ipl-logo

Why Are The Witches Important In Macbeth

313 Words2 Pages

The second secondary characters who help advance the plot in the play, Macbeth, are the witches. The witches inform Macbeth of this three prophecies, specifically the prophecy of Macbeth becoming king. Upon Macbeth’s arrival with Banquo, the witches address Macbeth, “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.” (1.3.50-53) In regards to the prophecies, Macbeth writes to Lady Macbeth a letter indicating the prophecies and their already partial fulfilment towards the first two prophecies. He also expresses his strive of determination and hunger for Duncan’s crown to Lady Macbeth in his letter. The witches manipulate Macbeth, telling him half of the truth in the prophecies, especially in the third prophecy involving Macbeth becoming king. Without Macbeth realizing the minor fault in these prophecies, he starts to gradually become more ambitious and more determined to kill Duncan in order to become king quickly as possible.
The witches advance the plot again later in the play when Macbeth demands answer of his fate. They show Macbeth three more prophecies spoken by apparition; a head wearing a battle helmet, a blood-covered child, and a child wearing a crown and carrying a tree. The witches show Macbeth the three apparitions who tell him,
Beware Macduff; /
Beware the thane of Fife…
Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn …show more content…

(4.1 77-78, 85-87, 100-102)
Due to the newly shown prophecies for Macbeth, the witches manipulate him into believing the prophecies and make him over confident about Macbeth’s false sense of security. Eventually Macbeth, without knowing of the real truth behind the prophecies, is lead to his excruciating

Show More
Related

  • Paradox In The Tragedy Of Macbeth

    1277 Words  | 6 Pages

    In Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeth meets with Banquo and the Three Witches, who prophesize that Macbeth will become King, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of

    Read More

  • Macbeth Quotes Analysis

    682 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth is the Shakespearean play that features the triumphant uprise and the inevitable downfall of its main character. In this play, Macbeth’s downfall can be considered to be the loss of his moral integrity and this is achieved by ambition, despite this, Lady Macbeth and the witches work through his ambition, furthering to assist his inevitable ruin. Ambition alone is the most significant factor that led to Macbeth’s downfall. The witches are only able to influence his actions through Macbeth’s pre-existing and the three witches see that Macbeth has ambition and uses it to control his action. Ambition alone is displayed throughout the play to be the most significant cause for Macbeth’s downfall.

    Read More

  • Quotes Of Fate And Free Will In Macbeth

    1088 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Act I, the three witches visit Macbeth and Banquo on the heath. The witches make three predictions; past, present, future. Macbeth is Thane Of Glamis, he will be the Thane of Cawdor, and then he will become King, and Banquo's sons will become king but not Banquo. Later in the same scene, Ross and Angus meet Macbeth. They tell Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor by Duncan's command.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Fate And Freewill In Macbeth

    1619 Words  | 7 Pages

    Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!...that shalt be king hereafter (Act 1, Scene 3).” The play Macbeth starts off with the three witches telling Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and then he will become king. Soon after, Macbeth learns that King Duncan has named him as the Thane of Cawdor. With this, Macbeth begins to believe that the witches’ prophecies must be true and is determined to become king. He says, “Let not light see my black and deep desires (Act 1, Scene 4),” implying that he has the inner desire to now become king.

    Read More

  • Did The Three Witches Control Macbeth's Fate

    1064 Words  | 5 Pages

    (Shakespeare I.iv.58-59) This shows Macbeth has the intention of claiming the crown for himself before he even talks to Lady Macbeth about what they should do when Duncan arrives at their castle. Furthermore, Shakespeare displays Macbeth's ambitions even earlier in the play while fighting against the rebels. The manner in which he fights against the rebels described by the Sergeant shows how passionate he is to fight on behalf of his king and drive the rebels back. Macbeth evidently has a very ambitious personality, but the way he uses the ambition is changed after hearing the “prophecies” of the

    Read More

  • Essay Who Is Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

    953 Words  | 4 Pages

    At the start of the play, Macbeth visits the witches with Banquo at the closing of the battle. The witches speak to Macbeth and Banquo and get the idea of a prophecy in Macbeth’s mind. “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” (1.3.46-48). When the witches get the prophecy in Macbeth’s mind, he believes it will come true and misunderstands the prophecy of the witches. Although the witches make Macbeth believe in the prophecy of becoming the King, Macbeth is responsible for his downfall because they do not recommend Macbeth to kill Duncan.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Manipulation In Macbeth

