The Three Witches from William Shakespeare's Macbeth, 1775 painting by Daniel Gardner.
Witches are women who are said to have magic powers to cast spells, fly on brooms, make potions and to transfigurate animals and humans. They may have the power to invoke spirits and to predict the future. According to some, witches are born with their powers, according to others, witchcraft can be learned. witches are often said to be evil old hags but some people think there are good witches who use good magic. Although they are usually thought of as being evil or wicked, witches continue to feature in modern popular culture.
The male equivalent of a witch is a warlock.
Appearance and attributes
Witches?
Witches are now commonly thought of as being green skinned hags with warts who wear black clothes, including pointy black hats. They are usually imagined as having some sort of animal as a familiar, which is sometimes said to carry out any wicked command that the witch gives it. The most common familiar in fiction is a black cat. witches are often depicted with a cauldron which is said to be used for rituals and is used to make magic potions and medicines in. Last but not least is the witch's broom, a magical form of transportation for witches who believe they possess the powers of flight.
In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, people who were accused of witchcraft in Europe and parts of North America, most famously Salem Massachussets, were often hanged or burnt at the stake.
Protection
According to tradition, it is possible to ward off a witch in a number of ways. Witches are said to be attracted to dead cats and other animals, therefore it is possible to use dead animals to distract a witch's attention and keep her from harming people.
Famous witches
- the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz, named Elphaba in Wicked and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South
- Samantha from Bewitched, also her family including Endora, Serena, Tabitha
- Broom Hilda - cartoon
- Morgan La Fey and Morgana from the Arthurian legends
- the Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
- the Three Witches in William Shakespeare's Macbeth
- Eglantine Price in Bedknobs and Broomsticks
- Circe
- Hecubah
Related
- fairytale
- wizard
- witch costume
- wand
- Harry Potter costume
External links
- Wikipedia's article on Witchcraft
- Famous Witches on Witchcraft