The witches, who throughout “Macbeth” make prophecies to “help” Macbeth himself, are particular female roles represented as evil. The witches and Hecate (a female goddess) are the only supernatural characters in the play. Within the Context of this time witches, and witchcraft were objects of morbid and fevered fascinations, and many suspected of being witches were cruelly persecuted. Did women only practice witchcraft? The witches are shown as figures that seem to trigger Macbeths murderous ambition, as their prophesy leads Macbeth to first consider killing Duncan, to gain power.
Shakespeare uses this scene to draw in the attention of the audience by starting off with the scene about the witches. He does this because the audience he was writing for believed in witchcraft. In this scene we learn that the witches are servants of evil. The grey cat the first witch calls is commonly thought to be a spirit of Satan in the shape of a cat. The second witch is attended by a toad, also associated with witchcraft.
But with further examination, when they state, “Fair is foul, and Foul is fair,” they are using a paradox by inversely relating fair to being foul, and foul to being fair. This emphasizes the meaning that nothing is as it seems; Macbeth is fought to be this fair, amazing person but in reality he is as foul as “ the devil himself.” While on the other hand the witches are foul, vile creatures that gives Macbeth fair advice; which helps influence Macbeth faith. In Act 1, scene iii , lines 124-128, Banquo warns Macbeth of the witches prophecies, and the danger that lies behind them, calling them “ instruments of darkness that tells us the truth” only “ to betray’s/ In deepest consequence.” In other words, the witches only tell you what you want to hear, and leaves the negative aspect of their visions for you to find out later on when it is too late. This is an example of a synecdoche and an indirect metaphor, because Banquo is stating and comparing the witches to “instruments of darkness,” and just like an instrument the witches are able to lure Macbeth into believing he will be king only to deceive him at the end of the play; which ultimately leads to his death. This connects to the quote said by Lady Macbeth when she states, “ Hie thee hither/ That I may pour my spirits in thine ear/ And chastise with the valor of my tounge/ All that impedes thee from the golden round.
Throughout Scene 1-4 Macbeth is portrayed as a heroic and valiant man, however with sly and manipulative characteristics brought out by the Witches. The use of structure and language allows Shakespeare to present both Macbeths flaws and weaknesses to the audience. Structurally scene 1 opens with the witches gathered together reciting plans about meeting Macbeth, establishing an occult malevolence which permeates the play. The choice of starting with the witches instantly creates a mood of terror and unearthly evil, setting an unnatural and deceptive atmosphere. The third witch says, ‘There to meet Macbeth’, this intertwining of Macbeth reflects the relationship which will be made between him and the witches, and the evil which is going to be involved in Macbeth’s life.
Evil is first inferred in Macbeth when we first meet the Weyward Sisters (witches) and they cantillate something: ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair.’ This juxtaposition of words indicates an unnatural feel which creates the feel of imminent evil from a possibly supernatural perpetrator. This line is later reprised by Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 3 when he declares ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen.’ This could insinuate that Macbeth and the witches may be having similar thoughts without even meeting yet. Alternatively, one could infer that the witches may have already infected Macbeth’s mind with their sinister way of thinking which could give reason as why such a noble man commits regicide. AC Bradley provides a divergent theory on the Weyward Sisters. He says: ‘They are old women, poor and ragged, skinny and hideous, full of vulgar spite, occupied in killing their neighbours' swine or revenging themselves on sailors' wives who have refused them chestnuts.’ In light of this comment, the sisters can be perceived as mad women that exclaim fallacies of success and wealth to warriors and those of weak mind, such as Macbeth, will commit to said fallacies and this will inaugurate their demise.
Student Teacher ENG3U Year Macbeth: The Theme of Equivocation According to the Oxford Dictionary equivocation is “a way of behaving or speaking that is not clear or definite and is intended to avoid or hide the truth”. In other words saying parts of the truth and leaving out others. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth the theme of equivocation is portrayed through the witches, the characters, and the apparitions. In the play Macbeth, the witches introduce early on the theme of equivocation through their prophecies. This is illustrated when the witches say: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair, /Hover through the fog and filthy air” (1.1.12-13).
The authors, Caroline B. Cooney, Harper Lee and William Shakespeare wrote violence in their novels and games. Enter three witches, writes the author that people who do not like them and is angry perhaps meets a violent end. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee wrote that people who are racist are dishonest and possibly will also meet a violent end. Shakespeare also argues that people who do not, except that others will gather the tragedy. Cooney MacBeth uses to prove his thesis; then Bob Ewell Lee uses the character to prove its case, and Tybalt Shakespeare to prove his point.
Abigail’s downfall took place when she had accused Mary Warren of being a witch and Mary accuses Abigail of being a fake. In both cases, McCarthy’s and Abigail’s, their credibility were brought to a stop. The Crucible was a response to McCarthyism in the sense that Arthur Miller tried to prove that the parallels between the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism are extremely similar. The reason of writing this play was to show that historical events can repeat.
He reasons that the witches are evil and not to be trusted “Banquo: That, trusted home,/ Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,/ Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ‘tis strange:/ And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/ The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/ in deepest consequence” (1.3.129-136) Unlike Macbeth, Banquo is more cautious upon hearing the witches’ prophecies. Although he is an ambitious man himself, he recognizes that they are “instruments of darkness”. Banquo associates the witches with darkness because of their ability to earn Macbeth’s trust by telling him a truth, which he will become the Thane of Cawdor, then feeding into his ruthless ego by prophesying that we will become king. After he hears that he will become king he feels the need to make it come true, even if it means killing Duncan.
The basis of Carnap's meaning postulates, where it is suggested that the meaning of lexical items can be stated in terms of such entailments. Hyponymy is therefore defined in terms of a one-way entailment. Thus, if one says 'this is a witch/wizard', it entails that she/he is a human being and means that the person practises witchcraft. From this example it can be deduced that being a witch/wizard is hyponymous to being a human being and synonymous with practising witchcraft. Synonyms are described as two or more forms with very closely related meaning, which are often, but not always, intersubstitutable in sentences.