the witches 4

• The witches amplify the theme of deception and equivocation within Act 4.
• Act 4 begins with the witches speaking in proverbial (common) supernatural phrases) such as "eye of a newt" and "cauldron bubble".

  • This conforms to the archetype (norm) of witches that the audience would fear.
  • The Jacobean audience believed that there was a 'Macbeth' curse and that their spells could break through in the play, therefore this was petrifying for the audience.
  • The allusions to heat and hell epitomise their evil nature. ("fire" and "burn")
• The witches summon three apparitions which are manifestations of the threats Macbeth faces:

  • "an armed head" warns Macbeth of Macduff, it is emblematic (symbolic) of the violence of battle and foreshadows Macbeth's decapitation.
• The witches summon three apparitions which are manifestations of the threats Macbeth faces:

  • A "bloody child" serves to represent Macduff who was born by Caesarean section.
• The witches summon three apparitions which are manifestations of the threats Macbeth faces:

  • A "child crowned with a tree on his head" which could represent the rightful heir to the throne, Malcom.
  • The tree could be emblematic of Birnam wood, where Macbeth lives or the natural imagery could suggest that Scotland would flourish under Malcom's rule.
• Each of the prophecies are equivocal (vague).

  • The second part is pertinent (important) in revealing "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" which is ambiguous.
  • Macbeth's hubris denies him from being able to read into their deception.