How Did The Witches Influence Macbeth
During the renaissance supernatural powers were believed to be true. Shakespeare expresses this during the play Macbeth. The witches are shown to have supernatural powers in multiple acts throughout the play, each time influencing characters. The witches influence most of the actions in Macbeth. Although Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill King Duncan, Macbeth had the idea planted in his head by the witches. When Macbeth first meets the witches, they tell him that he will be king. He responds by giving a soliloquy. " If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, / Against the use of nature? Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings. " ( Shakespeare
…show more content…
336). He imagines himself killing Duncan and is scared by this, but he realizes that he may have to kill him in order to be king. One of the other prophecies that Macbeth hears from the witches is one telling Banquo that " Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none " ( Shakespeare 334 ). Being fearful that Banquo's son might take Macbeth's throne, he sent murderers to kill Banquo and his son. Macbeth would not have done this if it was not for the prophecy that he heard. He would have had no motive to do so otherwise. Later in the play, one of the witches' apparitions tell Macbeth to "beware Macduff" ( Shakespeare 384 ). After hearing this warning, Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff and his whole castle. Macbeth had no prior issues with Macduff and no previous motive to attack him. Throughout the play Macbeth only attempts to kill three people. Each of these attempts was invoked by the witches' prophecies. Although the witches do not convince Malcolm to return and fight for his right to be king, they do convince Macbeth that he would win the fight. When Macbeth hears the witches' prophecy that "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him." ( Shakespeare 385 ), he is filled with confidence. To his knowledge trees cannot uproot themselves and move, but due to clever wording he is given false hope. He does not understand that this prophecy will come true. Another prophecy from the witches that Macbeth takes to heart is that " The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth " ( Shakespeare 385 ). He does not think that it is possible for a man to not be born of women and goes into battle believing that he will not die. Once in battle Macbeth believes it is best to attack Macduff because of the witches' prophecy alerting him to beware Macduff. He does not know that Macduff would bring him to his death. Macbeth's initial thought is to kill Macduff so that he would not have to be cautious of Macduff anymore. This attempt backfires on Macbeth when he dies in battle against Macduff.
The reader catches an idea of how the old Macbeth would react when he does not want to murder Duncan in the beginning.
The witches have changed how Macbeth thinks and until his death, he made decisions that the old Macbeth would never have considered. Macbeth acts irrational and spontaneous after the death of the King. The old Macbeth would have told his wife everything while the witches' Macbeth hid from his wife that he sent people to kill Banquo. The witches have influenced Macbeth to change his way of thinking and act irrationally. Macbeth became reliant of the witches' prophecy causing him to return to them to request more. He became dependent and used the prophecies to figure out what would happen to him. This led to his downfall, all because he became reliant on the witches' power. Macbeth turned into a power hungry king by the end of the play due to the witches' powers. They perceived him to believe that he could be a great ruler when they predicted that he would be Thane of Cawdor. Once he realized that their predictions were right, he started to believe that he was going to earn the title of king as they had prophesied. He turned power hungry in the pursuit to be king which ultimately led to his downfall. The witches influenced numerous characters throughout the play of
Macbeth. The witches influence most of the actions in Macbeth. Witches were known to have magical powers that could be used to manipulate people. Due to their magical powers people believed what they said, but did not want to be associated with them.
336). He imagines himself killing Duncan and is scared by this, but he realizes that he may have to kill him in order to be king. One of the other prophecies that Macbeth hears from the witches is one telling Banquo that " Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none " ( Shakespeare 334 ). Being fearful that Banquo's son might take Macbeth's throne, he sent murderers to kill Banquo and his son. Macbeth would not have done this if it was not for the prophecy that he heard. He would have had no motive to do so otherwise. Later in the play, one of the witches' apparitions tell Macbeth to "beware Macduff" ( Shakespeare 384 ). After hearing this warning, Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff and his whole castle. Macbeth had no prior issues with Macduff and no previous motive to attack him. Throughout the play Macbeth only attempts to kill three people. Each of these attempts was invoked by the witches' prophecies. Although the witches do not convince Malcolm to return and fight for his right to be king, they do convince Macbeth that he would win the fight. When Macbeth hears the witches' prophecy that "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him." ( Shakespeare 385 ), he is filled with confidence. To his knowledge trees cannot uproot themselves and move, but due to clever wording he is given false hope. He does not understand that this prophecy will come true. Another prophecy from the witches that Macbeth takes to heart is that " The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth " ( Shakespeare 385 ). He does not think that it is possible for a man to not be born of women and goes into battle believing that he will not die. Once in battle Macbeth believes it is best to attack Macduff because of the witches' prophecy alerting him to beware Macduff. He does not know that Macduff would bring him to his death. Macbeth's initial thought is to kill Macduff so that he would not have to be cautious of Macduff anymore. This attempt backfires on Macbeth when he dies in battle against Macduff.
The reader catches an idea of how the old Macbeth would react when he does not want to murder Duncan in the beginning.
The witches have changed how Macbeth thinks and until his death, he made decisions that the old Macbeth would never have considered. Macbeth acts irrational and spontaneous after the death of the King. The old Macbeth would have told his wife everything while the witches' Macbeth hid from his wife that he sent people to kill Banquo. The witches have influenced Macbeth to change his way of thinking and act irrationally. Macbeth became reliant of the witches' prophecy causing him to return to them to request more. He became dependent and used the prophecies to figure out what would happen to him. This led to his downfall, all because he became reliant on the witches' power. Macbeth turned into a power hungry king by the end of the play due to the witches' powers. They perceived him to believe that he could be a great ruler when they predicted that he would be Thane of Cawdor. Once he realized that their predictions were right, he started to believe that he was going to earn the title of king as they had prophesied. He turned power hungry in the pursuit to be king which ultimately led to his downfall. The witches influenced numerous characters throughout the play of
Macbeth. The witches influence most of the actions in Macbeth. Witches were known to have magical powers that could be used to manipulate people. Due to their magical powers people believed what they said, but did not want to be associated with them.