The influence of the three witches on Macbeth’s decisions and actions

Answer

How do the three Weird sisters help develop Macbeth’s plot?

Or, the influence of the three witches on Macbeth’s decisions and actions.

Or, to what extent do the Witches influence Macbeth’s decisions and actions?

In literature, it is common for the characters to be influenced by supernatural prophecies. Likewise, the tragic hero Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) tragedy play “Macbeth” (1623) is governed by the wicked prognostications of the three weird sisters. These sisters help the author develop the play’s plot construction. They also affect Macbeth’s decisions and actions. Here is a detailed study to examine how the witches commit their actions.

The Primary Prophecies: The witches’ initial prophecies in Act 1, Scene 3 significantly ignite Macbeth’s latent ambition. They congratulate him with three titles. The following quotation shows how they hail Macbeth.

First Witch:

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch:

All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch:

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

At this point, Macbeth is already Thane of Glamis, and shortly after, he learns he has been awarded the title of Thane of Cawdor. This confirmation of the first two prophecies plants the seed of belief in the third.

Influencing Macbeth’s Ambition: The Prophecies kindle Macbeth’s ambition acutely. His initial reaction is shock and curiosity, but he quickly becomes obsessed with becoming king. This obsession is apparent when he says, 

If chance will have me, king, why,

Chance may crown me, 

Without my stir.

Here, Macbeth expresses his thoughts on possibly becoming king by fate or chance without his active involvement. However, the witches’ mere suggestion of his future kingship provokes his thoughts toward taking action to fulfill his ambition. It also leads him to consider murder as a means to achieve his goals.

Manipulating Macbeth’s Actions: The witches indirectly control Macbeth by sparking his ambition. Macbeth’s sense of morality trembles once the vision of becoming king takes heart. Though Lady Macbeth plays an important role, the witches grow the initial idea. Macbeth’s internal conflict is evident when he struggles with the decision to kill King Duncan. This decision marks the beginning of his moral decline and the disclosure of his character.

The Second Meeting and the Manifestations: In Act 4, Scene 1, Macbeth becomes desperate to know more about his future. He seeks out the witches again. In a gruesome and lonely place, he meets the witches who summon three apparitions that deliver confusing messages: 

Beware Macduff,” “none of woman born 

Shall harm Macbeth,” and Macbeth will not be vanquished until 

“Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill 

Shall come against him.

These prophecies encourage Macbeth and give him a false sense of supremacy. He interprets them as assurances of his safety and continued power. This leads him to take increasingly reckless and tyrannical actions.

The Final Downfall: The witches’ influence extends to Macbeth’s final downfall. The apparitions’ prophecies come true unexpectedly. This illustrates the witches’ deceptive nature. Macduff, who was “from his mother’s womb untimely ripped,” fulfills the prophecy that no man born of a woman shall harm Macbeth. Additionally, the advancing army uses branches from Birnam Wood as camouflage, making it appear like the forest is moving towards Dunsinane. These fulfillments show the witches’ manipulative half-truths, leading Macbeth to his ultimate end.

The three witches in “Macbeth” significantly influence Macbeth’s decision-making process and actions. Through their influence, Shakespeare explores themes of fate, ambition, and the consequences of allowing external forces to affect one’s actions. The witches’ role in the play highlights that seeking power, guided by prophetic manipulation, can lead to one’s downfall.