Witches: are they real or just fairy tale; “Speak, if you can: what are you?” (Crowther). The first performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth was performed in April of 1610. Today generations are still reading this literary work of art. The witches in Macbeth are believed to be directly related to the beliefs of King James; he was a known believer in witchcraft during the Shakespearian Era in England (Mabillard). In the beginning of Macbeth, the witches trick Macbeth into believing that he was destined to become the king. By pulling in the factor of the witches, Shakespeare is alluding to a Mythological Greek goddess. ”William Shakespeare raises the stature of the witches in ‘Macbeth’ by connecting them symbolically with the classical goddess Hecate,”
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Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth in a letter what he has heard from the witches; while reading the letter, Lady Macbeth becomes very excited and prepares to take the prophecy into her own hands by making Macbeth murder King Duncan. Macbeth could have ignored what the witches told him and he would have never killed the king. The witches also serve as a way to generate mood, imagery, and atmosphere. “When Macbeth hears the witches hail him King of Scotland, he knows immediately that they are speaking to his desire,” (Cohen). The witches are Macbeth’s first major influence because during Shakespeare’s era, the power and existence of witches was widely believed and accepted. The opening scene is ominous and foreboding because of the witches and their evil planning that is taking place. The witches’ motivation for tricking Macbeth was to get the satisfaction and pleasure out of the actions he took because of the prophecy. In Macbeth, Hecate praises the witches for a job well done and tells them to enjoy the moment. “Oh well done! I commend your pains, And every one shall share I’ th’ gains. And now about the cauldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in,” …show more content…
“Whether the age of Shakespeare still believed in ghosts and witches, is a matter of perfect indifference for the justification of the use which in Hamlet and Macbeth he has made of preexisting traditions,” (Schlegel). The witches also reinforce the cultural beliefs of the Elizabethans; they felt that supernatural beings or powers played a fundamental part in their lives. Literary critics such as Schlegel and Cohen believe that the ghosts are a part of something more than just make believe or fiction. They believe that the ghosts are a part of Shakespeare’s life time and Shakespeare just wants to bring in those factors from the real world beliefs of his time in history to his
Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth in a letter what he has heard from the witches; while reading the letter, Lady Macbeth becomes very excited and prepares to take the prophecy into her own hands by making Macbeth murder King Duncan. Macbeth could have ignored what the witches told him and he would have never killed the king. The witches also serve as a way to generate mood, imagery, and atmosphere. “When Macbeth hears the witches hail him King of Scotland, he knows immediately that they are speaking to his desire,” (Cohen). The witches are Macbeth’s first major influence because during Shakespeare’s era, the power and existence of witches was widely believed and accepted. The opening scene is ominous and foreboding because of the witches and their evil planning that is taking place. The witches’ motivation for tricking Macbeth was to get the satisfaction and pleasure out of the actions he took because of the prophecy. In Macbeth, Hecate praises the witches for a job well done and tells them to enjoy the moment. “Oh well done! I commend your pains, And every one shall share I’ th’ gains. And now about the cauldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in,” …show more content…
“Whether the age of Shakespeare still believed in ghosts and witches, is a matter of perfect indifference for the justification of the use which in Hamlet and Macbeth he has made of preexisting traditions,” (Schlegel). The witches also reinforce the cultural beliefs of the Elizabethans; they felt that supernatural beings or powers played a fundamental part in their lives. Literary critics such as Schlegel and Cohen believe that the ghosts are a part of something more than just make believe or fiction. They believe that the ghosts are a part of Shakespeare’s life time and Shakespeare just wants to bring in those factors from the real world beliefs of his time in history to his