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Macbeth is also meant to offer a commentary on society in Scotland. Shakespeare wanted to offer a view on the unsettled state of Scotland. The idea was that witchcraft was so unnerving because it showed peoples willingness to sell their soul for power.

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witches' were a relevant concept whilst Shakespeare was writing Macbeth as king James was ruling England during this time period and he believed a coven of witches were planning to kill him. This led him to write his book Daemonologie in 1957 and its actually said that some of the language used in Macbeth is sourced from James' book

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Witchcraft in Scotland during Shakespeare's time

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Witchcraft in Scotland during Shakespeare's time

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In a way Macbeth also used the witches to lure in listeners. Even while being horrifying the supernatural aspect did thicken the plotline and drive the play. It added an interesting twist to the storyline which Macbeth knew would hold listeners attention.

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The religion in this time era also has a big impact on their effect in a play. most people in Shakespearian time believed in god and were heavily religious. Since witches were seen as a sign of the devil they went against the bible which scared and disturbed most people during this era.

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Shakespeare choosing witches for macbeth

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Shakespeare choosing witches for macbeth

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Shakespeare believed that other English plays lacked plot which is why he chose to write such tragic stories. During Shakespeare's time the thought of witch craft was seen as something extremely evil. He included witches because he knew it would shock and scare his audience which would make for a more diverse plot. Witch craft was more common and believed in back then so it made the story realistic to viewers.

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In more recent times witches have somewhat lost their scare factor. Witch craft is quite popular on social media nowadays with people idolizing tarot readings, crystals and spiritual communication. During Shakespeare's era  though witches were seen as a sign of evil and they were believed to have ties to the devil. They were equivalent to our modern day haunted dolls and clowns. Shakespeare was able to use witches as the "monsters" in his tragedy because they were believed in. Since witchcraft isn't seen as scary nowadays it would not have the same impact it did back then.

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Macbeth is famously known as a cursed play and its considered cursed to even say its name while in a theatre. A witch coven said that Shakespeare used actual incantations during the show and created real curses. During this time era witches were greatly feared and so by creating the superstition that the play was cursed viewers were able to experience something they were afraid of form a safe distance.

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During the time era of Shakespeare's Macbeth, anyone believed to be a witch would be arrested and killed. The witchcraft acts made it so that any activity believed to be related to witchcraft could be punished with death.

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Free will and fate are common themes in Shakespeare's plays. Two concepts people during Shakespeare's time struggled to co-exist with, These themes are suggested through the three witches in Macbeth who can be linked back to the three fates in Greek mythology.

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Elizabeth the first loved Shakespeare so while the puritans (a powerful political group) was opposed to theatre Elizabeth the 1 offered  Shakespeare and his theatre patronage to keep them protected.  When she passed away Shakespeare wrote a play to convince James the 1st to continue Elizabeth's patronage since she no longer could, Since Shakespeare knew James had a fascination for witches and witchcraft he decided to include it in the play to appeal to James.