Macbeth pt 3

Macbeth pt 3

1. THE WITCHES

   • Their character remains undeveloped and we never truly find out their motive for wanting to destroy Macbeth. To the audeince of that time, witch craft was a much more realistic topic than modern audiences. The witches only appear in 4 scenes in the play but those few appearances contribute to the evil and supernatural elements of the play.
   • EVIL: Shakespeare opens the play with the supernatural, we see the witches before we are introduced to anyone else. They are linked to the powerful strength of thunder and lightning, suggesting chaos.They call themselves the 'weird sisters' and the audience immediately knows nothing good will come from whatever they link themselves to. The evil of the witches is shown in a1s5 when one fo the witches describes how she would punish someone who would not give up her chestnuts; she intends to kill the Woman's husband. The punishment is far worse than what she herself has suffered. Banquo's desription of them also adds to the supernatural as he says 'they look not like the inhabitants o the earth'
   • In Act 3 we are introduce to Hecate, she is angry at the first witch for taunting Macbeth without her. It is at this point the audience's prsumptions are proven true. Hecate makes it clear that the wirches intentions is to completely destroy Macbeth

2. BANQUO

   • In Holinshed's chronicles of Scotland Banquo is Macbeth's partner in crime and actually helps Macbeth commit the murder of Duncan but in Shakespeare's adaptation he makes Banquo innocent; infact Banquo also suffers at the hands of the 'evil tyrant' Macbeth. The reason of this change was because King James I was descended from Banquo. From the beginning of the play we gather that Banquo like Macbeth is a brave solider; he is described as 'Noble Banquo' . Banquo is with Macbeth when they meet the witches. Banquo warns that although the prohecies sound good there may be a 'consequence'. Banquo later says ' I dreamed of the weird sisters'; this idea of being open is highly contrasted by Macbeths lie of 'I think not of them'. After Duncan's murder Banquo suggests they investigate it properly by saying 'let us meet' and discuss this 'bloody' regicide, even though he already suspects Macbeth is involved.

3. Kingship

   • The importance of kingship is explored all through out the play; we see how scotland suffers when it is ruled by a man who is not appointed by God. Duncan is a king by divine right as you can see when he is refferred as 'The Lords anointed temple'. Macbeth was not appointed by God so he can not trust the people around him and he has to soy on his subjects to find out what is going on. Macbeth's reign brings strife to Scotland, Macduff says every day 'New widoes howl, new orphans cry and new sorrows strike'. The rightful king should posses 'King-becoming graces' which includes: justice, temperance and verity.