Witches Flashcards
Supernatural “ look not like th’inhabitants o’th’ Earth’ (banquo)
Banquo perceives that over evil and humanises them in the description the witches physiognomy exposes the message inhumane and evil. Mangoes portrayed as perceptive as it was believed he was an ancestor of James 1 , thus this is a form of indirect flattery
Supernatural “instruments of darkness”
Metaphor .This is suggesting their evil musicality perhaps showing how the words are almost hypnotic for Macbeth. This is compounded as they speak in trochaic tetrameter, which is the distance from iambic pentameter noble characters speak in through the play, this gives their speech an eerie song like quality
Supernatural “the pit of Acheron”
The witches appear synonymous with wickedness and hell. Archer on was one of the rivers that run through hades(hell Greek mythology), as they are depicted as meeting the real forces of the witches are inextricably linked to hell
Supernatural “eyes of newt”, “fire burn and cauldron bubble”, and “hell broth, boil and bubble”
Which is amplify the theme of deception and equivocation with in this act as they speak proverbial supernatural phrases they conform to the archetype of witches that the audience would fear
A vs r
“Fair is foul and foul is fair”
They speak in paradoxes and oxymoron. This is seen when they chant this paradoxical phrase, the speech is conflicting and what they appear to say does not correlate with the reality. They conflicting language is notable through the entirety of the play reinforcing their deceitful and duplicitous intentions
A vs r
“ so foul and fair a day I have not seen” (macbeth)
They are successful in the manipulation of movie do they do preciousness, highlighted through them echoing the paradoxical language of the witches.
The oxymoron foul and fair directly mirrors the witches Omnius nursery rhyme like chant - Macbeth is instantly introduced as malleable and susceptible to their malevolent schemes
A vs reality
( an isolated place , thunder)
Isolated creates an image of restriction, eliminating how they want to restrict Macbeth mentally and physically so it is easier for them to employ their deception. This juxtaposes act one being (thunder and lightning). The lack of light alludes to how they will continue to keep Macbeth both in the physical and metaphorical dark about their true intentions
a vs r
“None of the woman born shall harm Macbeth”
Each of the prophecies are equivocal and ambiguous. They appear to be giving very pertinent insight to his safety. Instead the realities of their giving Macbeth an ephemeral (temporary) sense of security and invincibility - they know his hubris (pride)obstructs him from seeing this
Violence (thunder and lightening)
Shakespeare cup of the introduction of pathetic fallacy out Ominous and dangers from the offset. This could foreshadow the violence that will ensue throughout the play. The disrupted and aggravated weather natures fury at this coming violence
Gender “beards”
Throughout the text masculinity is synonymous with power, thus this description abuse them with a threatening dominance. They appear androgynous and alike to lmb, express gender nonconformity
