The Power Of The Witches In Macbeth

Essay III

The Witches and Their Powers Magical powers are the canter of many novels and plays because of their mysterious nature. Every author finds different powers and limitations that influence the characters in unique ways. There is no one standard to writing about magic in literature because it is part of the human imagination and creative process. The way magic is used in a story can influence the plot, the theme and mood of the novel or play. In Shakespeare 's Macbeth, he uses three witches with many different powers to predict the future and influence the other characters. Act One reveals the extent, limitations, and source of the witches power and magic. The witches have many different powers that they reveal throughout Act One of Shakespeare 's Macbeth. One of their prominent skills is the ability to tell the future which is evidenced when they predict where they will meet Macbeth and when the prophesied when the battle will end. When the witches communicate with

While the witches posses many powers, they have certain limitations on what they can control. In act 3 the first witch says, “ though his bark cannot be lost, Yet it shall be tempest-tossed. Look what I have” (1, 3, 24-26). She can make the sailor suffer, but she can not make him disappear, which is what she actually wishes to happen. When she says, “though his bark can not be lost,” she also tells about how the witches can curse a soul, but they cannot take a mortal soul without freely choosing to loose their soul. They can torture a person until they willing give up their soul but they cannot take a soul without consent. Another limitation to the witches power is when the Second Witch shape shifts into a rat, she ends up without a tail. This emphasizes their limited nature and imperfections of their powers. They don’t have full control of their powers and they do not have unlimited power to do as they wish. The witches have many powers, but they have limitations on those