Act 4, Scenes 1-2

The root of all images of strangeness in Macbeth comes from the witches, or Weird Women. Scene one of act four opens with the witches stirring and circling a cauldron, throwing nasty, vile ingredients within, creating a concoction that will aid them in their next three-part prophesy to be delivered to Macbeth. The witches also chant mystical rhymes and evil rhythms. Macbeth come forward to seek out the witches prophesy, and more apparitions appear to him, at the witches bidding. The first apparition appears to Macbeth as a head in armor. It tells Macbeth to beware the thane of Fife-Macduff. The second apparition appears as a newborn baby. It tells Macbeth that none born of women will harm Macbeth. The third apparition appears as a child wit ha crown on its head and a tree in his hand. It tells Macbeth that he shall never be defeated until “great Burnam Wood shall come against him at Dunsinane Hill.” Macbeth is a play that is defined by the affect of the supernatural upon the characters. Strangeness is an image in Macbeth that is not always alluded to in simile or some other literary device. It is spoken about and refered to through actions of characters, and actual happenings in the play. For this reason, it is more important to the theme and plot than sleep, disease, planting, clothing, or any of the other images.