Preview

How Do The Witches Affect Macbeth

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
122 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Do The Witches Affect Macbeth
The play Macbeth sugguest that the witches have an important effect on Macbeth. The witches influence him in his achievement and awake his ambitions.

The weird sisters indirectly control Macbeth and his actions in the play. They may not actually be forcing Macbeth to do certain things, but their prophecies have a great impact on him.

Before meeting the witches, Macbetg is an honorable man that serced king Duncan with complete loyalty. However the witches introduce him to the idea of being king, Macbeth becomes ambitiious and mad for power

The first apparition is of armored head, which tells Macbeth to beware Macbeth. the second apparitaion, who appears as a bloody baby. The last apparition apparitior, who appeared as a crowned

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The first forces of evil acting on Macbeth are the three Weird Sisters. They provide the initial nail that gets hammered into Macbeths head; they lead him to believe that he will be King of Scotland. This prophecy gets Macbeth thinking, but not wildly enough to do anything about it. The Weird Sisters, without Macbeth knowing, persuade him to kill the current King of Scotland, Duncan. In telling Banquo his own prophecy, it eventually leads to Macbeth’s betrayal of Banquo, and Macbeth kills Banquo. Later in the play, the witches tell Macbeth three more prophecies. These new prophecies lead him to betray Macduff, and also to believe that he is ultimately immortal. So, covertly the witches play a major role in the downfall of Macbeth.…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    They persauded Macbeth to kill people only because they wanted to be benefited. they were selfish and not worrying that they would soon turn Macbeth into a crazed lunatic The witches delighted in chaos and toil. They did not tell Macbeth what to do but they simply showed him what can happen through their prophecies and the apparitions they showed to Macbeth. Macbeth could've been a perfect target for them to bring about this chaos. Macbeth is a strong soldier, he has killed enemies in war, and perhaps the witches knew his true nature("by the prickling of my thumb, something wicked this way comes..."). The extent of their influenced is demonstrated through their predictions, they are temptations and a form of flattery which Macbeth eventually gave into. On one hand, Lady Macbeth has the far greater influence because she is Macbeth's wife and they share a passionate relationship together. Just like the witches she flatters him, but this time it is a direct flattery and a direct temptation towards him. As far as Macbeth being changed into a diffrent person, he himself is responsible for his own actions. The final decision lies within him and this was demonstrated when he carried out the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth acts as the catalyst for Macbeth. Macbeth realised that he would have to commit regicide (stars, hide your fires; let light not see my deep and black desires), but he was unwilling to do so. Lady Macbeth changes his mind by attacking his manhood, despite the brave acts he has commited as a soldier. She also flatters him shamelessly. The murder of Duncan sets Macbeth on the trail of evil, as he didn't consult his wife when he killed Banquo and Macduff's family. He didn't even care when she commited suicide. The witches represent the Three Fates in Greek Mythology. they connotate destiny, fate, etc. They delight and thrive in chaos and toil. In my opinion, the witches represent the primeval human emotions of hate and wickedness. They are all that is…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Three of the minor rolls in Macbeth cause the most chaos with the littlest effort. They are the witches. They use their power of suggestion to ruin all that they can. By simply suggesting things to Macbeth, they turn this proud and loyal man into a cold blooded killer. Some may say that Macbeth was unwillingly forced into his situation, but this is not true, he could have simply ignored the words of the weird sisters. His best friend, Banquo, was with him when the witches told their prophesies, but Banquo stayed true to himself and his King. Even after things began to fall apart around him, Macbeth voluntarily sought out the witches to learn more.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Like snakes, the witches of Macbeth poison Macbeth's mind and spread illness upon him. The tragic events in Macbeth are not primarily Macbeth's or Lady Macbeth's fault but rather the responsibility of the witches. They infect Macbeth with wickedness, send evil spirits to Lady Macbeth, and manipulate Macbeth with ambiguous prophecies. Shunned by society and living in solitude, these three weird sisters hide in the background using Macbeth as their puppet. Unbeknownst to all, Macbeth was not the root cause of the tragic events and time will never be free as long as these witches have the ability to influence whomever they choose. Perhaps that is the reason instability continues in the throne for the years that follow.…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare’s witches, or the “three weird sisters” (1.3.32) serve several purposes. With their persuasive techniques and ability to either see or influence the future, their most important role seems to be their power to influence decision-making and cause the initial deterioration of Macbeth. By providing five prophecies, the witches “provide Macbeth’s ‘call to action’ and drive his thirst for power”, (Jamieson). However, by not telling Macbeth the full truth, they give him false hope, and expectations that ultimately lead to his demise. The witches influence him so greatly, that without their presence, it is possible that Macbeth would never have even committed the murder of King Duncan.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    After Macbeth kills King Duncan he starts becoming and feeling more guilty, paranoid and even more greedy to keep his kinship and power. Immediately after killing Duncan,…

