Why Are The Witches Important In Macbeth

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Third Murderer Composition William Shakespeare, an English poet, playwright, and actor of the late 15th and early 16th centuries, is widely regarded as one of the greatest English dramatists of the modern era. Throughout his lifetime, Shakespeare composed a total of 38 plays; Macbeth is acknowledged as one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. Macbeth profiles the life of a protagonist of the same name and his lust for power. In Act I of the play, Macbeth and his cousin Banquo encounter three Witches. These Witches reveal four prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo, disclosing that one day Macbeth will be king of Scotland and that Banquo’s descendants will also be future rulers. Initially, Macbeth and Banquo dismiss these claims. However, as Shakespeare unfolds the tale, Macbeth becomes king and he and Banquo realize that the prophecies are beginning to materialize. …show more content…
As a ruler with no apparent heir to the throne, Macbeth exercises every opportunity to remain king of Scotland. In response to the Witches’ predictions in Act I, Macbeth proposes a scheme of murdering Banquo and his son, Fleance. Macbeth hires two assassins to carry out the homicides. In Act III, Scene 3, the two hitman are waiting in the forest when Shakespeare introduces a clever and mysterious plot element. Shakespeare adds an anonymous third accomplice who joins the assassins. Upon Banquo’s eventual death and Fleance’s escape, Banquo screams, “O slave” (III, 3, 40), to indicate to the audience that he recognized the third murderer’s identity. However, one question still remains: who was the third