Macbeth- the Weyward Sisters

English Macbeth- The Weyward Sisters Discuss the constitution of the common chord witches who fore pronounce Macbeths future. The common chord Witches in William Shakespeares play Macbeth (1603-1607) lend an element of charming and fortune telling to the play. These three witches represent the personification of evil, conflict and nuthouse in an already hectic story. The rife witch, Hecate- the Greek goddess of the moon and later witchcraft- and her two dramatizeing witches- Graymalkin and Paddock- predict General Macbeths rise to the throne.The witches are described as having beards but appearing hu troops. Also cognize as the weyward sisters- as quoted in Macbeth- these old, ramshackle prophetesses recite Fair is resistant and foul is fair Hover through the murkiness and filthy air( 1112-13). This line sets up the play with disbelief and confusion as the line suggests that tables go away turn. Double, double toil and trouble (4110-11) the three witches chant- makin g it clear that these witches render trouble, what is unclear is whether they are changing and imperative fate or if they are tho ensuring its success.What do these prophecies represent, what clues does Shakespeare provide and what conclusion (if any) does he allow his audience to come to? whole hail, Macbeth Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor All hail, Macbeth That shalt be index hereafter (1311-12) The power of man For none of woman born Shall ravish Macbeth (4188-89) The witches prophecies ask Macbeth ordain overshadow and that no man of natural turn in will cause his declivity. The prophecies foreshadow the ontogeny of the plot, they hint to the audience the likely rush of the story and they give legitimacy to the closing terminus of the plot.They give righteousness to the outcome because its draw. Shakespeare hints throughout the play of the expected downfall of the murderous King Macbeth. The second prophecy For none of woman born Shall impairment Macbeth hints t hat an unnatural birthed man can erase or overthrow Macbeth. Macbeth is later be-headed in a duel against Macduff- retribution for the sidesplitting of his family including King Duncan. The audience come to a conclusion that good is returned- that fair is no longer foul. The wayward sisters and the death of Macbeth illustrates the lease to follow good rather than conduct the racetrack to evil.The audience has seen the effects of Macbeths tortured soul- the death of his beloved married woman and even his own- emphasizing the need to loose a guilty conscience. Was the ambiguity of the witches prophecies obligatory to the development of the plays plot and key themes? Hecate, Graymalkin and Paddock foretell the uprising of Macbeth and say him of his future and what he must do in order to pursue his destiny as king. The tercet Witches never tell Macbeth to kill King Duncan, they merely imply that Kind Duncan must die for Macbeth to puzzle king.The witches set a path for him tha t only(prenominal) he may choose to follow should he wish. Through temptation of original success he kills King Duncan and follows the path to destruction. Macbeth is non psychologically capable of animate with the guilt of murder, however the Three Witches prophecies arrive at given Macbeth the assurance that he will succeed- blanketing his guilt and giving him the confidence he needs to commit the crime. Had the witches kept their prophecies to themselves, Macbeth would not have enough confidence, or hike from Lady Macbeth, to kill King Duncan.However in that respect would be a lack of supernatural and excitement in the play. Macbeth is unique because of its undependable witches, unreal fascinations of King Duncans and Banquos ghosts and Lady Macbeths blood on her hand- individualising this play to numerous regicide stories. Word Count- 711 Bibliography Stewart, M. Ancestry. com The Three Witches. Published 1998 by Zimmerman. Accessed 14/11/11 At http//homepages. rootsweb. ancestry. com/maggieoh/Macbeth/witches. htm PotW Org. Poem of the Week- Macbeth. unsung publisher or author. Accessed 17/11/11 At http//www. potw. org/archive/potw283. hypertext mark-up language