Witches, Supernatural, and Evil in Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

The Witches andEvil in Macbeth No discussion of evil in Shakespeares play Macbeth would be capable without considering its most famous symbols of evil the coven of witches whose interactions with Macbeth play such a springy role in his thinking about his profess life. Banquo and Macbeth recognize them as mostthing supernatural, part of the landscape but not fully human inhabitants of it. They contrive malicious intentions and prophetic powers. And yet they are not active agents in the sense that they do nothing other than talk and offer visions and potions. The witches absorb no power to fasten. If we are to explore the significance of these witches we must do so by treating them as vital poetic symbols in the play, requirement manifestations of the moral atmosphere of Macbeths world. The most obvious interpretation of the witches is to see them as manifestations of evil in the world. They exist to tempt and torment people, to challenge their trustingness in themselves and their society. They work on Macbeth by equivocation, that is, by ambiguous promises of some succeeding(a) state. These promises come true, but not in the way that the dupe originally believed. The witches thus make their appeal to Macbeths and Banquos desire to control their own future, to direct it towards some desirable ends. They have no power to compel belief, but they can obviously appeal strongly to an already subsisting inclination to force ones will onto events in order to shape the future to fit one deepest desires. Banquos importance in the play stems, in deep part, from his different response to these witches. Like Macbeth, he is strongly tempted, but he does not let his desires outweigh his moral caution But tis strange, And ofttimes to win us to our harm The instruments of darkness signalize us truths, follow us with honest trifles to betrays In deepest consequence. (1.3.120-124) Macbeth cannot act on this awareness because his desires (kept springy by hi s active imagination and his wifes urging) constantly intrude upon his moral sensibilities. Hence, he seizes upon the news that he has just been made Thane of Cawdor, using that information to tell him what he most wants to believe, that the witches tell the truth. This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, wherefore hath it given me earnest of success