The witches in Macbeth: no more than an influence

According to Shakespearean scholar, A.C. Bradley, "while the influence of the witches' prophecies on Macbeth is very great, it is quite clearly shown to be an influence and nothing more. There is no sign in the play whatever that Shakespeare meant the actions of Macbeth to be forced on him by external powers." Bradley's argument is valid; the witches provide the spur Macbeth needs to act on his overbearing ambition, but it is ultimately …

…Macmillan Press Ltd., 1968), p. 264 4Bradley, p. 287. 5John Lawlor, The Tragic Sense in Shakespeare, (London: Chatto & Windus, 1960), p. 123. 6Shakespeare, p. 87. 7Bradley, p. 288. 8Shakespeare, p. 89. 9Shakespeare, p. 151. 10Bradley, p. 287. 11Lawlor, p. 108. Bibliography Bradley, A.C. Shakespearean Tragedy. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1966. Greer, Germaine. "Macbeth: Sin and the Action of Grace." Shakespeare: Macbeth, London: The Macmillan Press Ltd., 1968. Lawlor, John. The Tragic Sense in Shakespeare. London: Chatto & Windus, 1960. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Toronto: Longmans Canada Ltd., 1965.