Macbeth- The Witches
Macbeth- The Witches It could be said that the witches in 'Macbeth', are possibly some of the best known characters in Shakespeare's work. With famous words like 'Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble', it is true to say that they have probably heavily influenced the depiction of witches in later works to a great extent. The play derives from a time when witchcraft was something of great public concern. Extreme persecution of anyone found to be practising something that could be interpreted as 'black arts' was common in Stuart society. (Old women who kept cats were in extreme danger of meeting the requirements for stereotypical 'witch') The play, which tells the fate, of the Scottish royal family, had real-life connections with the Scottish royal family at the time. The character Banquo was supposedly a relative of King James who was the King of Scotland. (Although it has been discovered that he never existed, he was made up at the birth of the Stuart dynasty) The heavy influences of the witches on the play, also matched King James's interest in Demonology. So the question has been asked was 'Macbeth' written for King James? Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries 'witches', were terrifying but also fascinating to the general public. During this time hundreds of witches were persecuted, and were hung or burnt at stake. Witches were so greatly feared, because of the apparent
The Macbeth Witches
The Macbeth Witches In the first scene in act one we can see that the witches have some kind of psychic ability from when they predict that Macbeth will win the battle. The witches appear to be having some sport of shared vision. We can tell this from the second quotation- "When the hurlyburly's done. When the battle's lost and won." The witches clearly know that King Duncan's side will win the battle. They also know when they will meet with Macbeth- "There to meet with Macbeth." This addresses the theme of witchcraft and is Shakespeare's way of letting the audience know that the witches have powers. The scene is set in the dark on the heath- a very open place, and the thunder and lightning in the background 'top it off' as such. These key elements are Shakespeare's way of conveying evil. In Elizabethan times this worked well on the audience who were convinced (perhaps unlike a modern audience) that these three women were witches from the very first line. Just before the end of the scene we see that the witches have familiars when the first and third witches call on them. This is also a key element in convincing the audience that the women are witches. The fact that they have familiars makes them seem evil and though perhaps a cliché now would have been very real for an Elizabethan audience. At the very end of the scene the witches do a sort of chant. "Fair is foul and
Three Witches Macbeth
Macbeth Mohammed Omar Macbeth is a witchcraft play written by Shakespeare, composed in late 1606 or early 1607. Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy is about Macbeth's bloody rise to power, including the murder of the King Duncan. In Shakespeare's period, many people were scared; they believed that their lives were affected by fate. They also thought that the world was full of abnoramal creatures, such as witches, ghosts, and many other such weird creatures. King Duncan strongly believed in witchcraft and had gone through many plots to remove him from his Throne. The king liked the idea of the play and so it was set up in Scotland. Macbeth was a loyal, honest, noble warrior to King Ducan before the he had meet the witch's, who told him that he would be Thane (Lord) of Cawdor and later the King. Driven by faithfulness to the Scotich King Duncan, his own greedy ambition leads to him killing King Duncan to guarantee his own destiny. The play appealed to the audience in the 17th century as they believed in the divine right of the king and in the evil stereotype of witches. The Witches played an important role in the play because their prophecies in Act I, Scene 3 and Act IV, Scene 1 supplied Macbeth with motivation for his actions. They never lied to him but they only told him a part of the truth. Macbeth has comprehended there comments the wrong way, and did actions which were
The Witches in "Macbeth".
The Witches in "Macbeth" The witches in Macbeth are portrayed in very different ways by Shakespeare and Polanski. These dissimilarities can be easily spotted and range from obvious matters such as their appearances to the amount of power the witches have over Macbeth. In Shakespeare's "Macbeth" the witches are usually set in a heath and re always together. Quite often when the witches are on scene, there is thunder and lightening illustrating they are evil. However, in Polanski's video we find the witches on a beach in the first scene. The sky is red to represent blood, and yet again, that the witches are evil. There is no thunder and lightening as in the book. But in the distance you can hear music and seagulls. This quiet music shows the witches are concentrating on their spell. In Act one Scene Three the witches are located in an underground hole as it is more realistic than them vanishing. Their appearance is filthy. They are scruffy and ugly. The three witches look like three generations. The oldest witch appears to have an abnormality, she seems to have no eyes. Shakespeare's witches speak in rhyming couplets emphasising how vile they really are. "Fair is foul and foul is fair, hover through fog and filthy air" This quote shows us that the witches contradict themselves; it is an oxymoron. The prophesise to Macbeth and Banquo, for example they say "All Hail" but
Macbeth and the Witches.
