Shakespeare makes it evident in Act I, sc. i of Macbeth
that the witches are evil forces, for they can confuse appearance and reality. Their
chanted line "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" resonates this idea throughout the play.
They place suggestion in Macbeth's mind that he will become king, and he charges ahead
to make it happen.
After the downward spiral of events
that occurs after Macbeth's coronation, Macbeth vows to revisit the witches. Before
this occurs, the leader of the witches, Hecate, in Act III, announces her intention to
lead him "on to his confusion" because "security is mortal's chiefest enemy". She
further announces that he will "spurn fate" and "scorn death" because of what he
hears.
The witches do use Macbeth as a pawn, but one must
be careful to note that Macbeth does retain his sense of free will. The witches do not
say how the prophecies will be fulfilled, so Macbeth's, himself, may determine these
courses.
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