Weird Sisters Character Analysis in Macbeth

Three witches, whose prophecy helps push Macbeth's ambition over the edge, and convinces him to murder Duncan in order to become King. The witches' knowledge of future events clearly indicates that they have supernatural powers, and they also clearly enjoy using those powers to cause havoc and mayhem among mankind. But it is important to realize that the witches never compel anyone to do anything. Instead, they tell half-truths to lure men into giving into their own dark desires. It's left vague in Macbeth whether Macbeth would have become King of Scotland if he just sat back and did nothing. This vagueness seems to suggest that while the broad outlines of a person's fate might be predetermined, how the fate plays out is up to him.

Weird Sisters Quotes in Macbeth

The Macbeth quotes below are all either spoken by Weird Sisters or refer to Weird Sisters. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Simon & Schuster edition of Macbeth published in 2003.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.

Related Characters: (speaker)

Related Symbols:

Page Number and Citation: 1.1.12-13

Explanation and Analysis:

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray's
In deepest consequence.

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 1.3.135-138

Explanation and Analysis:

By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 4.1.44-45

Explanation and Analysis:

Weird Sisters Character Timeline in Macbeth

The timeline below shows where the character Weird Sisters appears in Macbeth. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

As a storm rages, three witches appear, speaking in rhyming, paradoxical couplets: "when the battle's lost and won" (1.1.4); "fair is... (full context)

On the heath the witches appear. They call themselves the "weird sisters" (1.3.30) and brag of their dread and magical... (full context)

Macbeth and Banquo enter. The witches hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and "king hereafter" (1.3.47). Banquo asks... (full context)

Macbeth asks how the witches know this information. But the witches vanish, making the two men wonder if they could... (full context)

...sisters. Macbeth claims never to think about them. But he suggests they talk about the witches soon, and adds that if Banquo supports him when the time comes he'll reward and... (full context)

In the royal palace of Forres, Banquo states his suspicion that Macbeth fulfilled the witches' prophecy by foul play. But he notes that since the prophecy came true for Macbeth,... (full context)

...fact that Macduff does not appear at the royal court. He decides to visit the weird sisters to find out more about his fate. (full context)

The weird sisters meet with Hecate, the goddess of witches. She rebukes the sisters for meddling with Macbeth without first consulting her. But she says... (full context)

...One witch cries out "Something wicked this way comes" (4.1.62): Macbeth enters. He commands the witches to answer his questions. (full context)

The witches conjure up three apparitions. First, a floating head appears and tells Macbeth to beware Macduff. (full context)

Macbeth wants to know one more thing: will Banquo's heirs have the throne? The witches perform a final conjuring. Eight kings appear walking in a line, the eighth holding a... (full context)