The Three Witches

The Macbeth Witches

In the 17th century witchcraft was normally blamed on women. In Macbeth the witches were described as having beards which makes them seem non feminine. In Scene 1 of Act 1 the witches are accompanied by thunder and lightning which makes the scene a lot more dramatic. Almost every time the witches enter a scene their entrance is accompanied by thunder.  In the last line of Scene 1 of Act 1 all of the witches say "Fairs is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air." In that last statement they are entranced in the confusion of good and bad, beauty and ugliness.

In Scene 3 of Act 1 the second witch had been "killing swine." Witches were often accused of killing pigs. In this scene is when the witches announce that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and that Banquo's sons will be kings. Macbeth questions the witches asking them where they got that knowledge from. From this point on is where Macbeth has to make a decision if he is going to do what he needs to do to become Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is about to be influenced by Lady Macbeth and end up murdering Duncan.