HECATE. Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vap’rous drop profound.
I’ll catch it ere it come to ground.
And that distilled by magic sleights
Shall raise such artificial sprites
As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion.
William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act III, scene v
Based on the context, what is the meaning of “sleights”?
A. Religious icons or images
B. Unkind or cruel sayings
C. Clever tricks or deceptions
D. Knives or other weapons
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. Clever tricks or deceptions.
In the passage from Macbeth, Hecate is speaking about using her magical powers to create illusions that will confuse Macbeth. The word “sleights” in this context refers to tricks, particularly those that involve deception or cunning manipulation.
To understand this more clearly, let’s break down the line:
- “And that distilled by magic sleights / Shall raise such artificial sprites” – Hecate refers to creating magical illusions or spirits (the “artificial sprites”) using “magic sleights.” The word “distilled” suggests that these tricks or deceptions are carefully crafted or refined, much like distilling a substance to its purest form. Here, the “sleights” are the tricks she will use to deceive Macbeth.
- The phrase “artificial sprites” implies that these spirits are not real; they are illusions. This aligns with the meaning of “sleights,” indicating that they are not naturally occurring but are created through clever deception. The goal of these illusions is to confuse and mislead Macbeth, drawing him further into his own undoing.
In the context of Shakespeare’s time, the word “sleight” was commonly used to describe a skillful, often deceptive, maneuver—whether in magic, card tricks, or other forms of cunning. In Macbeth, it refers to the deceptive magic Hecate intends to use against Macbeth to manipulate him.
Let’s briefly review why the other options don’t fit:
- A. Religious icons or images: “Sleights” has no relation to religious symbols or icons.
- B. Unkind or cruel sayings: While “sleights” might be associated with malice in some contexts, it specifically refers to clever tricks or deceptions, not verbal attacks.
- D. Knives or other weapons: This is unrelated to the meaning of “sleights,” as the word does not refer to physical objects or weapons.
Thus, the correct meaning of “sleights” in this passage is clever tricks or deceptions.