Macbeth - WITCHES Flashcards
How does Shakespeare present the witches
Supernatural beings. The inclusion of ‘magical’ creatures is contextually significant as the contemporary audience was interested in, believed in and was fearful of witches
How does the structure of speech show supernatural
The structure of the witches speech emphasises supernatural characteristics. The rhythmic and chant like nature of the witches’ rhetoric implies that their words have significant extraordinary power
Paragraph about the trochaic tetrameter for witches speech
Throughout Macbeth Shakespeare uses trochaic tetrameter for the witches which creates a dramatic contrast from the iambic pentameter that the nobles use. This cleverly highlights the unnatural nature of these constructs. Witches were an integral part of the Jacobean superstition and would further help in creating a perfect antagonist in the three witches. “Fair is foul and foul is fair”
How does Shakespeare use pathetic fallacy
“When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightening or in rain? (A1S1) shows foul weathering representing the presence of evil. The use of the list produces the witches with options yet all of these elements have a murky undertone of misery and danger which the witches ally themselves with - supernatural and evil
Opening the play with witches and white “when shall we three meet again”
Shakespeare is clever in his construction here, prompting the audiences curiosity about the role these witches will take in the play. The fact they start in the play suggest they will be significant
Context for negative attitude towards witches
Practising witchcraft was a crime punishable by death in Shakespeare’s era and during Jacobean era king James the first has been estimated to have burned 4000 wicthes in Scotland
Context if king James and witches
King James wrote a book on the subject of witches called “Daemonologie” and as the king was a patron the Shakespeare, Shakespeare ensured he included witches into his play to impress the king
