Witches in Macbeth are among the most memorable figures in the play
The Witches in Macbeth are among the most memorable figures in the play. Besides adding atmosphere to the play, they have a very significant role throughout the play. ... Furthermore, the Witches can be argued as one of the main sources of influence on Macbeth, causing his downfall. Firstly, it is obvious that the Witches play an important part in the development of the story. According to Barry Dahms, witches were considered as evil by nature and confederates of Satan during the time when Macbeth was written. ... One of the roles of the Witches is to use the power to see the future and inform Macbeth of it: “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” These prophecies introduce Macbeth to ideas of greatness. Macbeth will eventually follow through on murdering Duncan. ... Their appearance at the very beginning of the play even implies that they are the catalysts for everything that happens. Also, the Witches are an effective theatrical device. They set an eerie and dark atmosphere for the play, giving a sense of suspense and evil to the audience: “Hover through the fog and filthy air. ... For example, the ingredients that the Witches add to the cauldron in Act IV Scene 1 are related to evilness and death: “Liver of blaspheming Jew… Nose of Turk, and Tartar’s lips… Finger of birth-strangled babe”. ... The Witches’ existence creates a dramatic effect, coming from the confusion surrounding their identity and the ambiguity of their prophecies. Due to the fact that Macbeth was written to be performed in Elizabethan times, the Witches is a key element in making the concept of the play function and making the play interesting for Shakespearean audiences (who believed in witches and the supernatural). The Witches, representing supernatural forces, is a major factor on the play’s style. Secondly, it is the thematic significance of the Witches that makes them such fundamental characters in the play.