What do the witches prophecy and how do Macbeth and Banquo react?

The Witches’ Prophecy The witches gather on the moor and cast a spell as Macbeth and Banquo arrive. The witches hail Macbeth first by his title Thane of Glamis, then as Thane of Cawdor and finally as king. They then prophesy that Banquo’s children will become kings. Macbeth demands to know more but the witches vanish.

What do the witches predict for Macbeth and Banquo at the start of the play?

After the Witches prophesize that Macbeth will be king in Act 1 scene 3, Banquo asks what his future holds. The witches tell him he’ll be less happy than Macbeth but far happier, and predict that Banquo will never be king, but his descendants will be.

What is the prophecy given by the witches and how does Macbeth react to it?

The witches proclaim Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, the Thane of Cawdor, and the future king. Macbeth’s first reaction is fear. He says “It cannot be ill, cannot be good.” Contemplating this, his fear returns as he considers murder as a route to become king. But then he considers letting things happen on their own.

How do the witches prophecies affect Banquo?

In the Witches’ original prophecy, they proclaim that Macbeth will be king but that Banquo’s son and descendants will be the future kings, while Banquo will never be king himself.

How do Banquo and Macbeth describe the witches?

Banquo describes the witches when he first encounters them as withered and dressed wildly: “wither’d and wild in their attire.” He says they don’t look like earthly creatures: “they look not like th’ inhabitants o th’ earth.” He asks if they are alive, which indicates that he thinks they may be ghosts or spirits.

What are the 4 prophecies in Macbeth?

The First Apparition: “Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.” The Second Apparition: “none of women born Shall harm Macbeth.” The Third Apparition: “be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets… until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill /Shall come against him [Macbeth].”

Why did the witches give Macbeth the prophecy?

The Witches are supernatural in character and Satanic. They delivered a self-fulfilling prophecy to tempt Macbeth into willingly committing evil deeds to secure his soul.

How are the prophecies given to Macbeth and Banquo connected?

The three witches tell Banquo that he will have kings in his family line, although he himself will never become king. This prophecy is stated along with the foretelling of Macbeth’s ascension to the throne, meaning their fates are interconnected.

What was the witches prophecy in Macbeth?

After a battle in Scotland, Macbeth and his friend Banquo meet three witches, who make three prophecies – Macbeth will be a thane, Macbeth will be king and Banquo’s sons will be kings.

What does Banquo notice about the witches?

Banquo notices that Macbeth was impressed by the Witches’ prophecies and suspects that he will prove to be disloyal to the king. However, Banquo is also impressed by the Witches when it comes to the prophecy about his sons becoming kings, perhaps suggesting that he too is susceptible to the lure of power.

How do the witches help MacBeth and Banquo?

The witches gather on the moor and cast a spell as Macbeth and Banquo arrive. The witches hail Macbeth first by his title Thane of Glamis, then as Thane of Cawdor and finally as king. They then prophesy that Banquo’s children will become kings.

What do the witches say to Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 3?

In Act 1 scene 3 of “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, Macbeth and Banquo are introduced to the three witches. The witches tell Macbeth he will become thane of Cawdor and “king thereafter” and they tell Banquo he will not become a king but his children will become kings.

What does the first witch predict about Banquo?

The first witch predicts that Banquo shall be ” lesser than Macbeth, and greater “. This first prediction is common of the doublespeak used by the witches. Their words ring like a paradox, an equivocation, but close analysis of events later in the play proves the truth of their prediction.

How do the witches hail Macbeth as Thane?

The witches hail Macbeth first by his title Thane of Glamis, then as Thane of Cawdor and finally as king. They then prophesy that Banquo’s children will become kings. Macbeth demands to know more but the witches vanish. Ross and Angus arrive to tell Macbeth that he has been given the title Thane of Cawdor by Duncan.