The Witches In MacBeth

The witches in Macbeth serve to advance the story, reveal human weakness, heighten the tension and give the audience a hint of things to come, but they do not control Macbeth or anyone else in the play. The only power they have over Macbeth is their ability to reinforce an idea that was already in his head. Their role is made clear when Hecate speaks to them,

“ And which is worse, all you have done

Hath been but for a wayward son.” ( act 3 scene 5 )

She suggests that they do not have the power to make him do the evil and mischief that they want. Nor do they need that power. Macbeth is fully capable of doing all the mischief and evil on his own.

How do individuals control others? How would the witches control Macbeth? This can usually be done by physical and/or emotional force. Fear and threats, rewards and praise work to control others. These tools work to different degrees on different people. So much of what is called control depends on the person that is being controlled.

The promise of a throne may send some people to their knees while others will take to their heels. When the witches hold out their promises to Macbeth the only surety they have is a knowledge of his ambition and his need

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But, again the witches have given Macbeth what

he thought he needed. He has no trusted friends left, and even his wife has fallen into a pit of madness. How can a man not be born of woman, and woods do not walk. Soon he believes that everyone is out to get him. They warn, predict and tempt, but they do not control Macbeth. This is the only way that he can see to reach his “Ultimate Goal”. He has fought bravely for king and country, but when the first prophecy comes true, and he is made Thane of Cawdor , he says to himself,

“ The first step toward the ultimate goal, the throne. The decisions are his as well as the sins of his deeds. He only needs the suggestions of things that might be his to push him on. Beware the Thane of Fife!” ( act 4 scene 1 )

Had he listened carefully to the first warning, he undoubtably would have found a way to kill Macduff.

Time and again, the witches appear in the play. In the end this was all they needed to be sure of. Macbeth has spun a web that has trapped him in a paranoid mess. The witches are only too happy to oblige.

Approximate Word count = 971
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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