terry pratchett's discworld wyrd sisters

But Felmet lays bare what Macbeth really was – a cowardly, backstabbing creep with numerous neuroses and insecurities, and a chronic inability to stand up to his wife. Macbeth was lauded as a brave and brilliant warrior (Bellona’s bridegroom, anyone?). ‘You could give it a try.’ĭuke Felmet and his wife are hilarious to anyone who’s read Macbeth. ‘Not that I’m aware,’ said Granny, levelly. ‘Does the skin of witches turn aside steel?’ he said. For King Verence of Lancre has just been stabbed in the back by his cousin, Felmet, and the life of his baby son is now at stake. Protecting little princes and ensuring the future of the monarchy, for starters. And while Shakespeare’s witches had the luxury of creeping around and going all, “double, double, toil and trouble”, Pratchett’s witches have a lot more on their plate.

This is however, the first book in the which the three of them are first featured together, and it’s apt indeed that they be presented as a parallel to the Weird Sisters from Macbeth. Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick are like old friends now, and I suppose they felt like old friends even the first time I met them ( Lords and Ladies, back in 2010). They don’t like the food and you can’t trust the water and the shamans always hog the deckchairs. On nights such as this, witches are abroad. On nights such as this, evil deeds are done. Welcome to a series of potshots at Shakespeare, Macbeth and the nature of monarchies in general.

But even she found that meddling in royal politics was a lot more difficult than certain playwrights would have you believe…

Granny Weatherwax was the most highly-regarded of the leaders they didn’t have. Synopsis: Witches are not by nature gregarious, and they certainly don’t have leaders. Discworld #6 – Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

Terry pratchett's discworld wyrd sisters