3. The witches in Macbeth are present in only
four scenes in the play, but Macbeth's
fascination with them motivates much of the
play's action. The Three Witches first appear
with thunder and lightning and to give us the
atmosphere of the play which is the
supernatural atmosphere then they agree to
meet later with Macbeth .
4. THE WITCHES’ PROPHECY
Macbeth and Banquo returning victorious from
a great battle were stopped by three strange
figures like women except that they had
beards and their lined skins and wild dress
made them look not like any earthly creatures.
Macbeth first addressed them, but each one
laid a finger upon her skinny lips, for silence :
and the first of them called Macbeth by the
name of lord of Glamis .
5. The general was much surprised to find himself
known by such creatures ; but how much more ,
when the second of them gave him the name of
lord of Cawdor, to which honor he had no claim! .
And again the third called to him, “ O king that
shall be hereafter!” such a prophecy might well
surprised him, for he know that while the king’s
sons lived he could not hope to succeed to the
throne. Then turning to Banque , they pronounced
him , in a sort of riddle , to be lesser than
Macbeth and greater ! Not so happy but much
happier !
6. And prophesied that though he should never
be king yet his sons after him should be kings
in Scotland. They then turned into air and
disappeared by which the generals knew them
to be witches.
But the words of the witches had sunk too
deep into the mind of Macbeth. From that time
he bent all his thoughts on how to win the
throne of Scotland.
7. The witches do not tell Macbeth directly to kill
King Duncan, they use a subtle form of
temptation when they tell Macbeth that he is
destined to be king. By placing this thought in his
mind, they effectively guide him on the path to his
own destruction. This follows the pattern of
temptation many believed the devil used at the
time of Shakespeare. The witches argued, a
thought is put in a man's mind, then the person
may either indulge in the thought or reject it.
Macbeth indulges in it, while Banquo rejects it.
8. There is no sense of moral right to keep him
from murder. He hesitates only because he
fears the earthly consequences not because it
would be sinful . The witches do not command
Macbeth to kill Duncan or anyone else. The
murders of the king is his decision. This is the
only way that he can see to reach his “Ultimate
Goal”. One murder leads to another .
9. The Witches next appear where they are
reprimanded by Hecate for dealing with
Macbeth without her participation. Hecate
orders the trio to congregate at a forbidding
place where Macbeth will seek their art. Then
the Witches gather as Hecate ordered and
produce a series of ominous visions for
Macbeth that herald his downfall .
10. THE WITCHES’ APPARITION
The witches start showing Macbeth three
apparition . The first appeared in the likeness of
an armed head , and he called Macbeth by
name,and told him to be careful of the lord of Fife
and Macbeth thanked him for he hated Macduff ,
the lord of Fife. And the second appeared in the
likeness of a bloody child , and he called Macbeth
by name and told him to have no fear but laugh at
the power of man for non of woman born should
have power to hurt him and he advised him to be
bloody , bold and brave .
11. The third appeared in the form of a child crowned
with a tree in his hand .He called Macbeth by
name and comforted him , saying that he should
never be beaten until the wood of Birnam should
come against him to Dunsinane Hill .
”Sweet prophecies ! Good!” cried Macbeth then
he say I shall live the usual period of man’s life
and not be cut off by a bloody death but my heart
beats to know one thing if Banqou’s children shall
ever rule in this kingdom ?
12. Here the pot sank into the ground and a noise of
music was heard and eight shadows like kings
passed by Macbeth and Banquo last smilled upon
Macbeth and pointed to them . So Macbeth knew
that these were the children of Banquo who
should be kings after him in Scotland . The
witches with a sound of soft music and with
dancing , making a show of respect to Macbeth
then disappeared. And from this time the
thoughts of Macbeth were all bloody and terrible.
13. THE THREE WITCHES
The three witches add an element of supernatural and
prophecy to the play. They each have a familiar and are
commanded by Hecate, a Greek goddess of the moon
and later witchcraft. The witches are based on a variety
of ideas about witches at the time. They can use sieves
as boats, and they can assume the shape of an animal,
but with a defect, as with the tailless rat. The witches
were also thought to be able to control the winds. They
are described as having beards but looking human.
The "weird sisters” are not very friendly people, who
have a habit of telling peoples' futures via .
They are the fates in Macbeth, know and tell the future,
are always right Apparitions.
14. In the play, the Three Witches represent darkness,
chaos, and conflict, while their role is as agents
and witnesses. Their presence communicates
treason and impending doom. During
Shakespeare's day, witches were seen as worse
than rebels, "the most notorious traitor and rebel
that can be”. Macbeth does not have to promise
his soul in exchange for any information. His soul
was already in trouble before he met the witches.
He was their logical choice.
15. The witches in Macbeth serve to advance the
story, reveal human weakness, heighten the
tension and give the audience a hint of things to
come, but they do not control Macbeth or anyone
else in the play. The only power they have over
Macbeth is their ability to reinforce an idea that
was already in his head. Macbeth is fully capable
of doing all the mischief and evil on his own .
When the witches hold out their promises to
Macbeth the only surety they have is a knowledge
of his ambition and his need for power.
