What do chestnuts symbolize?

In act 1 scene 3, the three witches are talking to each other and the witch tells us a story about a sailor's wife who "had chestnuts in her lap, munching away." The witch asked the sailor's wife to give the chestnuts to her and the wife refused. The witch responded with, "Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid.
He shall live a man forbid.
Weary sev'nnights nine times nine
Shall he dwindle, peak and pine."
Through my personal research, i have discovered the true meaning of chestnuts. They help to symbolize prevention, foresight, fertility, provision, and longevity. This is why it makes sense that the witch would want chestnuts so badly. Throughout the play, we are told the fates of Macbeth and Banquo from the witches foresight. Shakespeare could be suggesting that through chestnuts, witches are able to use them to see into the future but, can't be very descriptive about it.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

“The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?”

“Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.”

“Now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief.”