THE WITCHES ESSAY PLAN Flashcards
intro : how are the witches significant
show themes of fate deception and chaos
manipulate macbeths ambition , expose moral weakeness
C : widely feared in jacobean era , daemonology
audience immediately associate them w evil
para 1 : the witches introduce deception and chaos
point quotes explain / c SI AR
point : sets tone for the play
quote : fair is foul, foul is fair
hover through the fog and filthy air
explain/c : paradox suggests the deceptive nature of them
language of equivocation
chant like speech = witch spells = supernatural
SI : highlight how evil distorts reality
AR : J : unsettling , horrified , sign of demonic influence
M : words reflect macbeths psychological conflict
para 2 : witches exploit macbeth
point quotes explain/c SI AR
point : they encourage his downfall
quotes : all hail macbeth … thane of glanis … thane of cawdor
the instruments of darkness tell us truths
explain/c : they offer macbeth prophecy without context - make him assume he must act to fulfil it
banquo warns evil forces mix truths with lies to manipulate
DRoK - macbeth shows own moral corruption
Macbeth betrayal of Duncan = shocking after GPP
SI : show fate does not force macbeth to act - it’s his own choices that lead to his tragedy
AR : M : macbeth = victim of manipulation, ambition can cloud judgement
J : macbeth = sinful for ignoring gods will
para 3 : witches challenge gender roles + the natural order
point quotes explain context AR SI
point : they’re unsettling as they disrupt traditional ideas of femininity + power
quotes : you should be women and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so - Banquo
none of women born shall harm macbeth
explain : their appearance = ambiguous
reject submissive roles , instead = powerful
prophecies manipulate macbeths understanding of gender ( he misinterprets none of … and assumes he’s invincible
context : witch trials of jacobean era
LM also reflects witches reflection of femininity ‘unsex me here …’
AR : J : W = unnatural, dangerous women
M : early representation of female empowerment, challenging patriarchal control
