The Witches Flashcards
The witches claim to “ spin the threads of life”
One spins, one measures and one cuts which could be the past present and future respectively. This suggests they are in control of events, deciding on others fate or lead others to their fate
What was the name of James I book on witches?
Demonology. explained how to identify and torture a witch. They were a genuine threat to the Jacobean audience. Shakespeare appeals to James by depicting the witches as agents of Satan, gaining his favour
“Sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid”
Macbeth and LM are aligned with the witches. The witches proclaim of a lack sleep which could be referring to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s inability to sleep depriving them of peace and mental equilibrium
The Three Witches and The Bible
Almost an Anti- Trinity.They act as part of the fall of man- succumbing to temptation like in the Garden of Eden. The contrast the Father, The son and the holy spirit, one God in three divine persons. The witches comprise the devil in three infernal persons.
Structure of their speeches
Rhythmic and chant like nature of their rhetorics makes it feels like they have real power. Linguistic techniques connect it to the supernatural. Macbeth spoke in rhyming completes too “Stars hide your fires speech” again aligning them on the same path
Details on Trochaic tetrameter
The audience will notice the shift in rhythm when the witches speak and other characters speak. Makes them stand out as other- worldly, an unnatural way to speak makes them be perceived as dangerous. This meter also used in Midsummer’s night dream for the fairies.
The witches meet Hecate
Hecate (Goddess of Wicthcraft) meet with the witches to explain that she wishes to play a direct character in Macbeths downfall. Though the meaning of this scene is ambiguous. Either way the witches are inherently evil and aligned with Satan as they even associate themselves with the most powerful of all Hecate, reinforcing how perilous they could be
“Though his bark cannot be lost, yet it shall be tempest tossed”
Here the witches explain they can’t directly destroy a ship of a sailor however they can cause a storm. This links with the theory that the witches puppeteer Macbeth as they can’t kill man themselves and so rely on Macbeth
“Something wicked this way comes”
This is what the witches say when Macbeth is near to approach. Perhaps, Macbeth had a force of evil in him already and the fact that the witches can recognise this details their inexplicable powers
“ I dreamt last night of the weird sisters”
Even Banquo was enthralled by them however resisted them. This shows that they aren’t all powerful as we might assume
“imperfect speakers”
speak in riddles meant to be misunderstood
words are vague and ambiguous because they are a source of temptation only
