In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Macbeth faces several external and supernatural influences. The most influential forces are the three witches, Lady Macbeth, and the apparitions. It is these forces, along with Macbeth's greed for power and ambition for the throne, that energize his actions.

The opening scene of Macbeth is of the three witches wondering the moors. This scene has thunder, lightning, and mist, which create the darkness needed for an evil work. In this scene, the witches demonstrate three powers, they control the weather: "When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain"" (2.1.1-2). One power witches were thought to have during Shakespeare's time was the ability to change the weather and create a storm. Witches, can see the future; "There to meet with Macbeth" (1.2.8). Which demonstrates that the witches are expecting to meet Macbeth soon? These witches are never...