Withces Flashcards
Whilst being the ‘instruments’ of fate, the witches’ cause chaos
through manipulating Macbeth’s tragic flaw (‘weird’ is the Anglo-Saxon for ‘fate
Macbeth’s hamartia – his ambition – ultimately seals
the destiny outlined by the witches
The witches’ reality is questioned throughout the play, as
a means of suggesting Macbeth only has himself to blame
The witches embody a key Jacobean debate as to whether the fate of
the soul was predestined before birth
why do I yield to that suggestionWhose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs (Macbeth)
onlyVaulting ambition, whic
o’erleaps itselfAnd falls on the other (Macbeth)
As by the strength of their illusionShall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death
(Hecate on Macbeth
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane,
I cannot taint with fear (Macbeth)
Lady Macbeth: thou wouldst be great;Art not without ambition,
but withoutThe illness should attend it
I am in bloodStepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er (Macbeth)
As by the strength of their illusionShall draw him on to his
confusion:He shall spurn fate, scorn death
(Hecate on Macbeth)
Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane,And thou opposed, being of no
woman born,Yet I will try the last (Macbeth to Macduff