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What Was The Witches' Role In Macbeth? - Online Essays

What Was The Witches' Role In Macbeth?

?
In Shakespeare's time, many people were superstitious; they believed
that that their lives were strongly influenced, if not dictated by fate. They
also thought that the world was full of supernatural creatures, such as witches,
ghosts, and many other such beings. Shakespeare incorporated these aspects of
belief in his play Mac Beth. The witches, although accurately predicting what
would occur, i.e., Mac Beth would be king, they did not specify how their
prophecies would be realized.

The witches did possess some sort of power (unless they were privy to
some political information which MacBeth was not aware of), otherwise, how could
they have known that MacBeth had been appointed ...

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that he is now the Thane of
Cawdor. However, almost immediately, he starts thinking about how to bring
about his rule as king.

"{Aside} Two truths are told,
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.
{Aside} This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth? I am the thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings;
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man that function
Is smothered in surmise; and nothing is
But what is not." (1.3.127-141)

MacBeth seems to be fantasizing about having a direct role in Duncan's
downfall. He ...

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What Was The Witches' Role In Macbeth?. (2004, May 10). Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/What-Was-The-Witches-Role-Macbeth/7608

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 5/10/2004 04:36:52 PM
Category: Arts
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1043
Pages: 4

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