In What Ways and With What Effects Do the Witches Contribute To the Play?
In what ways and with what effects do the witches contribute to the play?
Written by Williams Shakespeare, the play Macbeth was designed to entertain those of the Elizabethan era; although it has succeeded its stay to modern day. One, however, cannot deny strong evidence of the beliefs held in the Elizabethan era coming out in the play, in particular that of witches. They appear only three times during the play but their influence, as well as their impact cannot is seen throughout the entire drama; their presence and purpose cannot be easily overlooked.
Firstly, the witches are used to open the play. This would evoke the interest if the audience from the start. What is even more intriguing is the way the witches look. It is through Banquo that we get an image of the witches. He says that they appear " So withered and wild in their attire/ That look not like th' inhabitants o' the earth/ And yet are on 't"(Act I, scene III; lines 40-42).
The appearance of the witches is also important, as it is symbolic of nature in reverse and the role of gender; these are issues, which are presented throughout the play. For instance, animals were calling the weird sisters (Act I, scene I) when it is usually animals that are called and later when we meet Lady Macbeth, she challenges his masculinity and takes on an aggressive attitude, which is contrary to the way women are expected to behave. It is Macbeth who should be more aggressive since he is the head of the house and a brave and ...
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The appearance of the witches is also important, as it is symbolic of nature in reverse and the role of gender; these are issues, which are presented throughout the play. For instance, animals were calling the weird sisters (Act I, scene I) when it is usually animals that are called and later when we meet Lady Macbeth, she challenges his masculinity and takes on an aggressive attitude, which is contrary to the way women are expected to behave. It is Macbeth who should be more aggressive since he is the head of the house and a brave and well honoured soldier but we see him cowering to death of Duncan, and Lady Macbeth taking charge. In a similar way, the witches defy the expectation of women on the grounds of appearance, as although they seem to be women, at the same time they appear to be men. Banquo says in Act I, scene III, "You should be women, /And yet your beards forbid me to interpret/ That you are so".
The witches can also be deemed the instigators and catalysts of the action. From their dialogue when the play begins, we know that there is a plot, which involves Macbeth. The second time they appear, we hear them chanting, which ends with "the charms wound up". So, it is apparent that they are going to causes something to happen, which we later find out is to evoke Macbeth's ruthless ambition. Then, the third time we see them in the play they act as catalysts. By assuring Macbeth that he is invincible and should be wary of Macduff. This leads him to employ yet another devious act, the killing of Macduff's family, which leads Macbeth closer to his doom, as in revenge Macduff will kill Macbeth.
According to Jennifer Riedel, the witches are an essential part of the play of the tragedy, because they are partly to be blamed for Macbeth's actions. This is true, as if Macbeth was solely responsible for all those horrendous murders especially that of a woman and a child (that is, Lady Macbeth and her son) he would be a villain and would also deserve his downfall.
The witches also add to the language and style of the play. They add variety and spice to they speak poetically; rhyming as they weave their web of evil. This would also serve to transfix the audience; they would, with interest, anticipate what the witches' would say next. An example of the witches' rhythmic poetic speeches is: "Double, double, toil and trouble:/Fire burn and cauldron bubble". It would be of even more interest to watch the witches dance to this chant as they did on stage.
The dramatic effects created by the witches, make the play the success it is. Shakespeare must be lauded for using the three weird sisters in such an illustrious manner. The witches act as the instigator/ cause of the tragedy and they are also used to entrance the audience; making them so intrigued, their attention is held throughout the play. They also add to the language and style of the drama and are used to bring out the symbolic aspects of the drama. It is needless to say the witches are the very backbone of the play; without them there would been tragedy, and this what the play Macbeth is about - the tragic end of Macbeth.
