The witches

• Often referred to as "the weird sisters "
• They plant ideas in macbeths mind and let his ambition do the rest
• First characters we see in the play
• Would be seen as very real and a genuine threat to the audience
• 17th century believed witches lived amongst them
• Always appear in a 3

  Form a trinity of evil

  The father, the son and the Holy ghost
• Comprise the devil in three infernal persons

  Macbeth turns to them in times of need instead of to god

  He transitioned from good to evil (fair to foul)
• Supernatural

  Rhythmic and chant like nature implies their words have real extraordinary power