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