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The Authenticity of Hecate in Macbeth Essay

This document explores the authenticity of Hecate's portrayal in Shakespeare's Macbeth. It provides context on King James I's beliefs about witchcraft and supernatural beings. Hecate is presented as the head witch with complete control over the other witches. However, some critics argue that Hecate's character was not originally written by Shakespeare, but was instead added later by playwright Thomas Middleton, and her language does not match Shakespeare's style. Overall, the document examines arguments for and against Hecate being an authentic representation of the goddess of evil in Macbeth.

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Sam Shohet
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339 views

The Authenticity of Hecate in Macbeth Essay

This document explores the authenticity of Hecate's portrayal in Shakespeare's Macbeth. It provides context on King James I's beliefs about witchcraft and supernatural beings. Hecate is presented as the head witch with complete control over the other witches. However, some critics argue that Hecate's character was not originally written by Shakespeare, but was instead added later by playwright Thomas Middleton, and her language does not match Shakespeare's style. Overall, the document examines arguments for and against Hecate being an authentic representation of the goddess of evil in Macbeth.

Uploaded by

Sam Shohet
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Explore the Authenticity of Hecate

in Macbeth?

Macbeth is a play written by Shakespeare to please King James I of England, who

wrote a book called “Daemonologie” about the Supernatural and Witchcraft.

Macbeth is a tragedy, which portrays the success and then downfall of Macbeth

due to his mental health and ambition and guilt; which can be seen as his

hamartia, that follows the structure of Freytag’s tragedies. Macbeth is about an

ambitious Thane who would like to become King once he is tempted to do so by

witches. Witches play an important role in Macbeth as they hold a stigma around

them during Shakespearian times. This essay will explore the authenticity of

Hecate.

“Hecate” is the head witch and the goddess of evil. She is presented as having

complete control over the Witches. She asks the Weïrd Sisters “How did you dare

/ To trade and traffic with Macbeth.” Highlighting that she has power and control

over the Witches as she rebukes Macbeth. This is relevant as contextually King

James believed that Hecate had control over all supernatural beings especially

Witches. The Witches acts of disobedience, further convey how they are going

against the natural order by messing with the “divine right of kings.” The use of

Shakespeare presenting Hecate as angry with the “beldams” conveys how what

they are doing is so inherently evil that even Hecate disapproves. The use of the

word “beldams” shows how the Witches are ugly and old. This directly contrasts

Hecate who is often portrayed as beautiful and alluring to men.


The Witches are told by Hecate to kill Macbeth. “Spurn fate, scorn death,” by

inducing “fear” through “illusion.” This forebodes how Macbeth’s downfall will

be his guilty conscious as he sees the Apparitions showing Banquo’s lineage as

the kings. The word “spurn” highlights how the Witches are unnatural and are

messing with “fate” as they keep on changing and messing with the natural

order. When the Witches “vanish” Macbeth fully descends into madness. This

helps present Hecate as authentic as she is the causing chaos, which is the main

job of Hecate and the supernatural.

Shakespeare’s use of iambic tetrameter and rhyming couples helps Hecate to

seem authentic as she is written as if she were another Witch. Hecate reappears

are talks in rhyming couplets and iambic tetrameter. The use of Iambic

tetrameter and her closing speech being written in rhyming couplets when read

sounds like a hypnotic chant. One could infer that Hecate has Schadenfreude as

she enjoys people’s misfortune, as she only does what she wants. “Pains,”

portrays how she is happy to have caused the Witches trouble and says that they

will all have “gains” from Macbeth’s downfall showing that she and the Witches

will derive pleasure from the downfall of Macbeth.

Macbeth makes reference to Hecate in his soliloquy in Act 3. He says that Hecate

is responsible for summoning evil as “black Hecate summons” showing how

Hecate controls the supernatural world. The word “black” conveys how Hecate’s
actions are hidden as evil actions take place in the dark where they are cloaked

by “night.” This forebodes how Hecate summons the Witches to the “river of

Acheron” and will tell them to cause Macbeth’s downfall by using Apparitions.

Shakespeare uses dramatic irony when the “beetle with his [its] drowsy hums”

who tells people to sleep directly contrasts Macbeth who is unable to sleep as,

Macbeth “hath murder’d sleep” and shall “sleep no more” till he permanently

sleeps in death.

However, Hecate can be perceived as inauthentic. Some critics of Shakespeare

believe that playwright Thomas Middleton who, wrote a play called “The

Witches” later added it. Hecate’s lexis does not read like the rest of Shakespeare

and is therefore not included in most professional modern plays. Critics believe it

was added in due to Macbeth being the shortest play after Comedy of Errors.

In conclusion, Hecate is presented as the ruler of the Witches and in complete

control and therefore is an authentic portrayal of the Goddess of Evil. However,

one could argue that Hecate is inauthentic, as some believe she was written in

my Thomas Middleton.

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