Throughout the play Macbeth, the witches are conveyed as a dark mysterious force that spark interest and fear into the characters. After appearing early within Macbeth, rather than directly interfering, they manipulate characters like a puppet, showing they are far more intelligent and sinister than perceived.
In the extract, the witches clearly incite Macbeth's ambivalence as he is desperate and eager to know more. This is evident as he uses an imperative verb "stay," to command the witches, illustrating that he is interested in their prophecies. This is emphasized as he says "tell me more," clearly stating that he would like to "know more." Macbeth's curiosity remains to his stirring ambition, which is slowly being ignited within him. Moreover, Shakespeare conveys the witches as mysterious as Macbeth calls them "imperfect speakers." This is ironic as Macbeth remains skeptical despite his curiosity. However, his curiosity in this scene is ironic as he later goes on to trust the witches despite being previously calling their words "imperfect." Throughout the play, the witches consistently equivocate, telling half-truths to deceive. Macbeth at this point presumably understands this. Thus showing Macbeth's future downfall was avoidable. Banquo and Macbeth are skeptical as Banquo questions "which have thy vanished?" Banquo understands the supernatural nature of the witches, ultimately yet Shakespeare conveys the witches as mysterious and alluring to highlight Macbeth's picture. The reader is presented with two sides of Macbeth, one that is not inquisitive and the other that is suspicious. Ultimately, this makes the reader question the path Macbeth may take.Towards the middle of the play, Shakespeare emphasizes attitudes towards the supernatural and their effects. Macbeth's fate and course of action seems sealed and set for ruin upon killing Duncan. After the murder of Duncan, there is a suitable scene with a tense comical relief. While drunk, Porter describes himself as the "porter of hell-gate". The use of a metaphor illustrates Macbeth's castle is hell. By killing Duncan, Macbeth destroyed the natural order and invited evil. This is supported as Ross and an old man discuss horses eating each other. This "said they ate each other". The unnatural phenomena illustrates the imbalance in the world. Without the rightful ruler, the order of Scotland is clouded and plunged into chaos. Ultimately, Shakespeare conveys the importance of consequences of Regicide. He illustrates to educate an audience that only those rightful to the throne can rule.
Shakespeare also reveals the witches' true intentions. Porter states "and the nature of their supernatural abilities. Porter says "Here's an equivocator that could swear in both scales against both scales". The witches are equivocators and tell half-truths. Their deceit is so honest that they can say opposing statements while remaining truthful. Porter later also talks about another sinner "damned to hell", "a farmer who hanged himself in the expectation of plenty". The metaphor refers to Macbeth, who ambitiously desires to become king. Yet once king he realizes it's not as good as he thought. Macbeth eventually loses everything including his life. Porter states he is a farmer who "hanged himself". Shakespeare uses this metaphor to portray the contrast between fate and free will. Macbeth's ultimate demise was not fate but his own doing.Towards the end, Shakespeare reveals the deceitful nature of the witches, conveying their power in manipulation. The witches tell Macbeth of his own death, "witches equivocate Macbeth's death. This is evident as it says "Macbeth shall be defeated by none of women born" with an image of a 'bloody child'. The image of a 'bloody child' represents Macduff's birth, covered in blood as he was born through C-section. Ultimately, when this prophecy is revealed alongside the other apparitions, it's clear to the reader that Macbeth is to be faced with death. The witches' apparitions were not lies but rather truths told so deceitfully and cunningly that Macbeth was never guided to his own fate in the end. When faced with his fate, Macbeth never shows a valiant final effort. Despite being a coward, Shakespeare makes the reader pity Macbeth as he says, "I will not yield." Macbeth, knowing that Macduff is the one fated to kill him, still accepts the challenge. Essentially, Macbeth makes a last effort to go against his own fate, and despite losing, Shakespeare portrays honour and partial redemption through his courage. Ultimately, Shakespeare conveys the supernatural as a mysterious, overwhelming force that causes moral decay.
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