Macbeth Witches Chant Flashcards

Study Notes

Witches' Chant in "Macbeth"

The chant highlights the ominous and supernatural aspects of the witches, setting a dark tone for the play.
Repetition of "Double double toil and trouble" emphasizes the chaotic and sinister nature of their activities.

Ingredients for the Cauldron

Fire burn and cauldron bubble: Represents the brewing of dark magic and spells.
The component "Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf" evokes imagery of mythological creatures, enhancing the witch's sinister aura.
"Witches mummy, maw and gulf" signifies the use of unsettling and macabre elements in their rituals, representing death and decay.
"Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark": Suggests a connection to the ocean's depths, symbolizing danger and the unknown.

Dark Elements and Symbolism

"Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark": Hemlock is toxic, emphasizing themes of poison and danger inherent in witchcraft.
"Liver of blaspheming Jew" and "Gall of goat, slips of yew": These ingredients contain cultural and traditional connotations of evil and curses.

Incorporation of Nature and the Supernatural

"Silvered in the moon's eclipse" links magic to celestial events, reinforcing the supernatural relationship between witches and nature.
"Nose of Turk and tartars lips" provides exotic and barbaric imagery, reflecting the witches' connection to foreignness and the chaos of war.

Themes of Death and Mortality

"Finger of birth strangled babe" introduces the theme of mortality and loss, underscoring the witches' embrace of death.
"Ditch delivered by a drab": This line evokes images of illegitimacy and despair, further deepening the themes of corruption and eerie occurrences.

Final Steps of the Spell

"Make the gruel thick and slab" suggests a physicality to their spell, emphasizing the harshness and grotesque nature of their magic.
"Add thereto a tiger's chaudron" invokes predatory instincts, aligning the witches with ferocity and danger.

Conclusion of the Ritual

The chant concludes with "Cool it with a baboons blood" indicating the finalization of their dark sorcery, symbolizing the unnatural amalgamation of ingredients.
"Then the charm is firm and good" affirms the completion of their incantation, stressing the power and efficacy of their dark magic.

Description

Explore the eerie chants from Shakespeare's Macbeth with these flashcards. Each card includes a key phrase and its haunting continuation from the famous witches' lines. Test your memory and familiarize yourself with the spellbinding language of the play.