Elizabethan Witchcraft And Witches
The Elizabethan Period and the intellectual era of the rebirth introduced English persecution of Elizabethan Witches and Witchcraft. Oddly, this period of great education brought with it a new belief in the supernatural including a belief in the powers of witchcraft, witches and witch hunts! Ironically the introduction of the printing press, one of the greatest tools in accumulative knowledge and education was responsible.
Throughout the Elizabethan period people had accused unexplainable events as the work of witches. There were repeated outbursts of the deadly Black Death for which there was no treatment. The fear and anger about this awful disease had to be targeted at someone and witches were the clear targets. When animals died, when people died from terrible diseases, when there was a bad yield, when houses were burnt down and even when foods curdled - witches were the clear targets. Throughout the Elizabethan era there was narrow medical knowledge or amenities and there was no method of insurance. Such occasions as those described above were overwhelming and there was no means of minimising their terrible effects on the lives of Elizabethans - someone had to be responsible and witches were the understandable targets.
Throughout the ages and in all countries there have been people who have believed in witches and witchcraft as showed above. The people of Shakespeare’s day were no different. Shakespeare followed the popular traditions of his time and used them for his own purposes. In Macbeth he used popular beliefs about witches and witchcraft.
Witches were associated with the dark and death. Christian countries thought they were to be the agents of Satan working on their business at night, also, they were believed to conduct their evil rites and make poisons near graves.
When Macbeth was written, witchcraft was of significant interest. No-one could be executed simply for being a witch until the time of Queen Elizabeth. Although in 1604, witchcraft became a capital offence. Evidence of a relationship with evil spirits condemned a suspect to death by hanging, burning or drowning. Whether or not Shakespeare believed in witches does not matter. They were used for his play, and plenty of his audience would have believed in them as thoroughly evil servants of the devil. For those of Shakespeare’s time, the devil was very real and was believed to trap men and women into his power.
All the things that the three weird sisters perform in Macbeth, were said that Witches were supposed to be capable of doing. It was believed that they could see into the future; that they could create storms, hail, thunder and lightning; that they were able to sink ships; dry up springs; stop the sun and change night into day and day into night. They could also cause the death of their enemies, and could make themselves invisible. To be able to work their charms they would open tombs and steal parts of the bodies to make potions. For this purpose the bodies of unbaptized babies were particularly valued and witches could call up the dead.
To visit and have dealings with witches would have seemed both a crime and a sin for a king like Macbeth.
Macbeth is easily taken by their power and by their predictions. However note that they never tell him a lie but, do allow him to deceive himself. The devil does not lie, but leads us into temptation.
Throughout the Elizabethan period people had accused unexplainable events as the work of witches. There were repeated outbursts of the deadly Black Death for which there was no treatment. The fear and anger about this awful disease had to be targeted at someone and witches were the clear targets. When animals died, when people died from terrible diseases, when there was a bad yield, when houses were burnt down and even when foods curdled - witches were the clear targets. Throughout the Elizabethan era there was narrow medical knowledge or amenities and there was no method of insurance. Such occasions as those described above were overwhelming and there was no means of minimising their terrible effects on the lives of Elizabethans - someone had to be responsible and witches were the understandable targets.
Throughout the ages and in all countries there have been people who have believed in witches and witchcraft as showed above. The people of Shakespeare’s day were no different. Shakespeare followed the popular traditions of his time and used them for his own purposes. In Macbeth he used popular beliefs about witches and witchcraft.
Witches were associated with the dark and death. Christian countries thought they were to be the agents of Satan working on their business at night, also, they were believed to conduct their evil rites and make poisons near graves.
When Macbeth was written, witchcraft was of significant interest. No-one could be executed simply for being a witch until the time of Queen Elizabeth. Although in 1604, witchcraft became a capital offence. Evidence of a relationship with evil spirits condemned a suspect to death by hanging, burning or drowning. Whether or not Shakespeare believed in witches does not matter. They were used for his play, and plenty of his audience would have believed in them as thoroughly evil servants of the devil. For those of Shakespeare’s time, the devil was very real and was believed to trap men and women into his power.
All the things that the three weird sisters perform in Macbeth, were said that Witches were supposed to be capable of doing. It was believed that they could see into the future; that they could create storms, hail, thunder and lightning; that they were able to sink ships; dry up springs; stop the sun and change night into day and day into night. They could also cause the death of their enemies, and could make themselves invisible. To be able to work their charms they would open tombs and steal parts of the bodies to make potions. For this purpose the bodies of unbaptized babies were particularly valued and witches could call up the dead.
To visit and have dealings with witches would have seemed both a crime and a sin for a king like Macbeth.
Macbeth is easily taken by their power and by their predictions. However note that they never tell him a lie but, do allow him to deceive himself. The devil does not lie, but leads us into temptation.
For more on Elizabethan Witchcraft and Witches go to http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-witchcraft-and-witches.htm