The witches in Macbeth: a thread 👇
Dr. Emma Smith's 2010 Oxford University lecture raises the question of the witches' power: do they cause Macbeth to kill King Duncan, or was he going to do it anyway? The power of direction vs. the power of prophecy
The witches' limited power is revealed in Act 1, Scene 3, when they discuss their inability to take the life of a sailor. This insight into their limitations helps the audience see that Macbeth's infatuation with them reveals more about him than the witches. #LimitedPower
Act 4, Scene 1 features deceptive apparitions shown to Macbeth, which he misinterprets. The witches play with him, using riddles and half-truths, signposting important details for the audience. #Deception
The witches' absence from the play's last third raises questions about their significance. Although they had a greater impact on a Jacobean audience, their power becomes questionable as the play progresses. #WitchesSignificance
The witches' form differs from other characters, speaking in trochaic meter, which emphasizes their otherworldliness and wickedness. This sets them apart from the rest of the characters in the play. #TrochaicMeter
See my full video analysis here:
References: Samuel Johnson: ‘MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS on the TRAGEDY of MACBETH’ (1745); Dr Emma Smith’s Oxford University lecture, which can be listened to here: podcasts.ox.ac.uk/macbeth
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