Analysis of the Three Witches
by David Nealon
The three witches play an obvious role in Macbeth, and are introduced in the very first scene. The witches are sly and devious, using riddles to give Macbeth a false sense of security. It becomes clear that they have insight into the future, and have fun while pushing Macbeth towards his downfall.
Shakespeare sets forth a description of witches that still exists today in literature, Halloween costumes, and in movies. The three witches are portrayed as evil, gross, old hags that brew potions. The three witches are described as having beards and warts, and put odd ingredients in their cauldron. For example, they put baboon blood in to help cool the potion. They also have magical powers, like vanishing into thin air, which is still a common stereotype.
When Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches, they quickly sensed that the witches were odd and had supernatural powers. The witches told Macbeth that he is soon to be Thane of Cawdor, and will eventually be king. Once Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor, he sets it in his mind that he is supposed to be king as well. Therefore, the witches were able to plant that idea in his mind, manipulating his actions. The witches also tell Banquo that his son will one day sit upon the throne, but he doesn’t act because of this.
In another encounter, Macbeth is given three prophecies by the witches. These three prophecies show that they are not just trying to manipulate Macbeth, but they can also see into his future. In the first prophecy about Macbeth becoming king, that could potentially happen. However, the Weird Sisters are able to predict that Birnam Wood will come to Dunsinane Hill, and that Macbeth will be killed by someone not born of woman. Not only does this demonstrate that the Weird Sisters aren’t just guessing Macbeth’s fate, but they already know what is going to happen. Therefore, they are not pushing Macbeth towards his downfall; they are just teasing him along the way with riddles.
These riddles give Macbeth a false sense of security. If someone was told that they cannot be slain by someone born of woman, they would be feeling good about themselves. But, most people would not interpret that as meaning just the standard way of birth. As a result, Macbeth walks into a battle with Macduff lacking a needed sense of fear, and gets slain.
The three witches represent The Fates from Greek mythology. The Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, determine the length of life for an individual, as well as their fate, from the moment of birth. No action can be done to change that fate, so it is set in stone. The three witches know the fate of Macbeth, and play around with him until he meets his demise.
The witches in Macbeth play a large part in giving Macbeth a false sense of security, as well as guiding him towards his fate. The destruction of Macbeth brings a smile to the witches faces.
Shakespeare sets forth a description of witches that still exists today in literature, Halloween costumes, and in movies. The three witches are portrayed as evil, gross, old hags that brew potions. The three witches are described as having beards and warts, and put odd ingredients in their cauldron. For example, they put baboon blood in to help cool the potion. They also have magical powers, like vanishing into thin air, which is still a common stereotype.
When Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches, they quickly sensed that the witches were odd and had supernatural powers. The witches told Macbeth that he is soon to be Thane of Cawdor, and will eventually be king. Once Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor, he sets it in his mind that he is supposed to be king as well. Therefore, the witches were able to plant that idea in his mind, manipulating his actions. The witches also tell Banquo that his son will one day sit upon the throne, but he doesn’t act because of this.
In another encounter, Macbeth is given three prophecies by the witches. These three prophecies show that they are not just trying to manipulate Macbeth, but they can also see into his future. In the first prophecy about Macbeth becoming king, that could potentially happen. However, the Weird Sisters are able to predict that Birnam Wood will come to Dunsinane Hill, and that Macbeth will be killed by someone not born of woman. Not only does this demonstrate that the Weird Sisters aren’t just guessing Macbeth’s fate, but they already know what is going to happen. Therefore, they are not pushing Macbeth towards his downfall; they are just teasing him along the way with riddles.
These riddles give Macbeth a false sense of security. If someone was told that they cannot be slain by someone born of woman, they would be feeling good about themselves. But, most people would not interpret that as meaning just the standard way of birth. As a result, Macbeth walks into a battle with Macduff lacking a needed sense of fear, and gets slain.
The three witches represent The Fates from Greek mythology. The Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, determine the length of life for an individual, as well as their fate, from the moment of birth. No action can be done to change that fate, so it is set in stone. The three witches know the fate of Macbeth, and play around with him until he meets his demise.
The witches in Macbeth play a large part in giving Macbeth a false sense of security, as well as guiding him towards his fate. The destruction of Macbeth brings a smile to the witches faces.