Banquo also uses the metaphor of darkness to describe the witches as well when he refers to them as “instruments of darkness” (I. iii. 126). Shakespeare is using darkness as a noun and saying that the witches are used by the darkness to persuade his characters to change to the dark side. This is a foreshadowing to what happens throughout the play. The witches are able to bring characters that would normally
Such an atmosphere is always indicated with evil. Therefore the audience is given some indication that the evidence of play was also be tragic. The three witches have enter, there were various prediction regarding the role of the witches in the play. Amongst most commonly discussed theory it is believed that the witches are symbolic representation of the evil in the world. Another theory suggest that the function of the witches is to act as a symbolic representation of the evil in man's mind.
Outline Introduction: * Betrayal and deception play a big role in the play Macbeth, it tells us that you never know who you can trust or not. * The Three Witches, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth show us how someone that you once could trust, turns into someone you don’t recognize in a second. . First Main Point: The Witches * display evil power * change Macbeth into an evil man * not trusted Second Main Point: Macbeth * he betrays Duncan * betrays Banquo * became a murderer Third Main Point: Lady Macbeth * plans to kill Duncan to take over the throne for Macbeth * talking in her sleep, expressing the murder * deceives her king Conclusion: * good turns to evil, trust turn to betrayal
Hanna de Villa Ms. Jackson ENG 3U1 - 11 16 May 2008 The Source of All Evil in Macbeth: Women Macbeth is a play full of betrayal, deceit and murder. Generally, men carry out these actions but instead women stir the cauldron of trouble. From the witches’ prophecies that spark Macbeth’s murder, Lady Macbeth’s domineering presence and the exploitation she uses on her husband are the inevitable roots of catastrophe and evil in the play. They do not show any aggression and violence but relies on deception, manipulation and supernatural phenomenon. The Witches and Hecate portray the image and eminence of evil in Macbeth.
“Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame, / That darkness does the face of earth entomb.”(Shakespeare, 2.4. 9-10) Ross talks about how the night has taken over the day light, in other words darkness is taking over all the good that was once there and soon there will be no light left, so evil will take over all the good. Pathetic fallacy plays a huge role in this play. It brings out the supernatural element much more with the use of thunder and darkness, which also gives off an evil vibe, pathetic fallacy also makes these scenes much more intense and mysterious because the use of the thunder and lightning usually appears when an evil act is about to take place. Shakespeare uses foreshadowing in the play to build up the suspense of the unknown, and hint at events that might take place in the future.
Presence of Evil Between the Lines When evil is presented in a fashion that is quite simple to manipulate to satisfy one’s needs, it is usually taken advantage of. Although Macbeth and the remainder of the characters only existed within the invented pages of William Shakespeare’s book Macbeth, they still fell into the trap of allowing the evil around them to take over their lives. The three witches and Hecate, the act of murder, the murder of King Duncan the slaying of Banquo and the presence of his ghost, Lady Macbeth and her sleepwalking all signify different aspect of evil. The presence of evil in Macbeth affected the characters within the play, how they carried about their lives, and the total outcome of the play. By creating a false sense of destiny within Macbeth, the three witches are considered as a significant role portraying evil within the play.
The hostile weather featuring ‘fog and filthy air’ and the loathsome witches chanting the key-note create a world of darkness and foulness in which are found the echoes of the sinister designs of Macbeth and his wife to be seen later. The gathering of the three witches or the weird sisters in a desolate place in heavy storm, thunder and lightning and their promise to meet the great Macbeth after the storm ‘upon the heath’ before the sunset add to the drama’s great mystery and horror. Their decision to meet Macbeth keeps the audience with bated breath The opening scene is important particularly in establishing a mood or an atmosphere in which the main action of the play will be seen by the audience. The scene is laid upon a ‘heath’, a place removed from the ordinary human haunt, mundane business and usual social rules. The weather is not favourable rather hostile to men, most disagreeable.
Madness, mayhem and horror are all words that best describe this play. Three hideous witches, a floating dagger and apparitions are all supernatural elements that the reader finds in Macbeth. Most importantly, these elements are major causes of Macbeths path of ambition, murder madness and his ultimate downfall.
The first scene of Macbeth strikes the keynote of the play. The deserted and mysterious location, the wild storm, the appearance of the witches, all help to prepare the audience for a drama in which a human soul succumbs to the supernatural suggestions of evil and ranges itself along with the witches on the devil's side. In the opening scene of the play, thunder and lightning occur when the three infamous witches show up. This suggests that the three devilish creatures bring stormy weather with them, which causes disorder in the atmosphere. Already there is an implication of supernatural powers and evilness from the witches’ behalf, since they have the power to create storms and other gloomy atmospheric disturbances.
Appearance VERSUS Reality (Influences of the Supernatural) The existence of superstition of the Supernatural World is one of the critical themes in this text. “Hark, I am called; my little spirit, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me.” Macbeth promotes the concept of witches, predictions, ghosts and unnatural occurrences. The supernatural theme is immediately introduced in the opening scene of the play. The witches are the first character the audience is introduced to. The sheer