Assignment B-Macbeth

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GCSE English                                

Assignment B-Macbeth

How important are the “Three weird sisters” to the play of “Macbeth”? Comment on their dramatic importance, their contribution to the plot and their connection to the development to themes in the play. How does Shakespeare interest and entertain his Elizabethan audience? Comment on his use of language and theatre in achieving this.

I believe that the “three weird sisters” play a very important role to “Macbeths” play. The witches are the first characters to appear on the stage. They seem harmless when they first appear on stage, but as we get further on into the play we start understanding what role they are playing and it shows that they are an extreme bad influence on “Macbeth”. I think they have influenced Macbeth all through the play for his killings

Firstly, the first thing we hear about Macbeth is what a brave warrior he was (Act 1 scene 2 ). He dies bravely too, but he is also a cold calculating killer (act 1 scene 2) he murders Duncan because he wants to be king he also has macduffs family and Banquo killed. Some people think Macbeth must be evil because of all the terrible crimes he commits other think he isn’t as bad. Maybe he kills Duncan because he is very ambitious and is persuaded by lady Macbeth or the witches. I believe strongly that the witches persuaded and mixed with Macbeth for his actions. When the witches first appear on the stage, there was a lot of tension from the Elizabethan audience, as they believed very strongly in supernatural. This may seem like a load of rubbish for us but the power to the Elizabethan audience was a very real thing. All over Europe thousands of woman  were accused of witch craft and were tortured and burnt. The  “hideous women with beards” knew were Macbeth was as they can predict the future. They conjure up visions that warn Macbeth that everything they say comes true.

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 The audience experience a little of these prophesies almost immediately in the opening scene.  When they talk about meeting Macbeth they say they will greet him, "when the battle's lost and won.” And “ In thunder, lightening, or in rain?” “There to meet with Macbeth” They are talking about Macbeth at the start of they play targeting him . The prophecies use a double meaning to trick Macbeth. We then meet the witches at scene 3 were again they say ” A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come” Macbeth then appears saying “So foul and fair a day I have ...

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