Discuss the role of the witches in Macbeth

     In act one scene two we are told of Macbeth’s bravery in the battle and how he is rewarded by being made the Thane of Cawdor. In act one scene three we see again the witches and their evil powers. Each of the witches meets Macbeth differently, saying “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of Cawdor”, and “that shalt be King hereafter”. The fact he’s been told three things could also be significant as in the play three is a number of things used a lot, there are three witches, three apparitions later in the play, three prophecies for Macbeth and after hearing what the witches have said to Macbeth, Banquo demands to learn his future, that his offspring will become king but is suspicious of the witches powers, this attention to detail shows how important evil is in the play. When Banquo is told this, Macbeth reacts badly, he questions what the witches are saying but the witches vanish without a word, Macbeth is left wanting to know more and his reaction has been spotted by Banquo.  When Ross and Lennox come and bring the news to Macbeth that he has become the Thane of Glamis Macbeth’s thoughts are confirmed and he is excited about the fact that seeing as that has come true he is going to become King, Banquo is not so sure. The witches seemed to be praising both Macbeth and Banquo, which shows how they are enjoying the consequences of what they have said, by vanishing when Macbeth was questioning them they show how they are in control and they don’t have to tell anyone anything. The stage directions for the witches are always more dramatic than those for the other characters with more interesting things to do such as dancing and vanishing. In Act 4 Scene 1 the witches dance to music and then vanish, again leaving Macbeth in suspense. The weather in the scene contributes to the feeling of darkness given off by the witches, how they are again on the heath alone and secluded, also Banquo describes the way the witches look as “not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth”. What Banquo says links to how the witches are all slightly strange and it all seems slightly surreal.  

     After the disappearance of the witches in act one scene three Macbeth jumps to his own conclusions about things, he starts to plot as the news that Banquo’s descendants will become King disturbs him and he wants to be King as soon as possible, for as long as possible. Firstly he thinks about how he can become King in the first place and comes up with the idea of murdering King Duncan, he also thinks about the fact he’s going to have to kill Banquo of the prediction that his offspring will become King, and this could limit his time on the throne. All of these thoughts Macbeth has are triggered by only a small thing that the witches have said and it just shows how much the witches influence Macbeth and how he took them so seriously even though to them it was purely a bit of fun.

     Macbeth revisits the witches in act four scene one because he is scared about the fact he saw Banquo’s ghost at the banquet. He is looking for reassurance and as he still trusts the witches he goes to them. Again this meeting is set with a supernatural atmosphere, charged with evil. When the witches speak they are again speaking in rhyming couplets, “come sisters, cheer we up his sprites, and show the best of our delights.” Which again gives across their evil to the audience. Thunder and lightning in the background also helps to set the scene. When Macbeth enters he commands the witches to answer his questions. They call up three powerful spirits to respond to him. He is told three prophecies: that he should fear Macduff, that he cannot be harmed by one born of a woman and that he is secure until Birnan Wood comes to Dunsinane. Macbeth presses for more information about Banquo’s offspring and is mortified to see a vision of eight kings all descended from Banquo, who also appears! The witches suddenly vanish, again, and Macbeth curses them. The effect that this meeting has on Macbeth is that he has now cleared up certain things, and now thinks it a good idea to kill Macduff and his family. This is a quick decision compared to how long it took him to think about whether or not to kill Duncan. It takes a lot to perform all the special effects needed in this scene, noises, lights combined with purpose shadow, trap doors and curtain closing is all involved in achieving a good atmosphere and in creating the evil beings.

     At the end of the play Lady Macbeth goes completely mad and commits suicide, and Macbeth’s nightmare comes true and he is informed that Birnan Wood is moving towards him, Malcolm’s army advances on Dunsinane and Macbeth is finally shown up by the witches as the prophecies he thought could never come true, have finally happened. Macbeth is the only person who can be held responsible for his downfall, he shouldn’t have trusted the witches and have presumed things so much, all shows that you shouldn’t try and change the future because it can’t be done. The witches only brought out Macbeth’s evil side, but it was there to be brought out and it didn’t really take a lot. It shows that Macbeth was very self absorbed and was not really loyal to his kingdom.