene. We imagine throughout these scenes, the use of darkness. Darkness is one of the most important components to create an atmosphere. A special tone, or atmosphere must be created to show the darkness and blackness in a tragedy. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the design of the witches, the guilt in Macbeth's soul, and the darkness of the night to establish the atmosphere. All of the remarkable scenes take place at night or in some dark spot; for instance, the vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth's sleep-walking, all occur at night. Darkness is the time when Banquo rides homeward to meet his assassins; furthermore, it is the time when the wolf howls, the owl screams, and when murder steals forth to his work.
The witches, or as they prefer to call themselves "weird sisters" hear the drum symbolising Macbeths arrival. They cast a spell as they prepare to meet with him. He arrives with Banquo and both are shocked by the appearance of the witches - on the video, we could see Macbeth and Banquo walking then all of a sudden with a clever camera angle trick, the witches surround them. Banquo questions "What are these, so withered and wild in their attire, that look not like th' inhabitants o' the earth and yet are on't." He finds it hard to understand how these unnatural corrupted looking beings dwell on the earth. Going on, we are told they have skinny lips and Banquo finds it hard to see them as being women because their beards forbid it. Their long, ragged, dirty tunics drape over their backs also adding to the scene.
They greet Macbeth and inform him that he will become Thane of Cawdor and also King of Scotland. Macbeth stands stunned by these prophesies while Banquo insists they inform him of his future. He is told that although he will not be King, his offspring will be. Eventually Macbeth recovers from his trance and insists that the witches explain how they know these things, but the witches vanish as quickly as they came.
I think that the interpretation of the atmosphere from the book to the film worked well. They have remained close to the text and the stage directions as well as adding more to the atmosphere to make it more like a gripping film. It shows well how the setting, movements, costumes, sounds, visual effects and lighting all come together to create the atmosphere surrounding the presence of the witches and the plot.
