Character: The Witches

Character: The Witches

Role in the Play

• The Witches, also known as the Weird Sisters, are supernatural beings who foretell the future.
• They act as catalysts for the entire plot by giving Macbeth a prophecy that sparks his ambition and leads to his downfall.
• Their existence brings the element of supernaturalism into the story, an important theme in the play.

Impact on Other Characters

• They manipulate Macbeth by their prophecies, influencing his actions throughout the play, leading him down the path of evil and destruction.
• Their prophecies not only influence Macbeth, but also affect Lady Macbeth and Banquo, fundamentally altering the course of their lives.
• Their obscure and ambiguous prophecies confuse Macbeth, highlighting the theme of ambiguity (“Fair is foul, foul is fair”).

Character Traits

• The witches are enigmatic, mysterious, and bring ominous presages, creating a sense of unease and unpredictability.
• They represent chaos, distortion of reality and moral corruption, illuminating the play’s exploration of such themes.
• They take delight in manipulation and chaos, reveling in Macbeth’s downfall which they help orchestrating.

Relationship with Macbeth

• The witches pique Macbeth’s interest with their prediction that he will become King, sparking the tragic chain of events.
• They maintain a manipulative grip on Macbeth, exploiting his ambition and planting seeds of doubt and fear in his mind.
• They seal Macbeth’s fate by providing him with misleading prophecies, highlighting the theme of deception.

Symbolism

• The witches symbolise the darker side of humanity and the evils that come with unchecked ambition.
• Their presence and influence over Macbeth symbolise the play’s central concern with the dangers of succumbing to temptation and sin.
• Their use of double meanings and paradoxical phrases symbolise the confusion between good and evil, fair and foul within the play.