Question

At the end of the opening scene, when the three witches chant in unison, what specific literary features of their lines and performances help to convey the notion of the witches power to obscure and reverse the natural?

Answer 1

The witches in Macbeth's opening scene use paradoxical language and a supernatural setting to demonstrate their power to subvert natural order and foreshadow their manipulation of Macbeth's destiny.

Step-by-step explanation:

The opening scene of Shakespeare's Macbeth features the witches chanting in unison, which is charged with literary elements that suggest their power to subvert natural order. Their lines are imbued with paradoxes, such as "When the battle's lost and won," implying that every victory carries the seed of defeat, a reversal of natural outcomes. They meet amidst thunder, lightning, and rain, all elements that are chaotic and uncontrollable, reflecting the witches' role in orchestrating chaos.

The incantatory rhythm of their speech, combined with the supernatural setting, underscores their otherworldly influence and their ability to manipulate natural events. Their sudden disappearance after delivering prophecies to Macbeth adds to the unsettling notion that they control the narrative, further echoing their power to obscure the natural.