‘When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning or in rain?’
It was also believed that witches could take demonic possession of any individual by casting a spell over them. This is shown when the trance-like Macbeth and his ‘raptness’ when the witches first tempt him and he sees Banquo’s ghost, indicate he was the victim of demonic possession. He behaves compulsively, as if he is controlled by evil spirits rather than by his own conscious mind. Macbeth’s inability to pray in scene 2 of act two is another symptom of this condition. Macbeth returns from murdering Duncan and whimpers to Lady Macbeth,
‘List’ning their fear, I could not say ‘Amen’
When they did say ‘God bless us.’
Witches were thought to have allowed the Devil to suck their blood in exchange for an evil servant or a ‘familiar’ such as: a bird, beast or reptile. This is again displayed in the first scene, where the witches mention their ‘beasts’.
‘I come, Graymalkin.
‘Paddock calls.’
It was thought that witches could predict the future
The witches have an important role in the storyline or plot of the play Macbeth. For example, at the beginning of the play when the three witches are introduced, they describe to Macbeth three prophecies; that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King. These prophecies have major influence on Macbeth’s actions. Macbeth seems happy and content with himself until the witches tell him he will be king. He begins immediately to consider murdering Duncan and this is shown in Act 1, Scene 3 when Macbeth says,
‘If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature?’
After he is named king, Macbeth has much insecurity which is formed after his meeting with the witches. He has lost his sense of pride and courageousness, which are now replaced by constant feelings of guilt and anxiety. Macbeth’s feeling of inferiority to Banquo lead Macbeth to arrange for the murder of Banquo and his son, Fleance. When Banquo has left Macbeth alone, Macbeth starts to reveal his innermost thoughts. An example of the friction in their relationship is exposed when Macbeth expresses how wary he is of Banquo.
‘He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear; and under him
My genius is rebuked, as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Caesar.’
It is also shown that the witches’ prophecy concerning Banquo’s sons, and having Banquo around him is a constant reminder of when the witches predict that Banquo's and not Macbeth's children will be kings. When Macbeth is alone in Act 3 Scene 1, he begins to describe the jealousy which he feels towards Banquo when he exclaims,
‘Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding.’
During his rule as King, Macbeth witnesses a second set of predictions which the witches conjure up when they gather to meet him on the moor. The first apparition, ‘an armed head,’ is understood as predicting Macbeth’s head, cut off and brought to Malcolm by Macduff. The Witches caution him, ‘Beware Macduff!’ Macbeth replies that he is grateful for this caution. This apparition spurs him to kill the rest of Macduff’s family.
The second apparition, ‘a bloody child,’ represents Macduff when he was removed early from his mother’s womb. Macbeth does not know this however and so the apparition moves on to declare,
‘The pow’r of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth.’
Macbeth becomes sure that no one can harm him as everyone he knows is of woman born.
The third apparition, ‘a child crowned, with a tree in his hand,’ shows the King’s son, Malcolm. The witches tell Macbeth to listen but not speak. The words of the third apparition are,
‘Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him.’
Macbeth’s confidence in the Witches’ protecting his power has been strengthened by the predictions of the first and second apparitions. The prediction of the third apparition confirms his confidence; Macbeth is positive that moving Dunsinane Forest is impossible, and he now believes his end shall never come. ‘That will never be,’ he replies.
The witches’ predictions also have an effect on Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth first learns of the witches’ words from a letter which Macbeth sends to her. She intends to influence him to kill Duncan as she feels that Macbeth may not be evil enough to go through with the murder. The words which Lady Macbeth say after reading the letter suggest that there is an immediate change in her way of thinking.
.
‘Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown'd withal.’
The predictions have made Lady Macbeth confident and more dominant. They have changed her personality as she has suddenly become the more dominant partner, forcing her husband to kill the King.
After Macbeth has killed the King, he ponders over what he has done. He cannot pull himself together and keeps thinking of the terrible crime which he has committed. Lady Macbeth can only stand-by and watch him fall apart. She does not seem to be bothered about what they have done. An example of this is in the last scene of act 1 where she begins to question his pride.
‘When you durst do it, then you were a man.
And to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man.’
