Macbeth The witches

In toady’s society, people do not believe in witchcraft but the witches ‘role’ in the play Macbeth, had a strong impact in a society that believed in witches. In Shakespeare’s time, belief in witches and witchcraft was widely acknowledged and witch-mania was prevalent during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Most people believed that witches had magic powers, for example that they could change day into night, predict the future and fly.

Shakespeare opened his play with witches, introducing fate and destiny and creating the atmosphere he wants, that is, there were other forces lurking about in the world. The use of thunder and lightening is a symbol of the turmoil that will take place in the play. Their movement and speeches are choreographed and the sisters act like a team. They just appear out of thin air in front of Banquo and Macbeth, the grab the audience’s attention, the sound track announces their entrance by alarm. A soft drum roll, light...