Hecate

Have I not reason, beldams as you

are?
Saucy and overbold, how did you
dare
To trade and traffic with Macbeth
In riddles and affairs of death,
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never called to bear my part,
Or show the glory of our art?
And, which is worse, all you have
done
Hath been but for a wayward son,





Comment [A1]: The word beldams is a
synonym for an old woman. This is
descriptive language, comparing the
witches to that of a hag. This enables the
viewers to visualise the appearance of the
witches which is also imagery.
Comment [A2]: Rhetorical question;
Hecate is demonstrating her authority of
the witches through questioning their
actions.
Comment [A3]: Fractured sentence as
it does no clearly explain what is
happening, hence possibly creating
confusion for the audience.
Comment [A4]: Another reference to
the witches' appearance and how they
present themselves; thus adding to the
imagery already given. Hyperbole has been
used to express the witches' extravagant
attire.
Comment [A5]: Hecate expresses how
furious she is with the three witches. This
suggests to the audience that she is
planning revenge. Hecate expresses that
the witches should have included her
because without her they are nothing; as a
result of double-crossing Hecate, she is
hinting that the witches will face
consequences.
Comment [A6]: "...riddles and affairs of
death..." is a flashback to earlier on in the
play. It is a reference to the prophecies
that the witches previously gave to
Macbeth. As a result of this flashback, the
prophecies are contrasted paired with that
of a mind game, hence the use of a
metaphor.
Comment [A7]: This line is a flashback.
Hecate is reflecting on the witches
behaviour and revisiting something that
happened earlier on in the play, which
recaps major events that have occurred for
the audience.
Comment [A8]: The word close in this
case is relatable to secrets. Indicating that
Hecate is a secret contriver of all harms.
Comment [A9]: Suggests that the
witches are the cause of all harm;
reinforcing the negativity associated with
witchcraft.
Comment [A10]: Simile for Macbeth
who has been resistant to the witches
guidance and influence. This creates a
description of Macbeth's mental state;
hence the audience given a chance to be
empathetic towards Macbeth. The phrase
wayward could also mean that Macbeth
has been led astray.
Comment [A11]: Hecate makes a
judgement on the behaviour of the three
witches by stating that they are for
Macbeth. This language technique is
known as inference; as a result Hecate
provides an opinion that the audience can
question.
Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others
do,
Loves for his own ends, not for you.
But make amends now. Get you
gone,
And at the pit of Acheron
Meet me i' th' morning. Thither he
Will come to know his destiny.
Your vessels and your spells provide,
Your charms and everything beside.
I am for the air. This night Ill spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.
Great business must be wrought ere
noon.
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vap'rous drop
profound.
Ill catch it ere it come to ground.
And that distilled by magic sleights
Shall raise such artificial sprites
Comment [A12]: Shakespeares blunt
word choices for the description of
Macbeth indicates that he wants to create
a clear image of Macbeth for the audience;
that being selfish and of a cowardly nature.
Comment [A13]: Macbeth does not
love the witches but he only loves himself.
Posing a question to the audience, why
would Macbeth love the witches?
Comment [A14]: Disjunction-
dramatically interrupts the rhythm of the
sentence. The rhyming couplets are
abruptly interrupted, forcing the audience
to pause and reflect on what Hecate has
brought to attention.
Comment [A15]: Reference to a river
from Ancient Greek Mythology. The pit of
Acheron is known as the river of pain and
was thought to lead into the Underworld.
By Hecate referencing hell, it suggests the
evil nature of witchcraft, supporting the
views of the Shakespearean era. The
witches connect this river to their evil
deeds.
Comment [A16]: Suggests that Hecate
will force Macbeths destiny onto him; this
technique is known as foreshadowing.
Future tense has also been used to suggest
to the audience the nature of the
upcoming events in the play.
Comment [A17]: This line mentions
witchcraft related words. The words are
used as symbols to represent the nature of
witches; through symbolism Hecate defines
what witchcraft involves. Vessels are a
synonym for cauldrons. Spells are magical
words and charms are magical objects. This
associates witchcraft to something that is
of an unnatural nature.
Comment [A18]: Hecate claims that
she is for the air; this relates to her exiting
on a broom stick, hence being identified as
a witch.
Comment [A19]: The word dismal
provokes emotions; hence the use of
emotive language. This enables the
audience to comprehend the future of
Macbeth being fatal.
Comment [A20]: Foreshadowing; this
line predicts Macbeths fate as it is not yet
to occur.
Comment [A21]: Reference to
witchcraft. When the word magic is used, it
is often associated with things that are
believed to not be true; hence suggesting
to the audience that Hecate was planning
something that is abnormal; hence
witchcraft being unnatural.
Comment [A22]: Artificial sprites is a
reference to the unnatural which in this
case is witchcraft. Witchcraft is defined as
being artificial or fake trickery.
As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion.
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and
bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and
fear.
And you all know, security
Is mortals' chiefest enemy.
Music and a song within: 'Come away, come away,' &c
Hark! I am called. My little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud and stays for
me.

*Act III Scene V is a soliloquy as Hecate expresses her inner
thoughts aloud; it is spoken in first person as it is a monologue;
a one-sided conversation. It is an external conflict as it is a
conflict between two or more characters. In this case it is
Macbeth versus the witches.
*The theme of this scene is fate, nature and the unnatural.


Comment [A23]: The spell created by
Hecate lures Macbeth to his destruction by
creating a false hope for him.
Comment [A24]: Foreshadowing
suggests that Macbeth will lead himself to
his own fatal flaw.
Comment [A25]: This line is delivered
with high modality and force as what it is
trying to suggest is quite serious.
Comment [A26]: Whatever Hecate is
planning to do it will force Macbeth to put
his before everything else; reinforcing that
Hecate is evil.
Comment [A27]: Personification is
used to give words the qualities of animate
beings which can be the recipients of
emotion. In this instance mortals are being
personified as it is given a human trait. Also
both mortal and enemy are being
contrasted, which concludes that they are
seen to be similar when they are of a
completely different nature; hence being a
metaphor.
Comment [A28]: This is supposed to be
Hecate's spirit calling for her to return to
hell.
Comment [A29]: The little spirit is a
reference to being a part of Hecate and the
calling puts an emphasis on the closeness
of ultimate evil. This line incorporates the
unnatural being spirits and witches.