During the 17th Century people were really paranoid about witches and witchcraft, witches were considered as evil. This was one of the main reasons why Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, he knew that if he wrote a play about witches it would fascinate the people and draw in crowds.
That wasn’t the only reason why Shakespeare chose to write a play about witches, the other reason was because he wanted to please the king at the time, James I. Shakespeare knew that James I was obsessed by witchcraft and the super natural.
At the time when play writers wanted to write a new play they had to get an aristocratic patron. Luckily for Shakespeare he had James I. In order to get the king to like his play he wrote Macbeth. He included the witches and witchcraft because he knew that James I was fascinated by it.
But Shakespeare had to be careful of what he said with Duncan, because Duncan was the king and was killed in the play. James I might there think this wasn’t right. But it was the historical truth.
Shakespeare also had to be careful because if the story wasn’t good enough they wouldn’t promote him anymore and he would get thrown into prison.
If it wasn’t for James I having an interest in witches and witchcraft Shakespeare may never of included them into his play. Now you have to ask yourself would the play “Macbeth” been so popular if the witches weren’t included…
Use Of Language And Stage Direction
We know that fierce thunder and lightning scenes are associated with the witches and the fierce storms release forces of evil. We also know when Shakespeare is talking about the witches because the sentences rhyme.
For example Act 1, Scene 3, 1st Witch, Line 8
“But in a sieve I’ll thither sail,
And like a rat without a tail,
I’ll do, I’ll do and I’ll do”
We also associate witches with spells and magic positions, Shakespeare uses them in the text.
For Example Act 4, Scene 1, 2nd Witch, Line 12
“Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake,
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like hell-broth boil and bubble”
Another scene with all the witches in is Act 1, Scene 1, 1st, 2nd, 3rd witch lines 1-5
1st Witch When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
2nd Witch When the hurlyburly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won
3rd Witch That will ere the set of sun
This quotation shows the audience that the witches are up to something and are scheming away. It also lets the audience know that some dramatic scenes are going to happen soon, it does this by saying “When the hurlyburly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won”. A battle must be happening soon…
Shakespeare has made the witches wear ragged clothes and made them look ugly, like there not from this planet.
Act 1, Scene 3, Banquo, Line 41
“That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth”
The Witches Involvement
The witches make Macbeth feel really confident and powerful by telling him their predictions of what is going to happen in the future.
1st Witch Prediction All Hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of glamis!
2nd Witch Prediction All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of cawdor!
3rd Witch Prediction All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!
The witches also call upon the 3 apparitions which tell Macbeth:
1st appears from the cauldron. It is a helmeted head and it warns Macbeth to be cautious of Macduff
2nd tells Macbeth that no man born of woman can harm him
3rd says that he will not be beaten until Burham wood moves to Dunsinane
After this Macbeth is filled with confidence and feels invincible.
Once Macbeth became Thane of Cawdor he is well and truly under the witches spell. This is because one of the witch’s predictions has come true, from now on, their words will always be in his thoughts. We only see them once more, but the witches are always present in Macbeth's mind.
When the consequences of the murders of Duncan and Banquo are too much for Macbeth to handle, his instinct is to go back to the witches (Act 4 Scene 1). They are now his only hope. It is an admission that he cannot control things any longer and from this point in the play, we know Macbeth will die…
Conclusion
I believe without the witches there wouldn’t have been a play. They play the most important and influential roles in the play, by making predictions and calling upon apparitions. They also make the play lively and catch the imaginations of the audience who are fascinated with all their spells and magic. I also think that if it wasn’t for the fascination in witches and witchcraft at the time when Shakespeare wrote Macbeth it wouldn’t have been the hit it was.
