Part one of term paper
Shakespeare uses the witches in Macbeth for two main reasons. Firstly, to show how desire, ambition and greed are often more powerful than reason, and secondly for dramatic effect which comes from the confusion surrounding their identity and the vagueness of their prophecies. These two reasons, and the characters they represent, can be seen ...

Part two of term paper
... Shakespeare uses the witches to show how people act when there is the possibility of obtaining more power. In these situations, avarice and aspiration usually cloud the minds of the characters. “Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine” (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 23), shows the heinousness that the weird sisters can cast upon those they wish. The witches first plant the seeds of greed and ambition in Macbeth when they meet him after the battle. They promise him that he will be Thane of Cawdor and, later, ...