THE WITCHES Flashcards
overview
In Macbeth, the witches are mysterious and manipulative, using riddles and prophecies to influence Macbeth’s downfall. They never directly tell him to kill, but their words plant dangerous ideas, making him overconfident and paranoid. They blur the line between good and evil, representing fate, evil, and deception, and ultimately push Macbeth toward his tragic end.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
At the start of Macbeth, Shakespeare introduces the witches as mysterious and supernatural figures who influence the events of the play. One key quote is “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Act 1, Scene 1). This paradox creates confusion and shows how the witches blur the line between good and evil. The use of antithesis (opposites) suggests that appearances can be deceiving, which foreshadows Macbeth’s downfall—he believes the witches’ prophecies are a promise of greatness, but they actually lead to his destruction. The phrase also introduces the theme of moral corruption, showing how things that seem good (like Macbeth’s rise to power) can actually be harmful. The alliteration in “fair” and “foul” makes the phrase sound almost like a spell, reinforcing their eerie and supernatural presence. It also sets the tone for the rest of the play, showing that chaos and deception will take over.
“When the battle’s lost and won” (Act 1, Scene 1).
Another important quote is “When the battle’s lost and won” (Act 1, Scene 1). This again shows their ability to twist reality, as it suggests that even in victory, something is lost. The juxtaposition of “lost” and “won” makes the audience question the true cost of ambition, which links to Macbeth’s later struggles—he wins the crown but loses everything else, including his morality and eventually his life. The witches seem to speak in riddles, making them even more unsettling because their words always have double meanings. This also reflects the theme of fate vs free will, as it suggests that the future is already decided, but the characters don’t realize the consequences of their choices. The witches’ ability to predict events before they happen makes them seem powerful and manipulative, almost as if they are playing with human lives for their own amusement.
“Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, and put a barren sceptre in my gripe”
Shakespeare continues to present the witches as manipulative and powerful in Act 3, even though they don’t appear in this act. Their influence over Macbeth is still strong, showing how deeply their words have affected him. One key quote that shows this is when Macbeth says, “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, and put a barren sceptre in my gripe” (Act 3, Scene 1). This metaphor suggests that, even though Macbeth is now king, his rule is meaningless because he has no heir. The word “fruitless” emphasizes that his power will not last, as Banquo’s descendants are prophesied to take the throne instead. The witches’ prophecy has planted paranoia in Macbeth’s mind, leading him to believe that he must kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, to secure his power. This shows how the witches manipulate Macbeth without even being present—he is now acting on their words, proving their influence over him.
“I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”
Another quote that highlights the witches’ power is “I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er” (Act 3, Scene 4). The blood imagery shows how deeply Macbeth is trapped in violence. The metaphor of wading through a river of blood suggests that he has committed so many murders that turning back would be just as difficult as continuing forward. This links to the witches because their prophecies set him on this dark path. The fact that Macbeth now believes he must keep killing to maintain his throne shows how much control the witches have over him—even though they never told him to murder anyone, their influence has led him to make these choices.
“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble”
Another quote that highlights the witches’ power is “Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble” (Act 4, Scene 1). The repetition of “double” suggests that they are intensifying their magic, possibly creating more chaos for Macbeth. The alliteration in “toil and trouble” emphasizes their destructive nature, as they stir up more problems. The imagery of “fire” and “cauldron” links to traditional ideas of witches brewing potions, reinforcing their connection to the supernatural. The witches’ spells seem to control fate, making them appear more like inescapable forces of destiny rather than ordinary beings. This connects to the theme of fate vs. free will, as their words and prophecies push Macbeth toward his downfall, yet he still makes his own choice
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes
In Macbeth, Shakespeare presents the witches as mysterious and supernatural beings who manipulate Macbeth’s fate. One key quote that shows this is “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes” (Act 4, Scene 1). The use of foreshadowing suggests that Macbeth has fully transformed into a villain, as even the witches—who are evil themselves—now see him as “wicked.” This is ironic because at the start of the play, the witches were the ones who tempted him with their prophecies, yet now they seem to acknowledge the darkness he has embraced. The phrase “pricking of my thumbs” refers to an old superstition that a tingling sensation in the thumbs meant something bad was approaching. This makes the witches seem eerie and unnatural, as if they have a connection to dark forces that can sense Macbeth’s arrival before he even appears. The use of rhyming couplets also adds to their unsettling presence, making their speech sound almost like a spell, reinforcing their supernatural nature.
conclusion
Overall, the witches in Macbeth are shown as mysterious and powerful figures who influence Macbeth’s downfall. Their prophecies plant dangerous ideas in his mind, making him paranoid and violent. Even when they are not present, their words control his actions, showing how manipulative they are. Shakespeare presents them as supernatural forces that blur the line between fate and free will, making the audience question whether Macbeth is truly responsible for his own destruction.
