Macbeth Quotes - The Witches
1. “Thunder, lighting and in rain”
Rule of three. Pathetic fallacy of an ominous tone. Whenever the
witches are present, some form of bad weather precedes them. The
weather symbolises their power and chaos, showing the witches as
troublesome, destructive and ruinous.
2. “What are these so wither’d and so wild in their attire...?”
Banquo immediately recognises the witches as dangerous and
inhumane. The question shows the ambiguity of the witches and how no
one can properly understand them - or the supernatural.
3. “Instruments of darkness”
Spoken by Banquo. Recognises the musicality where their words
are almost hypnotic for Macbeth. (Shakespeare makes them speak in
riddles and trochaic tetrameters to ensure they appear sinister to the
audience. There was a widespread belief in the supernatural back then,
further scaring the Jacobean audience.)
4. “Double, double toil and trouble”
Emphasises the theme of the supernatural as they are casting a
spell and admitting that there is a duplicity in the things they say. The
repetition of “double” embodies the ritualistic and ominous nature that
the witches bring to Earth.
5. "You should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to
interpret that you are so"
Throughout the text, masculinity is synonymous to power.
Therefore, allowing this description to imbue them with dominance and
power. They can be compared to Lady Macbeth as they are all women
who are able to manipulate Macbeth throughout the play.
6. “Fair is foul & foul is fair”
, Said by the witches in the beginning of the play. It is a
juxtaposition as “fair” refers to something pleasant and kind natured and
“foul” refers to unpleasant and evil. Fricative because witches are
whispering/chanting.
7. “A dismal and fatal end”
When Hecate foreshadows Macbeth’s death and ultimate downfall.
It is a powerful spell being cast to mess with Macbeth.
The Witches’ Prophecies (Apparitions)
1. “Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.”
The effect of this warning is to lead Macbeth to kill Macduff’s
family, which in turn, gives Macduff a motive to kill Macbeth.
2. “None of woman-born shall harm Macbeth.”
The line promises Macbeth invincibility and Macbeth feels his
power is secure. He is reassured after the previous prophecy. Macbeth
vows Macduff will not pose a threat to him, however the prophecy does
not apply to Macduff because he was born by Caesarean section.
3. “.. take no care who chafes, who frets… until Great Birnam wood
to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him”
Macbeth is relieved as it’s unlikely that the forest will walk up a
Hill to his castle. However, this is a riddle of Macbeth’s upcoming defeat.
Macbeth’s excessive pride leads him to believe he will be unharmed.
1. “Thunder, lighting and in rain”
Rule of three. Pathetic fallacy of an ominous tone. Whenever the
witches are present, some form of bad weather precedes them. The
weather symbolises their power and chaos, showing the witches as
troublesome, destructive and ruinous.
2. “What are these so wither’d and so wild in their attire...?”
Banquo immediately recognises the witches as dangerous and
inhumane. The question shows the ambiguity of the witches and how no
one can properly understand them - or the supernatural.
3. “Instruments of darkness”
Spoken by Banquo. Recognises the musicality where their words
are almost hypnotic for Macbeth. (Shakespeare makes them speak in
riddles and trochaic tetrameters to ensure they appear sinister to the
audience. There was a widespread belief in the supernatural back then,
further scaring the Jacobean audience.)
4. “Double, double toil and trouble”
Emphasises the theme of the supernatural as they are casting a
spell and admitting that there is a duplicity in the things they say. The
repetition of “double” embodies the ritualistic and ominous nature that
the witches bring to Earth.
5. "You should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to
interpret that you are so"
Throughout the text, masculinity is synonymous to power.
Therefore, allowing this description to imbue them with dominance and
power. They can be compared to Lady Macbeth as they are all women
who are able to manipulate Macbeth throughout the play.
6. “Fair is foul & foul is fair”
, Said by the witches in the beginning of the play. It is a
juxtaposition as “fair” refers to something pleasant and kind natured and
“foul” refers to unpleasant and evil. Fricative because witches are
whispering/chanting.
7. “A dismal and fatal end”
When Hecate foreshadows Macbeth’s death and ultimate downfall.
It is a powerful spell being cast to mess with Macbeth.
The Witches’ Prophecies (Apparitions)
1. “Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.”
The effect of this warning is to lead Macbeth to kill Macduff’s
family, which in turn, gives Macduff a motive to kill Macbeth.
2. “None of woman-born shall harm Macbeth.”
The line promises Macbeth invincibility and Macbeth feels his
power is secure. He is reassured after the previous prophecy. Macbeth
vows Macduff will not pose a threat to him, however the prophecy does
not apply to Macduff because he was born by Caesarean section.
3. “.. take no care who chafes, who frets… until Great Birnam wood
to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him”
Macbeth is relieved as it’s unlikely that the forest will walk up a
Hill to his castle. However, this is a riddle of Macbeth’s upcoming defeat.
Macbeth’s excessive pride leads him to believe he will be unharmed.
