,1 ENG 3U104 December 3, 2013 Macbeth Essay: Macbeth By William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s Three Witches, or Weird Sisters, are very important characters within his timeless tale of Macbeth. The Witches answer to the “fates of mythology” (Dover Wilson) by showing people prophecies and apparitions. These Witches are more important within the play than people understand. They have a calamitous affect on the protagonist within Macbeth, and all the characters associated with him. After a protracted discussion of the topic of who is to blame for the demise of Macbeth, the blame has come to rest upon the Three Witches.
Tell me more!” The exclamatory features in this sentence help us as readers to realise Macbeths anxious mind set and his enthusiasm for finding out more. Although witches in this era were considered devil like and demonic, Macbeth doesn’t hesitate to pay attention to what they have to say. As we read on through the scene, we learn from Macbeth’s secretive soliloquys and dialogue that his thirst and desire is only growing in his ego. Banquo declares that his friend is ‘rap’t withal’ as he witnesses Macbeth’s fascination of the idea, which was pronounced from the mouths of the ‘imperfect creatures’. Shakespeare further cultivates Macbeths quickly changing character through soliloquy and dramatic irony.
. .] It is this synchronizing of nature and fortune that soothsayers study, and that the witches in Macbeth know something about. We call it fate, which over-simplifies it. (88-89) In his book, On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy, H. S. Wilson explains the stand taken by Macbeth in his relationship with fate: He pits himself no merely against the threat of hell but also against the enmity of "Fate" (as represented in the prophecies of the Weird Sisters): come, Fate, into the list, And champion me to th' utterance.
It is quite interesting to note that the words of the witches will have an echo in Macbeth’s “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”. Macbeth utters these words at the very first time he enters the stage. This shows the evil connection between Macbeth and the witches. This is suggestive of the psychological depravity of Macbeth who means that the day is foul because it is stormy and fair because he has won the battle against King of Norway and Thane of Cawdor. In the use of the language of witches, Shakespeare shows a great mastery.
As the play continues, with the foreseeing witches and the deceptive lady Macbeth, he quickly turns from a courageous strong hearted man, to a tyrant king who is willing to commit the unthinkable to withhold his royal status. In Macbeth, the prophecies foretold by the three witches about future events enflame our protagonist, driving him to make treacherous decisions that impact severely on his downfall. He is immediately taken in as the witches reveal the royal titles. Eager to unlock the secrets of these prophecies, Macbeth questions the witches, demanding them to speak. "And often to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths."
This scene introduces us to a new Macbeth no longer brave and confident but “cabin, cribbed and confined in his doubts and fears”. Macbeth’s character is no longer polished but now stained because he now greets the acts of evil saying “Blood will have blood” and his involvement with the murderers. Also his return to hear more of the witches’ prophecies shows him yet again welcoming evil doings. Shakespeare’s writing allows us to understand Macbeth’s personality change through Macbeth’s reactions and his responses to his wife and the murderer also through his diction. This shows me that Macbeth is becoming a more vengeful person foreshadowing more bad deeds “We are yet but young in deed”.
The following supernatural occurrence that plays an important role in Macbeth is the floating dagger that leads Macbeth into killing Duncan. Macbeth is very well controlled by the supernatural especially by the three witches. The three witches arrive and quickly gain Macbeth’s trust. “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.” (1.3. ) .The witches represent Macbeth’s evil ambitions and make him want to know more about the future disregarding any consequences.
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play which tells the tale of Macbeth, a decorated and respected hero who spirals into darkness because of his greed and willingness to do anything to achieve ultimate power. Debates have raged over the ages about the role of supernatural elements in the downfall of Macbeth. During the course of the play, there are many interesting sections which could be concentrated on due to the suspense and the involvement of the supernatural. The use of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the ghost, and the apparitions is a key element in making the concept of the play work and in making the play interesting. Throughout Macbeth there exists confusion as to what is real and what imaginary, and, for the most part, it is Macbeth himself who is confronted with these confusions.
In the play "Macbeth" by Shakespeare, the author explores the many forms of evil and in particular whether evil is from within or is brought to the surface due to the environment in which people live in. For example, Macbeth says "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife." and this could mean that he was born with evil thoughts and an evil nature, or that someone (the "weird sisters" or witches) has planted them there. The seeds of evil, once planted, appear to be nurtured by Lady Macbeth and by Macbeth himself. It could be that he has damaged himself so that he is unable to feel empathy for others - or that the evil is innate.
Despite their underlying pressure throughout the play, the language that the witches use with each other is some of Shakespeare’s most dramatically engaging and disturbing. The line with which they close the opening scene: ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair, hiver though the fog and the filthy air’, indicates his play with the natural order. The imbalance of what is sane in the world. As indicated through the inversion in gender as seen in Lady Macbeth, or sanity, in Macbeth himself. Patriarchal society encourages Lady Macbeth to invest herself in the role of mother.