Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of the witches in Macbeth. How dramatically effective is the presentation?
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of the witches in Macbeth. How dramatically effective is the presentation?
"Fair is foul and foul is fair". Sound familiar to you? This is a catch phrase used by witches in 'Macbeth' and is certainly not forgotten about today.
Years ago, witches were seen as a threat to a town or village, a menace and sometimes thought of as 'devils'. Yet, in 'Macbeth', the witches are given a sense of wisdom and knowledge, and are looked to for help by others. Some might even have called them Oracles. Back in the 17th century, people were either killed or tested for being witches. Most, if not all the people accused of being witches were thrown into a river and if they sunk to the bottom they weren't witches (because they were dead) or float (meaning they were witches) giving the towns people a reason to kill them. People were being accused of being witches because of cannibalism, disappearances and sometimes looking like a witch could get you burned at the stake. Nevertheless, in 'Macbeth' the witches clearly show themselves as witches because of their looks and the fact they can do magic. They don't even give a second thought for who might hear them or see them as people in the 17th century practising witchcraft would. However, most of the people present in 'Macbeth' look only to the witches for answers. Shakespeare had a completely different view of witches than people back at the Salem trials or us.
For an audience member watching 'Macbeth' for the first time as a play, the first thing they see is the witches: small, ragged, bearded women. What do you think would be the audience's reaction? Now, after the witches have entered the scene, the audience are left in awe because of the excellent portrayal of the witches in such a dramatic manner that has been created by Shakespeare. When we first meet the witches on a stormy night,
"'Thunder. Enter three WITCHES'"
The witches are casting a spell and reading out incantations, furthermore, this reveals to us ...
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For an audience member watching 'Macbeth' for the first time as a play, the first thing they see is the witches: small, ragged, bearded women. What do you think would be the audience's reaction? Now, after the witches have entered the scene, the audience are left in awe because of the excellent portrayal of the witches in such a dramatic manner that has been created by Shakespeare. When we first meet the witches on a stormy night,
"'Thunder. Enter three WITCHES'"
The witches are casting a spell and reading out incantations, furthermore, this reveals to us another dramatic effect that Shakespeare creates of the witches. Therefore, outlining their power and importance, also giving them an eerie sense of dare and evil that makes us wonder if their looks are suppose to add to the feeling of evil that witches give off. Besides, members of the audience may be quick to point out that there are three witches instead of one or two. In my own view, I find that three is an unlucky number, and perhaps this was a unlucky number back in Shakespeare's time, therefore, equalling to three witches. During the play, the witches create another dramatic effect, which is the suspense they bring when reading the play, watching it as a play or even in a film. Throughout the whole of the book I have read about the witches, each one brings different suspense in different ways. Such examples of this are, when the witches use their number 3 in their power, and frighten people when they speak together, the suspense can be more so than when one witch is giving off her peculiar and alarming performance. The witches (apart from Macbeth) are seen as the main characters; not appearing in every scene gives them an importance and makes them seem like they appear whenever they are needed. Their function and importance is compulsory in Macbeth as they form the backbone of the enchantments and magic that Shakespeare so perfectly portrays. In addition, the witches affect Macbeth in weird and wonderful ways (wonderful meaning, things we can not do) by bringing the worst out in him. Yet, the fact that the witches do not make Macbeth, literally kill, they give him he energy he needs to bring out his heartless side, this is in fact what the witches bring out in everyone and this equals to suspense which altogether contributes to the importance of the witches.
Have you ever seen a witch on TV? With all the usual witch stereotype things like: the typical big nose, black hat, and broomstick. The witches in Macbeth are so dramatically created they make a statement. Shakespeare presented them this way so that Macbeth, audience members and readers would not look past the witches, but would stop and say 'Where did them witches go?'
This is only because they bring the drama and fun into the play and if dressing them up and giving them beards is the way to do it, Shakespeare's got it right.
"Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more"
In scene act 5, scene 3, Macbeth feels he is indestructible; this is under the influence of the witches. However, I find myself wondering whose fault the whole thing is? Is it his for being ambitious in the first place? Is it the witches for invigorating him to open himself up and let evil surround and take control of him? Some other characters feel the witches are too mystical and are afraid to listen to them, yet they end up being under the witch's control. This is how the witches influence the reaction of the other characters in 'Macbeth'. Not only do the witches bring out the worst in people, make them think they are indestructible and make them kill their families, they also have a way of blending into their surroundings and settings. This dramatic method makes them even more flamboyant and magical. This also portrays the witches in another different way, this is like mind readers, they can stimulate people into thinking things, but how do the witches know what they're thinking to start off with? Shakespeare presents the witches' dramatic appearances professionally, because every time the witches are mentioned, afterwards, Shakespeare explains about weather, setting and language so as we don't miss any detail.
To conclude my essay on the 'Macbeth' witches and how Shakespeare presents them, I will raise one last point on how convincing the witches are. First I will use atmosphere as my example. Take a scene where only the witches are present:
Act 1, Scene 1, "When shall we three meet again. In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"
I don't think anyone would want to walk by when three were talking about something like that, the setting could be like this, the wind is howling and the air is thin, the witches are concocting a spell, using incantations, hand movements and gestures one wouldn't use. Does this atmosphere sound sincere that there's witchcraft going on? Does it not seem that Shakespeare's witches sound convincing because of their faces and personalities and does the atmosphere not make you shiver? I know it makes me shiver, and I agree that Shakespeare has presented the witches dramatic effects so well, I truly find the atmosphere convincing.