How does Shakespeare present the witches? Shakespeare presents the witches as having more power than humanity which is shown by the manipulation of Macbeth through their equivocation
and knowledge that far exceeds the understanding of the characters and the audience till all is revealed in the denouement. Shakespeare presents the collusion, omniscience and supernatural
qualities of the witches in order to make them powerful and frightening.
References the battle
Increases the perceived power of the witches as The juxtaposition of “win”
Trochee (trochaic tetrameter), The power an Sets the theme of against MacDonald
they create the sense of false security showing and “betray” shows the
sounds unusual and unnatural influence of the appearance versus
that they are forces unfathomable to Macbeth severity of the repercussions if superlative shows the deep
in a subtle way which reflects witches is often reality which is held
being bigger than his “chiefest enemy” in order Macbeth gives into the seated nature of the
how the witches are unseen yet their through the entire
The witches are aware of to control or create that enemy which is empha- manipulation witches manipulation
inconspicuously influencing the omniscience and play
this at the beginning of sized by the superlative
plot and the characters omnipresence is felt
throughout the play
the play where Macbeth “win us in honest trifles, to betray’s
Repetition of fricatives Paradox/ reversal of is still noble and virtuous Diction used refers to
“security is mortals’ in deepest consequence”
gives a sense of chanting adjectives sense of at this point. Acts as Macbeth's identity as a
and magic which creates “fair is foul, and foul is fair” moral disorder foreshadowing. soldier . Shows how his chiefest enemy”
fear in the Jacobean audi- physical strength cannot Macbeth is still blaming MacDuff for
Show that the Power in how the vanquish the witches the precarious position he is in at this
ence as it reflects religious
witches’ power witches know human Shakespeare presents the point in the play showing how the
practices that present
divinity other than the is tangible as it Shakespeare presents the tendencies despite Juxtaposition of The witches equivocate in the
witches as manipulators witches are spectators to his demise,
they themselves not prophecies they give in order to
God of Christianity separate to witches as omniscient pronouns highlight manipulating the situation using Mac-
God being human how the witches convince Macbeth that is safe when beth's own paranoia of Macduff in-
The simile is zoomorphic and
Wrath-> 7 deadly sins, connotations of ungodly he is not stead of actively meddling
understanding of the victimizing which is a contrast
immorality. The apathy in which the adjectives
ways of humanity to how Macbeth regards
are used shown how the witches are accustomed “but bear-like I must fight The equivocation creates suspense for
“wayward son, spiteful and wrath- transcends that of himself. The witches manipula-
to the sinful ways of the people that claim to be the cause. What’s he that the Jacobean audience which gives
ful, who, as others do, loves for his humans tion has reduced him to an ani- the witches power as they have the
honourable like Macbeth and humanity as a was not born of woman?”
own ends, not yours” mal for their own amusement audience awaiting the reveal so
whole
The caesura and rhetorical question shows how deep seat- Shakespeare has the witches control-
Have power due to Metaphor, Infantilizes Macbeth reducing
ed the witches manipulation is with Macbeth holding on to ling the narrative in order to keep the
the breadth of him to a petulant child comparing how an Allows them to manipulate
the prophecies even though his demise is near audience captivated
knowledge acquired adult’s wisdom exceeds a child’s ignorance and exploit people susceptible
Highlights the effect of the
through their experi- to the promise of material “I have no words; my voice is in my sword” The end-stopped line reflects the
appearance versus reality as Macbeth supernatural on nature
ences with humanity rewards The sword as a metaphor links to conviction of MacDuff and presents
appears to be a “valiant” soldier with
and clarity in under- “thunder, lightning Links to the miasma the idea that god guides the the manipulation of the witches to be
respect and dignity but the witches,
standing the immoral and in rain” “fog theory associating sword of the righteous in battle. cause Macbeth to speak with similar
having true knowledge on his fragile
motives behind Mac- the supernatural The manipulation of the witches conviction yet the equivocation means
sense of morality, are able to demean and filthy air” with disease and
beth Pathetic fallacy common has corrupted Macbeth’s sword Macbeth is holding to false promises
him, displaying the reality of the
way to communicate illness Shows how the supernatural are which highlights the power of the
witches power being incomparably
supernaturalism blamed for the downfall of society witches in construction his downfall in
Shakespeare presents the large to Macbeths physical grandeur Shakespeare presents the
which links to how Macbeth was ma- comparison to the rise of MacDuff
idea that morality and witches as representative of nipulated by the witches to ruin Scot-
knowledge is more im- “against the churches […] Through Macduff acts as a foil to
the whole supernatural and land once he was king
Macbeth to show how
portant and powerful than bladed corn […] trees blown down
reflects the hierarchy within it The dehumanization
solely physical strength Through castles topple[…] “by the pricking of my Shakespeare presents the
separates Macbeth
links to Banquo being seen (Hecate controlling the thumbs something this witches power as limited to
(mortals) from the those susceptible to
as both wise, moral and witches) way comes” witches (supernatural)
Juxtaposition between powerful verbs The anaphora displays how the manipulation
good in battle
(“blown", "topple”, “lodg’d”, “slope”) and long supernatural have power overall Shows the power of the supernatural as seen as a genuine threat
lasting figures in mortal society (buildings and aspects of the mortal world and fear for the Jacobean audience as they have managed to corrupt Contradicts the semantic fields of honour
trees). Show the supernatural to be more (nature, religion and politics/ Macbeth into becoming inhuman. See him as a vessel to control and surrounding Macbeth at the start of the
substantial and powerful in order to outlast monarchy) making them fear- eventually destroy. Demonstrates the supernatural to be more per- play showing how both supernatural and
and destroy such monuments some and omnipresent manent presence compared to feeble mortal life mortals see him as reprehensible
and knowledge that far exceeds the understanding of the characters and the audience till all is revealed in the denouement. Shakespeare presents the collusion, omniscience and supernatural
qualities of the witches in order to make them powerful and frightening.