Macbeth and the Witches By Matt Roberts In the time when Shakespeare wrote his novels people truly believed that Witches existed and that they could actually decide what people were doing. If somebody suspected a woman of being a witch, they could get her drowned without so much as even a trial. The fact that people actually believed in witches when the play was written made everybody who saw the play very wary at what so called witches could actually do. My essay is about the way the three witches affected Macbeth. I think that they were the major factor in the downfall of Macbeth. The three Witches started off their sickening and ruthless campaign to get to where he felt he should be. He only started thinking that being the King of Scotland was his rightful position when the witches first spoke to him on the hill that day. When he first arrived everything seemed normal and he was greated by his usual title, Macbeth Thane of Glamis. But after they said this they said the first shocking thing. They also greeted him as: "Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor." This was shocking to Macbeth because at this time he did not realise that he was to become Thane of Cawdor. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony here because the audience already know that King Duncan has already said that Macbeth is to become Thane of Cawdor. Then the Witches say the most shocking thing of all:
Macbeth - Witches Induce Evil
MACBETH WITCHES INDUCE EVIL In the Jacobean era, the most common idea of a witch was an old woman with the ability to summon evil spirits. Witchcraft was linked with worship of the Devil. King James I was obsessed with the threat posed by witches; hence everything evil was blamed on them. Many women were falsely accused of practicing witchcraft and were tortured until they confessed, then faced imprisonment, banishment or execution. The literature of ancient Greece and Rome abounds with tales of witches, who spent most of their time mixing magical potions from herbs and gruesome animal parts. In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, a play that was presented to King James I in 1606, three witches appear quite a few times, once brewing a potion. Although the three "weird sisters" (or witches) may appear to be the evil forces of the play leading to the demise of the protagonist, clearly their role is to help bring out evil traits in other characters. Amongst these characters are Banquo, Lady Macbeth and, of course, Macbeth, whom the "weird sisters" help expose wicked attributes. The witches help bring out immoral traits in Banquo. In Act one, Scene one, Banquo wants the witches to predict future, for he will not fear the prophecies as Macbeth did. Banquo says: ...To me you speak not If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which one will grow and which will not
The Witches in Macbeth
The first characters we see in Macbeth are the three witches, who have a big influence over events in the play. Shakespeare used the witches in the play to represent evil. He also uses the witches to suggest that evil is used in the play. In the 16th century people believed that witches had powers and people believed witches could talk to animals, " I come gray-malkin," this tells us that the witch is telling her gray cat she is coming. People also believed witches could control; the weather, "When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning or in rain" This is telling us that the witches are able to control the weather and are pondering whether to meet in lightning, thunder or in rain" To start with the witches are saying that Macbeth Is a noble man, but I think that he must of had some evil in him to of been able to commit the evil doings he has committed. Shakespeare starts the play with the scene act 1, scene 1 to show you from the very start of the play, evil is used. We learn that the witches practice evil; that they have the power to see into the future, we also learn that the witches are pure evil. The witches talk in chant-like rhythm, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air" They talk like this to confuse people and manipulate people. The witches also talk in riddles, "When the hurly-burleys done, When the battles lost
The Witches in MacBeth
The Witches In MacBeth The witches in Macbeth serve to advance the story, reveal human weakness, heighten the tension and give the audience a hint of things to come, but they do not control Macbeth or anyone else in the play. The only power they have over Macbeth is their ability to reinforce an idea that was already in his head. Their role is made clear when Hecate speaks to them, " And which is worse, all you have done Hath been but for a wayward son." ( act 3 scene 5 ) She suggests that they do not have the power to make him do the evil and mischief that they want. Nor do they need that power. Macbeth is fully capable of doing all the mischief and evil on his own. How do individuals control others? How would the witches control Macbeth? This can usually be done by physical and/or emotional force. Fear and threats, rewards and praise work to control others. These tools work to different degrees on different people. So much of what is called control depends on the person that is being controlled. The promise of a throne may send some people to their knees while others will take to their heels. When the witches hold out their promises to Macbeth the only surety they have is a knowledge of his ambition and his need for power. In the end this was all they needed to be sure of. They may try to manipulate, but they do not need to control. The character flaws that Macbeth has will
The Witches and Macbeth
We first hear of Macbeth from the three witches in the first scene of the play, when the 'weird women' name him and make known that they await him. This adds mystery to the play because how would a loyal & courageous warrior be associated with the forces of evil. Furthermore Shakespeare wrote the play when everybody was afraid of anything associated with witches and witchcraft. Macbeth`s heroism is demonstrated by Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbein, Lennox & the Captain, in Act 1 Scene 2 on lines 16 & 24, as the Captain says "Oh Brave Macbeth" after which King Duncan says "Oh valiant cousin, worthy Gentleman!" This portrays Macbeth to be a hero, as words like 'brave' or 'valiant' do not appertain to a Villain, it is ironic that Macbeth will kill the King out of his own ambition to succeed him. When the three witches finally meet Macbeth, the weird women prophesise that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and later King of Scotland. They have a dastardly plan, only feeding good news to Macbeth, when their true motives are for Macbeth to suffer. However Macbeth feels amazed, as at that time, he had no thoughts or aspirations to become King, as Duncan has two sons. However it is also prophesised that Banquo's (Macbeth`s best friend) sons (and not Macbeth`s) will become King, but Banquo is not convinced. This to me suggests that Macbeth is more superstitious and gullible than
Lady Macbeth, the three witches and Macbeth
GSCE coursework assignment - Macbeth The play was set in 1040 in Scotland; it deals with the issues in his life that is still relevant today in order to fulfil his emission. Macbeth starts out as a national hero and co leader of the Scottish army, he quickly gains popularity. Until one day he receives a prophecy, which turns him on an evil rampage. Where he sets off in a killing spree to try and become king. However he has doubts and maybe even some regrets about his choices. It seems to mess with hiss head for example after he killed Duncan he keeps seeing what he thinks is his ghost, is he sane? Other characters include Lady Macbeth, the three witches, Banquo, Duncan, Malcolm and Mac duff. In total there are 32 characters. Lady Macbeth is a very strong minded character. She can be very ruthless at times; she is very supportive of her husband but can also push him into things. She has a strong influence on him when committing several murders. She knows what needs to be done to get the job done. This would be very different from the typical Shakespearian woman who would have been very quiet and little power over their husbands her opening soliloquy introduces her as a very strong character that will stand up and fight for what she believes in. if it had not been for lady Macbeth the murder of Duncan may not have went ahead as it was mainly her who put him up to it. She also