    1051 Words  | 5 Pages

    After the victory of Banquo and Macbeth against the king 's traitor Macdonwald the witches presence contract the vibe of manipulation seeking Macbeth as its next victim. As they encounter with Macbeth and Banquo, they start-off questioning the trio of leery ladies. "look not like the inhabitants of the earth, / And yet are on it"; they seem to understand him, and yet he cannot be sure; they "should be women," and yet they are bearded. One by one the witches told Macbeth his upcoming abundance of power leaving him immensely petrified. As a result the prophecies were the contemporary force plaguing Macbeth into slaughtering King Duncan for his aspiration.

    Read More

  • Internal And External Forces In Macbeth

    1241 Words  | 5 Pages

    Macbeth’s ambition is one of the most prominent things that drive Macbeth in the play and truly becomes evident when he hears of the Witches prophecies. When the witches stop talking, he demands to know more. “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (I, III, 73-74). This portrays his excessive curiosity on the subject as well as his craving for more desirable prophecies. This ambitious nature and craving for power is also demonstrated only moments after hearing the witches, when he starts formulating a plan to kill Duncan in order to make the third prophecy come true.

    Read More

  • Causes Of Macbeth's Downfall

    876 Words  | 4 Pages

    The witches played a colossal role in Macbeth’s downfall and ultimately, his death. Since the first part of the prophecy stated Macbeth as being the new Thane of Cawdor, he believed he could continue to become king as well. In knowing his prediction, Macbeth also realized that since the king was in good health, so he would have to kill the king himself. For the rest of his prophecy to come true he would have to kill the king for himself. “All hail, Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter!”

    Read More

  • Supernatural Influence On Macbeth

    685 Words  | 3 Pages

    As such, Macbeth is once again influenced by what the witches call upon. Three apparitions appear before Macbeth. The first apparition is his own severed head, confirming his fears about Macduff. In Act IV, Scene I, the apparitions say these words “Macbeth! Macbeth!

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Strengths And Weaknesses

    824 Words  | 4 Pages

    ‘Macbeth’s ambition is his only weakness’. Do you agree? Macbeth’s greatest weakness is his ambition, but it is also his greatest strength. Despite his ambition being one of his major weaknesses, it is not his sole weakness he exhibits that contributes to his inevitable death.

    Read More

  • Self Fulfilling Prophecies In Macbeth

    1590 Words  | 7 Pages

    During this time he goes through an internal conflict with himself. He argues with himself over whether or not to trust the prophecy and three witches, “This supernatural soliciting/Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill,/Why hath it given me earnest of success” (1.3.243-245). Unfortunately for Macbeth the King’s son Malcolm is to named the predecessor of King Duncan. Macbeth recognizes that this means the prophecy cannot come true despite the Thane of Cawdor prediction becoming a reality. This displeases him greatly despite the fact that the king has bestowed upon him a great honor.

    Read More

  • Macbeth And The Influence Of Witchcraft

    1146 Words  | 5 Pages

    Before the main character has any part in the play the witches start it off in ominous mutterings about wicked acts and the future. The fear among the audience is set before Macbeth even thinks about killing anybody. Macbeth is then told by the witches about things that are supposed to happen in his future, and assuming they are telling the truth he believes them. Not only does he believe them but he himself commits acts that make them come true. This is another representation of how people believed they could be affected by witches.

    Read More

  • Character Development In Macbeth

    1021 Words  | 5 Pages

    At first these thoughts remain hidden, but when the witches approach him with their predictions his desires reform his character. The witches wait for Macbeth and tell him series of predictions. The specific prediction, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.51) causes Macbeth’s desire to become more intensified. Their prediction that he would become king brings a change in his character.

    Read More

  • Death And Despair In Macbeth

    689 Words  | 3 Pages

    The three witches introduced to the reader were the initial characters to plant the seed of greed in Macbeth’s mind. The prophecy they state reads that Macbeth will or has attained multiple levels of power, “All hail, Macbeth...Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor...that shalt be king hereafter.” (Act 1, Sc. 3, lines 51-53) While it was rather brief, this introduction lead to Macbeth essentially taking course and making these occurrences actually happen. Not only is the content of what the say alter Macbeth, it may also be their way of proclaiming the prophecy. The

    Read More

More about Why Are The Witches Important In Macbeth

Open Document