blog 6: weird sisters: susmitha chinni

10/4/17                       Blog no. 6        Weird comes in 3 Women

The three weird sisters in Macbeth can be paralleled to the three “fates” in Hercules (the Disney version). The three fates in Hercules and the the three weird sisters's authority are perceived the same way in that their predictions were the main motivations for Hades/Macbeth's actions. Another factor that is in the ‘witch trope’ the group of women are always ugly, in Macbeth the sisters have chappy fingers, skinny lips, and beards. This is significant to the development of the trope that females in literature seen as sorcerers and “tricksters”. The appearance of women have always played a more significant role than the appearance of men when distinguishing the morale of a character. If they are pretty, they are good, and if they are ugly, they are bad. The three weird sisters in Macbeth have power as they are both feared and respected because of their gift of predicting the future.
In Act 1 scene 3 where the three weird sisters meet with Macbeth, their brief interaction shows how independent these actors are narratively. They greet him by saying “hail!” and give a few words about Macbeth and Banquo becoming kings, but when Macbeth commands them “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more… You owe this strange intelligence, or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you” and rather than answering him the witches vanish (act 1 scene 3).

It is interesting to note that while the female characters in Shakespeare’s play have vital roles and lines, they remain to be nameless. Women in literature, when in a position of power, they are less abrasive contrasted to male roles who easily reach towards action. The three weird sisters have their plans with Macbeth and play him even though they are ugly, and it shows that they are self-aware that they are their own masters as they vanish instead of answering Macbeth.

Comments

  1. Shanaya ShahOctober 9, 2017 at 9:08 AM

    Susmitha, you make an awesome point about the "witch trope" that is reoccurring in so much literature and media. It can also be argued that all significant female characters in this play are "wtiches." There is this aura that surrounds them that makes them seem evil and conspiring. It is almost as if their femininity is what is evil and hindering for them. The three sisters are ugly and frail as you mentioned, and for Lady Macbeth her caring maternal instincts are what are hindering her.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What We Hunger For: Deep Thoughts

"Just because you survive something does not mean you are strong." To be completely honest, this story was one that I could almost watch in my head. Perhaps part of that was because it was written vividly with strong imagery and diction; perhaps because I could see a reflection of myself in Gay's story. This year has been a transformative one for me, as I have learned to become more self-aware and acknowledging that there is immense power in naming our struggles. I am consistently told by my friends how "strong, courageous, and unfuckwithable" I am... which, I think, genuinely stems from my inability to be comfortable. I've survived too much. I've been exposed to and made it through too much... and apparently, the fact that I managed to make it "out" of those immediate situations is seen as strong. However, I am very thankful that Gay made the comment above. To me, I've always seen strength as how people cope with the long-term effects o...
Read more

Macbeth´s reaction to lady Macbeth's Death (Act 5 sc 5)

She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word.  To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow , Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.  Looking at this paragraph, I am looking at lines it seems as though Macbeth does care about his wife dying before her goes to battle. I would think from a man that the husband would be more sympathetic about his wife dying. By him saying “ she should have died hereafter” seems like he doesn’t care about his wife. But I think that Macbeth wanted to her to die after the battle so that he would have time to morn the death of his wi...
Read more

Building Each Other Up

In Gay's essay, "How to be Friends with Another Woman" she talks about the competitiveness between women. Almost anything is fair game when it comes to tearing one another down behind each other's backs. But why is this necessary? We're all in the same position when it comes down to it. In order to rise above our oppressors, we must stop judging other women so harshly, and start building them up. We are all guilty of passing judgement over other women who are dressed differently than us, or like the same guy as us. Everything has become such a competition, that we are unable to realize the benefits of helping one another become the best version of themselves.
Read more