Fair is Foul : Witches of Fiction

Bhargav Sen Bhowmick
Oct 2, 2024
6 min read

It has been said that,

"Of all bitches, dead or alive, a scribbling woman is most canine." -Lord Byron. Clever, clever indeed. Rooted in the depths of patriarchy, this saying is almost empowering as NO ONE can shut the pen. Words on paper hold unimaginable grace and ferocity, enough to tarnish the gentry, nobility and even the royalty. This age-old misogyny bears testimony to the fact that women were viewed as the weaker sex, devoid of any intellectual or analytical agency. Many who even dared to speak against the men, were stripped off their dignity, many who broke society's norms to educate themselves were casted out as malevolent forces of nature, as witches.

Witches have been portrayed in fiction as "bad women" capable of channeling the supernatural, endowed with vices and harnessing the evils of the world. To put it objectively, these maverick women live outside societal conventions, they are formidable "freaks of nature". The portrayal of witches is culturally significant as it seems to correlate with the status of women in society. It seems natural for authors to write witches in positive roles after major milestones in feminist history, burgeoning a more gender equal world in fiction (for it is hardly possible in reality).

Portrayals of witches have always left me in awe of their magic, their ability to capture the reader/audience in their world of spells and incantations is mystifying. And, what better way to start the spooky season than have a talk over tea about witches?

\\\NO MENTIONS OF HARRY POTTER. PROCEED WITH CAUTION\\\

Summary

Women writers have long faced criticism, as Lord Byron famously remarked on the perceived inferiority of female authors. This sentiment is rooted in historical misogyny that viewed women as lacking intellectual agency. The portrayal of witches in literature reflects societal views on women, with their roles evolving in correlation with feminist movements. Despite their eerie and mystical nature, witches captivate audiences with their magic and enigmatic presence. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the Three Witches play a pivotal role, embodying themes of fate and free will. They influence Macbeth through prophecies and riddles, blurring the lines between destiny and personal choice. The witches' characters draw inspiration from Greek mythology and archetypal representations of womanhood. Through their portrayal, Shakespeare prompts reflection on the complexities of power, ambition, and morality. The enduring question of free will versus predestination remains a central theme, inviting audiences to contemplate the nature of human agency.

The Three Witches - "The Tragedy of Macbeth" by William Shakespeare.

scary three witches using magic — The Three Witches Image from the Mary Evans Picture Library.

Never before have I EVER come across such a masterful rendition of the eeriness of witches and how in their "topsy-turvy" world everything that is good is bad, and everything that is bad is good- "Fair is foul and foul is fair". These witches are ominous, they are sinister, they are everything unkind and all the grotesque qualities that man can imagine is clung to them. Their character design speaks volumes about their supernatural abilities as the Weird Sisters seem to upset gender categories, “You should be women,” Banquo says to them, “And yet your beards forbid us to interpret / That you are so." Although, this may have been a creative decision by The Bard himself for in his day and age women were not allowed to perform on stage. And younger boys who played the parts of other female character may not have been educated enough in the physical comedy these witches engage in.

two horsemen looking at three women — Macbeth and Banquo Encountering the Three Witches is a painting by MotionAge Designs which was uploaded on April 23rd, 2016.

The witches are endowed with the power of premonition with which they enjoy making mischief. Although they may seem very detached from the world, their powers are earth-bound to a great extent. In fact, their powers are limited. They can only do so much damage as turning a ship in the sea, they cannot drown or wreck it. Even their prophecies only work on those who are tainted. With Macbeth, at no point did they explicitly suggest the murder of Duncan for him to be king, it was entirely his doing. The witches can only misguide and deceive humanity with there "half-truths", and provoke the mind to bring up the seed of evil that is already present. The witches largely have a bystander role however, they are the primary catalyst for the major twists and turns of the play.

Shakespeare has given these witches a rather eloquent poetic grandeur, he has them speak in riddles, paradoxes, and rhyming couplets- “Double, double, toil and trouble, / Fire burn and cauldron bubble” in 4.1.10–11, which is probably their most famous line. This particular quality sets them apart from the other character who mostly speak in blank verse. They may be scary and all, but do you not find these evil-nursery-rhyme like incantations funny? I personally find them largely humorous! Despite the sheer absurdity of words, these witches seem to be all-malevolent.

