The Witches Flashcards
Act 1:1 The weather the Witches describe at the beginning of the play sets up the mood and atmosphere of the play as one of being dark and sinister. The audience immediately begin to mistrust the Witches in the play.
“When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain?” – Act 1:1
The Witches want to see the change in order. Bad things will be seen as rewarding and good things will bring disaster, for example, Macbeth will become king due to his
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” – Act 1:1
The Witches prophesise Macbeth becoming king later on in the play. They can be seen as causing trouble as this is the first time Macbeth has thought about being king. Before, he has been content to be a war hero and lord in Scotland.
“All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” – Act 1:3
They also predict that Banquo’s children will be kings. When looking at Banquo’s reaction, there is a contrast between him and Macbeth; Macbeth chooses to believe the Witches whereas Banquo is more sceptical. This is also interesting as King James 1, the ruler when Shakespeare was writing this, did have an ancestor called Banquo.
“Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” – Act 1:3
It is predicted that Macbeth cannot be killed by anyone who is born from a woman, a prophecy that is later tested in the play when Macduff reveals he was born by caesarean birth. This highlights how Macbeth should not have trusted the Witches deceiving nature in the first place.
“for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” – Act 4 :1
