Examine the Witches’ scenes, what do they add to the play?

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English Coursework: Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Examine the Witches' scenes, what do they add to the play?

Chris Anderson

Shakespeare's play Macbeth was performed for King James 1 of England in August 1606. One of the reasons why Shakespeare may have written this play was that he wanted to entertain him so that the King would encourage more theatres and plays. The supernatural side of the play would have appealed to the King and the audience as many people of that time believed in witchcraft. Another thing about plays of the time is that the audiences were not all sat down and quiet like today. There would have been people standing and shouting to the actors. Shakespeare would have wanted scenes in the play which would get and hold the audience's attention.

The Witches are an important part of the play. They are important to the plot. They entertain and create atmosphere and add life and humour to the play. They also play a big part in the play's themes of evil and power.

At the very start of the play the Witches introduce the play in a desolate scene set 'upon the heath' with thunder and lightning all around. The Witches are grouped together and they talk about thunder, lightning, fog and filthy air 'When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning, or in rain?' The Witches tend to talk in rhymes which are like spells. This setting is dramatic for an opening and creates an eerie atmosphere and gets the attention of the audience. This dark setting produces a feeling of something important is going to happen. Darkness and the witches themselves are associated with evil.

The Witches' language has a lot of rhythm, rhyme and alliteration in it 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair; hover through the fog and filthy air'. This line has a lot of rhythm in it like a strange song. The words 'fair' and 'air' rhyme and the alliteration of the 'f' sound makes it sound like a mysterious chant or the sound of the wind. This sentence is confusing and makes the audience wonder how can opposites be the same. The Witches are suggesting that not everything will be as it seems which is exactly what happens at the end of the play.
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The Witches also mention a war 'when the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won'. Wars are important to the play because Macbeth has just come from a battle and the play ends with a battle. Wars and battles are also about violence and the audience is entertained with bloody scenes.

In Act 1, scene 3 the Witches appear again chattering among themselves and talking about where they have been and what they have done. This is a strange part which is also funny and tells the audience more about the witches and their wicked ways: ...

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