    • 1876 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Three Witches, also known as the Weïrd Sisters, are the other main characters of the play besides Macbeth and his lady wife. They give Macbeth the very set of prophecies that causes the ratiocination behind several events to be put into action-- namely, Macbeth killing the King, Duncan, and taking over to become king himself. This, of course, would not have occurred without Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth. While Macbeth wanted to remain neutral and let fate take its course,…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There is a demonic aspect of the weird sisters, but their powers are too limited for them to be seen…as full fledges demons. They occupy a kid of twilight territory between human and supernatural evildoing…Shakespeare carefully avoids portraying a Macbeth caught in the grip of irresistible demonic forces: the weird sisters malice is evident in all their trafficking with him, yet no where are we shown invincible proof of their power over him.…

    • 662 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fatal Influence On Macbeth

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The three witches and their dark powers represent the supernatural forces. Lady Macbeth acts as Macbeth’s external force and pushes him towards the bloody…

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    macbeth: influence

    • 1157 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth; Many people throughout the play attempt to manipulate others in order to fit their own needs and desires. prime example of this is with Lady Macbeth. She uses her influence with her husband to convince to murder King Duncan. A second, and major, example of manipulation in Macbeth is with the three witches. They give the prophecy to Macbeth, knowing that he and his wife will plan to murder King Duncan in order to fulfill it. The play encounters influence and manipulation from Lady Macbeth and the three weird sisters. Do to those characters questions begin to stir up. Such as who was the cause for everything Macbeth did? Would there be a play without neither of the characters? In opinion there would not be a play without neither of Lady Macbeth or the three witches. Thus, stating that Macbeth would have never became a Tyrant.…

    • 1157 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Walter Clyde Curry discusses that the witches are demonic spirits, not hallucinations and that their main purpose is to bring the nature of evil into Macbeth. Curry states that the witches are just lost souls that belong to the devil, or perhaps even the devil himself although in the form of witches. Inevitably, the roles of the witches are mostly to cause tragedy and affect the entire play but also to show the good versus the evil. The use of their powers also indicates their connection with the supernatural and coming straight from Satan. Other than arguing about the witches' origin, Curry…

    • 1914 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The witches could foretell the future, they can add temptation, and influence Macbeth, but they could not control his destiny. Macbeth created his own misery when he kills people. This causes him to become insecure, because of the reasons for his actions, which in turn causes him to commit more murders. The witches give great enticement, but in the end, it's Macbeth's decision to fall for the temptation. The three Witches are only responsible for introducing the ideas to Macbeth, and putting the ideas in his head, but they are not responsible for his actions throughout the play. However it's more realistic to believe that Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's ambition, and his own responsibilities ended it for him, not the witches. Lady Macbeth is shown early as an ambitious woman who can manipulate Macbeth easily. This is shown in the line That I may pour my spirits in thine ear(I,V,26). She is selfless, and wants what is best for her husband. Before the speech that Lady Macbeth gives in act one scene five, Macbeth does not want to go through with the killing of the king. She manipulates Macbeth's self-esteem by playing on his manliness and his bravery. Macbeth has the final say in whether or not to go through with the killing, but he loves Lady Macbeth and wants to make her happy. Lady Macbeth is the dominating individual in the relationship. It seems that she can convince him to do anything as long as she pushes the right buttons. Macbeth's ambition is present before the witch's prophesies. He would never have thought seriously about killing Duncan without the witches. But the combination of his ambitious and the witch's prophecies leads him to kill the king. Lady Macbeth even says,Thou wouldst be great/ Art not without ambition.(I,V,80-81). Macbeth also says, his besetting sin: I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition. Macbeth's ambition is shown while he waits to have a succession of kings after him. Macbeth has a lot of ambition in him…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Change In Macbeth

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the play, Macbeth, written by Shakespeare many mysterious things happen. In Scotland, a war rages on with Macbeth on the front lines. King Duncan hears of his bravery and decides to reward the bravery by making him the new Thane of Cawdor because of his traitorous. When news gets to Lady Macbeth she has mischievous thoughts to become the queen. Then hears news of King Duncan staying at the Macbeth household that night. The story of Macbeth is full of greed and anger. Macbeth is very greedy all the time, because of this greed he is anger at everyone trying to take what he has. Lady macbeth is also very greedy and angry. At the end of the story Lady Macbeth…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth

    • 2001 Words
    • 9 Pages

    To begin, the first apparition described is of an armed head it warns Macbeth of Macduff. In this quote the apparition say Macbeth’s name three times, three being the number of the evil and very powerful. Further on in the play, Macbeth finds his way to the witches' cave and demands to know what lies ahead for him. The three witches predict what he is going to ask and produce the first apparition which is an armed head. The quote states, “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! ; beware the Thane of…

    • 2001 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Essay

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages

    * The witches and their predication play a significant role in Macbeth’s downfall. Throughout the play, the witches causing someone to believe a un truth and fooling Macbeth by giving knowledge of the future, bringing out his inner desire for power and swaying him to take evil action.…

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays