Magic in Shakespeare
Comparing representations of magical persons in The Tempest and Macbeth, there seems a gender divide between the types of magic practiced.
Shakespeare, William. Comedy of the Tempest. Illustrations by Edmund Dulac. London, 1908.
In The Tempest Prospero is able to stir up storms and command spirits with his spells. He is a force to be feared, but he ultimately sacrifices his power in order to return to civilized society with his family and friends. Prospero is in control of his power, his magical abilities, his fate, and he chooses to give up the practice of magic in favor of a conventional lifestyle.
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Henley Shakespeare. Edinburgh, 1901.
“The Three Witches,” Macbeth, Act I, Scene iii. Engraved by Ja. Stow, 1789.
On the other hand, the witches, or Weird Sisters, in Macbeth have a limited power that comes from serving the Goddess Hecate, an external source, meaning that they are reliant on someone else for their magic. We see them tell Macbeth’s fate and parade dead monarchs in front of him to haunt the murderous king; they make potions and prophecies and produce ghosts or specters. But we never see the witches perform grand magic. Unlike Prospero, the witches’ power is dependent on the Goddess.
Comparing these images, we see the result of Prospero’s magic, but the power and emotion that goes into the Weird Sisters’ spell. Prospero is calm, while the witches are wild. This, too, may be an expression of gender--the man maintains stoic control, while the women involve strong emotions to bring about change.