The Role of Witches in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

The Role of Witches in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Shakespeare has made the witches and their prophecies play a major

part in the storyline and overall feeling of the play Macbeth. When he

was returning from Denmark after his marriage, James first came in

contact with witchcraft. A coven of witches in North Berwickshire had

tried to practice the black arts against him. Being unable to obtain

any of his clothes, they had christened a cat, tied to it parts of the

body of a dead man and carried it out to sea before the town of Leith,

'sailing in their riddles or sieves'. They raised a storm which

delayed the King's return and wrecked a ship carrying gifts for his

new Queen. The Danes on the ship convinced him that the bad weather

was caused by witchcraft. James at first doubted this story, but

agreed that the winds had been strangely contrary to his own ship, and

he was finally convinced.

The play 'Macbeth' displays many Elizabethan beliefs about witches and

witchcraft. For instance, they believed that witches could raise evil

spirits by concocting a brew from disgusting ingredients. This is

shown in the first scene of Act 4 where the witches are making a

'hell-broth' to conjure up apparitions for Macbeth. They include

repulsive ingredients such as, 'Liver of blaspheming Jew,' 'Nose of

Turk,' and 'tongue if dog.' The fact that they call it a 'hell-broth'

reflects the Elizabethan belief that these potions were linked to the

Devil.

Witches were thought to be able to have an effect on the weather. They

could trigger fogs and tempests. In the very first scene of the play

the witches enter along with 'Thunder and Lightning.' The w...

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...ngue

All that impedes thee from the golden round,

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem

To have thee crown'd withal.'

The predictions have made Lady Macbeth confident and more dominant.

They have changed her personality as she has suddenly become the more

dominant partner, forcing her husband to kill the King.

After Macbeth has killed the King, he ponders over what he has done.

He cannot pull himself together and keeps thinking of the terrible

crime which he has committed. Lady Macbeth can only stand-by and watch

him fall apart. She does not seem to be bothered about what they have

done. An example of this is in the last scene of act 1 where she

begins to question his pride.

'When you durst do it, then you were a man.

And to be more than what you were, you would

Be so much more the man.'