Lecture Notes: Understanding the Witches in Macbeth

Introduction

• Discusses the front page of King James I's book "Demonology" (1597) to prove witches exist and outline their powers.
• King James becomes king in 1603; Macbeth written in 1605-1606.
• Shakespeare includes witches in Macbeth to ingratiate himself with King James.
• Key question: Did Shakespeare believe in witchcraft or was he just pleasing King James?
• Aim to change perspective about the witches in Macbeth.

Representation of the Witches

• Common depiction of witches in Macbeth: ugly, ambiguous gender.
• Modern adaptations often miss Shakespeare's detail of the witches having beards.
• The witches are deliberately ambiguous - not wholly evil, nor clearly powerful.

Ambiguity and Power

• Witches' dialogue suggests ambiguity: "when the battle's lost and won."
• The notion of battle being lost and won reflects ambiguity of the witches' influence.
• A student suggested witches might protect Macbeth in battle—a sign of their supernatural power?
• Shakespeare leaves witches' power ambiguous, focusing more on psychological flaws in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair

• Ambiguity: what appears fair (good) may be foul (evil) and vice versa.
• Links to the idea of challenging patriarchal society.
• Witches never attack female characters, targeting male power instead.
• Witches' actions could be interpreted as a response to a society denying women power.

Witches' Powers and Revenge

• Witches' revenge targets men, not women, highlighting patriarchal criticism.
• Their spells and actions (e.g., not being able to sink a sailor's ship) suggest limited real power.
• Witches use psychological manipulation rather than direct control.

Shakespeare's Critique of Society

• Shakespeare possibly criticizes belief in witchcraft as fictitious.
• Explores the idea that societal structures create witches.
• Banquo describes witches as being able to see the future, not alter it.

Lady Macbeth's Parallels to Witches

• Lady Macbeth desires supernatural power to gain male-like attributes.
• Shakespeare critiques patriarchal limitations on women.
• Points to Lady Macbeth's influence over Macbeth as perhaps more significant than the witches'.

Prophecies and Psychological Influence

• Macbeth's hallucinations (e.g., the dagger) can be seen as psychological conflicts or supernatural influences.
• Witches do not explicitly control events; they exploit Macbeth's ambition.

Hecate's Role and Criticism

• Hecate criticizes witches not for evil acts, but for disrupting societal order.
• The witches desire Macbeth's love—a commentary on patriarchal society's failure to value them.

The Power of Belief

• The witches' spells are presented almost childishly, questioning their true power.
• Macbeth’s belief in their words leads to his downfall, not any real control by the witches.

Conclusion

• Ambiguity remains about the supernatural power of the witches.
• Suggests societal and psychological factors are more influential than supernatural forces.
• Final scenes indicate that the tragedy is more about Macbeth's belief in the witches than their actual power.

Final Thoughts

• Suggests Shakespeare's critique of societal structures and the beliefs in supernatural influences.
• Encourages viewers to consider the witches in the context of both Macbeth's psychology and societal critique.

Note: These lecture notes summarize the key points discussed in the presentation about the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth, focusing on their role, power, and the societal implications Shakespeare might be addressing.