Macbeth The Witches Analysis

Macbeth, a renowned written play by the prominent William Shakespeare, features the protagonists Macbeth and Lady Macbeth with characters such as the witches whose words and prophecies influence them in many aspects of their decision-making. Although Macbeth is initially a loyal Thane and soldier to his King, his ambition for power overruns his loyalty. This ambition is stimulated when the witches tell him that he shall be king after the current King of Scotland, Duncan. While the witches are clever, sinister beings, their horrifying appearances are confused to be more masculine than ladylike. Their cryptic language assists in creating the image of the evil creatures they are recognized for, with the frequent usage of seven syllables, prose,

/ Hail! / Hail!” The “hags” use similes such as, “I will drain him dry as hay.” Together with this quote and the following quotes “Where hast thou been, sister? / Killing swine” and “Here I have a thumb of a pilot…” they reveal their violent character. The three malicious sisters make reference to animals; snakes, bats, toads, scorpions and beetles. These animals symbolize the dead and evil, and intend to evoke fear and danger. Another symbol is present in Act I Scene I of Macbeth in which the witches make their grand entrance. There are thunderstorms and lightning; a symbol of the witches being evil. As witches are loud, the women during Shakespeare’s time were labelled a witch if they were outspoken which served as a deterrent. This was a symbol of men’s dominance at the time. Undoubtedly, the language of the witches reinforces and illustrates their wicked nature and

Due to the witches’ talent in prophesizing and their ability to predict the future with immaculacy, the witches correlate with the theme fate and free will. Good and evil may also pertain to the witches. The evil witches have a hand in turning Macbeth, the intended protagonist, from an honorable Thane into a malevolent and devious man whose eyes can only see himself as the King of Scotland. While he once was a loyal subject to his king, he killed him in order to attain his position. He claimed to love Banquo dearly and accepted him as a friend, but the play goes on to inform the reader that he is also murdered by Macbeth. Macbeth rids himself of his