Mcbeth

For my picture I drew Macbeth with the witches. The significance of this scene is that it sets up the events of the rest of the play. In this scene Macbeth and Banquo are walking along and the Three Witches enter, who had been waiting to greet Macbeth and Banquo with the prophecies. Even though Banquo challenges them first, they talk to Macbeth first. The first witch calls Macbeth "Thane of Glamis", the second "Thane of Cawdor", and the third proclaims that he shall "be King hereafter". Macbeth appears to be dumfounded and does not speak so again Banquo challenges them, and the witches inform him that he will be the patriarch of a line of kings, though he will never be one. While the two men wonder about the prophecies and what their futures may hold for them, the witches vanish, and another thane, Ross, a messenger from the King, arrives and tells Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. The first prophecy is thus fulfilled. Immediately, Macbeth begins to harbor ambitions of ousting Duncan, and becoming king. In Shakespeare's time people believed in, and feared the power that witches were endowed with, and during this time an estimated nine million women were put to death for being perceived as witches. The practice of witchcraft was not tolerated because it was thought to subvert the established order of religion and society. It was seen as a black art in which evil people would worship Satan, which would bring ruin to peoples’ livelihood and their family life. Witch hunting was a respectable, moral, and highly intellectual pursuit through much of the Victorian era. The belief of many people during the seventeenth century suggests that the witches were powerful figures who could exercise great power over Macbeth; however, there were strong arguments contradicting this theory in existence at the same time. The intensity of the tragedy is dependent on whether the witches were able to control the otherwise innocent Macbeth's actions, or if he is entirely responsible for his own demise. The witches could predict the future, they can add temptation, and influence Macbeth’s decisions, but they cannot control his actions. Macbeth creates his own misery when he is driven by his own sense of guilt. This causes him to become paranoid about his actions, which in turn causes him to commit more murders. The witches offer great enticement, but it is in the end, each Macbeth’s own decision to fall for the temptation, or to be strong enough to resist their enticement. The three Witches are only responsible for the introduction of these ideas and for further forming ideas. This was a very significant scene in the play, without it there would be no play. This scene in the play sets up the events of the rest of the play and starts Macbeth on his ravenous grab for power. It is also an example of the power that greed can influence over us, making us do terrible things out of self-interest that we would not normally do. Because of this scenes effect on the play, and its deeper meanings make this scene arguably one of the most important scenes in the play.