“Look not like the inhabitants of the earth, and yet are on it” (Shakespeare 17). The ideology and belief of witches sprouted in the 1600’s when women would be accused of summoning evil spirits or harming human victims (Witches 167). King James, the king in 1609, was infatuated with witchcraft ever since he “became convinced that witches were secretly escorting his fleet, traveling in magical vessels made out of kitchen sieves” (Demons 191). Witchcraft was a feared yet popular topic in England and due to King James’ disdainful interest in witchcraft, Shakespeare established the three witches in Macbeth as dreadful beings to satisfy the king (Witches 167). The witches in Macbeth play a prominent role throughout the play and act as a catalyst
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However, they were able to firmly grasp onto Macbeth and was able to deceive him multiple times. Therefore, the witches led Macbeth to fall by his own demise from misleading illusions (Paul 1).
Macbeth was considered as a loyal, intelligent, and brave general (Shakespeare 9) and individuals with these characteristics are not suppose to be deceived so quickly. However, Macbeth might have been completely convinced when the witches correctly named his Thane of Cawdor. With their given powers, the witches were able to show Macbeth his future and he presumably assumed that his future would be bright with no downfalls (Shakespeare 31).
Lady Macbeth could be analyzed as a possible witch as well because she fits the description of a witch according to the standards in the 1600’s.(Adelman 39). In the Macbeth household, Lady Macbeth seems to be the driving force and is capable of controlling her husband (Shakespeare 33). In addition, she corrupts the order of the sexes and asks evil spirits to “unsex” her (Shakespeare …show more content…
Macbeth would have remained loyal to King Duncan and would have lived a long long with his friends and family. It could be a possibility that Macbeth thought the witches were a part of his imagination. “Macbeth thinks about a certain thing. He may wish it true. He may fear it will be true. There follows quickly a state of rapture or ecstasy or hallucination which pictures the thing hoped or feared so vividly that he assumes it to be true, acts as though it were true, and is thus brought to ruin.” Due to the appearance of dead Banquo (Shakespeare 101), Macbeth started to question himself and start to believe that the witches are imaginary because it would be impossible for a dead person to appear in front of him (Paul
However, they were able to firmly grasp onto Macbeth and was able to deceive him multiple times. Therefore, the witches led Macbeth to fall by his own demise from misleading illusions (Paul 1).
Macbeth was considered as a loyal, intelligent, and brave general (Shakespeare 9) and individuals with these characteristics are not suppose to be deceived so quickly. However, Macbeth might have been completely convinced when the witches correctly named his Thane of Cawdor. With their given powers, the witches were able to show Macbeth his future and he presumably assumed that his future would be bright with no downfalls (Shakespeare 31).
Lady Macbeth could be analyzed as a possible witch as well because she fits the description of a witch according to the standards in the 1600’s.(Adelman 39). In the Macbeth household, Lady Macbeth seems to be the driving force and is capable of controlling her husband (Shakespeare 33). In addition, she corrupts the order of the sexes and asks evil spirits to “unsex” her (Shakespeare …show more content…
Macbeth would have remained loyal to King Duncan and would have lived a long long with his friends and family. It could be a possibility that Macbeth thought the witches were a part of his imagination. “Macbeth thinks about a certain thing. He may wish it true. He may fear it will be true. There follows quickly a state of rapture or ecstasy or hallucination which pictures the thing hoped or feared so vividly that he assumes it to be true, acts as though it were true, and is thus brought to ruin.” Due to the appearance of dead Banquo (Shakespeare 101), Macbeth started to question himself and start to believe that the witches are imaginary because it would be impossible for a dead person to appear in front of him (Paul