Macbeth : The Witches

A1

“Thunder and…” & “fair is foul..”

“Lightning. Enter three Witches.” & “and foul is fair.”

Creates an ominous and eerie atmosphere

Audience recognise supernatural

Creates tension and foreshadows sinister events to come

Initial setting of darkness and bad weather shows the engulfing of eviL

Oxymoron shows the contrasting events within the play

A1

“All hail Macbeth…”

“That shalt be King hereafter.”

Witches appear and claim Macbeth will be king

They are a catalyst for the events to follow within the show

Instills determination within Macbeth

They present the prophecy showing the corruption of evil within his reign

Witches are not natural nor of God

The beginning of the breakdown of Natural Order

A2

“Is this a..”

“Dagger which I see before me?”

A visualisation of the corruption the Witches have brought upon Macbeth

Emphasises the determination has corrupted him

They can be blamed for Macbeth’s initial violent thoughts and tendencies

Macbeth has let the prophecies consume him

A3

“Our fears in Banquo..”

“Stick deep”

Portrays the power of the supernatural over Macbeth

He lets their prophecies corrupt him and penetrate his inner turmoil

Audience recognise Macbeth is still controlled by the initial prophecies

Paranoia instilled by Witches

References how Banquos descendants will become king

Stick deep shows how the prophecies are ingrained in his mind

A3

“He shall spurn..”

“Fate, scorn death, and bear.”

Hecate (the head Witch) is introduced to the audience

Audience see the evil of the Witches

Highlights how the Witches are corrupt

Symbolic of how evil should not be sided with

Beginning of Macbeths downfall, spiritually

Detrimental consequences of turning against God and toward evil

Hecate wants him to feel invincible and above fate - foreshadowing his emotions to come

She wants to lead Macbeth to his downfall - cyclical structure

A4

“Macbeth! Beware…”

“Macduff. Beware the Thane of Fife.”

The witches warn him of Macduff

While this appears like a kind gesture, it is one of deceit

They recognise Macbeths inner turmoil and that this would lead to him becoming furious

In response to this Macbeth kills Macduffs family

In turn this gives Macduff a reason to kill Macbeth

Deceit, fury and manipulation

Foreshadows Macbeths eventual death

A4

“None of..” & “never vanquished be until..”

“Woman born shall harm Macbeth” & “Great Birnam Wood to High Dunsaine Hill”

Juxtaposes what they initially said as they are now stating no one can kill him

Furthering his inner turmoil and unstable mental state

Manipulating him to feel invincible

Macbeth believes it showing how he trusts the evil and Hellish

Shows Witches control over Macbeth

False trust in the Witches

Dramatic irony

A5

“Macduff was..”

“From his mother’s womb. Untimely ripped!”

The Witches deceit and manipulation becomes apparent to Macbeth

The evil and corruption of the play is juxtaposed with Macduffs triumph and happiness

Could represent how the witches were triumphant in their manipulation

The end of the Witches power over Macbeth

The foreshadowing from the play becomes apparent to the audience