I would just like to take a moment to appreciate Shakespeare's genius in composing the language of the Weird Sisters in Macbeth. If you compare the sort of lines Macbeth or his wife are given, the Weird Sisters actually differentiate quite a bit.
- The rhythm is, I think similar, but the meter is completely different. Iambic quartameter (?) is what the witches use, (a little shorter than regular iambic pentameter) giving their dialogue a more snappy sound.
- An article found on JStor about the supernatural in Macbeth talks about the sounds used by the witches as well. Unfortunately, my internet is abominably slow and I could not access the full article. (For now at least, will update later).
- They also have rhymed couplets. One thing I like about Shakespeare is that he uses rhyme sparingly, which brings attention to when he does use it. The rhyming really works with the witches, in my opinion, because well, it makes them sound witchy. Maybe Shakespeare is why witches have this stereotype in the first place.
- They talk about the grossest things, like procuring a "pilot's thumb" and seducing as many men as possible.
If you watch this video, look closely at the blonde's behavior with "The Devil." She's not bearded but she is good at what she does...
