Views on Witchcraft

Background

- Witchcraft is supposed to be the manipulation of supernatural forces through casting spells, conjuring or invoking spirits
- All ancient cultures and religions, with the notable exception of christianity, applied their own kind of witchcraft in their belief systems
- Witchcraft included using spells for healing, to bring good weather and prosperity, etc.
- Communities often had wise women (priestesses, healers, etc) that were honoured and respected

Demonization

- In the Middle Ages the church began to feel threatened by Pagan religions
- Paganism was associated with Satanism
- Since Christianity did not have their own form of witchcraft, any act of witchcraft, even naturopathic healing, were associated with the devil.
- The "spirits" the control the elements and the world that witches were supposed to manipulate were interpreted by christians as the demons that walk the earth creating disease and pestilence - Anyone who invokes these demons was associating with the devil, and no matter what they used their powers (even if it was just healing or rain dancing), they had the power to bring disaster.
- The church began to treat practitioners of witchcraft as heretics, and started rumours that witches gather in forests at night for secret meetings where they would fly through the air, have sex with the devil, etc.
- Beginning in the 11th century (Macbeth ruled from 1040 to 1057) witches were considered sinister, hideous creatures that were often linked to disease, misfortune, death, and evil, and practitioners of witchcraft were burnt alive for heresy.
- The stereotype of the witch as a female probably came from the visible role played by women in many heresies.

Shakespeare's time

- The time period that Shakespeare lived in (1564 - 1616) was later referred to as "the burning times;" it was when the most intense persecution of witches was taking place.
- The King, King James I, was highly superstitious and was convinced of the existance of witches and devils
- In 1604 he introduced laws that made hanging of witches mandatory, and introduced trial by torture. There were about a thousand executions between1542 and 1684.

Public views towards witchcraft during the actual reign of King Macbeth weren't as strong as during Shakespeare's time. Although they were still generally hostile, the depiction of the witches in Shakespeare's play was probably influenced by the views of his time and his king.

http://www.erzulies.com/site/articles/view/17

http://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/article-214883

http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/witchcraft.htm

http://medieval.etrusia.co.uk/witch/

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/renaissanceinfo.htm

Two Can Dine: Two Different Macbeth Versions

Notable differences between enotes online version [http://www.enotes.com/macbeth-text/] and Oxford Shakespeare version of Macbeth:

Analysis

Despite minor differences, the enotes online version of Macbeth can be considered a reliable and relevant source, and will most likely be a lasting one as well. The character names, lines, and general format are all more or less consistent with the Oxford Shakespeare version, and explanatory notes are also provided. In scences 1 and 2 of Act I, only minor punctuation and line changes have been made by the editor, and the only real diference in the format is the enotes' tendency to align the entire text left. Notably, enotes has replaced most dashes in the Oxford version with periods or commas, has made minor spelling changes, and added certain exclamation marks for dramatic effect. As well, enotes has made an attempt to make the original version more "readable" by a reader unfamiliar with Shakespearean English, evident in the editor's choice to replaced words such as brandish'd with the modern english equivalent, brandished.

The major difference that one will encounter with the enotes site is that it provides a "translation" to more modern english for students to understand the text easier. This translation can prove helpful at times, but also harmful as students may use only the easy-to-read version and not the actual text. Thus though it is a good resource for english students studying Macbeth, such as grade 10 students, it must be said that the modern translation must be used with some caution and restraint.

Overall, enotes provides a comprehensive and reliable alternative to the Oxford version of Macbeth, and because it is an online site it is convenient and accessible. Though differences in spelling, punctuation, and formatting do occur, they are very minor changes made most likely by the enotes editor and will not inhibit an english student's study of the play. However, one should be wary of relying too much on the modern translation, and neglecting the actual text.

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