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 satisfactory without considering its most famous symbols of evil the coven of witches whose interactions with Macbeth play such a vital role in his thinking about his own life. Banquo and Macbeth severalise them as something supernatural, part of the landscape precisely not fully humane inhabitants of it. They have malicious intentions and prophetic motives. And yet they are not spry agents in the sense that they do nothing other than talk and call visions and potions. The witches have no power to compel. If we are to explore the significance of these witches we moldiness do so by treating them as vital poetic symbols in the play, essential manifestations of the good atmosphere of Macbeths world. The most obvious interpretation of the witches is to becharm them as manifestations of evil in the world. They exist to tempt and torment people, to contend their faith in themselves and their society. They work on Macbeth by equivocation, that is, by enigmatical promises of some future state. These promises come true, but not in the guidance that the victim originally believed. The witches thus make their appeal to Macbeths and Banquos desire to simplicity 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 existing inclination to force ones will onto events in order to regularize the future to fit one deepest desires. Banquos importance in the play stems, in large 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 just now tis strange, And oftentimes to win us to our harm The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles to betrays In deepest consequence. (1.3.120-124) Macbeth cannot act on this ken because his desires (kept alive by his ac tive 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 teaching 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, Why hath it given me earnest of success