William Shakespeares Macbeth Essay example -- Shakespeare Witches Mac

The Witches or Weird Sisters play a major role in the brilliant tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The role of the Weird Sisters represents that equivocal detestation in the nature of things which helps to deceive the human will. They are not guileless witches although they book some of the powers of witches. Even though they were produced by nature, they share with angels a freedom from limitation of space and time, a power to perceive the causes of things, and to conceive some distance into human minds (Kermode 1309). The Witches have malicious intentions and prophetic powers that attract Macbeth and captivate his mind. Although they have no power to hold Macbeth, the Witches appeal to Macbeths desires, eventually leading him to his tragical end.The most obvious interpretation of the Witches is to essay them as manifestations of hatred in the world. They exist to tempt and torment people, to contest their faith in themselves and their society. The Weird Sisters work on Macbeth by equivocation, that is, by ambiguous promises of some future state. These promises come true, but not in the way that the dupe originally believed. The Witches have no power to compel belief, but they can obviously appeal strongly to an already alert inclination to force a persons will onto events to modulate the future to fit deepest desires (Corson 224-229).At the beginning of Macbeth, there is no interpretation of the meaning of the storm. Dimly the audience is aware of the ongoing war, but Hecate creates an beatified trinity. Lightning, thunder, and rain all whirl into existence the cardinal hideous curses upon humanity, the three Weird Sisters (Walker 146).1Witch When shall we three meet again?In thunder, lightning, or in rain?2Witch When the hurly-burlys done,When the battles lost and won.3Witch That will be ere the set of sun.1Witch Where the place?2Witch Upon the heath.3Witch There to meet with Macbeth.1Witch I come, Graymalkin2Witch Paddock calls3Witch Ano n every Fair is foul, and foul is fair.Hover through the fog and filthy air.(I.i.1-10).These creepers of immorality that guide the Witches invoke the evil that eventually destroys Macbeth. Graymalkin, the night-se... ...er come. That will never be,(IV.i.93), he replies, as the Witches listen and laugh in silence knowing they have defeated Macbeth by encouraging equivocations.The Witches are gleeful over their victim whose eyeballs have been seared by what has been shown to him. The First Witch says Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites,/And show the best of our delights/ Ill charm the air to give a sound,/While you perform your antic round,/That this great king may appealing say/Our duties did his welcome pay.(IV.i.125-130). This expresses implicitly all that has been set forth in regard to the relations of the Witches to Macbeth. He is the first to welcome them as lymph node to his bosom, and they do their duty by him as agents of the devil (Corson 242). Although the witches have no power to compel Macbeth, they appealed to what he has previously desired, eventually leading him to his tragic end. They have originated nothing within him. They have but harped upon what was already evil and stimulated these thoughts into acts (Corson 242). In his last scene, the Witches urge him on by to a greater extent flattering equivocations, each turning false, luring Macbeth to an evil end.