Macbeth Act 3 Scene 5
Alyssa and Adam
Summary
Upon the stormy heath, the witches meet with Hecate, the goddess of warcraft.
Hecate scolds the witches for meddling in macbeth's life without telling her first.
But she says she will become the supervisor of the mischief. She says that the
next day, as they know he will, they must summon visions and spirits whose
messages will fill him with a false sense of security and “draw him onto his
confusion”. Hecate vanishes and the witches go to prepare their charms.
Questions and Answers
1. What is Hecate’s plan for Macbeth and what does this reveal, if anything,
about how the play will end?
a. Hecate’s plan is to trick Macbeth with illusions and make him feel his fate is safe when it’s not.
2. Cite text evidence: In lines 9-23, cite lines that reveal Macbeth’s change and
tone regarding the events surrounding Banquo’s murder.
a. “Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, loves for his own ends, not for you.” Macbeth is
Question and Answers
3.
What does Hacate symbolize? Explain.
a. Hecate symbolizes superior evil and how bad things are going to get worse.
4.
scene.
Explain how the paradox “Fair is foul and foul is fair” applies to this
a. Hecate and the witches are going to make Macbeth believe he is fine, but in reality they’re
going to use all their spells and tricks on him.
Literary Elements
Imagery- it’s storming out + the 3 witches meet hecate
Tone/mood-gloomy, evil cause of thunder, makes you feel uneasy about their
conversation
Conflict-Hecate is mad at the witches because they did not talk to her about
meddling in Macbeth’s life.
Irony- Hecate is going to trick Macbeth into thinking his destiny is OK, but really its
not, its going to be ruined.
Theme-”fair is foul and foul is fair”(a big theme in the story) really comes to light in
this scene.