Portrayed as repulsive and bearded hags, the three witches play a significant role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. One tends to take for granted the context and audience in which this piece was created for, ergo the aura the witches brought to 1600’s English society. Presently, the persona of witches are far away fairy tales. By having witches in his play, one would assume that he was risking his success, which is truth to some extent. In fact, Shakespeare needed characters so bluntly vile to create his masterpiece. The witches provided a vehicle to move the plot, tension and ultimately blurred contrast. “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble.” (4.1.1-2) In any exceptional play, a vehicle is but a necessary component of plot movement. Needless to say,
…show more content…
In 1597, he wrote Daemonologie, an in depth step by step instructional on how to hunt and execute witches. In day to day society, witches were viewed as earth dwelling pagan worshipers sent by the devil to arouse corruption. Though, oddly enough, audiences were intrigued by witches in plays, until 1604 witchcraft wasn't considered a capitol offense. It was believed that they could foresee the future, control weather and call upon the dead. In order to unlock their powers they had to dig up graves for body parts to make potions, unbaptized babies were especially prized. For many in a 17th century audience, witches provided a thrill in which they still do in present horror movies. Also because nearly all of England was Christian at the time having supernatural antagonists appealed to them on a more personal level. Day in and day out the populous feared for their lives and thus surrounded themselves in counter active superstitious practices. With the witches playing a significant figure in Macbeth, a unique tension was created which only added to the masterpieces
In 1597, he wrote Daemonologie, an in depth step by step instructional on how to hunt and execute witches. In day to day society, witches were viewed as earth dwelling pagan worshipers sent by the devil to arouse corruption. Though, oddly enough, audiences were intrigued by witches in plays, until 1604 witchcraft wasn't considered a capitol offense. It was believed that they could foresee the future, control weather and call upon the dead. In order to unlock their powers they had to dig up graves for body parts to make potions, unbaptized babies were especially prized. For many in a 17th century audience, witches provided a thrill in which they still do in present horror movies. Also because nearly all of England was Christian at the time having supernatural antagonists appealed to them on a more personal level. Day in and day out the populous feared for their lives and thus surrounded themselves in counter active superstitious practices. With the witches playing a significant figure in Macbeth, a unique tension was created which only added to the masterpieces