The significance of the witches in William Shakespeare's Macbeth
William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in 1606. It was a play written for King James the I of England, who was also King James the II of Scotland. Shakespeare took the story from a book called The History of Scotland, by Raphael Holinshed, but made many changes, in the original story Banquo helped Macbeth to kill Duncan, but Shakespeare did not wish to offend the King, so in his play all the blame was placed on Macbeth. Also, Shakespeare knew that James was very interested in the supernatural, and had written a book on demonology. The play is also written as a moral lesson, in Shakespeare's time people believed in divine right, that is, that Kings were appointed by God, so to murder a King was a terrible crime, a crime against God himself. So although by murdering the King, Macbeth at first obtains the crown, he is severely punished, he loses his wife, his friends, his sanity, and in the end, his life.In the first scene we encounter the witches, at the end of one of their meetings. In this scene we learn of their supernatural powers, they can fly, "Hover through the fog and filthy air". They can predict the future, they arrange a meeting place, and they know that Macbeth will be there, "There to meet with Macbeth", they say.
Banquo warns Macbeth about the witches, he says that they give us unimportant things, to gain our trust, and then betray us in important matters, he says that they "Win us with honest trifles, to betray's/In deepest consequence." Without using any supernatural powers, just knowledge of Macbeth's character, and of the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor, the witches could easily have tricked Macbeth into committing regicide. This suggests that the witches knew Lady Macbeth; she knew Macbeth very well, and she also knew exactly how to manipulate him. The witches may have been in league with the Thane of Cawdor, or even have manipulated him, which could have been the reason they knew of his treachery, and that his title would fall on Macbeth. Like our strange garments, cleave not to their Early in the play Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a very ambitious woman. When she is ready Macbeth's letter, we learn of the type of relationship they have; they have no secrets from each other, and Macbeth tells her everything. From her soliloquy we find out that she is quite manipulative, and she can force her will upon Macbeth, she says, "I may pour my spirits in thine ear." Shakespeare may have meant to further insult Macbeth by this, because the audience at the time may have thought that men were superior, and for a man to be controlled by a woman would have meant that he was not a 'real' man. Before Lady Macbeth's speech, Macbeth had resolved not to murder the King, but lady Macbeth manages to convince him to commit regicide by playing on his self-esteem. Lady Macbeth exactly how to control Macbeth, he is easily guided, and I think he was actually glad not to have to make the decision himself. Lady Macbeth may be considered as a fourth witch because she is evil, and she is the one that convinces Macbeth to kill the King. Also, she may be considered a witch because of the way she tries to summon demons to fill her full of evil,
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2351
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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