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The Three Witches

Summary

The three witches in Macbeth are mysterious and sinister figures who appear at the beginning and throughout the play. They are agents of fate who prophesy Macbeth's rise and fall, and influence his actions and choices. The witches are associated with the supernatural, evil, and chaos, as they speak in riddles, use dark imagery, and practice witchcraft. They also represent the theme of ambition, as they tempt Macbeth with their predictions and manipulate him to fulfill his destiny. 

The witches are not fully human, nor fully female, as they have beards and appear as "secret, black, and midnight hags". They are ambiguous and enigmatic characters who challenge the natural order and morality of the world.

QUOTES

QUOTE 1:

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" 
(Act 1, Scene 1)

The quote "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (Act 1, Scene 1) is spoken by the three witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth. It is a paradox that reveals the theme of appearance versus reality in the play. The witches suggest that things are not what they seem, and that good can be evil, and evil can be good. The quote also foreshadows the moral corruption and deception that will characterize Macbeth and his wife, who will commit foul deeds to achieve their fair ambitions. The quote also reflects the moral confusion and disorder that will result from their actions, as the natural order of things will be disrupted and inverted. The quote is an example of how Shakespeare uses language to create dramatic effects and convey complex ideas in his plays.

QUOTE 2:

"When the battle's lost and won" 
(Act 1, Scene 1):

One of the most intriguing lines in Macbeth is spoken by the witches in the opening scene: "When the battle's lost and won" (Act 1, Scene 1). This paradoxical statement suggests that the outcome of the war between Scotland and Norway is predetermined and inevitable, and that both sides will suffer losses and gains. It also foreshadows Macbeth's own fate, as he will rise to power by killing Duncan, but will ultimately lose everything by his own ambition and guilt. The line reflects the theme of appearance versus reality, as the witches speak in riddles and prophecies that seem contradictory but reveal a deeper truth.