The Witches

The Witches' Character Journey

The witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth are central to the play's themes of fate, ambition, and evil. They are pivotal in driving the plot and influencing Macbeth's actions.

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1. First Prophecy (Act 1, Scene 3)

• Introduces the idea that Macbeth will be king.
• Propels Macbeth into a state of ambition and internal conflict.

"All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"

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2. Macbeth's Reaction to Becoming Thane of Cawdor (Act 1, Scene 3)

• Validates the witches' prophecy, increasing Macbeth's belief in their power.

"Two truths are told, / As happy prologues to the swelling act"

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3. Second Encounter and Apparitions (Act 4, Scene 1)

• Provides Macbeth with misleading reassurances.

"Beware Macduff; / Beware the Thane of Fife."

"None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth."

"Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him."

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4. Realisation of Misinterpretation (Act 5, Scene 8)

• Macbeth realizes too late that he has been deceived by the witches.

"Be these juggling fiends no more believed / That palter with us in a double sense."

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Introduction of the Witches

The witches are first introduced in Act 1, Scene 1, setting the tone for the play with their ominous presence and cryptic language. Their dialogue, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" suggests a world turned upside down, where moral boundaries are blurred.

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air."

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Meeting with Macbeth and Banquo

In Act 1, Scene 3, the witches meet Macbeth and Banquo on a desolate heath. They predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland, and that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne. This prophecy ignites Macbeth's ambition and sets the tragic events of the play into motion.

"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"

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The Witches' Manipulative Nature

• The witches' prophecies are deliberately ambiguous, designed to manipulate Macbeth into making his own choices, which ultimately lead to his downfall. This ambiguity is a recurring theme in their interactions with Macbeth.

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Influence on Macbeth's Actions

• After the prophecies, Macbeth becomes consumed by ambition and begins to take drastic actions to fulfill his perceived destiny. The witches' words haunt him, leading him to murder Duncan and others in his quest for power.

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The Second Encounter

• In Act 4, Scene 1, Macbeth seeks out the witches again, desperate for more information about his future. The witches conjure apparitions that give Macbeth a false sense of security, further manipulating him.
• The apparitions tell Macbeth that he will not be vanquished until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane and that no man born of a woman will harm him, leading him to believe he is invincible.

"Macbeth shall never vanquished be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him."

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Final Outcome

The witches' prophecies come true in an unexpected way. Birnam Wood appears to move towards Dunsinane as Malcolm's army uses branches as camouflage, and Macbeth is killed by Macduff, who was "from his mother's womb untimely ripped" , meaning he was born by Caesarean section.

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Character Analysis

The witches in Macbeth are ambiguous, malevolent, and possess supernatural influence. They subvert the natural order, causing chaos and leading Macbeth to his tragic end. Their characteristics are crucial in driving the play's themes and narrative, showing the dangers of ambition, the influence of evil, and the conflict between fate and free will.

5. Ambiguity

6. Malevolence

7. Supernatural Influence

8. Subversive

9. Ambiguity

• The witches speak in riddles and unclear language. Their prophecies are vague and open to interpretation. This leads Macbeth to misunderstand their true meaning, driving him to make disastrous decisions.

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair"

• This characteristic highlights the theme of appearance versus reality. Macbeth's misinterpretation of their words causes his downfall, showing the danger of trusting ambiguous sources.

10. Malevolence

• The witches enjoy causing chaos and harm. They manipulate Macbeth by predicting his rise to power, knowing it will lead to his moral corruption and eventual destruction.

"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"

• Their malevolence demonstrates the destructive power of evil influences and how they can exploit human weaknesses.

11. Supernatural Influence

• The witches possess supernatural abilities, allowing them to predict and influence the future. Their prophecies set the play's events in motion and deeply affect Macbeth's actions.

"Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him"

• This characteristic underscores the tension between fate and free will. While the prophecies suggest a predetermined outcome, Macbeth's choices driven by these predictions lead to his downfall.

12. Subversive

• The witches challenge and disrupt the natural order. They symbolise chaos and disorder, influencing Macbeth to act against the established social and moral norms.

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble"

• Their subversive nature highlights the theme of the disruption of natural order. The witches' influence on Macbeth causes political and social upheaval, reflecting the consequences of defying moral laws.

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Adjectives

Adjective	Explanation
Ambiguous	They speak in riddles, making their prophecies unclear and open to interpretation.
Malevolent	They enjoy causing chaos and harm, influencing Macbeth towards evil actions.
Supernatural	They possess otherworldly abilities, predicting the future and manipulating events.
Disruptive	They challenge and overturn the natural and social order, leading to chaos.
Manipulative	They use their prophecies to control and influence Macbeth's actions.
Sinister	Their dark and eerie presence adds an ominous tone to the play.
Equivocal	Their words have double meanings, creating confusion and leading characters astray.

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Key Quotes for the Witches

1. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air."
2. "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"
3. "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble"
4. "Two truths are told, / As happy prologues to the swelling act / Of the imperial theme."
5. "Beware Macduff; / Beware the Thane of Fife."
6. "None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth."
7. "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him."
8. "Be these juggling fiends no more believed / That palter with us in a double sense."

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