Witches

• What do the witches in "Macbeth" recognize?

  A force of evil
• What does the adjective "wicked" convey in the context of the witches?

  A sense of malevolence and significance
• How is the arrival of the witches described in the play?

  As cleverly crafted and threatening
• What does Banquo's phrase "Instruments of darkness" suggest?

  Others recognize the evil in their words
• How do the witches' speeches affect Macbeth?

  They are almost hypnotic for him
• What traditional roles do the witches challenge in "Macbeth"?

  Gender roles and expectations
• What does the witches' ambiguous gender identity raise questions about?

  Societal norms and expectations
• What does the phrase "the weird sisters" imply about the witches?

  They have supernatural influence over humanity
• How does Shakespeare criticize patriarchal society through the witches?

  By showing women needing power and support
• What theme do the witches embody in "Macbeth"?

  The theme of the supernatural
• How do the witches' prophetic powers affect the story?

  They introduce an eerie, otherworldly element
• What does "Fair is foul and foul is fair" signify?

  The deceptive nature of appearances
• What literary device is used in "Fair is foul and foul is fair"?

  Oxymoronic repetition
• What does "Double, double toil and trouble" emphasize?

  The theme of the supernatural
• What does the repetition of "double" in the witches' chant signify?

  The ominous nature they bring
• What does "your beards forbid me to interpret" imply about masculinity?

  Masculinity is synonymous with power
• How does Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth throughout the play?

  She manipulates him constantly