Evaluating the Portrayal of the Three Witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth: Historical, Cultural and Literary Contexts.

Topic:  

Background of the Three Witches in Macbeth 

Research Question: 

Evaluate the portrayal of the three witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth by analyzing their historical, cultural, and literary context, including the beliefs surrounding witchcraft in the 11th century and in Shakespeare’s time. 

Index 

1. Introduction 

2. Mythological Inspirations Behind the Weïrd Sisters 

3. The Evolution of beliefs surrounding witchcraft   

4. James I’s influence on Macbeth  

5. The influence of Holinshed’s Chronicles    

6. Conclusion 

7. Bibliography 

Introduction- Reason for Choosing this topic 

The legend of supernatural beings known as witches has been prevalent across cultures and nations for centuries. Witches were believed to be evil, vengeful spirits. Insulting or offending them would lead to facing their wrath and being cursed. Women accused of practicing witchcraft or black magic were condemned and executed. Disturbingly, witch hunts are a widespread practice to this day in places such as sub-Saharan Africa, Papua New Guinea, and central India. I have chosen to analyze the background of the Three Witches from Macbeth to better understand why they are associated with certain practices and the origin of the narrative of witchcraft that seem to exist throughout the world. My primary focus for this research will be beliefs surrounding witches in the 11th century, when Macbeth is believed to be set, and Shakespeare’s own time, the 17th century, with Europe being the focal region. The 11th-century mindset around witchcraft was based on a reliance on supernatural explanations for life’s uncertainties, while the 17th century saw a heightened wave of witch trials and persecution. This exploration will reveal the cultural and religious factors that influenced Shakespeare’s portrayal of these enigmatic figures. Also, to attempt to understand the inspiration behind the portrayal of the Weïrd sisters.  

Mythological Inspirations Behind the Weïrd Sisters 

The Weïrd sisters or the three witches are reminiscent of the Three fates in Greek mythology and their counterparts in Roman and Norse Mythology, respectively. Shakespeare often alluded to Greek and Roman mythology in his work. For example, Hercules and Jason are mentioned in The Merchant of Venice and Janus is referenced to in Othello. The Three Fates were the three goddesses of destiny who were believed to give human’s their “allotted portion” and weave the threads of their lifetime and death. They were impartial and did not interfere in human affairs. Therefore, it can be debated that the Three Witches simply showed Macbeth a path he could take and had not manipulated him into choosing to kill Duncan. Furthermore, during Shakespeare’s time the word “weird” did not mean strange or abnormal. Infact, weird originated from the Old English word “wyrd” meaning fate, which strengthens this argument. This etymology highlights the possibility that Shakespeare intended to link them to the inescapable force of destiny. Using Shylock’s monologue, Shakespeare presented him in a sympathetic light by highlighting Antonio’s antisemitism and in a way the prejudices of the audience at the Elizabethan period too. In a similar fashion, women who were deemed witches were also shunned by society and there were many stereotypes and beliefs regarding such women. 

The Evolution of beliefs surrounding witchcraft 

Some of these beliefs can be dated to before Shakespeare's time. For example, the belief that witches could transform into animals. In the 2nd Century, in Metamorphoses, a novel by the Roman author Apuleius, a witch turns herself into a bird. The first witch in Macbeth also says that she will transform into a ‘rat without a tail’ to carry out her devious plan. By this time, witch hunting was a recurring practice in Rome. There was also belief that witches flew on broomsticks. The Burchard of Worms was the bishop of the Imperial City of Worms, in the Roman Empire. In the 11th century, Bishop Burchard of Worms said  “Some wicked women, turning back to Satan and seduced by the illusions and phantasms of demons, believe [that] in the night hours they ride on certain animals with the pagan goddess Diana and a countless multitude of women, and they cross a great span of the world in the stillness of the dead of night.”. He did not believe that these women flew but that they were under the illusion of Satan and that anyone who believed that they did was foolish. By the 15th century, the idea of witches flying on broomsticks had become common. Witch-hunting guides containing such imagery began to appear. 