Three fates — Schadow, Gottfried: Fates sculpture The three Fates spinning the web of human destiny, sculpture by Gottfried Schadow, 1790, part of the tombstone for Count Alexander von der Mark; in the Old National Gallery, Berlin.

The inspiration of Shakespeare to write such enigmatic Witches in Macbeth is deeply derived from Greek Mythology. The Three Witches are possibly a representation of the Three Fate Sisters - Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, who spin, measure, and finally cut the thread of each individual's life, mortal or divine. Along with that, they are also the determiners of fate, a fate that is set in stone. The Three Witches also seem to determine Macbeth's fate, they play around and mess with him until he meets his fateful end.

The Three Witches can also be understood through the lens of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone archetypes, which represent various stages of womanhood and the corresponding attributes. Each witch embodies elements of these archetypes, manipulating traditional interpretations to reflect darker characteristics.

Three witches making potions — Artwork © Rasa Van Werder

The Maiden aspect is represented in the witches' seductive qualities and the manner in which they entrap Macbeth with prophecies (shakespeareofthrones, 2018). This aspect emphasizes themes of temptation and the allure of power, as they entice Macbeth into a dangerous path of ambition.

The Mother aspect is illustrated through their nurturing yet toxic roles, suggesting a perversion of maternal instincts. They provide Macbeth with guidance, but their intentions are malevolent, signaling the dangers of maternal influence turned destructive(shakespeareofthrones, 2018). In this way, they bear resemblance to archetypal mother figures who nurture but also threaten harm.

The Crone archetype is most apparent in their prophetic wisdom and the portrayal of age and experience. The witches are old and haggard, embodying the wisdom often associated with the Crone but cloaking it in ominous riddles and dark magic(shakespeareofthrones, 2018). Their prophecies are wrapped in ambiguity, reflecting the dual nature of wisdom: it can lead to enlightenment or destruction.

Cover page of Daemonology book by King James — Daemonologie: A Critical Edition. Expanded. in Modern English With Notes Paperback – Import, 14 May 2016 by King James (Author), Brett R. Warren (Author)

During Shakespeare's era, witches were regarded as "instruments of darkness" and seen as agents of the Devil. This widespread belief in witchcraft significantly influenced the portrayal of characters at the time. Interestingly, it wasn't just commoners who held these superstitions—royalty also showed great interest. King James I, who became king in 1603, three years before Macbeth premiered, was particularly fascinated by witches. In fact, he wrote a book on the subject in 1597, Daemonologie, which endorsed witch hunting. He was also involved in the North Berwick witch trials of 1590, where 70 individuals were accused of witchcraft. Records indicate that around 2,000 documents from Scottish witch trials between 1620 and 1680 still exist, and some scholars estimate that up to 4,000 alleged witches were executed in Scotland between 1560 and 1707.

In Conclusion...

By giving the witches in Macbeth such a pivotal role in driving the plot forward, Shakespeare engages with an age-old philosophical debate: Are our fates predetermined, or do we have agency in shaping our own lives? The Three Witches don’t dictate Macbeth’s actions outright, but they plant the seeds of ambition and deceit, leaving the audience to question whether Macbeth’s downfall was the result of destiny or his own choices.

The Three Witches infront of a cauldron — Macbeth visits the Weird Sisters (Three Witches) on the blasted heath; title page by John Gilbert for an edition of Shakespeare's works, 1858–60. Photos.com/Thinkstock

The witches’ riddles and prophecies are full of ambiguity, embodying the tension between fate and free will. Through their cryptic influence, Shakespeare presents a complex narrative about power, ambition, and morality. At the heart of Macbeth, we see characters wrestling with their inner demons, unsure whether they are masters of their fate or mere pawns in a cosmic game.

This enduring question of free will versus predestination resonates even today, as we continue to ponder the extent to which we control our lives. Are we, like Macbeth, ultimately responsible for our decisions, or are we led by forces beyond our understanding? In portraying the witches as forces of both fate and deception, Shakespeare blurs the line, leaving us in awe of their mystique while prompting deep reflection on the human condition.