The witches feature at the very beginning of Macbeth in Act One, Scene One. They enter to the elements of thunder and lightning in a deserted place that has a significant meaning. The thunder and lightning puts the main focus on the entrance of these witches. This dramatic scene suggests evil and highlights the threat of these witches. They enter from a deserted place that highlights their isolation and avoids distraction to the entrance of these witches. They then talk of what the future holds showing their gift of foresight that is supernatural and against Christian believing. This is an example of the witches going against the beliefs of 17th century Britain that is shown almost straight away. There is also a mention of “Greymalkin” and “Paddock” which are the witches’ familiars and part of the criteria of being a witch was having a familiar that confirms the strange sisters are witches. The scene ends, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.” All three of the witches say this together like a spell would be said. Here the witches heighten the sense of mystery in the play by confusing the audience by dealing with opposites. This rounds off the spooky scene with a dramatic ending.
In Act One, Scene Three the witches also enter to thunder as they meet again as planned. It is not as dramatic and there is no lightning but evil and fear is still present. One of the witches talks about getting revenge on a sailor by killing him. King James I believed the witches attempted to kill him with makes it relevant to the King. Macbeth and Banquo are introduced in this scene. Macbeth comments on the day by saying “so fair and foul a day I have not seen.” Then Banquo notices the “so withered, and so wild in their attire” witches with beards and is utterly shocked. Macbeth then asks them “What are you?” and he is also horrified. The witches then together say a verse hailing Macbeth, flattering him sarcastically. The witches talk in riddles and say make some confusing comments like, “Less than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier.” The characters of the witches are still quite mysterious but in this scene they have shown some emotions that support the view that they are evil, as they involve murdering and other terrible things.
In Act Four, Scene One the witches once again enter to the thunder that suggests evil is coming and they then begin casting an evil spell. They put lots of different things in a cauldron and chant together, “Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” Saying the verse together creates an aural effect that would scare the audience. A “scale of a dragon” and a “tooth of a wolf” are just a couple of things that go into this cauldron of evil. When they have their potion ready they “cool it with a baboons blood.” This is imagery of blood and it has a sickening and shocking effect.
Throughout the play the impact of the witches is developed and strengthened by the reactions of the other characters. The witches have a major impact on Macbeth and he believes what they are saying. This makes us ask the question of whether Macbeth is under a spell of the witches making or whether he is acting under his own free will. The witches do not harm Macbeth therefore he is an agent of God, but he does destroy himself. That corresponds with the Christian notion of made in God’s image but with the power of free will. The witches use the weakness of Macbeth to their advantage and to show they can have control over people but they cannot move Banquo to the dark side. Banquo is stronger then Macbeth and does not just believe whatever the witches say. He doubts the reality of his senses and is skeptical.
The witches use language in this play to get across their point in a strong way. They use plenty of repetition. “I’ll do, I’ll do, I’ll do” they repeat three times and three is widely seen as the magic number. They also use a lot of imagery in the play. For example they put in the cauldron, “A finger of birth-strangled babe” which makes you think of innocence and the witches are creating drama by including something harmless and loved. The witches’ dramatic rituals reinforce their sisterhood as they speak together and work together. They are completely original and together they are isolated from the rest of society but they have each other. The rhyming couplets help make the chant more flowing. The witches also say, “I’ll give thee a wind.” This suggests the witches can control the weather and the natural environment.
The witches in these plays are warning King James I that witches can manipulate people to kill the King even though he is saw as untouchable. Shakespeare allows the audience to see that the witches do have this influence and they can cause evil through other people with Macbeth being an example. The witches tie in with the established idea that women could be harmful to men at this time as they have the power of manipulation.
I think the witches work very well in Macbeth. They create fear and drama throughout the play. They can be linked with terrorists in our society today. Terrorists are now feared and they have the power to get their own way because of their evil to a certain extent. Women were seen as a threat in the 17th century as witches were usually women now Muslims are scene as a threat as a lot of terrorists are Muslims.
