The three witches

Definition

The three witches, also known as the Weird Sisters, are supernatural characters in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' who prophesy the rise and fall of Macbeth. They embody the themes of fate and free will, suggesting that while they predict events, the choices made by Macbeth and other characters ultimately determine their outcomes. Their presence introduces an element of the supernatural, raising questions about whether fate is predetermined or influenced by individual actions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The witches greet Macbeth with titles he has not yet attained, which sparks his ambition and sets off a chain of events leading to his downfall.
2. Their chant 'Double, double toil and trouble' emphasizes their role in creating chaos and confusion throughout the play.
3. The witches symbolize the darker aspects of human nature and the moral ambiguity surrounding ambition and power.
4. They appear at key moments in the play, often foreshadowing important events and reflecting the turmoil in Macbeth's mind.
5. Shakespeare's use of the witches reflects societal beliefs about witchcraft during his time, contributing to the play's themes of fear and superstition.

Review Questions

• How do the three witches influence Macbeth's actions throughout the play?
  • The three witches influence Macbeth by planting the seeds of ambition when they prophesy his rise to power. Their predictions create an obsession in him, prompting him to take drastic actions to fulfill their words. This manipulation shows how external forces can impact one's decisions, ultimately leading to his tragic downfall and raising questions about fate versus free will.
• Discuss how the three witches serve as a representation of fate and free will within 'Macbeth.'
  • The three witches embody both fate and free will by foretelling Macbeth's future while simultaneously allowing him the choice to act upon these predictions. Their prophecies can be seen as a predetermined path, yet it is Macbeth's own choices that lead him to his tragic end. This duality highlights the tension between destiny and individual agency, prompting audiences to ponder whether he was doomed from the start or if he could have chosen a different path.
• Evaluate the impact of the supernatural elements introduced by the three witches on the overall theme of ambition in 'Macbeth.'
  • The supernatural elements brought in by the three witches amplify the theme of ambition by suggesting that external forces can manipulate human desires. Their prophecies ignite Macbeth's latent ambition, leading him down a dark path filled with moral corruption and violence. This interaction between supernatural influence and personal ambition raises complex questions about accountability and whether ambition is inherently destructive or merely exacerbated by outside temptations.

Related terms

Prophecy: A prediction about the future that often carries a sense of inevitability, as seen in the witches' declarations to Macbeth.

Fate: The idea that events are predetermined and unchangeable, which contrasts with the concept of free will in 'Macbeth.'

Free Will: The ability to make choices unconstrained by fate or destiny, highlighted by Macbeth's decisions following the witches' prophecies.