Question: what are the characteristics of the witches in macbeth?
Answer: It is Banquo who first describes the Witches. His words in Act 1, Scene 3 depict the Witches as stereotypical hags – 'withered' and 'wild', unearthly beings ('That look not like th' inhabitants o' th' Earth') with 'skinny lips', chapped ('choppy') fingers and beards (1.3. 40–46).