The Witches Play the Greatest Part in Macbeth’s Downfall

The witches are the first characters we see in the play in Act one Scene one- A prologue of evil. They plan to meet Macbeth when the fighting has finished.

“When the hurly Burley’s done”

From the very beginning of the play the witches are planning to give Macbeth the news of his future and so lead to his downfall. They speak to each other about their next action, to meet with Macbeth. The setting in which Shakespeare first presents the witches is On the Moor with thunder and lightening in the background. It is unusual the way the three witches meet in a storm. This atmosphere implies that the witches are frightening and its very location ‘On the Moor’ a remote and isolated waste land area, gives a scary feeling.

The witches talk to animal sprits and talk about what they have been doing. One says that she was killing swine (Diseases of cattle were believed to be caused by witchcraft in Shakespeare’s day.) Another says that she will punish a sailor. The third witch says that she will help her to do it. They were all doing cruel things. Soon they would do a cruel thing to Macbeth which would end in his ruin and downfall. The witches await Macbeth on the heath, boasting of there powers.

The witches assemble and prepare to meet Macbeth on the Moor. He is travelling with Banquo towards the Kings camp. Banquo sees the witches first and this is what he says,

“What are these,

So wither’d and so wild in their attire,

That look not like th’inhabitants o’the earth,

And yet are on’t? live you? or are you aught

That man may question?” (Act 1 Scene 3)

This gives a good description of their unworldly appearance and how they are in touch with evil and the supernatural. They have a grotesque look. Banquo says that they look l...

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...ire burn and caldron bubble.”

He gets some of his answers from apparitions. The witches are playing games with Macbeth and the first apparition arrives with thunder, this is symbolic of terror, power and evil. The first apparition is an armed head and the second on is a bloody child this is,

“More potent than the first”

The third apparition is a child crowned, with a tree in is hand. Macbeth is haunted by all his wicked deeds.

Now Macbeth is dependant on the witches. He demands these prophecies rather than have them thrust upon him, this is a terrifying scene and near the end of it is a show of eight kings the last with a glass in his hand: Banquo followed.

Macbeth is greatly distressed all these murders show the depths of degradation to which he has sunk.

The witches played the greatest part of Macbeth’s downfall and what a great downfall it was.