Evil/Witches

Question 1

​“only look up clear; to alter favour ever is to fear​”, “​alls spent​” “​without content”​ , and ​“that which we destroy​” “​doubtful joy​”

Answer 1

Lady Macbeth can be interpreted as a fourth witch, of perhaps an even greater evil. It is important to understand why Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as similar to the Witches. She lapses into​ rhyming couplets​ when trying to persuade Macbeth to commit regicide​ and evil deeds. This ​linguistic mimic​ of the Witches’ form of speech connects her to their inherent evil. Lady Macbeth uses ​paradoxical rhyming couplets​ which bear connotations of both evil and the Witches, including: ​“only look up clear; to alter favour ever is to fear​”, “​alls spent​” “​without content”​ , and ​“that which we destroy​” “​doubtful joy​”

Question 2

“look not like the inhabitants of the earth, / And yet are on it”

Answer 2

This ​juxtaposing​ comment further works to reassure the confusing and illogical nature of the Witches, and the theme of the Supernatural in general. This suggests their introduction to the characters, especially Banquo and Macbeth, will be
chaotic. Links to Banquo’s later comment: ​“you should be women, / And yet your
beards forbid me to interpret / That you are so.” - T​he Witches clearly work beyond the natural laws of physics and biology.