This power that they have makes them the main driving force of the play. In short, the witches control him not through witchcraft, but through granting him extra knowledge and wisdom.

He cannot think clearly because he knows of his underlying destiny. In Macbeth, Macbeth is focused on by the knowledge of the future that the witches gave him. For the third time, the witches make their presence as driving forces clear. Another example is this, “Thou losest labour: As easy mayst thou the in trenchant air with thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, to one of woman born.” (Act 5, Scene 8, Lines 11-16) This line, said by Macbeth, shows that he, in the face of death, is fearless because of the knowledge the witches gave him. Arm, arm, and out!” (Act 5, Scene 5, Lines 49-52) This is an example of how Macbeth stores his hope and faith in what the witches tell him. Fear not, till Birnam wood do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood comes toward Dunsinane. During a type of siege, Macbeth emboldens his soldiers by telling them, “To doubt the equivocation of the fiend, that lies like truth. He goes to visit them and they tell him to beware of certain signs like, Macduff, a man-not-woman born, and the Birnam wood coming near to Dunsinane. Later in the play, Macbeth, Macbeth depends upon the advice that the Witches give him. Once again, the witches are portrayed as main characters with a lot of power. In essence, Duncan is killed by the word of the witches. Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!” (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 45-50) This passage illustrates that Duncan must be killed and Macbeth must do it because of what the witches said. “The raven himself is hoarse, that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements. When Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth in a letter about his encounter with them, Lady Macbeth decides that the king, Duncan, must be killed and Macbeth must do it.

Actually, the witches tell Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines, 50-53) This prophecy of future nobility made by the witches disturbs Macbeth and makes him think. Without reading this, one could decide that Macbeth has his own, personal motive. The fact that the witches introduce Macbeth and start the play is an example of the witches’ strong presence and force in Macbeth. They mention meeting up with Macbeth, but Macbeth does not actually enter. These statements are made by witches and the effect is helped by the fact that the Elizabethans were incredibly superstitious. There to meet with Macbeth.” (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 1-8). They say, “When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurly-burly’s done. Macbeth begins with three witches who talk about meeting with Macbeth. It does not even start by introducing Duncan, the king of Scotland. The play does not begin with Macbeth fighting. The witches are the main driving force of the play. In fact, the reason that he becomes a fearless tyrant is not because he had it planned out in his own head, it is because of what the witches told him.

Macbeth, however, does not always act upon his own free, independent thoughts. All the action and happenings are a result of the choices that Macbeth makes. The language may not be clear at times, but the points being conveyed could not be clearer. A play with themes and issues that are present in all human society. This is Shakespeare shortest, but most blood filled and certainly one of his most powerful and emotional plays, providing an internal view of the personal struggles that are brought about by ambition and guilt. MACBETH By: William Shakespeare Macbeth is one of Shakespeare´s most famous and critically acclaimed plays.

Macbeth annotations pdf