Role of witches

Role of witches

1. Thesis: the prophecies that the witches provided lead to the destruction of Macbeth's character

2. Thane of Glamis

   • Humble
     • "Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: the greatest is behind. Thanks for your pains"
   • Loyal
     • Lady Macbeth
       • Macbeth wrote letter to Lady Macbeth and told the truth
     • Scotland and King
       • fought and won
         • Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof, Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point, rebellious arm 'gainst arm, Curbing his lavish spirit; and to conclude, The victory fell on us.
   • Valiant
     • "for brave macbeth (well he deserves that name). Disdaining fortune, with his brandish steel, which smok'd with bloody execution, like valour's minion, cary'd out his passage" (1.2.16=19)

3. King hereafter

   • Impulsive
     • Murder of Macduffs family
       • From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand.
   • Cold hearted
     • Lady macbeth death 5.5 20
   • Fearless 5.3
     • Goes to apparitions
       • Enter text here
         • Warned of Thane of Fife
         • Nobody born from a woman will harm Macbeth
         • Macbeth won't be defeated until Birnam Wood marches towards Dunsinane Hill
   • Egotistical
     • What’s he That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none.
   • Lonely
     • 5.5
   • Unhappy 5.5 2
     • 5.5 3 48-49

4. Thane of Cawdor

   • Traitor
     • Framed guards
       • Oh, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them.
     • Kills duncan
       • Being unprepared, Our will became the servant to defect, Which else should free have wrought.
   • Ambitous
     • "this supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me the earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor" (1.3.134-137)
   • Guilty
     • One cried, “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other, As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands. List'ning their fear I could not say “Amen,” When they did say “God bless us!”
     • nightmares
       • Still it cried, “Sleep no more!” to all the house. “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”
   • Hesitant
     • Scared that if he kills Duncan, he'll give someone else the idea to do the same
       • But in these cases We still have judgment here, that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th' inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice To our own lips.
     • Doesn't want to kill Duncan because he is nothing but a good king
       • First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off;
   • Paranoid
     • Dagger hallucinations
       • Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
     • Sees blood on his hands
       • Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?
     • Hears noises
       • Whence is that knocking? How is ’t with me when every noise appals me?
   • Impressionable
     • Lady Macbeth
       • To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would, ” Like the poor cat i' th' adage?
       • challenges Macbeth's manliness
         • What beast was ’t, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man.
       • Uses love that Macbeth has for her as a form of blackmail
         • And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At what it did so freely? From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire?