Talk:Three Witches

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Contents

[edit] Links

At the article Macbeth the "Weird Sisters" currently redirect to Norns, and a silent link of "Three Witches" among the dramatis personae is the only hint this article exists. A very brief synopsis of this article should find a place at Macbeth, with a hatnbote identifying this main article. The Encyclopedia is built on such interlocking articles. --Wetman (talk) 08:19, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

Sorry, but that's not how the Shakespeare play articles are organized, though. There simply isn't enough room on play pages to devote a whole section to one character or small set of characters. See Hamlet. This article does, though, link to every other Macbeth character article out there if you check. Wrad (talk) 15:06, 17 April 2008 (UTC)
I just went through several articles that apply and added links to this article. I'm sure there are more out there, though. Wrad (talk) 16:54, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Hecate

After a brief appearance in which the witches meet with Hecate... It should at least be mentioned that it's debated whether this scene is a later addition to the play. 91.105.37.190 (talk) 01:39, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

Wasn't aware of that. Got a source so we can add it? Wrad (talk) 01:43, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
Among the many places I've seen this asserted is our own page on Thomas Middleton's The Witch, the alleged source of the scene. 71.231.197.110 (talk) 04:00, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
I believe The Witch is mentioned in the article. Wrad (talk) 04:05, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

Ah! I found what you're talking about and have added it. Thanks for the help! Wrad (talk) 00:50, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] A few things

1. It is said in the first para that they "urge him to commit murder and treason". I don't think they do, and later on (Analysis), you say "The witches also never tell Macbeth to kill King Duncan." Further on, they say "be bloody, bold and resolute", which is at best ambiguous.

The bloody line was what I was thinking of, but it does simplify the situation a little much. Should be changed... Wrad (talk) 21:49, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

2. Origins: "Macbeth's Hillock, an area in Forres". But Forres is a town. Is this hillock in the town? Furthermore, Banquo says (I.iii) "How far is't called to Forres?", which rather implies that he and Macbeth aren't in Forres.

Yep, they are near Forres. Will fix. Wrad (talk) 21:49, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

3. Also in Origins: "Forres is the traditional living-place of both Duncan and Macbeth, as well", but the Forres article says "Shakespeare's play Macbeth locates Duncan's castle here. Macbeth's castle was located at Inverness." I don't know which article is correct, but they can't both be right (and ought to agree).

Actually, they may both be right. Macbeth, as king, would have taken Duncan's castle perhaps? Wrad (talk) 21:49, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

4. When I have a moment, I'll add a bit on Verdi's opera, where the witches are a three-part chorus rather than three individuals. Hecate was added when Verdi included some ballet music for later performances at the Paris Opera.

--GuillaumeTell 21:43, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for the ideas. I've stumbled across Verdi and some other operas but haven't had time to add. Wrad (talk) 21:49, 29 April 2008 (UTC)
I've added something about the Verdi opera - let me know if any more (or less!) detail is required. The only other one of the operas I've heard of is by Ernest Bloch, but there's also a rock musical called Nightshriek[1]. There are also symphonic poems and overtures called "Macbeth", but they aren't performed all that often, either, and I have no idea whether the witches are characterised in them. Anyway, I've entitled the section "in music" rather than "in opera" in case you want to add anything else. --GuillaumeTell 16:05, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Parallel or based on

In the lead, the article says that the three witches parallel the Norns and the three fates, but further down, it says that they originate from the Norns and other fates. Which is correct?--Berig (talk) 06:05, 11 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] GA Review

Righty-ho then...let's get to it. Cheers, Casliber (talk · contribs) 08:11, 11 May 2008 (UTC)

They tell Macbeth that he is destined - tell just seems a little too casual to me - 'inform'?
are thought to have been written from Shakespeare. - 'are thought to have been written by Shakespeare.' ?
are often said to set the tone for the rest of the play by establishing a sense of confusion. - not sure 'confusion' is the right word here. Thinking of what comes next, I am thinking 'paradox' or 'ambiguity' or somesuch, with the opposite meanings.
For example, by the eighteenth century, belief in witches had subsided in the United Kingdom. - I feel subsided reminds me of a geological disturbance, how about 'waned' instead?
The women in the history utter in many places exactly the same words as Shakespeare gives them in his play - I had to read this a couple of times to figure out what was going on. A rephrase may help this. The word 'history' I find misleading in some ways as the history isn't one but mythological.
  • In summary, fix these minor tweaks and it is fine for GA. For FA, I'd think of enlarging the ancient mythological sources a little as the current article is a bit scant on the 3 norns/parcae/moerae etc. and they are clearly an antecedent. This will be easy to source and only requires a few lines. The prose might need some more massaging too.
    • OK! Think I got them all! Wrad (talk) 13:28, 11 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Wierd Sisters in Harry Potter

The three Witches are also mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as the band that Dumbledore books for the Yule Ball. When the Wierd Sisters actually make their cameo, Harry (in narration) comments on their hairyness, and ragged clothing, just as Macbeth and Banquo do when they first meet the witches. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chunky Milk (talk • contribs) 23:13, 12 May 2008 (UTC)