James I’s influence on Macbeth 

In the 16th century there was mass hysteria across Europe regarding the presence of witches. One of the reasons for this was the then King of Scotland James I. He wrote Daemonologie in 1597, in which he described the supposed horrors of witchcraft, convinced his subjects of the existence of witches, and provided instructions on how to run witch hunts. He encouraged the people of Scotland to try to find witches and put them on trial. He influenced wider belief that witchcraft was a crime against the monarch and God. Under his rule, witchcraft had been criminalized. Under the Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1563 many women were accused and executed. James I was a patron of theatre and provided support to Shakespeare. With the king’s sponsorship, Shakespeare’s company Chamberlain’s Men became known as the King’s Men. In 1605 a group of Jesuit priests attempted to take the king’s life by blowing up the parliament. This is known as the “Gunpowder Plot.” The following year is when Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, which warns of the consequences of murdering a king and of course witches. Interestingly, Macbeth also features one of King James I’s ancestors, Banquo, who is portrayed as a noble and brave man. Shakespeare also included in the play that Banquo descendants were destined to be monarchs. Considering all of this it seems more unlikely that Shakespeare wanted the witches to be perceived as agents of fate but indeed wanted to villainize them to impress the king.  

The influence of Holinshed’s Chronicles 

Despite this most likely being his intent, the similarities between the Weïrd Sisters and three fates are undeniable. This is because the three witches come from Holinshed’s Chronicles, a book which a compilation of the histories of England, Scotland, and Ireland. This book contains the stories of King Duncan and King Macbeth, who are also based on real people from the 11th Century like Banquo. The book even includes Macbeth and Banquo’s meeting with the Weird Sisters. The Weird Sisters’ interaction with Macbeth is practically identical in Macbeth and in Holinshed’s Chronicles. The difference between the two texts is that The Three Witches are not portrayed as evil hags with beards like Shakespeare has, but rather as nymphs and “goddesses of destinee” like they are often interpreted to be. 

Conclusion 

 In conclusion, the portrayal of witches has transformed over centuries, from mystical figures linked to fate to malevolent beings associated with curses and black magic. White this perception may no longer exist in modern day media, thousands of women have already been lost to these trials, and some continue to be subject to this horror. Macbeth reflects these evolving views, drawing on mythology while also amplifying contemporary fears of witchcraft, likely to appeal to King James I. By adapting the Weird Sisters from Holinshed’s Chronicles into ominous, scheming figures, Shakespeare aligned with his audience’s anxieties while subtly retaining their connection to fate. The Three Witches thus remain complex figures, symbolizing both the power of fate and the fears surrounding witchcraft in society. 

Bibliography 

 ISF Dramaturgy_Who Are The Weird Sisters2.pdf; illinoisshakes.com; 30 October, 2024 

MOIRAE (Moirai) - The Fates, Greek Goddesses of Fate & Destiny (Roman Parcae); theoi.com; 30 October, 2024 

Wicca | Definition, History, Beliefs, & Facts | Britannica; britannica.com; 1 November, 2024 

Witchcraft | Definition, History, Trials, Witch Hunts, & Facts | Britannica; britannica.com; 2 November, 2024 

The evolution of the medieval witch – and why she’s usually a woman; theconversation.com; 1 November, 2024 

Burchard of Worms – Wikipedia; en.wikipedia.org; 1 November, 2024 

Matthew Hopkins and the witch hunts of 1645-1647 - Crime and punishment in early modern England, c.1500-c.1700 - Edexcel - GCSE History Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize; bbc.com; 2 November, 2024 

William Shakespeare's Life and Times: James I | SparkNotes; sparknotes.com; 2 November 2024 

Shakespeare's England - Education Resource | Bell Shakespeare; bellshakespeare.com.au; 2 November, 2024 

The Weird Sisters And Demonology: Get Spooky With Macbeth!; nosweatshakespeare.com; 2 November, 2024