The Witches Flashcards
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
The witches set the scene with the idea of the supernatural and that nothing is as it seems. Makes no sense- shows the witches are untrustworthy and strange.
“When the hurly-burly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won”
They speak in paradoxes so could be trying to confuse or trick people- like they do to Macbeth later in the play.
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”
Prediction that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and king. When he gets the promotion of Thane of Cawdor, this then prompts him to believe in the witches prophecies and this helps convince him to kill the king.
“Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.”
Prophecy for Banquo implying that his children will be kings. This causes Macbeth to assure his own downfall by committing more murders to try and secure the throne because of the paranoia this prophecy creates.
“Something wicked this way comes.”
This is the first time the witches describe Macbeth as wicked. Ironic considering they tricked him into becoming wicked in the first place by unleashing his inner ambition.
“None of woman born shall harm Macbeth”
Prophecy that falsely convinces Macbeth of his own immortality and gives him a false sense of security. He isn’t as scared as he should be when the army comes to his castle. However he realises his fate when Macduff revealed he was born by caesarean.
“Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.”
Also gives Macbeth a false sense of security- the woods can’t move so he will never be vanquished. However, he realises he is doomed when the army comes to his castle hiding behind branches from the woods.
