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Two early scenes (Act 1: 1 & 3) deal with Macbeth's initial contact with the three witches. They confuse
him with promises which are true and yet appear to be contradictory.
In this way, the audience is introduced to the theme of fate and the supernatural. Be aware, however, that
Scene 1 was probably not written by William Shakespeare but was a later addition to the play!
WITCHES & WITCHCRAFT
Witches and witchcraft played a natural role in medieval society.
Life in medieval times tended to be very short, with the average life-span for the townspeople being only
about 29 years. Cause of death was mainly squalid and unhygienic conditions, poor food, disease and
violence.
Women particularly were prone to short lives, often dying during childbirth or shortly thereafter --
post-natal disease and loss of blood being the chief reasons for their deaths. It was common for a man,
therefore, to have two or three wives during his lifetime.
Elderly people were usually a country phenomenon, largely because country folk had access to better food
and cleaner water. Towns were quite literally cesspits whereas the country villages were much cleaner
and healthier.
Country women tended therefore to live much longer and, in doing so, hoarded up masses of knowledge
about natural herbal medicines -- both for healing and for poisoning.
These women also acted as doctors in a pre-medical society. They then passed this knowledge on to
their daughters who, in turn, became medicine women for their villages.
Because many of these country women were old, they showed typical signs of post-menopausal aging:
facial hair in the form of moustaches and beards, long noses with warts, and a wrinkled skin.
Because the menfolk often died younger through accidents or fights, most of these women were widows.
They therefore wore black clothing and lived alone -- often with cats for company.
They came to be termed witches. Indeed, are not all the aspects mentioned above still seen as common
attributes of witches -- even today?
These women were probably skilled in magic of both the black and white forms. If someone needed a
blessing, the witch would be consulted. If someone needed a curse, the witch could help.
It was a time of superstition and these old women preyed on this to make a living. So did the priests who
charged people for their magical trick of turning bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus at the
mass.
It was also believed that witches had a remarkable ability to see into the future, with the result that they
tended to be consulted by everyone -- especially by the rich and powerful.
Even kings hesitated to make any major decisions without first consulting the oracles, who were usually
women.
It was considered a major crime to kill a witch. Indeed, it was originally so great a crime that it demanded
the death sentence. Witches were therefore relatively immune from revenge.
Macbeth is not surprised when he sees the three witches and he immediately believes everything they tell
him. He still does not doubt them even after their so-called prophecies start to go wrong for him -- and
he certainly never considers taking revenge on them.
The very honourable Banquo also believes what the witches tell him, although he rightly realises that their
prophecies might not come true in precisely the manner in which they expected.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
"When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
That will be ere the set of sun."
- What words tell us that the three witches knew each other? (2)
[Need help?]
What about, "When shall we three meet again"? After all, if they are going to meet again,
they must surely have met before!
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- To what are the witches referring when they speak of the "hurlyburly"? (4)
[Need help?]
"Hurlyburly" means "confusion". The witches are referring to the widespread political
confusion that was happening right then:
- The Norwegian forces attacking Scotland along several fronts;
- Scottish thanes leading their forces to the defence of the king, while some of the Thanes were proving
treacherous by joining forces with the Vikings against their own Scottish people;
- Warriors like Macbeth remaining loyal heroes but following an agenda of disloyalty
afterwards.
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- How can the battle be both "lost and won"? (4)
[Need help?]
Scotland would initially lose many of the battles, and then defeat the enemy with the help of loyal and
brave generals like Macbeth, Macduff and Banquo.
But, having won the battles and defeated the Vikings, men like Macbeth would then turn treacherous and
murder their own king.
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"I come, Graymalkin!
Paddock calls.
Anon."
- What are "Graymalkin" and "Paddock"? What do they have in
common? (4)
[Need help?]
"Graymalkin" is the name of a cat while "Paddock" is the name of a frog.
Witches were known for having what were termed "familiars" -- creatures like cats and frogs which
accompanied them as pets and with whom they held conversations.
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MORE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS:
What is the effect of starting a play with a witch scene? What effect would it have had in Shakespeare's
time? (6)
[Need help?]
Witches were immensely feared because of their apparent supernatural power. They were therefore
considered to be a serious force -- one which would have brought a chill to the blood of most people who
attended the Elizabethan theatre.
To begin a play with a witch scene would, therefore, have sent a major murmur of fear through the
audience. Indeed, if the actors had carried staves, then merely pointing these at the audience would have
elicited screams of panic and sent people diving for cover.
What an ideal way to start a play of deception and equivocation!
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The witches introduce a theme of contradiction.
- How many contradictory words can you find in the opening scene? (4)
[Need help?]
Macbeth is a play of contradictions, such as:
- A brave and loyal general becomes a murderer;
- The witches make several prophecies which come true and yet do not come true;
- King Duncan at first appears as a fair and just monarch but then suddenly breaks the rules of
succession by appointing his own son as heir to the throne -- which in turn initiates a bitter political
struggle and a series of murders;
- The commanding and overpowering Lady Macbeth suffers mental trauma and eventually commits
suicide.
In short, Macbeth is a play where what seems fair becomes foul, and what appears foul becomes fair.
Can you think of any other contradictions in this play?
In this scene, however, you could consider the words: "When the battle's lost and won"; "Fair
is foul and foul is fair."
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