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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 6 page essay that examines the role of the witches in Macbeth. Shakespeare is never explicit as to how the audience should perceive the role of the witches. It is not clear if the witches are independent agents who toy with human lives, or agents of fate, or do their prophecies simply report the inevitable conclusions of actions already begun. Furthermore, it is not clear if Shakespeare intends for the witches to even be perceived as real or as symbolically representations of the evil that already lurks within Macbeth's heart. Examination of the play demonstrates that there is considerable evidence for seeing the witches as being primarily symbolic. In other words, the role that they serve is to provide insight into Macbeth's psychological state of mind. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khmacwit.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
audience should perceive the role of the witches. It is not clear if the witches are independent agents who toy with human lives, or agents of fate, or do their
prophecies simply report the inevitable conclusions of actions already begun. Furthermore, it is not clear if Shakespeare intends for the witches to even be perceived as real or as symbolically
representations of the evil that already lurks within Macbeths heart. Examination of the play demonstrates that there is considerable evidence for seeing the witches as being primarily symbolic. In other
words, the role that they serve is to provide insight into Macbeths psychological state of mind. The witches are first shown on a heath near the battlefield. Macbeth and
Banquo encounter them on their way to the kings court. Both men are horrified at their grotesque appearance. Banquo wonder is they are mortal, as they do not seem to
be "inhabitants o th earth" (I.3.39). Banquo also wonders if they are actually women, as they also have beards like men. The witches hail Macbeth by three titles. In an
earlier scene, Shakespeare has already shown that King Duncan has transferred the title Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth. By transferring this title, Duncan gives the witches the crucial middle
term in their prophetic greeting of Macbeth. The first witch hails Macbeth as "Thane of Glamis," the second as "Thane of Cawdor and the third as "King hereafter" (I.2.48-50). Later
in this act (I.3.4-25), the dialogue of the witches suggests that while they can physically torment their victims, they cannot directly destroy individuals (Hunt). It is the "thane of Cawdor"
component of the greeting, which so quickly comes true, that convinces Macbeth that the witches possess supernatural knowledge. Macbeth presses the witches for more information, but they have already turned
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