The Witches

Question 1

How are the witches presented throughout the play?

Answer 1

They deceive and manipulate Macbeth. They give prophecies to him which he relies on and lead to his death. Also, they speak in rhyme. This links to the idea that the witches are there throughout the whole play without physically being on the scene. For example, by other character mirroring their words or speaking in rhyme for a bit. Their prophecies are catalysts to all the events that happened in the play.

Question 2

How are the witches presented at the start of the extract?

Answer 2

Act 1 scene 1 :
- ‘in thunder, lightning, or in rain’ : pathetic fallacy instantly creates a dark and disturbing tone. Also, in the Jacobean era people believed that weather events were causing by something, typically unnatural. This emphasises that the witches are supernatural and have metaphorically caused this weather.
- ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ : this paradox highlights the witches’ chaos. The two words have opposite meanings could possibly link to the fact that Macbeth views the prophecies as ‘fair’ and Banquo sees it as ‘foul’.

Act 1 scene 3 :
- ‘thane of glamis’ ‘thane of cawdor’ ‘shalt be king’ : their prophecies are catalysts for all that happened throughout the play and caused Macbeth to rely on them which lead to his death.
- ‘your beards’ : the witches don’t instantly look like women. In the Jacobean times, if a woman was not feminine enough, she may be accused of being a witch. This highlights to the audience that the witches are truly evil and not human.

Question 3

How are the witches presented at the end of the extract?

Answer 3

Act 4 scene 1:
- ‘none of woman born should harm macbeth’ : using language to conceal the truth which leads to the death of Macbeth as he put too much trust in them. Gives him a false sense of security on purpose. A sign on temptation because it may make Macbeth think that he is invincible as we think every person is born to a woman.