The witches use opposites to create effect in the play, the prime example being ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’. Normal characters in Macbeth do not use this language, and so the witches stand out from the rest of the cast. Throughout the play, the witches speak in riddles, and due to these riddles Macbeth hears only what he wants to hear, instead of the absolute truth that is given to him by the witches. The witches also represent temptation, much like the snake in the Garden of Eden. By telling Macbeth what he wants to hears, they tempt and lure him into believing his invincibility by echoing his thoughts.
The witches first appear at the very beginning of the play, in the first scene. A violent and evil atmosphere is created instantly with the first stage direction being ‘Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches’. This is pathetic fallacy and is used to show that the play will be about evil. In the first scene the subject of the witches is set out, and they arrange to meet Macbeth and consequently tempt him into evil. They set the tone for the rest of the play with the paradox of ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’. ‘Grey-Malkin’ and ‘Paddock’ are referred to in the first scene, and these are names for animals that the witches keep as companions. ‘Grey-Malkin’ is a cat, and ‘Paddock’ is a toad.
Turmoil in the play is suggested in numerous ways. Animals such as toads, snakes and birds of prey are mentioned, and this helps to create a threatening atmosphere. Also, after the death of Duncan the rules of nature seem to reverse, as owls kill Falcons and Duncan’s horses turn wild, eventually eating each other. This highlights the fact that killing the innocent Duncan was wrong, and is also against the rules of nature, which therefore had an impact on nature in the rest of the play. Blood flow in the play is constant, as there is regular killing and bloodshed. Macbeth is in a rush to reach his ambition and prediction of the witches, and so has little time for being patient, while being led by the witches.
The witches next appear in Act 1 Scene 3, and they discuss their plot to torment a sea-captain whose wife had insulted them. The plot is spiteful, as it originated from the sailors wife not giving her chestnuts to one of the witches ‘Sleep shall neither night nor day’. Banquo and Macbeth are walking together after the battle, and Banquo sees the witches first. He is sceptical about their existence, and believes that they may not be real “live you, or are you aught that man may question?”. The witches address Macbeth first and tell him that he will be thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor and also the King. They seem to respect Macbeth but are not really interested in Banquo. Macbeth goes from being interested in the witches to believing them fully, and this leads to Macbeth actually looking for the witches himself in Act 4 Scene 1. However, as the play goes on Banquo becomes increasing distrusting of the witches, telling Macbeth that he had dreamed about the witches. Macbeth replied “I think not of them”, but of course this wasn’t true.
After the witches disappear in Act 4 Scene 1, Macbeth asks Lennox, who had arrived shortly before the witches left, if he had seen the witches. Lennox replied that he hadn’t, and this suggests that only Macbeth and Banquo can see the witches. This could suggest that the witches are merely figures in Macbeth and Banquo’s minds, influencing them from the inside. This could represent the potential that every human being has to do evil inside them. Shakespeare doesn’t give any clue to what the witches are exactly, and so it is up to the audience to decide for themselves.
At the start of Act 4 Scene1 the witches make‘gruel’ by putting many different, vile ingredients into a cauldron, and devise a charm. Ingredients such as ‘adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting’ are added, and these bits of animals and also humans ‘Liver of blaspheming Jew’ symbolise the vicious behaviour of the witches. During the making of the ‘gruel’ the witches chant in rhyme, to sound magic, but in the rest of the play they speak in verse as well.
Lady Macbeth interprets the witches as real and is keen for Macbeth to follow their guidance and advice. She convinces Macbeth to murder Duncan, whereas without her it is unlikely that Macbeth would have killed Duncan, due to his doubt. Some plays interpret Lady Macbeth as a fourth witch, who convinces Macbeth to act upon the witches words.
Macbeth is influenced by the witches, but the base for his deeds was already inside him to start with. The witches merely brought out his potential for evil by giving him audacity to fulfil his wishes. The witches merely tempted the wishes out of Macbeth by telling him that it was possible, and so Macbeth was responsible for his own downfall.
A conclusion is needed. I will write it over Christmas.
