As Macbeth and Banquo (his friend and partner in battle) are returning from the battlefield, they come across the three witches. Macbeth says, “no foul and fair a day,” which is a reference to what the witches say at the end of the first scene. This suggests that maybe the witches are possessing him, somehow. Macbeth is startled at what the witches say about his future:
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter.”
I think this phrase draws Macbeth towards the witches. After hearing this, Banquo is concerned about Macbeth’s reaction, he says; “Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear.” The witches leave, Macbeth says, “Stay, you imperfect speakers” this shows that he is intrigued by the prophecy. Macbeth wants to believe the witches because he wants to become king.
Banquo reacts differently to what the witches say, he obviously doesn’t believe them because he mocks them and laughs. What the witches say may not draw him in as much as Macbeth because they do not predict great things for his future.
Later in the scene, Ross and Angus come to Macbeth sent by the King. They have news that Macbeth has been given the title: Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and Banquo are shocked, “What! Can the devil speak true?” says Banquo. The witches’ first prediction is true. This is where Macbeth believes the witches even more. He truly believes that the witches predicted this event, but we (the audience) know that he was going to be Thane of Cawdor even if he didn’t meet with the witches. This sort of confusion within the characters would keep the audience gripped. Banquo says to Macbeth; “The instrument of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.” By this he means that often, to bring damnation the witches tell us simple truths to capture our minds, so that we trust them. Then they can deceive us in more important matters. Macbeth is already blinded by poteutral ambition and doesn’t listen.
In Act 1 scene 5, Lady Macbeth is introduced. She receives a letter from Macbeth telling her about the witches’ prophecies. She is instantly drawn into what the witches had to say; she begins to play how Macbeth will become king. She wants to take away the obstacles in the plans path, e.g. Duncan. She wants to murder the king. A messenger comes with news that Macbeth has arrived. Lady Macbeth starts to call on evil spirits to give her strength. “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts!” This shows that the evil and greed have taken over her, she’ll do whatever it takes to get her husband to become king; she might want it even more than Macbeth himself. Maybe this is where the witches possess her, or she may have been linked to the supernatural before.
When Macbeth arrives, his wife tells him of her plan to kill the king. He knows that what he is thinking is wrong and immoral, but he still lets Lady Macbeth talk him into it. Lady Macbeth also says that she will use a potion to drug the guards, showing a slight connection between her and witchcraft.
In Act 2 scene 1, Macbeth sees a vision of a dagger before him on the night just prior to the murder. This hallucination seems to encourage him, he seems to be in a trance-like state and he may not know what he is about to do. This makes him look possessed by the witches, how he suddenly gets the courage to go and kill Duncan, whereas before he was jumping at all the sounds of the night.
Lady Macbeth shows signs of demonic possession when she keeps encouraging Macbeth. Macbeth is in a terrible state when he comes back from killing the king. It’s as if he has just snapped out of his trance and realised what he has done. This may show that he is no longer possessed. His wife on the other hand, is very proud of what he has done. At the end of Act 2 scene 2, Macbeth says how he doesn’t want to know himself and is full of remorse. But he is still led on by Lady Macbeth, who may still be possessed.
“Gentle my Lord, sleek o’er your ragged looks.” This shows how Macbeth’s appearance has changed. He is also behaving very strangely. He is becoming very paranoid about becoming king. He remembers how the withes on the heath said, “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none,” to Banquo telling him that his sons will be kings. Macbeth sends assassins to kill Banquo and his son. They manage to kill Banquo, but his son escapes. Macbeth is later horrified to see Banquo’s ghost sitting in his seat at his banquet. This shows that he is becoming very disturbed he is once again in a trance-like state.
In Act 3 scene 5, we meet Hecate; she is a sort of leader, or master of the witches. She is very angry with the three witches for communicating with Macbeth without her approval or involvement. She feels that Macbeth does not love evil for its own sake, but only for what it can do for him. Hecate knows that Macbeth will want to meet with the witches again, so she orders them to prepare for a fantastic show which will fool Macbeth. They will behave like typical witches by using visions and telling equivocations.
As Macbeth arrives, the witches start casting spells and making potions, as typical witches would. The witches use disgusting ingredients for their spells – another stereotype of witches. Macbeth calls the evil spirits to tell him what to do. They tell him – “Beware Macduff” - which is true. Macbeth asks for more, “for none of woman born can harm Macbeth” say the spirits. Macbeth is now confused, he believes he is invincible, but this is a half-truth. The spirits speak in rhymes and riddles, which would add to his confusion.
In Act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth becomes really, very tormented. She is loosing sleep and imagines a red mark on her hand, which she cannot wash off. In Shakespeare’s times people believed that if a woman had a red mark on her body, she was a witch. She may have been acting like this because she has also just snapped out of a trance, like Macbeth just after he kills Duncan. The doctor comes to see her, he suspects her to be involved in some evil.
The battle is at its height when Seyton brings news to Macbeth that his wife has died. Macbeth does not grieve, because he feels life is meaningless. It is like he has lost his soul. This shows that what the witches said had a strong effect on him.
Act 5 scene 7 – The battle continues throughout this scene. Macbeth meets young Siward, and kills him. Macbeth also comes across Macduff for the first time, Macbeth says he is not afraid of him because he believes that no one of woman born can harm him. But Macduff tells him that he is not of woman born, and kills him.
I think that the witches are responsible for the deaths of Macbeth and his wife. I think this is because when we first meet Macbeth, he is a great soldier and he is loyal to his king. But then, after this short meeting with the witches he becomes paranoid about the prophecies. And becomes somehow possessed. He begins killing people he used to care for because he believes they are just mere obstacles which lay in his path. But his wife had persuaded him to remove the obstacles. Which shows she may have been even more possessed than him. I don’t think this contrast from good to evil would have happened if Macbeth had never met the witches. I know that the witches didn’t directly order him to kill, but I think they planted an evil seed in his mind, which he began to nurture in his own way.