References the battle
Increases the perceived power of the witches as The juxtaposition of “win”
Trochee (trochaic tetrameter), The power an Sets the theme of against MacDonald
they create the sense of false security showing and “betray” shows the
sounds unusual and unnatural influence of the appearance versus
that they are forces unfathomable to Macbeth severity of the repercussions if superlative shows the deep
in a subtle way which reflects witches is often reality which is held
being bigger than his “chiefest enemy” in order Macbeth gives into the seated nature of the
how the witches are unseen yet their through the entire
The witches are aware of to control or create that enemy which is empha- manipulation witches manipulation
inconspicuously influencing the omniscience and play
this at the beginning of sized by the superlative
plot and the characters omnipresence is felt
throughout the play
the play where Macbeth “win us in honest trifles, to betray’s
Repetition of fricatives Paradox/ reversal of is still noble and virtuous Diction used refers to
“security is mortals’ in deepest consequence”
gives a sense of chanting adjectives sense of at this point. Acts as Macbeth's identity as a
and magic which creates “fair is foul, and foul is fair” moral disorder foreshadowing. soldier . Shows how his chiefest enemy”
fear in the Jacobean audi- physical strength cannot Macbeth is still blaming MacDuff for
Show that the Power in how the vanquish the witches the precarious position he is in at this
ence as it reflects religious
witches’ power witches know human Shakespeare presents the point in the play showing how the
practices that present
divinity other than the is tangible as it Shakespeare presents the tendencies despite Juxtaposition of The witches equivocate in the
witches as manipulators witches are spectators to his demise,
they themselves not prophecies they give in order to
God of Christianity separate to witches as omniscient pronouns highlight manipulating the situation using Mac-
God being human how the witches convince Macbeth that is safe when beth's own paranoia of Macduff in-
The simile is zoomorphic and
Wrath-> 7 deadly sins, connotations of ungodly he is not stead of actively meddling
understanding of the victimizing which is a contrast
immorality. The apathy in which the adjectives
ways of humanity to how Macbeth regards
are used shown how the witches are accustomed “but bear-like I must fight The equivocation creates suspense for
“wayward son, spiteful and wrath- transcends that of himself. The witches manipula-
to the sinful ways of the people that claim to be the cause. What’s he that the Jacobean audience which gives
ful, who, as others do, loves for his humans tion has reduced him to an ani- the witches power as they have the
honourable like Macbeth and humanity as a was not born of woman?”
own ends, not yours” mal for their own amusement audience awaiting the reveal so
whole
The caesura and rhetorical question shows how deep seat- Shakespeare has the witches control-
Have power due to Metaphor, Infantilizes Macbeth reducing
ed the witches manipulation is with Macbeth holding on to ling the narrative in order to keep the
the breadth of him to a petulant child comparing how an Allows them to manipulate
the prophecies even though his demise is near audience captivated
knowledge acquired adult’s wisdom exceeds a child’s ignorance and exploit people susceptible
Highlights the effect of the
through their experi- to the promise of material “I have no words; my voice is in my sword” The end-stopped line reflects the
appearance versus reality as Macbeth supernatural on nature
ences with humanity rewards The sword as a metaphor links to conviction of MacDuff and presents
appears to be a “valiant” soldier with
and clarity in under- “thunder, lightning Links to the miasma the idea that god guides the the manipulation of the witches to be
respect and dignity but the witches,
standing the immoral and in rain” “fog theory associating sword of the righteous in battle. cause Macbeth to speak with similar
having true knowledge on his fragile
motives behind Mac- the supernatural The manipulation of the witches conviction yet the equivocation means
sense of morality, are able to demean and filthy air” with disease and
beth Pathetic fallacy common has corrupted Macbeth’s sword Macbeth is holding to false promises
him, displaying the reality of the
way to communicate illness Shows how the supernatural are which highlights the power of the
witches power being incomparably
supernaturalism blamed for the downfall of society witches in construction his downfall in
Shakespeare presents the large to Macbeths physical grandeur Shakespeare presents the
which links to how Macbeth was ma- comparison to the rise of MacDuff
idea that morality and witches as representative of nipulated by the witches to ruin Scot-
knowledge is more im- “against the churches […] Through Macduff acts as a foil to
the whole supernatural and land once he was king
Macbeth to show how
portant and powerful than bladed corn […] trees blown down
reflects the hierarchy within it The dehumanization
solely physical strength Through castles topple[…] “by the pricking of my Shakespeare presents the
separates Macbeth
links to Banquo being seen (Hecate controlling the thumbs something this witches power as limited to
(mortals) from the those susceptible to
as both wise, moral and witches) way comes” witches (supernatural)
Juxtaposition between powerful verbs The anaphora displays how the manipulation
good in battle
(“blown", "topple”, “lodg’d”, “slope”) and long supernatural have power overall Shows the power of the supernatural as seen as a genuine threat
lasting figures in mortal society (buildings and aspects of the mortal world and fear for the Jacobean audience as they have managed to corrupt Contradicts the semantic fields of honour
trees). Show the supernatural to be more (nature, religion and politics/ Macbeth into becoming inhuman. See him as a vessel to control and surrounding Macbeth at the start of the
substantial and powerful in order to outlast monarchy) making them fear- eventually destroy. Demonstrates the supernatural to be more per- play showing how both supernatural and
and destroy such monuments some and omnipresent manent presence compared to feeble mortal life mortals see him as reprehensible
