Final answer:
The three witches in Macbeth have a mysterious and otherworldly appearance, with beards that suggest androgyny and paradox and are generally presented in the midst of storms and chaos. They use riddles and prophecies to forecast Macbeth's future positions as Thane of Cawdor and king, setting in motion the play's central action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appearance of the three witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth is an important element of the play that sets the tone for the supernatural and foreboding atmosphere. The witches are described as mysterious figures who look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, suggesting an otherworldly presence. Their appearance is paradoxical; they are understood to be women, yet their beards make them somewhat androgynous, complicating their gender and adding to their strange and ambiguous nature.
They are seen during storms, with thunder and lightning providing a dramatic backdrop for their scenes, which accentuates their connection to dark and chaotic forces.
The language they use is also telling, as they converse in riddles and prophecies, hinting at the future with cryptic phrases like 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair' and their hailings of Macbeth, suggesting his looming fate. The witches' prophecies are significant as they trigger the central action of the play when they predict that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually, the king.