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.
Tragedy is marked by the choices which the main character makes. Throughout this story, Macbeth's decisions are greatly influenced by many elements of the unexplainable supernatural world, causing his actions to be somewhat unpredictable majority of the time. The first major scene involving the supernatural world begin with the introduction to the three witches, this appeared in Act 1 Scene 1. The witches meet on a moor and they discussed their plans of where to meet Macbeth.  Webster defines witches as, "1: one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially: a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar : sorceress — compare warlock 2: an ugly old woman : hag 3: a charming or alluring girl or woman 4: a practitioner of Wicca." The supernatural was mentioned in definition 1, therefore, the three witches were also part of the supernatural elements in the play Macbeth.
,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.
Macbeth, set in the Elizabethan era, caused mixed feelings to spring forth in the audience. During this era people were full of superstition. In Macbeth the witches and their prophecies are seen as supernatural and this enhances the audience’s fear thereof. Macbeth went to see the witches on different occasions and each time he returned with more information and more confusion. I believe that some of the members of the audience saw the magical influence of the witches that overtook Macbeth and some saw it as his own flaws.
. .] 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.
Lady Macbeth Macbeth is a play with many different themes. It is a play of murder, betrayal, and supernaturalism. The many different changes between settings, along with the mysterious actions of each character, keep us interested in what is going to happen next. Of all the characters though, there is one character whose thoughts get the best of her. Although it is true that Lady Macbeth is a big part of the play and adds a lot of interest, her character is revealed through her unkind attitude with Macbeth, careless feelings towards the lives of others, and her guilty conscience.
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.
The witches In the beginning scenes of Macbeth, the witches are seen as mysterious. This is shown when in act 1 scene 1 they plot to do something later on. Stage directions showed thunder and lightning which Shakespeare intended to make the atmosphere of the audience mysterious and dark, which gives the audience an impression that the witches are up to no good. The first witch says "when shall we three meet again" "In thunder, lightning or in rain?" Another mysterious scene is where they meet Macbeth and disappear into the air.
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.
Only at the end do the witches’ predictions come true with the defeat of Macbeth. Another literary element that really adds to the drama is the characterization of Macbeth, MacDuff and the witches. These characters stood out to me because they held a lot of weight in the drama, particularly towards the end of the drama as the story climaxes. “MACDUFF: That way the noise is.—Tyrant, show thy face!” (Clugston, 2010). I could just imagine MacDuff coming in demanding to see Macbeth, fierce and angry.