The Witches

Question 1

Key quotes

Answer 1

‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’
‘All hail Macbeth that shalt be King hereafter’
‘Speak i charge you’ (Macbeth is intrigued by the witches)
‘Look not like the inhabitants of the Earth’ (Macbeth is suspicious of the witches)

Question 2

Key quote showing all isn’t as it seems

Answer 2

‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’
Juxtaposition of fair (everything is as it is meant to be) and ‘foul’ (something nasty and unpleasant) hints at later events in the play where Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are deceitful

Question 3

Role of witches

Answer 3

First characters we meet in play so establish sinister, foreboding tone + shows there importance- arguably through Macbeth trusting them they are what stimulate the unfolding of the horrific events including Duncan’s regicide and they also empower Lady Macbeth to fuel her ambition
Hint that all isn’t as it seems with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth gladly welcoming Duncan into their castle then killing him

First characters in play so already intrigue audience including King James v1

Speak in trochaic tetrameter- makes them seem more mysterious and stand out- they are agents of evil and should not be trusted